Hokies tailback goes from outcast to team leader after offseason arrest

BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA - Mike Imoh looked up and the cameras were on him again.<br> <br> They had followed the 20-year-old tailback in February after he was arrested and charged with spending a night drinking with high school girls. They waited for him outside a courtroom in May while one of the girls, a 15-year-old, testified that Imoh and two teammates gave her alcohol and encouraged her to strip.<br> <br> This time, as the cameras and reporters circled around again, Imoh let out a rare smile these questions were going to be kind.<br> <br> Imoh, who has settled his legal problems and served a three-game suspension, is being handed the reins to a sputtering ground game that struggled in a 17-16 loss to North Carolina State. Imoh provided the only reliable offense against the Wolfpack, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, and will start Saturday against No. 6 West Virginia.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s been difficult,&#39;&#39; Imoh said of his no contest plea to contributing to the delinquency of a minor. ``But I&#39;m here now and playing football again what I know how to do best and I&#39;m just happy to be out there.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> For a while this summer, football was the least of Imoh&#39;s concerns.<br> <br> He was initially sentenced to jail with teammates Marcus Vick and Brenden Hill after all three were convicted in juvenile court. The players planned to appeal, but later accepted plea agreements that resulted in fines and community service.<br> <br> ``With everything that went on, it feels good to bounce back,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> Their troubles began when a teenage girl told police that she and her friends spent an evening drinking at the apartment Vick and Hill shared. The girls, ages 14 and 15, allegedly met them at a women&#39;s basketball game earlier in the night.<br> <br> The players denied her claims, but prosecutors produced photos and video of the girls dancing and kissing. Imoh has contended he thought they were 18 years old.<br> <br> Now, after sitting out three games and in spite of not being in game shape, Imoh gave the Hokies a needed spark in his first game back. The 5-foot, 7-inch tailback could get a lot more work if his numbers continue to be the Hokies&#39; best.<br> <br> Tech started Cedric Humes and Justin Hamilton at the beginning of the season, but Humes hasn&#39;t been effective since recovering from a broken leg during the Spring.<br> <br> ``He seems to not quite have gotten back into it,&#39;&#39; Beamer said of Humes, who averaged almsot 6 yards last year. ``He can&#39;t explain it. He needs that burst back.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Hamilton, who was a receiver last year, also struggled against the swarming, blitzing Wolfpack defense, managing minus-1 yards on three carries. Hamilton said he&#39;s comfortable with Imoh starting: ``It wasn&#39;t given to him, he earned it.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Imoh said he hopes there isn&#39;t any friction behind the line as he takes over. Players go through a lot in college, and the last thing they need is more controversy.<br> <br> ``All we have is each other,&#39;&#39; Imoh said. ``We all know that, no matter what&#39;s going on the field or what&#39;s going on with anything.&#39;&#39;

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