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Inside Hokie Sports
2016
OFFENSIVE LINE
Returning starters:
Jonathan McLaughlin
(35 career starts), Augie Conte (23 career
starts), Wyatt Teller (18 career starts), Eric
Gallo (13 career starts)
Starter lost:
Wade Hansen (16 career starts)
Projected new starter:
Parker Osterloh
Top reserves:
Yosuah Nijman, Demetri Moore,
Kyle Chung, Tyrell Smith, Billy Ray Mitchell,
Colt Pettit
Newcomers:
Moore, Smith, Austin Cannon,
D’Andre Plantin,
Breakout candidate:
Gallo
Notes:
Tech is one of just 19 teams in NCAA
Division I with at least 90 career starts returning
on the offensive line … Only North Carolina
(131) has more career starts returning on the
offensive line than the Hokies among ACC
teams … Tech ranked 100th nationally a year
ago in sacks allowed per game (2.62) …
McLaughlin has started every game in which
he has played in his career.
A QUICK GLANCE
Jonathan McLaughlin is on schedule
to graduate in December with a degree in
property management, but he wants to put
his musical talents to work in the future.
The big guy plays the drums, dabbles on
the keyboard, and desires a career as a music
producer once his football playing days run
their course. Music represents a stark contrast
to property management, but the latter is a
backup plan—a must in today’s world.
“I definitely want to be a music producer,”
McLaughlin said. “I’ve been playing since
I was 2 years old. My father plays the organ
and I’ve played with him in church. That’s
something I really want to do.
“I do it on the side a little, learning
production and that type of stuff. I play a little
of everything. I play the drums, I play a little
on the keyboard … I’m not great. I just kind
of pick it up by ear. I really can’t read music.
“But yes, I’d like to get into sound
production or engineering or something in
that category. Property management is a
fallback option for me. Got to have that.”
McLaughlin hopes that Tech’s offense is
singing a winning tune this fall, with he and
his offensive line teammates on lead vocals.
They deserve to be in that position, too, given
their level of experience. Four starters return
from last season’s unit.
The group spent the entire spring getting
used to new line coach Vance Vice, who came
from Memphis with new head coach Justin
Fuente. Vice is the Hokies’ third offensive line
coach in four seasons.
But McLaughlin said the transition went
smoothly.
“Coach Vice has been great,” McLaughlin
said. “I’m on my third offensive line coach
and I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else. He’s
been everything people said he would be.
He’s hard on you, but at the same time, you
can tell he cares about everybody—not just
scholarship players, but everybody. He’s a
great coach.
“I wouldn’t say it’s that much different than
before because college coaching is college
coaching to me. As far as him knowing this
offense and him being able to teach us in the
short amount of time that he’s been here has
been more impressive to me. He knows how
to get us to where we need to be for us to be
successful.”
Of course, the returners’ experience helped
make that transition easier. McLaughlin
started every game at left tackle last season,
and center Eric Gallo and right guard Augie
Conte started every game at their respective
positions, too. Left guard Wyatt Teller started
all but one game.
Wade Hansen’s departure leaves the right
tackle spot up in the air. Vice worked a few
different guys at the spot this spring, including
McLaughlin—then again, Vice moved guys at
every position this spring to develop depth.
Offensive
line with
EXPERIENCE
heading
into
2016
campaign
by
Jimmy Robertson
JONATHAN
M
C
LAUGHLIN