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| Kam Chancellor Virginia Tech |
Chancellor was born on April 3, 1988 in Norfolk, Virginia to Karen Lambert. He attended Matthew Fontaine Maury High School where he played basketball and football as a quarterback and safety. As a senior in 2006, he recorded more than 2,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards and led his team to a 10–2 record and an appearance in the Group AAA Division 5 playoffs. Chancellor was named the team’s most valuable player, and he was also placed on the All-Eastern District first team and The Virginian-Pilot All-Tidewater second team. Rivals.com assessed him as the 27th-ranked pro-style quarterback prospect in the nation and the 20th-ranked player in the state of Virginia. SuperPrep and The Roanoke Times rated him the 21st-ranked player in the state. Scout.com assessed Chancellor as a two-star recruit and he accepted a scholarship offer from Virginia Tech.
Chancellor enrolled at Virginia Tech in 2006 to study human development. He worked out as a quarterback before eventually being moved to the cornerback position prior to the start of the season. He saw action that year as a true freshman in all 13 games, and recorded nine tackles, two passes broken-up, and one interception. In 2007, he was moved to the rover position as the starter and also played on special teams. He started in all 14 games and recorded 79 tackles, seven passes broken-up, three quarterback hurries, and one interception.
Before the 2008 season, he was moved to the free safety position, his third position change in as many years at Virginia Tech. Chancellor started in all 14 games and recorded 52 tackles including 27 solo, two interceptions, five passes broken-up, seven pass deflections, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. After the season, he considered entering the 2009 NFL Draft a year early, but decided to remain at Virginia Tech for his final season.The CBS Sports-affiliated NFL Draft Scout considered Chancellor the third-ranked of the 126 free safeties available for the 2010 NFL Draft and projected him as a third-round selection. The Hokies’ defensive backs coach, Torrian Gray, said that Chancellor could be “the greatest safety in Virginia Tech history.” Chancellor has said that he attempts to emulate the former Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, and said, “[He was a] big safety, the prototype guy for the position. I’m a big safety, too, and I’ve just always wanted to be just like him. I don’t necessarily say I can be Sean Taylor before it’s over, but I think I can be just as good.”
