Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 14 No. 1 | August 2021

inside.hokiesports.com 19 football LINEBACKERS PLAYER TO WATCH Dax Hollifield finally moves to his natural middle linebacker post after Rayshard Ashby piled up triple-digit tackle numbers at that spot two of the past three seasons. In 36 games (25 starts) with the Hokies, Hollifield has amassed 181 tackles (69 solo), 14.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks. The Shelby, North Carolina native posted a season-high 13 tackles and sack last season vs. Miami. The high-energy Hollifield should feel right at home playing the Mike position previously mastered by his position coach Jack Tyler, who led Tech in tackles in 2012 and 2013. OTHERS IN THE MIX Hollifield’s move inside also should bode well for Alan Tisdale who is expected to anchor the outside linebacker post. Tisdale finished third on the squad with 59 tackles (21 solo) after splitting time at the position with Hollifield in 2020. The Greensboro, North Carolina product has played in 22 games (five starts) the past two seasons, racking up 111 tackles with 3.0 sacks. Long and athletic, Tisdale is also able to drop into coverage or pick up backs out of the backfield. Dean Ferguson, Keshon Artis and Lakeem Rudolph are also players to keep an eye on during camp. LB NOTES • Hollifield and Tisdale combined for 111 total tackles in 2020 and 6.0 TFL. • Hollifield’s career-high 13 tackles vs. Miami were the top single- game total of any Tech defensive player in 2020. • Tisdale has racked up at least 50 tackles and 4.0 TFL in each of his first two seasons for the Hokies. POSITION OUTLOOK Hollifield and Tisdale give the Hokies an experienced duo in the linebacker corps, while Artis, Ferguson and Rudolph have played primarily on special teams and have relatively small bodies of work on defense. No doubt, 15 full practices during the spring were beneficial for that trio. A wild card could be C.J. McCray who joined Tech after originally signing with Marshall. A former walk-on himself, don’t be surprised if Tyler develops a player not on this list who is able to contribute for Tech in 2021. CORNERBACKS PLAYER TO WATCH After injuries limited him to only a pair of games in 2020, CB Jermaine Waller appears poised to prove he’s the latest in a long line of Tech corners worthy of NFL consideration. An All-ACC honorable mention selection in 2019, he ranked seventh in the conference with three INTs and posted 10 pass breakups. Possessing experience, length and recovery ability, Waller has the prototypical skills to excel at the position. In 27 career games (12 starts), he owns 63 total tackles (48 solo), 3.5 TFL, three INTs and 15 passes defensed. OTHERS IN THE MIX In addition to Waller, Tech has three other corners who own multiple starts. Dorian Strong was thrown into the fire out of necessity a year ago and held his own. In 11 games (five starts), he accumulated 22 tackles, an INT, a fumble recovery, five pass breakups and six passes defensed. Brion Murray has played in 20 career games (nine starts), producing three INTs to go along with 47 tackles (28 solo), five pass breakups and eight passes defensed. Armani Chatman has seen action in 25 games (nine starts), racking up 54 tackles (39 solo) to go along with eight pass breakups and eight passes defensed. CB NOTES • Murray led the corner position with 36 total tackles in 2020 and had Tech’s two longest INT returns on the season–47 yards vs. NC State and 45 yards vs. Boston College. • After his last full season, Waller was rated by PFF College as the No. 9 CB in the country in 2019. POSITION OUTLOOK Tech’s lineage of cornerbacks is long and illustrious. Cornerbacks coach Ryan Smith and his crew are well aware of the expectations and history of this group. A consistent pass rush has long been the best friend of the men in coverage on the back end of the defense. If Tech can do its job up front, the Hokies proved last season that they possess a number of capable corners, which is a must considering the number of snaps that three and even four corners are required on the field. If Waller can return to his 2019 form, look for Strong and others in this group to build on the experience they gained a year ago. SAFETIES PLAYER TO WATCH Chamarri Conner proved to be a rock solid performer last season at arguably the most demanding position on Tech’s defense at nickel. Sure tackling was a trademark of this Jacksonville, Florida native, who led the Hokies with 81 tackles (60 solo) last season, making him only the fifth Tech defensive back since 1974 to earn that distinction. Those 81 tackles ranked seventh in the ACC a year ago and helped him earn All-ACC honorable mention accolades. Conner also proved more than capable in coverage, recording a pair of INTs to go along with four pass breakups and four QB hurries. Look for Conner to be a tone setter in the secondary with his physical style of play. Head Continued on page 20 DAX HOLLIFIELD