Collegiate Times

By Matt Jones, sports editor

The Hokies had their fourth scrimmage of the spring this morning (second one open to the public). Here are some highlights.

Marcus Davis and DJ Coles both sat out the scrimmage with injuries, leaving the Hokies with Dyrell Roberts and Corey Fuller as the top receivers. Quarterback Logan Thomas finished the day 9-for-23 passing for 91 yards and four touchdowns. He also had two interceptions.

The receivers had six drops unofficially, three by Fuller alone. Quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain said that’s just part of getting used to some new faces.

“You only do what you can control, and that’s what I talked to (Thomas) about,” O’Cain said. “You can’t protect for them, you can’t catch the ball yourself, you can just do what you do and let the chips fall where they may. It’s just young, inexperienced guys.”

Fuller, a redshirt-senior, caught three of Thomas’ four touchdowns, finishing with 18 yards.

“He’s getting better,” O’Cain said. “I look at him from this time last year to where he is this year, and it’s light years. Is he where he needs to be? Obviously not. He’s playing much faster, and overall he’s catching the ball better. He had a bad day today, but overall he’s caught the ball well.”

Running back Michael Holmes looks like he’s nailing down the No. 1 spot on the depth chart as he had his breakout play of the spring, a 60-yard run off tackle left out of the pistol formation.

Only a true freshman, Holmes is finally starting to play his game instead of worrying about the playbook.

“I feel like I know the plays pretty good, and now I can just go in there and make moves,” Holmes said.

Holmes on his touchdown run: “When I see it, I just try and go. I was just running.”

O’Cain, who primarily coaches the quarterbacks, is also the game day play caller. He likes what he’s seeing from Holmes.

“He’s playing very well,” O’Cain said. “Mike is not what you’d call a fast explosive guy, but he obviously showed some speed on that one run. He’s got a knack inside, he runs hard, and he’s kind of an elusive guy. He kind of reminds me of Darren Evans. I’ve been very pleased with him in all phases.”

Holmes’ counterpart, early enrollee J.C. Coleman, finished the day with 16 yards on 14 carries.

O’Cain on Coleman: “Mike’s got a semester on him, a lot of things going through his head. But I’ve been pleased with him as well, because he makes virtually no mental mistakes. He’s not as full speed as you’d like him to be, but part of that is he’s still thinking. He doesn’t make mental mistakes.”

O’Cain summed up the offense.

“It’s just taking time,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of inexperience, and some guys that have played a little bit, but nobody other than Logan has played an awful lot. We’ve gotten a little bit better every day, but we’re still a long way away and real rough around the edges.”

Notes

• Conor Goulding looks like he’s separating in the battle for starting kicker, making field goals from 25, 27 and 42 yards.

• Randall Dunn caught two touchdowns, one from Thomas and the other from third-stringer Trey Gresh.

• Michael Branthover punted three times for a 44.3-yard average.

• Head coach Frank Beamer said Ethan Keyserling would likely be the kickoff guy. He hit a field goal from 44 yards.

• Next weekend’s Maroon-White Spring Game is at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3.

By Brooks Tiffany, sports staff writer

Height: 6-foot-6

Weight: 262 pounds

Position: Quarterback

2012 Year: r-Junior

High School: Brookville

Logan Thomas returns this season with the success of the offense largely resting on his shoulders. He’ll be missing the likes of David Wilson, Jarrett Boykin, and Danny Coale, all of whom shared a hefty amount of the offensive load last year. To make things even more interesting, he’ll be taking snaps behind an offensive line that features four new starters, but if his performance in the latter half of last season is any indication, the Hokies have the right man for the job.

Last season, Thomas started amongst astronomical expectations and subsequently did not meet them as he worked his way through five games, getting comfortable with his offense and growing to fill the shoes left by Tyrod Taylor. Following the ugly Clemson loss, Thomas rebounded in impressive fashion and seemed to turn a corner against Miami, and began shedding any doubts concerning him as quarterback.

The rest of the season was a highlight reel for Thomas as he turned heads and became a premier playmaker for Tech.  By season’s end, Thomas had broken Tech’s single-season total-offense record, previously set by Tyrod Taylor, with 3,482 total yards, and also claimed a new school record for rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback with 11 – shoes filled.

For Thomas though, it’s not enough just to fill the shoes of Tyrod Taylor and those before him – he’s looking to go beyond those great expectations that awaited him last year. During spring break, Thomas flew to San Diego to study under quarterback coach George Whitfield, who has worked with the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton, and Andrew Luck.

After working with Thomas for four days, Whitfield had nothing but compliments for Thomas’s intelligence, athleticism, and intangibles – music to every Hokie’s ears. With that priceless workout in San Diego under his belt, Thomas is currently back under the care of Tech quarterback coach, Mike O’Cain, who is further sharpening Thomas’s skills and ensuring that he will emerge with vastly improved leadership and consistency next season.

Look for Thomas to be the rock of the offense next season. There may be a plethora of new faces surrounding him as starters but a great quarterback can work the angles and run an offense like a well-oiled machine and judging by Thomas’s offseason, that is exactly what he intends to do.

By Zack Conway, sports staff writer

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 252 pounds

Position: Defensive End

2012 Year: Redshirt Junior

High School: Brooke Point

J.R. Collins came to Virginia Tech in 2009 as a highly talented defensive end out of Broke Point high school. He was first-team All-Commonwealth District and All-Northwest Region his senior season. He posted 124 tackles, 16 sacks and 24 tackles for loss in junior and senior seasons. He was ranked the No. 20 defensive end nationally by ESPN’s recruiting services. Collins brought not only raw talent with him here to Tech, but there was also potential for him to be a great player and have a great impact on the defense.

Collins was redshirted in the fall of 2009, he spent most of his time working out and getting bigger and stronger. He turned in a 370-pound bench press and a 420-pound front squat during the offseason workouts. In the team’s first and final scrimmage’s he was able to register one sack, which caught the attention of coaches.  In the Maroon-White game he was posted two tackles, including one for a loss.

2010 brought some playing time to Collins’ career. He saw his first collegiate action in a game against Boise State, racking up 26 snaps and a fumble recovery.  He started in his first ever collegiate game the following week against James Madison where he posted three tackles and a hurry. Collins picked up his first sack against Central Michigan, and added another one the following week against Wake Forest. Collins finished the season with 25 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and one fumble recovery. Collins had a very productive first year for the Hokies and only brighter moment were yet to come. Collins had moved into the staring defensive end spot in the spring and never looked back. He had great showings in all of the scrimmages throughout the spring and this definitely impressed Bud Foster and the coaching staff.

2011 was the year Collins came into his own. He played and started in all 14 games and racked up 57 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, six sacks and one interception. Collins was able to impose his will on teams like Appalachian State, East Carolina, Arkansas State, Marshall and Miami. He had solid showings in just about every game. He was a high motor player and always played his heart out. Collins was able to combine his speed and power to get through the line and attack and wreck havoc in the backfield. He was able to use his speed to get passed the big, bulkier offensive linemen, but when he faced undersized lineman he put his power moves to work. With his pressure alone he was able to provide 29 quarterback hurries. Collins earned Honorable Mention All-ACC because of his impact at the defensive end position. Collins looks to continue to improve this upcoming season off his past successes.

This upcoming season is crucial for Collins, he has a chance to be a special part of this defensive line and a corner stone for the Hokie defense. While the secondary and linebacking cores for the Hokies look to be going through some changes, it is up to Collins to hold down the line while making his presence felt. Collins is going to be a key component to the Hokies defense this year and it is up to him to respond to the challenge and take this opportunity and make it worthwhile. Look for Collins to continue starting at the defensive end position this upcoming season and his success should soon follow. Collins is proven player on this defense with talent and experience that is needed to be a team leader, it is all up to him now. He has the talent and the coaching needed to be a great player, but what he does with it will determine how great he will be.

By Mike Platania, sports staff writer

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 253 pounds

Position: Linebacker

2012 Year: r-Senior

High School: Myrtle Beach

Hokies starting middle linebacker Bruce Taylor’s plans to enter the NFL Draft were delayed when he injured his foot in this year’s game against Boston College, which caused him to miss the remainder of the season.

Though Taylor’s loss might end up being Tech fans’ gain, as this means that he’ll be back for his senior season to anchor the defense. At the time of the injury, he was the Hokies’ leading tackler, and would have certainly finished the season in that role if he stayed healthy.

Taylor has the size, speed and instincts to be a great NFL player, and it’ll be a luxury for the Hokies to have a player who might as well be playing on Sundays next season. Taylor was the brains of the defense and was constantly diagnosing plays and blowing them up before they even got started. Taylor’s quick first step has allowed him to chase down running backs, and rush the passer in blitz packages.

Taylor’s play in 2011 earned him Honorable Mention All-ACC honors, and if he stays healthy next season, he could very well jump to the First or Second All-ACC team.

The starting job at middle linebacker is Taylor’s to lose, and the only way that may happen is if he has a setback in his rehabilitation from surgery. The 2012 season should be his third year starting, and if he can stay healthy, he’ll be in for a bright future.

By Brooks Tiffany

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 219 pounds

Position: Cornerback

2012 Year: r-Senior

High School: Deep Run

As you’ve probably already noticed, Antone Exum, the honorable mention All-ACC selection at safety is listed as a cornerback heading into the spring practice. Whether this is a permanent move or a bit of experimentation on the part of defensive secondary coach, Torrian Gray, remains to be seen this spring as he looks to shake things up and broaden the horizons of his secondary.

Last year, Exum started in all 14 games with 11 at safety and three at rover, leading the team with 89 tackles including five for loss. The move to corner indicates that Gray is looking to see if Exum can prove to be more effective at corner and make the secondary a little more flexible, as Exum would bring some versatility to corner and could switch roles at a moment’s notice.

Exum isn’t the only one in the secondary being shifted around as he joins Kyshoen Jarrett and Derrick Bonner who have been moved from corner to free safety and rover respectively. Kyle Fuller, who is entering the spring opposite Exum at cornerback, is no lock for that position either, as he proved to be one of the best players on defense last year and may line up at any number of secondary positions that could benefit from his skill.

The biggest determinant as to whether or not the position moves stick will most likely be how well Exum performs at the corner position. If Exum can lock down corner then these moves might prove to be more than experimentation and we could be looking at the beginnings of Gray’s final concoction for this upcoming season.

However, it’s just too early to tell how all these ingredients will mix together as spring practice is just getting underway and there is a lot of positional learning to be done.  One thing is for sure, Torrian Gray knows what he’s doing when it comes to defensive backs as he helped the likes of Jayron Hosley and Rock Carmichael, make dramatic improvements from one season to the next. Look for Exum to at least gain some valuable experience at the cornerback position this spring with the strong possibility that he may stay there, either way Exum is in for a huge year amongst the secondary.

By Brooks Tiffany

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 208 pounds

Position: Tailback

2012 Year: r-Sophomore

High School: Harrisonburg

Michael Holmes enters spring practice as the heavy favorite to take over duties at the tailback position but will face some competition in the form of the early-enrolling J.C. Coleman. Whether or not Holmes is ready to step up and not only be a starter but fill the shoes of David Wilson is one of the biggest questions as we head into spring practice.

Holmes had a remarkable fall practice, facing off against Bud Foster’s defense and making enough of a statement that he was considered for playing time as a true freshman. Ultimately Holmes was redshirted, but his performance did not go unnoticed as he enters spring practice with the respect of fellow teammates and Foster himself who feel that he has the potential to be something special.

Holmes wasn’t highly recruited out of high school despite rushing for 2, 877 yards on 372 carries for an average 7.7 years per a carry (Harrisonburg’s career leader in rushing yards) and scoring 41 touchdowns as a senior for a total of 248 points. The lack of attention to Holmes can be attributed to the fact that he played behind a sizeable offensive line and faced weaker competition in his league, but he has done nothing but prove that his numbers were no fluke since arriving at Tech.

Holmes brings a natural running style, made more effective by his combination of size and quick feet, and has a nose for holes opening or closing between the tackles. Holmes is the type of back who has the ability to pound it up the middle and break into the second level where he can be extremely dangerous to opposing defenses, who may find themselves in a mismatch as Holmes barrels to the outside for huge chunks of yardage.

While Holmes is the heavy favorite to lockdown the tailback position, he is expected to be part of one of the biggest position battles to occur this spring. Holmes will have to hold off Coleman, who brings a different, more mobile skillset to the table as a scat back. Holmes will also likely have to fend off fullback Martin Scales, who has the athleticism and running ability to move over and become a power back, due to the vacuum created by the empty-tailback depth chart. Look for Holmes to finish locking down the starting position this spring with a worst-case-scenario of simply having to split playing time with J.C. Coles as they both bring different running styles to the table.

By Zach Mariner, sports editor

I just wanted to go ahead and put these up for those of you interested in reading. Most of these will be featured in my defensive story lines piece for tomorrow’s paper.

Follow me on Twitter.

Bud Foster

Having to cut practice short because of lightning: It’s just one of those things. Better to be safe than sorry. I guess it’s still lightning out there. We’ll catch up with it on Friday. I thought we started off with a pretty good attitude and did some nice things. We’re looking forward to team time.

On how things looked on day one: We’ve got a good group of guys back on defense. But still, we need to create some depth. I want to see us keep taking strides. We were a good defense last year, but I want to be a great defense. We want to be one of the best in the country, and that’s what our goal is. But, to do that you’ve got to create some depth and have some depth up front. Obviously we’ve got some holes to fill in the secondary. We’re banged up at linebacker, so we’re looking to create some depth there. Right now, it’s hopefully improve and continue to go in the path we started last year. But then also, continue to develop our depth and get some of the young players to learn their positions and their expectations within the defense.

On Logan Thomas calling his unit “refined:” That’s a compliment. You’ve got some guys that have played. Even on the back end, where we’ve made a couple adjustments, moving some guys around, you had some guys that played and understand the speed of the game and the mindset as far as the communication and the sense of urgency. And that’s nice to see, it’s a nice compliment by Logan, I just hope we stay on that path each day.

On issues with corners switching to safety: My biggest concern will be, ‘Can those guys tackle consistently at the safety spot?’ I mean, they’re corner guys, but they’ve got good size, they’re not small guys. But, I want to make sure they’re good tacklers. Our safeties, we spill the ball to those guys a lot, and just being consistent with communication, there will be some new things for them. But they’ve been a part of it. Especially Bonner and Kyshoen are two young, good prospects that I think football is very important to. They want to be successful. They understand the tradition in our secondary. We’re just trying to create a little bit of depth there by moving guys around a little bit, and maybe maximize some of their abilities and that type of thing. I am curious to see how Antone does consistently in coverage. He’s a good tackler, but playing that boundary corner position, we put our guy in a lot of man-to-man, but he’s also involved in a lot of tackling. And that’s one of his strengths. He can run and cover people. We’re just kind of looking at some things right there. Obviously, Kyle Fuller’s a good football player. He needs more reps at corner, he’s been our nickel guy for the last couple years, so he’s gonna get some more reps at corner. I don’t even know if we’ll run a nickel package this spring. We’ll probably just keep him at corner.

On the backer spot: We moved Derek DiNardo, who’s a really good walk-on kid and we moved Josh Trimble. To me, those are two preferred walk-on guys who are potential scholarship guys. DiNardo started on a couple special teams last year, I think Josh is a guy that can do that. Right now, I think they’ve got good speed, but all of the sudden, if its average speed in the secondary, its good speed at linebacker. So they’re going to learn it, today was day one. I think they’re good football IQ kids. They’re conscientious kids. It’s gonna be good to create some depth. Chase needs to take that next step as a football player. And he’s going to get a majority of the work, which is what he needs. I feel good about Jack Tyler. Brian Laiti is a guy that we redshirted and then sat, didn’t travel last year. He needs to take the next step. Really good prospect out of high school, but he’s got to learn our system and be consistent, but those are gonna be the guys that get a lot of reps. DJ Ward, he’s a preferred walk-on kid from last year, I think he’s got a lot of promise as well. I’m looking forward to working. Where we go, I don’t know, I’m just looking to see how these guys learn the position, get them a good evaluation, and if they can give us some depth, they’ll give us some depth. Tariq will be back and I feel good about Chase. Chase is probably more suited to be a mike, but he’s a valuable guy because he’s intelligent and he can play both spots. So he’s gonna get a lot of reps this spring and I’m excited about it. I think it’ll be a big spring for him and for us. If he can take the next step like Jack Tyler has, and step into some key roles, he can really help our defense.

Antone Exum

On whether or not he was confused at corner: Not really. Today was kind of simple. Those guys looked really good at the safety spot, but as things start to get more complicated, the more and more they’re gonna start looking to me and Kyle for some communication things. So, we’re still out there talking. Everybody in our room has to know everybody’s position. It’s not like I’m at corner now, so I’m being nonchalant and not paying attention, not making calls, things like that.

On moving to corner: I’ve never been a full-time corner. But I played nickel corner as a freshman and was very comfortable. We joke around, call it ‘the slot life.’ It wasn’t necessary the island, but I was in the slot most of the time and I was very comfortable there. With all the coverage responsibilities I had to take on at free safety, I was comfortable there as well. I just see it as a new challenge. I’m not gonna go into it thinking that I’m not gonna excel at it. I still feel comfortable out there.

Were you surprised when they asked you to move to corner?: Kind of. But once we lost (James) Farrow, I kind of was thinking outside of the box, like, ‘They might try me out at corner to get a some depth.’ I was a little surprised when they asked me to switch full-time.

On the idea of having two very physical cornerbacks: I’m real excited. Kyle (Fuller) played a lot of nickel last year, but there’s more to his game than that. He can go out there and cover with the best of them. I feel like I’ll be able to go out there and cover with the best of them, as well. So, you put that together, and then you put how physical both of us of are, me having safety experience, being a bigger guy and Kyle kind of being a big corner and being aggressive with his experience last year at the whip position, I feel like we’ll be in good shape.

Torrian Gray 

Are you worried about the depth at corner?: I am, but in a stretch right now I think I’m going to feel good about Mike Cole, I think Boye is going to take steps at safety, Theron Norman, I think all those guys are going to take steps at safety so if you don’t have anybody coming along, you can move those guys back. So you know, all it’s doing is adding flexibility to us. I can move Antone back but we have corners in Kyshoen and those guys, it’s just trying to maximize the personnel but I feel better now knowing those guys can go in and play safety. Corner is not easy at all but at least those guys are corners at heart too. Because I think our back up safety is going to be ok I don’t feel as bad as what it looks like on paper at our corner spot.

What to expect from January enrollee Donaldven Manning: From a technique fundamental standpoint I expect him to get better. Physically he’s only going to get so big at this point in time in his career but if he can show physically that he can get down the techniques and do those types of things I’ll feel encouraged because he’s going to be 15 practices better starting fall.

When do you know if your secondary switches are working?: I think as a coaching staff we are just going to see. I think the players have bought into it so now its just going out and right now we are just committed to working this way through the spring or we may look after the first scrimmage and have a discussion but for right now from the little bit of information I have gotten today I think this is something that we are going to want to go ahead and finish with the spring and be committed to it and just evaluate it afterwards but I really think we’ll have a chance for this to work out.

On moving Exum to cornerback: Well, Antone has great physical ability. Antone kind of slowed down at times last year when things started moving and shifting and all those things. He’s a good enough athlete where if you just put him out on a number one and let him line up there where its man or zone we figure it will just give him a chance to just let go and play. So that’s what we started discussing and decided to just try it and you hope that the guys that went from corner to safety can handle their end of the bargain because Antone was an exceptional tackler and an exceptional safety but just when things started moving we didn’t get him to play as fast.

—

Photo by Kevin Dickel, SPPS

By Zach Mariner, sports editor

The Hokies kicked off spring practice on Wednesday night, despite being cut short 15 minutes by lightning.

Check out my offensive story lines piece in Thursday’s paper.

While the defense looked sharp, the offense looked — as Logan Thomas put it — “rusty.” While that’s to be expected from a group that lost eight of its starters, there are some signs for hope. Primarily, the (hopeful) development of the offensive line and the talent (albeit unknown) in the backfield.

I’m only posting the offensive quotes I got from tonight. I’m saving all defensive stuff for tomorrow.

Follow me on Twitter: @ZMarinerCT

Logan Thomas

On new running backs JC Coleman and Michael Holmes: They looked good. Obviously it’s a learning curve. Today was kind of simple, so I think everybody handled it pretty well.

On the offense having to replace eight starters: I think we’re going to be just fine. We’ve got some experience out wide in our receiving core and use their knowledge and let the young guys know. Also, the backfield, they’ve got me back there, so if they’ve got questions they can ask me. O-line will be fine like always, Coach Newsome will get them right. I think we’ll be a dominant offense just like we were last year.

On what he needs to improve on: You’re never done learning. I’ve got to go out here every day and play in practice like it’s a game. The guys will see that, as well. Everybody’s got something to prove. I’ve got to be more accurate, make better reads, and deliver the ball on time. I think if we do that, I can be a better play and make this offense a better group.

On how the team looked: Everybody looked pretty good, I thought. The defense looked refined, just like they should be, returning nine.

On improving his game: It’s 50 percent mental and 50 percent of it is footwork, and your arm will follow your footwork. You’ll throw a more accurate ball, so obviously I’ve gotta get my footwork right and have a good foundation.

On the offensive line: Those guys will be just fine. They have one of the best coaches out there in Coach Newsome. He’ll get them right, get their minds right and they’ll be ready to go when that time comes. Of course there’s going to be some learning, but I think they’ll be just fine.

On having Andrew Miller back: The center’s the anchor of your line. They’re the one that makes the calls up front, and if they can relay it down the line and vice-versa, we’ll be just fine up front. They’re smart guys up there.

On Holmes: I think he’s a lot like Ryan Williams, in comparison. He’s got great lateral movement, and he’s got good quickness straight ahead. He’ll make you miss more than he’ll run over you.

Curt Newsome

On transfer OT Brent Benedict: I went down to Jacksonville when he was coming out of high school, so I knew what kind of kid he was. But, as far as a football player at this level, we’re still learning. I like his attitude right now, and I like the way he’s approaching the game. He had a great offseason in the weight room, so I like those things.

On what he likes about Benedict: He’s got a physical presence, and that’s what you like about him. There’s just some technical issues in what you see in the limited amount we’ve watched. But, as far as being a big, physical, strong, tough guy — I think that’s what he brings to the table.

On his new offensive line: Yeah, there’s a bunch of guys that have played. I think this group will work hard, I think it’ll be a great spring based on the little bit of it we saw. They’ve gotta keep that intensity. They came out today with a good attitude, and I think this group’s got a chance.

On what he’s hoping for this spring: These guys have not played on Saturday, and that’s what they’ve gotta do, and we’ve gotta get them to that point this spring.

Shane Beamer

What he thought about his running backs: I was pleased. Mike had a lot of retention, going back to last year. I thought he remembered a lot of it. Today was very basic, what we put in from an offensive standpoint. But he was good, and JC was a guy you wouldn’t have known was his first practice. He seemed natural out there and picked things up really well. It’s hard to tell from not doing a whole lot other than individual drills. It’s a group that’s eager to work hard and I think has a lot of upside.

On what he hopes to accomplish in terms of running backs this spring: We want to be able to identify at least two guys that we can count on this year going into the fall. You don’t want to leave spring practice saying, ‘I don’t know if these guys are gonna be able to help us or not,’ cause then you’re relying on a freshman coming straight into the program. After that, its build on the little things and go from there. Its pass protection, its route running, its catching the ball, carrying the ball, that type of thing. We want to be able to walk out of this spring and say we can count on these guys. Then, if one of these incoming freshman is a part of it, that’s an added bonus. 

On who his No. 1 guy will be: Michael Holmes took the first rep out here today because he’s been here the longest. Every day its competition, every day we’re evaluating, and that’s what we’ve told them. We’ve got 15 days of practice and we’re evaluating every practice, every rep you take is being evaluated. So, we want to compete. And, in the best programs in the country, you have that kind of competition, and that’s what we have.

JC Coleman

On the speed of the game changing from high school to college: Oh yeah most definitely, It was very fast, everybody was moving fast, everything was moving as fast as lightening it seemed like.

On whether or not he was ready for the workouts on a college level: Yeah I was used to it. My coach at Oscar Smith prepared me very well for that and I just took it on the go and I adjusted to that real well.

On 6 a.m. workouts: The first day was a little tough but after that once I knew what I was doing and knew what to expect I was fine and I just got serious. Ever since the first day its been alright.

On coming to Tech early: It wasn’t hard decision for me at all. It was something I actually decided to do my 10th grade year at Oscar Smith and it just wasn’t a tough decision at all. I mean yeah, I miss all my friends and all my teammates and all my high school friends but it wasn’t a tough decision at all.

Photo by Kevin Dickel, SPPS

By Alex Koma, sports staff writer

Tariq Edwards

Height: 6’ 2”

Weight: 232

Position: Linebacker

2012 Year: Redshirt Senior

High School: Marlboro County

Edwards is a linebacker for the Hokies, who recently made headlines for undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his shin.

He’s expected to miss three to four months, but should be a major contributor on defense when he returns later this summer.

He was a star in high school, as he recorded 102 tackles and three sacks in his senior season. ESPN ranked him as the 27^th best outside linebacker in the country, and he was selected to USA Football’s 2009 Junior National Team for international competition.

Edwards redshirted in 2009, his first year with the Hokies. He saw substantial work at linebacker during spring practice, and recorded a pair of tackles in the spring game.

In 2010, he played in every game, and recorded 21 tackles and an interception for the team. Most of his work came on special teams, but he saw snaps on defense in many games. His best game came against Miami, where he grabbed his lone interception of the year and recovered a fumble.

He began to really contribute to the team last season. He started all 12 games at inside linebacker, and tallied 71 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. He was particularly effective in the Sugar Bowl, as he posted eight tackles and a sack against the Wolverines.

Going into this season, Edwards should return as starting linebacker for the team. The surgery he’s having is concerning, as he will have a rod inserted into his tibia, but team physicians are optimistic about his recovery.

Head trainer Mike Goforth said that he played with the injury during the bowl game, but that it wasn’t healing normally, making the surgery necessary. He expects him to be back by the second summer session, as he works with fellow linebackers Derek DiNardo and Bruce Taylor.

By Alex Koma, sports staff writer

Antoine Hopkins

Height: 6’ 1”

Weight: 318

Position: Defensive tackle

2012 Year: Redshirt Senior

High School: Highland Springs

Hopkins is a defensive tackle for the Hokies, and he will be back on the field this season after missing most of last year with a torn ACL.

His brother Derrick is also a defensive tackle for the team, and they should both play big roles along the defensive line this season.

The Roanoke Times ranked Hopkins the 18th best player in the state during his senior year of high school, and Rivals even ranked him the 23^rd best defensive end in the country.

He joined the team in 2008, and although he picked up a lot of reps in the preseason, he ultimately ended up redshirting for the year. He still managed to shine, however, as he scored the winning touchdown in that year’s spring game.

In his first year of play, Hopkins showed immediate promise. He joined the rotation at tackle immediately, as he recorded four tackles, a sack and an interception in the opener against Alabama. He played in most of the rest of the team’s games for the season, including the Chick-Fil-A bowl at the end of the year.

In 2010, he played in every game for the Hokies, and even started the last 12 games of the season. He began starting in the ECU game, and had several impactful games, including the Georgia Tech match, where he recorded a personal best 10 tackles.

Hopkins began the 2011 season poised to build on his previous success, as he started all five of the games he was able to play in. He recorded several tackles and quarterback hurries in every game he competed in, but after tearing his ACL against the Tigers, he was forced to sit out the remainder of the year.

The defensive line will be a crucial part of the Hokies’ defense this year, and both Hopkins brothers will play a large role. Antoine will be an important part of the rotation with his brother Derrick, as well as Luther Maddy.