Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 13 No. 1 | August 2020

inside.hokiesports.com 23 Providing Teamwork and Fast Forward Document Technology to Virginia Tech Athletics ... and your company! MFPs I Document Management I Managed Print Services I Production Print VBS VT ad 2018_Layout 1 7/26/18 10:28 AM Page 1 by Jimmy Robertson cornerbacks SEASON PREVIEW 2020 CORNERBACKS DEPTH CHART (in numerical order) 12 Nadir Thompson (5-10, 188, r-So.) 27 Armani Chatman (5-11, 195, r-So.) 28 Jermaine Waller (6-1, 180, Jr.) 32 Hunter Green (6-1, 190, r-So.) 37 Brion Murray (5-10, 190, Jr.) PLAYER TO WATCH Caleb Farley’s abrupt departure—he opted out of the 2020 season in late July because of COVID-19 concerns—left Jermaine Waller as the headliner of the Hokies’ returning cornerbacks. Rest assured, he is a good one. With Farley’s departure, Waller ranks as the highest graded returning cornerback in the ACC, according to Pro Football Focus. He brings arguably the same type of skillset as Farley, only without the same name recognition. In many ways, he was just as productive as Farley, and in some ways, more so. Waller started 10 games last season and finished with 46 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss. He also intercepted three passes—tied for fifth in the ACC—including two in the season-changing Miami victory, and he broke up 10 others. Teams may not test Waller much this season, given the Hokies’ unsettled depth chart throughout the cornerback spots. But he’ll be ready if opposing coaches want to come at him, and expecting Farley- like numbers this season is not out of the question. OTHERS IN THE MIX Tech’s staff also thinks highly of Armani Chatman, who held up well after Farley’s injury late in the season. Chatman played in all 13 games, with three starts, and he recorded 22 tackles and two pass breakups. The coaches consider him a third starter. Others in the equation at the moment include Brion Murray, Nadir Thompson, and Hunter Green. Murray has bounced from nickel to cornerback, and he played in 11 games in 2019, with 11 tackles. Thompson played in 10 games, mostly on special teams, while Green did not see any action. Tech defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton may work Nasir Peoples and Ny’Quee Hawkins at cornerback for added depth. Also, he expects some true freshmen to be in the mix. INTERESTING FACTS • The duo of Waller and Chatman have combined to play in 40 games in their careers. • Waller’s 25 career games lead all of Tech’s cornerbacks. • Waller’s seven tackles against Old Dominion were the most by a Tech cornerback in a game last fall. • Waller’s three interceptions were tied for fifth in the ACC last season. • Chatman started three of the Hokies’ final five games of 2019. • Chatman tied Divine Deablo for team-high honors in special teams tackles with five. 2020 OUTLOOK Outside of Waller, and to a lesser extent, Chatman, Tech finds itself lacking depth and experience at the cornerback spots. Keeping those two healthy remains paramount for the Hokies. As for the others, Murray played cornerback in junior college, so he brings a little bit of experience, but the others lack that. They do bring potential and great work ethics, so hopefully new cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith can get the most out of all of them this season. Waller goes into the 2020 campaign ranked among the best cornerbacks in the conference and arguably among the best in the nation. He resembles the great ones in Tech lore—guys like DeAngelo Hall, Brandon Flowers, Macho Harris and Kendall Fuller—and Chatman is only a slight step behind himself. Overall, the potential within the group is there. Hopefully, the consistency follows. BOLD PREDICTION Waller finishes with five interceptions and earns first-team All-ACC honors this fall.