Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 12 No. 1 | August 2019

inside.hokiesports.com 25 Proud Supporter of Virginia Tech Athletics 99 Bradley Drive Christiansburg NRV Mall 540-381-8100 www.holidayinn.com/cburgnorth Full Service Restaurant Bar & Grill Game Day Catering, Dine in or Room Service Looking for a “HOKIE HOME” away from HOME? SPECIAL TEAMS by Jimmy Robertson 2019 SPECIAL TEAMS DEPTH CHART (in numerical order) Kickers 92 Mark Applegate (5-11, 155, Fr.) 93 Brian Johnson (6-1, 191, r-Jr.) 96 Parker Romo (5-11, 170, Jr.) 98 Caleb Quick (6-1, 180, r-Fr.) Punter 91 Oscar Bradburn (6-1, 221, Jr.) Snappers 64 Sam DeLuke (5-10, 223, r-Fr.) 85 CJ Scott (5-10, 240, Fr.) 97 Oscar Shadley (6-0, 246, So.) 99 Justin Pollock (6-2, 235, Fr.) PLAYER TO WATCH In his first season as the starting kicker, Brian Johnson made 12 of his 18 field-goal attempts, with a long of 45 yards. He drilled a career-best three field goals against Notre Dame, and he also connected on all 44 of his extra-point attempts for the season. Jordan Stout provided a safety net at the position last season, but Stout decided to transfer at the conclusion of spring practice. Johnson may end up taking over Stout’s kickoff duties—an important job and a tall task considering Stout booted 60 of his 71 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks in 2018. Johnson, though, has kicked off before, including 12 times as a redshirt freshman in 2017 and twice last season. OTHERS IN THE MIX At the placekicking position, Stout’s departure led to the Tech staff securing the services of Parker Romo, a transfer from Tulsa. Romo connected on two of his five field-goal attempts last season and 17 of his 18 extra-point attempts. He worked more as a kickoff specialist, kicking off 59 times, with 28 of those going for touchbacks. The other kickers on the roster are Caleb Quick, who made six of his eight field-goal attempts as a senior at Guerin Catholic in Indiana two seasons ago, and Mark Applegate, a freshman from Fairfax, Virginia. At punter, Oscar Bradburn returns after averaging 42.6 yards per punt in 2018, and he placed 23 punts inside the 20. In the return game, Damon Hazelton led the Hokies with 14 punt returns for an average of 5.36 yards per return last season, while Terius Wheatley paced Tech with 14 kickoff returns (26.4 yards per return). Several candidates are in the mix for these tasks this fall. INTERESTING FACTS • Bradburn was an honorable mention All-ACC choice in 2018 after finishing third in the ACC in punting average. • Bradburn’s 23 punts inside the 20 ranked tied for second in the league. • Bradburn’s 72-yard punt against BC was tied for the second-longest punt in the ACC in 2018. • Johnson’s 12 field goals ranked tied for sixth in the ACC a season ago. • Tech’s punt return average of 6.3 yards per return was 13th in the ACC last season. 2019 OUTLOOK Tech’s coverage units figure to be better in 2019 because a lot of the younger players on those units played extensively last season. Plus, Bradburn returns and provides a threat by flipping the fieldwith his punts. Tech’s staff, though, needs to get more from its returners, and it needs to decide on a kickoff specialist. Also, the coaches need a big year from Johnson, who possesses the potential to be an excellent kicker, but needs to improve from beyond 40 yards. There are a lot of pieces in place for the Hokies to be good on special teams. The coaches just need for those pieces to play up to their potential. BOLD PREDICTION Bradburn averages 45 yards per punt this season, becoming the first Tech punter to average 45 yards per punt in a season in 22 years (Jimmy Kibble, 1997) and just the second to do it in school history.