Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 9 No. 1 | August 2016

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17
2016
RUNNING BACKS
TAILBACKS
16 Coleman Fox (5-11, 193, r-Fr.)
28 Shai McKenzie (5-11, 215, r-So.)
33 Deshawn McClease (5-9, 180, r-Fr.)
34 Travon McMillian (6-0, 205, r-So.)
42 Marshawn Williams (6-0, 227, r-So.)
48 D.J. Reid (6-1, 235, r-So.)
FULLBACKS
32 Steven Peoples (5-9, 218, So.)
41 Trey Skeens (5-11, 216, r-Fr.)
45 Sam Rogers (5-11, 230, Sr.)
AUGUST, 2016 (In numerical order)
VIRGINIA TECH
RUNNING BACKS
Returning starters: Travon McMillian (seven
career starts), Sam Rogers (13 career starts)
Starters lost: none
Projected new starters: none
Top reserves: Shai McKenzie, Marshawn
Williams, Deshawn McClease, D.J. Reid,
Coleman Fox, Steven Peoples
Newcomers: McClease, Fox, Trey Skeens
Breakout candidate: McClease
Notes: McMillian was the only back to rush for
more than 100 yards against BC, the nation’s
top defense, last season … McMillian’s 80.2
yards rushing per game last season ranked fifth
in the ACC … McMillian’s 200 carries ranked
seventh in the ACC … Rogers has played in
39 games in his career … Rogers needs 90
yards of offense to reach 1,000 for his career
… Williams and McKenzie both have rushed
for more than 100 yards at least once in their
careers (Williams twice) … McKenzie received
a medical hardship waiver after playing in just
two games last season … Williams tore his
ACL against Duke in November of 2014 and
hasn’t played since.
A QUICK GLANCE
At the start of the 2015 season, the Virginia
Tech coaching staff decided to work several
running backs in hopes that one would emerge.
Five games into the season, that person did
emerge—Travon McMillian.
McMillian, who started six of the final seven
games, finished the year with 1,043 yards
rushing and seven touchdowns. Brimming
with confidence after his accomplishments,
he goes into this season with some rather lofty
goals.
“My goal is 1,800 [yards], but I’m going to
try and get at least 1,500,” he said.
McMillian averaged 102.5 yards rushing
per game in the Hokies’ final eight games of
last season. That run included five games of
95 yards or more and three of more than 100.
He even rushed for 105 yards on 33 carries
against Boston College, which featured the
best defense in the nation last season.
McMillian
with lofty goals
heading into
UPCOMING
SEASON
by Jimmy
Robertson
here. Every other back would say the same
thing. That’s the kind of attitude you have to
have.”
New coach Justin Fuente likes to hear that.
He wants to run the football and he likes to
play many different backs in an attempt to
rack up yardage on the ground. Again, the
tempo creates more plays—and the need for
more depth.
Tech needs to run the ball better than it did
a season ago when it ranked 81st nationally at
159.2 yards per game—even with McMillian’s
good season. Sacks influenced that number,
for sure, but the offensive line appears to be in
good shape and that, along with McMillian’s
return, gives reason for optimism.
“I’m really confident,” McMillian said. “I
feel like Sam and I are versatile. We can pass
block. We can run the ball. Deshawn McClease
has speed and can get on the edge. He can
also get involved in the passing game. Shai
[McKenzie] is a good ball carrier on short
yardage and so is Marshawn. D.J. [Reid] can
do that as well. Coleman is versatile. We’ve got
a lot of guys who can do different things.”
“I’m not surprised,” McMillian said of his
season. “I feel like this year is going to be a
better year for me, though, just because I
know how to press the line of scrimmage a lot
better. I know the blocking schemes better.
I know how a power play is blocked. I know
how a counter play is blocked. That was stuff I
didn’t really have a feel for last year.”
McMillian, like the rest of the running
backs and other players on offense, went into
spring practice learning a new system under
a new position coach. Zohn Burden, who was
retained from Frank Beamer’s staff, became
the running backs coach after coaching
receivers last year. He takes a little different
approach to coaching than Shane Beamer, the
previous running backs coach.
Burden is quieter and wants things done a
certain way. Beamer took a more boisterous
approach, constantly encouraging his players.
He also allowed them the freedom to do
things their way, provided the job got done.
Both methods work.
Going into spring practice, McMillian knew
a starting job was not guaranteed. Tech returns
dependable Sam Rogers and injured tailbacks
Shai McKenzie and Marshawn Williams went
into August practices at full strength. Deshawn
McClease impressed this spring with his ability
to make people miss in the open field and
Coleman Fox can do some things.
Even the fullbacks bring skills. Rogers, who
often plays both spots, and Steven Peoples
can run, block and catch the ball out of the
backfield. Burden has to love that versatility,
particularly with the Hokies going to an up-
tempo style that creates more plays and thus
the need to play more players.
All running backs got a relatively even
number of reps this spring. So they knew the
urgency to show their abilities.
“When a new coach comes in, it’s a fair shot
for everybody,” McMillian said. “I know what
I’m capable of, and I feel like I’m the best back
TRAVON
MCMILLIAN