BY DARRYL SLATER
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: May 7, 2008

BLACKSBURG — Former Virginia Tech running back Branden Ore might play his final college season this fall at West Liberty State, a Division II school in West Liberty, W.Va.

“We have been in contact, and we are recruiting him,” West Liberty coach Roger Waialae said yesterday.

West Liberty is waiting for Tech to send Ore’s academic paperwork before finalizing his scholarship. Ore won’t have to sit out a season because he would be transferring from a Division I-A school. He’d be a fifth-year senior, as he would have been if he stayed at Tech.

The Hilltoppers have become a steady team in Waialae’s three years, though not a Division II power. They are 6-5, 7-4 and 8-3 in those seasons. Ore was attracted to the school because his cousin Darren Banks is a rising senior cornerback there.

Tech coach Frank Beamer decided to part ways with Ore in March but did not publicly say why. Ore’s talent was never a question. He led the Hokies in rushing the past two seasons and is their fifth all-time leading rusher. Off the field, he was less reliable.

He missed spring practices in 2006 while spending the semester at home in Chesapeake, rehabbing from shoulder surgery and refocusing on academics.

Before last season, running backs coach Billy Hite was displeased that Ore returned to school in less-than-ideal physical condition after missing part of summer workouts because, Ore said, he went home to help a friend whose grandmother died.

Ore was suspended for the first quarter of last season’s Orange Bowl because arrived about 45 minutes late to a pre-bowl practice.

In January, Ore testified in the federal crack-cocaine trial of friend Tony Majette, who was pulled over in June 2006 in Blacksburg with about 23 grams of crack in the Cadillac he was driving. Ore was in the front passenger seat but was not charged.

West Liberty’s coaches called Beamer and Hite, who eased their concerns by telling them that Ore was not kicked off the team for breaking any laws or school rules.

Ore attended West Liberty’s spring game April 19 and was able to meet rising junior Eddie Hills. He’s the reason why Ore wouldn’t automatically be the Hilltoppers’ main running back. Hills has 2,212 yards in his first two seasons and is the only back in West Liberty history to eclipse 1,000 yards as a freshman and sophomore.

There is recent precedent for a former Tech running back succeeding in Division II. George Bell, who left Tech on his own after the 2006 season, rushed for 715 yards and 18 touchdowns last season for Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. He will be a fifth-year senior this fall.

The Hokies’ options at tailback this season include juniors Kenny Lewis Jr. and Jahre Cheeseman; redshirt freshmen Darren Evans and Josh Oglesby; and true freshman Ryan Williams. But Lewis may be sidelined at least during preseason practices while recovering from left-shoulder surgery.

Tim Parker, Tech’s assistant athletic director for compliance, usually handles transfer issues. He did not return a telephone message yesterday.

Contact Darryl Slater at (804) 649-6026 or .