Have You Ever Met a Gentle Giant
This a reprint of an article that appeared on the Virginia Tech Walk-on page. A forward is provided by page editor HokieLifer.
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HokieLifer Note: The July article is guest-written by TSL message board poster, Wasris, who, in addtion to serving as my SW Virginia correspondent, is the webmaster for the unofficial Richlands High School Blue Tornado Website. I asked Wasris to do a feature article on walk-on recruit Jared Horn. My intent was to show the character and sacrifices that ALL walk-ons make to be a part of the team. Wasris did that and much more: he additionally gave a glimpse into Jared as a person. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.--HL
Have you ever met a gentle giant? Richlands, VA is sending one to Virginia Tech. Jared "Bull" Horn is 6' 4 1/2", 333 lbs with a 56 long sports jacket and 17 inch extra wide shoes. When you shake his hand its like shaking a pillow--your hand just keeps sinking. When Jared is out-and-a-bout, kids can usually be found. Like all giants, kids are naturally attracted to this future elementary education major who wants to coach.
For most of Jared's athletic career, Virginia Tech has been a distant dream. The dream started to take shape when he camped at VT after the 8th grade. During his second camp, he caught the eye of Coach Billy Hite. At that point Jared envisioned a chance to not only play college football but to do it at a high level. After his junior year, the head coach at Richlands, Greg Mance (a VT graduate), sent tapes to the coaching staff. After viewing the film, Coach Hite has actively recruited Jared as a non-scholarship ("walk-on") player, ever since. Jared felt that maybe, just maybe with continued hard work his DREAM would become reality!! Prior to last year’s football camp, Jared took the extra step of enlisting the help of Richland native and current New England Patriot, Mike Compton, to show him the finer points of line play. Coach Hite says you have to do the "little things" right to be a winner so Jared felt he might as well start doing the little things--right away.
Like all recruits, Bull and his parents (Duane and Melissa) attended a number of games at Lane Stadium. Official recruiting visits followed. For Jared, he felt no different than any other recruit-scholarship or walk-on. Each was treated the same. Jared experienced, first hand, the close knit, family atmosphere described by almost every player that has been a part of the football program.
It was clear that Coach Hite was instrumental in Jared considering walking on at Virginia Tech. Not only did he show early interest, he became an advisor of sorts over the last year. More importantly, Coach Hite's interest went well beyond the playing field. He emphasized family, academics and community; lessons Jared personifies. Jared carries a 2.7 GPA and is an active member in the Richlands First Assembly of God youth programs. In addition to his parents and sister, Jared is especially close to his grandfather, Tommy.
A number of other programs expressed an interest in Jared, including UVA and Connecticut. But when DECISON TIME came, it was all Virginia Tech. Now the real work begins. With a HOKIE lifting schedule, meal plan, and position drill outline in hand, Jared knows what he must do. Bull's personal goal is to increase foot speed, reduce weight (to 310 lbs) and increase strength BEYOND the goal limits set by the VT coaches. This requires NO TWINKIES, lots of 110-yard sprints, "box" drills and pattern runs. The coaches stress the 110s since they are the backbone of the baseline testing Coach Mike Gentry does a month into football season. Jared's been told of all the drills, the 110s aid in developing quickness, explosive capability and stamina. So, it's every day to the Southwest Community College weight room or the track at Richlands High School until Jared enrolls for the January session.
Why is he doing this? One can tell right away that Jared is an ambitious and confident young man. He DOESN'T want to be considered a bad football investment. Jared made it clear he'd rather try for Division 1 playing time and fail--then have never tried at all. The coaches will get a worker. Coach Gentry will be given a young man with a definite upside. Jared Horn will work his butt off to reach his goal of one day running through the tunnel to play for Virginia Tech.
