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Inside Hokie Sports
2016
RECEIVERS
1
Isaiah Ford
(6-2, 195, Jr.)
5
Cam Phillips
(6-0, 199, Jr.)
7
Bucky Hodges
(6-7 245, r-Jr.)
8
Phil Patterson
(6-2, 180, Fr.)
15
Sean Daniel
(5-9, 183, Fr.)
29
Tyler Fitzgerald
(5-9, 178, r-So.)
30
Jordan Jefferson
(5-8, 170, Fr.)
39
Jaylen Bradshaw
(6-1, 202, r-So.)
81
Samuel Denmark
(6-0, 183, Fr.)
83
Eric Kumah
(6-2, 210, Fr.)
86
C.J. Carroll
(5-8, 167, r-So.)
88
Divine Deablo
(6-3, 208, Fr.)
89
Devin Wilson
(6-3, 206, Jr.)
AUGUST, 2016
(In numerical order)
VIRGINIA TECH
RECEIVERS
Perhaps no position on Virginia Tech’s
roster this spring had a bigger adjustment
to the up-tempo offense of new coach Justin
Fuente and new offensive coordinator Brad
Cornelsen than the receivers.
Running a route 15 or 20 yards down the
field—or more—and then sprinting back to
the line of scrimmage to do the exact same
thing, and to do it over and over and over, can
be taxing, both mentally and physically.
Just ask Cam Phillips, one of the best-
conditioned athletes on the squad.
“It was a big adjustment,” Phillips said. “It
took me a couple of practices to get acclimated
and get my wind right. But I think it helps
because, even though there is a physical
aspect to it, there is more of a mental aspect
to it. When you have three plays in a pass
skeleton drill, they’re [the coaches] calling
plays every 10-15 seconds. It’s a mental grind.
You’re like, ‘I’ve got to get back [to the line
of scrimmage]. I’ve got to know what I’m
doing.’ With the practices building up, you get
stronger both physically and mentally. I think
that’s a big positive for us.”
Phillips hopes that a new systembrings forth
different results for the Hokies as an offense
this upcoming season. Tech ranked ninth in the
ACC in passing offense at 225.8 yards passing
per game, though the Hokies ranked third in
the ACC with 24 touchdown passes.
Fans expect more, especially with the
implementation of that new offense and the
return of guys like Phillips and Isaiah Ford,
a first-team All-ACC choice who led the ACC
with 1,164 yards receiving last fall. Ford
enjoyed a record-setting year, establishing
single-season marks for receptions (75),
receiving yardage, and touchdown receptions
(11), while Phillips caught 49 passes for 582
yards and two touchdowns. Only two other
receivers on Tech’s 2015 roster—Kevin
Asante and Demitri Knowles—caught a pass
last season and both of them have completed
their eligibility.
Ford and Phillips, though, give the Hokies’
passing game a great foundation from which
to build an offense.
“We know what we can do, but for the
coaches to have that confidence in us and us
believing in the scheme, I think the sky is the
limit for us,” Phillips said. “I think, with the
playmakers we have, we can be tops in the
country. I’m very excited.”
But Tech’s staff wants to find more at the
receiver spots than just Phillips and Ford,
who both played more than 800 snaps a year
ago. Once aboard, the new staff quickly took
steps that they hope alleviate the depth issues.
First, the coaches secured commitments
from Divine Deablo, Samuel Denmark,
Eric Kumah, and Phil Patterson. Deablo,
Denmark, and Kumah enrolled in January
and participated in spring practice, with the
hopes of being ready to play this fall.
“I think the coaches did a great job of
recruiting guys who have some talent as well
as some wide receiver ability as far as knowing
how to read coverages and run routes,”
Phillips said. “They brought in a lot of guys. If
anything, it’s great for them because they get
to come and learn from me and Isaiah and we
get to work on our leadership skills, helping
them and being big brothers to them.”
The coaches also convinced Devin Wilson
to come out for the team. Wilson, a player on
the men’s basketball squad, caught more than
200 passes for more than 3,000 yards in high
school. He showed enough flashes this spring
to convince the coaches of his ability to help
the team this fall.
Finally, during spring practice, they worked
Bucky Hodges, arguably the most talented
player on the roster, at receiver. Hodges, a
tight end, played a lot at receiver a year ago,
so the transition wasn’t that difficult for him.
But success in the passing game probably
hinges on Ford and Phillips, who increased
his numbers from a year ago, but wasn’t
satisfied.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m
going to be my toughest critic,” Phillips said.
“Personally, it wasn’t the season I wanted to
have. I have high expectations of myself in
everything. That same thing applies to this
season. I’ve set the bar extremely high.”
Returning starters:
Isaiah Ford (23 career
starts), Cam Phillips (19 career starts)
Starters lost:
none
Projected new starters:
none
Top reserves:
C.J. Carroll, Jaylen Bradshaw,
Divine Deablo, Eric Kumah, Samuel Denmark,
Devin Wilson, Phil Patterson
Newcomers:
Deablo, Kumah, Denmark,
Patterson, Wilson
Breakout candidate:
Phillips
Notes:
Outside of Ford and Phillips, none of
Tech’s returning receivers played in a game last
season … Outside of Ford and Phillips, Tech’s
receivers combined to play 124 snaps during
the 2015 regular season … Ford needs 54
receptions to become Tech’s all-time leader in
career receptions and 1,011 yards to become
Tech’s all-time leader in career reception
yardage … Ford also needs six touchdown
receptions to become Tech’s all-time career
leader in that category … Ford had four 100-
yard receiving games last season … Only one
other Tech player had a 100-yard receiving
game last season (Bucky Hodges vs. Duke).
A QUICK GLANCE
Ford
and Phillips
are top
PLAYMAKERS
, but
Hokies
searching
for depth
by
Jimmy Robertson
CAM
PHILLIPS
