Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 10 No. 1 | August 2017

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Also, Parker Osterloh, who missed spring
practice with an injury, factors into the
equation. Osterloh and Chung, both seniors,
possess some versatility, with the ability to play
multiple positions. In particular, Vice views
Chung as someone with the ability to play very
well at any of the three interior spots.
The Hokies don’t have a true first and
second team on the offensive line just yet, but
Gallo, Teller, Nijman, Pfaff, Smith, Chung and
Osterloh give Vice seven reasonably consistent
and dependable players. Guys like Chung and
Osterloh give him more with their versatility.
In addition, Vice likes his contingent
of young linemen—a group that includes
mammoth tackle T.J. Jackson, tackle D’Andre
Plantin and center Zachariah Hoyt. They went
through some growing pains this spring, but
they showed potential.
Overall, the Hokies are in better shape
numbers-wise on the offensive front than a
year ago and even in years past. The staff likes
the mix of youth and experience, both for this
upcoming season and for future seasons.
Tech fans know the importance of a
good offensive line. Depth and talent on the
offensive line certainly make things easier
for the collection of young skill talent behind
them, including whoever wins the quarterback
job. And if the skill players improve, then
they give the Hokies a chance at producing in
the manner of last season’s offense, which set
numerous records behind great play from the
skill players and the offensive line.
“We don’t want to take any steps backward,”
Gallo said. “We want to keep getting better, no
matter what position we’re playing individually
or as an offense. We’re always looking to
improve, whether it’s points scored or yards
50 Patrick Kearns (6-5, 290, r-Fr.)
52 Austin Cannon (6-2, 314, r-Fr.)
53 Aiden Brown (6-2, 273, Fr.)
57 Wyatt Teller (6-5, 315, r-Sr.)
60 Silas Dzansi (6-5, 305, Fr.)
61 Kyle Chung (6-3, 302, r-Sr.)
62 D’Andre Plantin (6-5, 301, r-So.)
63 Daniel Bailey (6-3, 300, r-So.)
64 Eric Gallo (6-2, 300, Sr.)
65 Matt Christ (6-3, 273, r-So.)
67 Parker Osterloh (6-8, 325, r-Sr.)
68 Connor Kish (6-2, 295, r-So.)
69 Yosuah Nijman (6-7, 320, Jr.)
70 Kevin Kish (6-2, 292, r-So.)
71 T.J. Jackson (6-6, 320, r-Fr.)
74 Braxton Pfaff (6-5, 308, r-Jr.)
75 Zachariah Hoyt (6-4, 298, r-Fr.)
76 Jarrett Hopple (6-7, 305, r-Fr.)
77 Demetri Moore (6-6, 302, r-Jr.)
79 Tyrell Smith (6-3, 301, r-So.)
AUGUST • 2017 (In numerical order)
VIRGINIA TECH
OFFENSIVE LINE
Returning starters: Wyatt Teller
(30 career starts), Eric Gallo (25 career
starts), Yosuah Nijman (14 career starts)
Starters lost: Jonathan McLaughlin (49 career
starts), Augie Conte (37 career starts)
Projected new starters: Tyrell Smith,
Braxton Pfaff, Parker Osterloh, or Kyle Chung
Top reserves: Zachariah Hoyt, T.J. Jackson,
D’Andre Plantin, Austin Cannon
Newcomers: Hoyt, Jackson, Cannon,
Patrick Kearns, Jarrett Hopple, Silas Dzansi,
Aiden Brown
Breakout candidate: Nijman
Notes: Tech started the same offensive line
for the final 11 games of the 2016 season
… The Hokies return 72 career starts on
the offensive line … Of those returning, only
Nijman started every game last season …
The Hokies ranked 83rd nationally in sacks
allowed per game (2.29) —an improvement
of 17 spots from the 2015 season.
QUICK FACTS
ON TECH’S OL
gained. We’re focusing in on each week and
focused on winning. We take it one game at a
time.”
Of course, Gallo knows that doing big things
requires doing little things first. The offensive
line started working on the little things this
spring and continued Aug. 1 when fall practices
commenced.
Hopefully, the little things add up—and as
a finance major, Gallo knows all too well the
importance of that.