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Inside Hokie Sports
BRANDON
FACYSON
2016
CORNERBACKS
Listening to Brandon Facyson talk about
his summer is almost painful.
He spent his entire summer in Blacksburg,
a rather tranquil place with comfortable
temperatures during those months. But
Facyson’s days during the first summer
school session consisted of two hours of an
organic chemistry course followed by two
hours of lab work. He then took another
organic chemistry course during the second
summer session, which again consisted of
two hours of classroom work and two hours
of lab work.
“Then I’d come over here [Tech’s weight
room] and work out and do rehab and things
like that,” he said. “Then I’d go and study.
It was a hands-on class and you had to keep
up with it. I found myself studying a lot. We
covered two chapters a day and then had a test
every Friday.”
As expected from an All-ACC Academic
Football Team member, Facyson rolled
through the courses and remains on track
to graduate in December with a degree in
biology. His oft-publicized future plans
remain the same—he wants to go to medical
school and eventually become a heart surgeon
once his football career ends.
The next step on the football journey begins
this fall where the Newnan, Georgia product
hopes to put the injuries of the past two
seasons behind him and play the way that he
played as a true freshman when he recorded
five interceptions. Since then, he hasn’t picked
off a pass.
Two years ago, he dealt with a stress
fracture that ended his season after three
games. Then toward the end of that season,
he broke his leg. This spring, he missed spring
practice after injuring his knee in an offseason
workout.
“It’s [the injuries] frustrating, but I take
it day-by-day and I’ve learned to make do
with the situation at hand,” Facyson said
of his injuries. “I’ve got a great support
staff behind me. Every day, I feel like I’m
progressing. That’s all I really want to
do. I don’t think about anything else but
progressing, both on and off the field. It got
frustrating, but you have to learn to accept it
and keep going. In all, I feel like I’m getting
where I need to be.
“It’s getting better and better each day. I’m
taking it day-by-day, listening to my body and
what it tells me. Overall, I feel like I’m getting
stronger. I will be ready for August, so that
shouldn’t be a problem.”
Tech’s defense desperately needs a healthy
Facyson, as he represents one of the few
cornerbacks with any playing experience.
Despite battling nicks, bruises, and nagging
ailments last fall, he started 10 games and
played in all 13, recording 31 tackles and
breaking up 10 passes.
Returning starters:
Brandon Facyson (22
career starts), Greg Stroman (seven career
starts), Adonis Alexander (eight career starts)
Starter lost:
Kendall Fuller (28 career starts)
Projected new starters:
none
Top reserves:
DuWayne Johnson, Shawn
Payne, Curtis Williams, Erikk Banks
Newcomers:
Johnson, Khalil Ladler, Jovonn
Quillen, Tyrone Thornton
Breakout candidate:
Stroman
Notes:
Facyson’s 22 career starts are the
second-most by a Tech secondary player (Chuck
Clark, 26) … Outside of Facyson, Stroman, and
Alexander, the remainder of the cornerbacks on
the depth chart have played in three collegiate
games … The Hokies’ cornerbacks recorded six
of the team’s 10 interceptions last season …
Alexander led the team with four interceptions
… Alexander’s 55 tackles ranked fifth on the
team … As a defense, the Hokies tied for 78th
nationally in interceptions (10 interceptions),
but ranked 19th in passing yards allowed per
game (189.2 ypg).
A QUICK GLANCE
Facyson set to be a
LEADER
at Tech’s
cornerback
spots
by
Jimmy Robertson