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

20 Inside Hokie Sports football H O W C A N I B R I N G M Y Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, Hi! chant A L L T H E W A Y I N T O enemy territory? ©2021 Martin Travel Agency, LLC 21_811751a C o n t a c t a M a r t i n T r a v e l A d v i s o r T o d a y Ma r t i nTr av e l . com/ Hok i e s | 540 - 343 - 5400 | Hok i e s@Ma r t i nTr av e l . com Martin has all the official football away game packages. Continued from page 19 coach Justin Fuente has encouraged Conner to take on a more active leadership role with the defense. Look for him to take on that challenge and to improve on the impressive numbers he totaled last season. OTHERS IN THE MIX Devon Hunter returns after a one-year hiatus and should be the top candidate to man the boundary corner post, owning 27 games of experience for Tech. Like Conner, Keonta Jenkins also hails from Jacksonville, and like Dorian Strong at corner, Jenkins was also thrown into the mix out of necessity as a true freshman in 2020. Long and lean, Jenkins played in eight games (two starts) last season. Last year’s experience combined with a strong spring bodes well for Jenkins who is anticipated to work at free safety. Grad transfer Tae Daley comes to Tech after playing in 35 career games for Vanderbilt, where he accumulated 108 tackles (74 solo), three INTs, 5.5 TFL, three passes defensed, a forced fumble and 1.5 sacks. Other players who could make contributions include the likes of J.R. Walker, Nasir Peoples and Jalen Stroman. NOTES • The position group accounted for nine of Tech’s 12 interceptions in 2020. • Conner had 3.5 TFL last season, the most of any Tech safety. • Conner led the team in tackles with 81 in 2020, joining Chuck Clark, Kyshoen Jarrett, Antone Exum, Jr. and Michael Crawford as the only defensive backs to lead the team in tackles since 1974. • Conner has started every game of the past two seasons and has played in every game since his arrival in 2018. POSITION OUTLOOK Justin Hamilton and the Hokies have a nice blend of experience and ascending talent at the safety position. Tech is counting on Conner to assume a bigger leadership role to go along with his proven production. While an experienced performer, Hunter will need to quickly adapt to Hamilton’s scheme, which he has yet to practice in. Daley also owns experience against high-level competition, but did enjoy the benefit of taking practice snaps this season. Jenkins showed promise last season and will hopefully take a big leap in his second campaign. And don’t be surprised to see another true freshman get thrust into the mix, much like Jenkins last year. CHAMARRI CONNER