Shuman will be a Hokie

Fork Union’s Mark Shuman, considered one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the nation, committed on Wednesday to play for Virginia Tech.

Shuman, a 6-foot-7, 280-pound junior, will be part of the Hokies’ recruiting class of 2010. He chose Tech over at least a dozen other schools, including Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.

The son of FUMA postgraduate team head coach John Shuman and the brother of Virginia Tech’s All-ACC center, Ryan Shuman, the youngest of the clan planned to make the official announcement at the Hokies’ spring game this weekend. However, word got out of Shuman’s idea, causing the family to announce the pledge on Wednesday afternoon.

While Wednesday was a “great day” for Fork Union Military, according to Shuman’s high school coach Micky Sullivan, this weekend is shaping up as quite a special time for the Shuman family.

In addition to Mark’s commitment, Ryan is hoping to be selected in the NFL Draft or at least sign a free agent deal. A strong, consistent starter for coach Frank Beamer’s Hokies, Ryan was voted the best center in the ACC and was rewarded by playing in the Senior Bowl.

“Everyone at Fork Union is tickled to death for Mark and the Shuman family,” said Sullivan, who also serves as the school’s athletic director. “Personally, I’ve watched [Mark] grow up. They lived across the street from me when Mark was a baby.”

The younger Shuman certainly has grown into a man. Sullivan said that the youngster’s best football days are ahead of him because he will get bigger and stronger.

“Mark is young. I don’t think he’s even 17 yet,” Sullivan said. “He’s a huge kid, but he’s a great athlete. He takes after his dad, who was a phenomenal athlete.”

Sullivan should know. He coached John Shuman at Fork Union, as well.

“Yes, I’ve been at Fork Union that long,” Sullivan chuckled. “You know, the trees around here were little back then.”

Playing for Sullivan’s high school squad, Mark Shuman played left offensive tackle and a little bit of guard. He was also the Blue Devils’ long snapper.

“As a lineman, Mark has great feet, great hand placement, and really moves well,” Sullivan said. “His knowledge of the game is really good. He’s still learning because of his youth, but he’s a very athletic offensive linemen. I would like to see him become more aggressive in the future.”

According to Rivals.com, Shuman runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds, bench presses 235 pounds and squats 350.

“While he’s a terrific football player, what’s most amazing to me is to watch him take a basketball and go to the hole with it,” Sullivan said. “The guy can jump. He has body control and athleticism on the basketball court.”

While most assumed that Shuman would choose Virginia Tech from his list of offers — mostly because his brother, Ryan, excelled there — Sullivan said it wasn’t that cut and dried.

“I think that’s going to be the perception, but Mark looked around,” Sullivan said. “We’ve talked about it a lot. He’s been to a lot of colleges and he’s met a lot of recruiters. I know he looked at Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia and was seriously looking. But he had his own criteria and felt most comfortable at Virginia Tech.”

Sullivan added that the Shuman family’s relationship with Tech recruiting coordinator Jim Cavanaugh didn’t hurt the Hokies’ chances either. Cavanaugh recruited John Shuman to VMI.

In terms of the rest of the weekend, Sullivan predicted that Ryan Shuman would add to the family celebration.

“I’m telling you that Ryan will get a chance and Ryan will play for some NFL team,” Sullivan said. “It’s the same thing I said when he was going to college. Everybody thought he was a little bit short and maybe not athletic enough, but I told ’em, you get him up there and the guy will play. His game might be ugly, but he plays. The same thing is going to happen in the pros.”

Ryan Shuman’s draft profile on SI.com reflects what Sullivan was talking about.

It reads: “hard-working blocker on the pivot, with marginal athleticism. Solid position blocker who quickly gets his hands into defenders and fights hard throughout the action. Plays with a nasty streak and attacks assignments. Works well with teammates and does a nice job making line calls. Uses all his assets to a maximum.”