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[Sonny Dearth]

Landstown's Boyce commits to Hokies

BY NORM WOOD | | 247-4642

Landstown High recruit Xavier Boyce made it official Wednesday. He has committed to Virginia Tech.

Boyce, a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder from Virginia Beach, turned down scholarship offers from Auburn, Rutgers, Clemson, Maryland, Marshall, Northern Illinois (where former Landstown coach Chris Beatty now coaches) and Connecticut.

Boyce's cousin is Tech tailback Branden Ore. Landstown coach Steve Canter was a fullback at Tech.

Boyce projects as a safety at Tech, but he also could play receiver. Last season, he passed for more than 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for more than 400 yards and four TDs.

He is considered one of the top five commitments for Tech's recruiting class of 2008, which has 17 players.

"When I went up (to Tech), it really made me start thinking about it," Boyce said. "Then I talked to my (high school) coaches today, and that pretty much helped me make up my mind."

If not Tech, Boyce said, "It probably would've been Auburn. It was pretty tight between Auburn and Tech because down at Auburn, that's all they're known for is football, but it's just a little far away and I've never been on the campus, so I don't know much about it."

As for the Hokies possibly wanting him to play in the defensive backfield, "I was excited because I love playing safety. That's my main position. It really doesn't matter where they put me, but that's the position where I feel most comfortable."

Boyce said he likes playing safety because his father, Glenn, played defensive back for Lake Taylor High.

Regarding Ore, Boyce said, "I know that's my cousin and all, but it was really all my decision. ... If he has a good season, I don't think he'll be there (in 2008). Hopefully he can just go on to the league, but I know he'll do good things even if he's still at Tech."

Boyce said he took the SAT in March and fell a few points short of qualifying academically. He plans to take the ACT and SAT in October.

He said he didn't ever go to a big summer recruiting camp at a college because he didn't have the funds to make the trip. "Hard work just paid off."

He added his commitment to Tech IS solid, but he might still take some official visits to colleges in the fall and winter.