Published Thursday, July 30, 2009

Heading into senior year, Render earns nod on All-ACC Preseason team

The Newnan Times-Herald

By deciding to stay in school for his senior year, Sergio Render knew there was a chance to become a potential first-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

But the former Newnan football standout also knew that by leaving early, he wouldn't have a chance to contribute to what expects to be another potential ACC Championship year for Virginia Tech's program.

Media members for the Atlantic Coast Conference's 12 schools certainly feel the Hokies senior offensive guard has a lot to offer Virginia Tech for that quest in 2009.

Render was among 24 players named to this year's preseason All-ACC football team on Wednesday during the conference's 2009 ACC Football Kickoff in Greensboro, N.C.

Virginia Tech led all schools with four selections to the preseason All-ACC team among 44 media member ballots. It comes two days after the Hokies, coming off both a 2008 conference title and a 20-7 Orange Bowl victory in January over Cincinnati, were picked to win the conference again in 2009.

Render, at 6 foot 3, 318 pounds, is among 15 starters returning from last year's team, though, he'll make a permanent shift this season to the opposite side of the Virginia Tech offensive line. Render, who has started at right guard for the majority of his first three seasons with the Hokies will move to left guard, where he'll protect the blind spot of right-handed quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

The former Cougar sat out spring practice after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder, but was expected to make a complete recovery by the start of practice to add to his whopping 40 career starts. Render was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2008 after being included on last year's preseason team.

Render has credited his aunt and uncle, Kerri and Eric Jeter, along with former Cougars head coach Robert Herring, for his success.

"I feel real blessed cause I didn't want to be where I was. My auntie and uncle took me in my freshman year and Coach Herring stayed on me," Render told the Times-Herald last August. "I wasn't really liking football before, but it got to be fun."

Many publications including USAToday as well as ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., have Render ranked among the top five available offensive guards next spring, including several that have the four-year starter at the top of their lists.

"The things we ran in Newnan were close to what we were running here on a basic level," Render said last year. "I feel like I have a good shot to make it to the NFL. But I'm not thinking about that right now."

Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer, who is seeking to become the league's first two-time Player of the Year since 1992 and '93, led all candidates with 41 votes. Dwyer averaged 107 rushing yards per game as the Yellow Jackets quickly adapted to coach Paul Johnson's triple-option spread offense last season.

N.C. State's Russell Wilson, who threw 249 consecutive passes without an interception over his final nine games as a redshirt freshman a year ago was the top vote-getter among signal callers.

Three teams including Georgia Tech had three selections. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who made 39 of his team's 74 pass receptions on the season, joined Dwyer and Burnett among the Jackets' honorees.