NC Central coach accuses Virginia Tech of tampering on team's sideline
Oliver raised the accusation at a media event on July 25 when he was asked about his top "you got to be kidding me" story. The fifth-year coach said prior to the contest against Howard − the final home game of the season − he noticed a Virginia Tech staff member on his team's sideline.
REQUIRED READING: Big Ten's rigged College Football Playoff plan shut down by SEC
"Virginia Tech was actually on my sideline recruiting our running back," Oliver told said, according to WRAL News.
The running back wasn't named, but Oliver said it was a player that ended up transferring to Virginia. J'Mari Taylor was the team's leading rusher in 2024 and is now with the Cavaliers.
Oliver recalled assistant coaches were trying to calm him down about the situation but he was agitated by seeing the Virginia Tech staff member. In that game, Taylor ran for a season-high 206 yards and three touchdowns in a victory.
After Oliver's comments, Virginia Tech released a statement that it reviewing the accusations.
"This is the first time the issue has been brought to our attention, and no concern has previously been shared with us through any formal channel," the statement read. "Virginia Tech takes all NCAA rules seriously and is committed to conducting our program with integrity. We are reviewing the matter internally and will address any findings appropriately."
After the alleged incident, Oliver was glad to see his player not end up with the Hokies, and hopes Virginia "kick Virginia Tech's butt." Taylor is expected to have a major role in Virginia's offense.
The annual "Commonwealth Clash" between the Cavaliers and Hokies will take place in the 2025 season finale on Nov. 29 in Charlottesville.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Virginia Tech responds to accusations made by HBCU coach
Virginia Tech has responded to serious allegations from North Carolina Central head coach Trei Oliver. Oliver claims a Virginia Tech assistant coach was on the sideline of the Durham, NC HBCU last season in an attempt to recruit one of his players. In a statement released Saturday, Virginia Tech stated that it had no prior knowledge of the incident. 'This is the first time the issue has been brought to our attention, and no concern has previously been shared with us through any formal channel,' the statement read. 'Virginia Tech takes all NCAA rules seriously and is committed to conducting our program with integrity. We are reviewing the matter internally and will address any findings appropriately.' The comments came after Oliver spoke at a media event on Friday. When asked about the most outrageous moment of his coaching career, he pointed to an incident during the 2024 season. 'Virginia Tech was actually on my sideline recruiting our running back,' Oliver said. 'That was pretty bold. I couldn't believe it.' Oliver said the moment caused a stir during the game. Several of his assistant coaches tried to calm him down, suggesting the visitor was just there to watch. 'He's just down here visiting,' they told him. But Oliver wasn't buying it. 'I knew what it was,' he said. Star Running Back Transfers to UVA Oliver didn't name the player during the interview, but it appears that it was his star running back J'Mari Taylor. Taylor was a first-team all-conference performer and has since transferred to the University of Virginia. Taylor is expected to be part of the Cavaliers' running back rotation this fall. UVA is scheduled to play Virginia Tech on November 29. 'Thank God he went to UVA,' Oliver said. 'And UVA is going to beat the smoke out of them other folks.' Broader Implications Oliver's claim has sparked conversation around recruiting ethics and the treatment of HBCU programs in the modern college football landscape. The NCAA transfer portal has created new opportunities, but also new risks-especially for smaller programs trying to retain their top talent. As Virginia Tech begins its internal review, the coaching world is paying close attention. Oliver's story raises important questions about access, tampering, and respect across all levels of college football. The post Virginia Tech responds to accusations made by HBCU coach appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Big Ten Network personality Jake Butt picks teams for 2025 Big Ten title game
Another Big Ten football media days is in the books, and now we can focus our attention towards the start of fall camp and the buildup to the start of the 2025 college football season. Ohio State will be defending its College Football Playoff national championship and will look to add a couple of goals it missed out on last season -- winning the Big Ten and beating Michigan. That's not as easy as it used to be with the addition of former Pac-12 schools from the West Coast -- Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC-- and with Michigan and Penn State rising up to become national powers as well. The Big Ten has closed the gap on the SEC and created one of its own as the best conference in the country, and it should be another fantastic season in 2025. So, who has the advantage in making the Big Ten Championship game? Ohio State and Penn State are expected to be the best teams this year according to most of the media, but that's not what Jake Butt from the Big Ten Network thinks. In a segment on social media, Butt provided his picks for teams that will play in Indianapolis, and he omitted Ohio State, picking Penn State to tussle with Oregon instead. It's all opinion, of course, and it's not like the Ducks aren't a program to reckon with almost annually now, so there's that. But Butt not identifying his alma mater, Michigan or the Buckeyes, is an interesting take, especially considering Oregon lost as much talent as OSU. But never fear Ohio State fans, Butt did mention Ohio State as one of the teams that will contend for a College Football Playoff spot -- so there's at least that. Ohio State defending its title and having a shot at a conference crown will largely depend on the production it gets at the quarterback spot and how well the defense plugs some of those gaps lost to the NFL. It won't take long to see how those questions are answered because the Buckeyes open up against Texas in Week 1. Let the countdown continue. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Fox Sports
3 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Who Has The Most Single-Season TD Receptions in College Football History?
Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith wowed the college football world as a true freshman in 2024, putting up a dominant season from start to finish and helping the Buckeyes win the national championship. For how dominant he was, though, Smith still fell well statistically short of having one of the most dominant seasons of all time for a wideout. Smith's 15 receiving touchdowns were five short of the 10th-best mark of receiving scores caught by a single player in one season, showing just how tough it is to reach that threshold. Furthermore, Smith played in 16 games, with the introduction of the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024 leading to teams playing longer seasons than ever before. The fact that seasons are longer than ever could help Smith and other top receivers rewrite the record books. That said, let's take a look at who boasts the most touchdown receptions in a single season. Players With The Most Single-Season TD Receptions in CFB History T-10. Jarett Dillard: 20 (2008) A first-team All-American, Dillard's 1,310 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns helped Rice go 10-3 in 2008. He was also the first player from Rice to earn first-team All-Conference USA three times. Dillard set NCAA career records for most touchdown receptions (60) and games with a touchdown catch (38) as well as the single-season record for games with a touchdown reception and consecutive games with a touchdown reception (13) in 2006. Dillard, who led the Owls to their first bowl appearance and bowl victory in nearly five decades in 2006, is on the 2026 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. T-10. Justin Blackmon: 20 (2010) Blackmon was one of the best wide receivers in the early 2010s, recording back-to-back seasons in which he had at least 110 receptions and 1,500 receiving yards. He won both the Biletnikoff Award (the most outstanding WR in college football) and the Warfield Trophy (the nation's top collegiate wide receiver) twice in back-to-back years (2010-11). Blackmon, who twice earned unanimous All-American honors with Oklahoma State and was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2010, went on to become the fifth overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft. T-10. Patrick Edwards: 20 (2011) When Houtson's Case Keenum had the then-best season of all time statistically for a quarterback in 2011, one of his wide receivers stood to benefit from it mightily. Edwards was that guy, logging 1,752 receiving yards and 20 receiving touchdowns that year. Edwards signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2012. T-10. Corey Coleman: 20 (2015) Coleman was a pivotal piece in Baylor's strong run of play in the mid-2010s. He had 74 receptions for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2015, helping him become an All-American. A two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, Coleman won the Biletnikoff Award in 2015 and went on to become the 15th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. T-10. Ja'Marr Chase: 20 (2019) Chase was the biggest beneficiary of QB Joe Burrow's legendary 2019 season at LSU. Chase, a first-team All-SEC selection, unanimous All-American and Biletnikoff Award winner, led LSU in receiving scores that year. Chase, Burrow and the Tigers went on to win the national championship that year before Chase was drafted fifth overall in 2021. 9. Jarett Dillard: 21 (2006) Dillard, again! The former Rice star led the nation in receiving touchdowns twice over three years, posting at least 20 receiving scores on two occasions as well. He's the NCAA's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns as well (60). T-6. Manny Hazard: 22 (1989) Houston quarterback Andre Ware won the Heisman Trophy in 1989 thanks to the help of Hazard. The 5-foot-8 wide receiver recorded a then-record 142 receptions and 22 receiving scores that year. A first-team All-American and two-time first-team All-Southwest Conference selection, Hazard held the single-season record for most receptions until December 2009. T-6. Larry Fitzgerald: 22 (2003) Fitzgerald's 2003 season at Pitt was nearly enough for him to win the Heisman Trophy. He led the nation in receiving yards (1,672) and receiving touchdowns (22) that year, finishing second to Oklahoma quarterback Jason White. A unanimous All-American, first-team All-Big East selection and Big East Offensive Player of the Year in 2003, Fitzgerald went on to win a slew of accolades that same year, including the Biletnikoff Award, Warfield Trophy and Walter Camp Award (most outstanding college football player in the United States), among others. His No. 1 jersey was officially retired by the University of Pittsburgh in 2013. T-6. Michael Crabtree: 22 (2007) Many fans might remember Crabtree's 2008 season more as he nearly helped Texas Tech reach the title game that year. However, he was statistically better as a redshirt freshman in 2007, leading the nation in receptions (134), receiving yards (1,962) and receiving touchdowns (22). A two-time Biletnikoff Award winner, two-time Warfield Trophy winner and two-time unanimous All-American, Crabtree went on to be the 10th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. 5. DeVonta Smith: 23 (2020) History says that it takes a special season for a wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy. Smith did that in 2020, becoming just the fourth wideout to accomplish such a feat after he recorded 20 scores in just 13 games for Alabama. A two-time CFP national champion with the Crimson Tide, Smith also won the Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award, Biletnikoff Award and the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player in college football). A two-time first-team All-SEC selection, Smith was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 and SEC Male Athlete of the Year in 2021. 4. Davante Adams: 24 (2013) There's a reason why Adams is so fond of Derek Carr. The quarterback fed him well during their time together at Fresno State, especially in their final season in 2013. Adams had 131 receptions for 1,719 yards and 24 touchdowns that year en route to his second first-team All-Mountain West selection and winning the Warfield Trophy. His No. 15 jersey was officially retired by Fresno State in 2022. T-2. Stedman Bailey: 25 (2012) While Tavon Austin garnered more buzz among West Virginia's wide receivers in the early 2010s, Bailey was statistically superior. His 2012 season was one for the ages, recording 1,622 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns for a Mountaineers team that went 7-6. After a stellar college career, Bailey, a first-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 selection, was taken in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. T-2. Randy Moss: 25 (1997) In many other seasons, Moss' 1997 campaign might have been enough to win the Heisman Trophy. He recorded 90 receptions for 1,647 yards and 25 touchdowns that year, dominating in an era where the passing game still wasn't as prevalent. Marshall went 10-3 as a result of Moss' play, while he finished fourth in Heisman voting in one of the greatest all-time races for the award. 1. Troy Edwards: 27 (1998) A year after Moss put up monster stats at Marshall, Edwards had slightly superior numbers at Louisiana Tech. He recorded an astonishing 140 receptions for 1,996 yards and 27 touchdowns in 1998, putting up arguably the greatest statistical season for a wide receiver in college football history. Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
