Chancellor will be back

MIAMI - Virginia Tech free safety Kam Chancellor will return for his senior season. Chancellor announced his intentions after Thursday's 20-7 win over Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl. He has until Jan. 15 to declare for the NFL draft if he changes his mind.

Chancellor, a third-year junior, last month submitted his paperwork with the NFL committee that advises underclassmen on where they might be taken in April's draft. Chancellor has yet to receive his feedback from the committee.

Tech defensive backs coach Torrian Gray, a former Tech safety who was picked in the second round of the 1997 draft, advised Chancellor to stay in school.

Chancellor and Gray both believe that Chancellor, who is 6-4 and 224 pounds, will be a strong safety in the NFL. Chancellor started last season at rover, a position in Tech's defense that is similar to strong safety. He moved to free safety this season, and Gray thought in August that he would play well enough to leave school early.

Though Chancellor struggled at points with his new position, he excelled Thursday. He broke up two passes and had one interception, equaling his total from the season's first 13 games.

"I think this probably is the best game I ever played," he said. "I think I felt a lot more loose this game for some reason."

Chancellor was curious about his potential draft status in part because he wants to financially provide for his family. His mom raised him and his five siblings by herself in one of Norfolk's toughest neighborhoods. Chancellor said his family always has relied on government housing assistance.