Suspension over, appreciative Vick rejoins Hokies

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was cleared Monday to rejoin the team after being suspended this season because of a night of drinking with underage girls.

The younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick joined his teammates for a meeting, re-enrolled at the university and started classes. The university and head coach Frank Beamer cleared the 20-year-old to return to all football-related activities after being suspended for the fall semester.

Marcus Vick was arrested in February 2004, along with teammates Mike Imoh and Brenden Hill, after an encounter with 14- and 15-year-old girls at the quarterback's apartment in Blacksburg. Vick avoided jail by pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge.

Vick also pleaded guilty to reckless driving and no contest to marijuana possession after a traffic stop last summer.

"I'm excited to be back -- I missed this place," Vick said in a statement. "I know that I hurt a lot of people who only want to see me succeed. I'd like to try to make that up to them. I'm appreciative to the university and Coach Beamer for giving me this opportunity. Now I'm ready to put the past behind me and concentrate on the future."