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SPRING
redshirting. I think it’s going to be a good year. This was a good year to
get stronger, better and learn the offense more.”
Therein lies the true importance of 2016 for Jackson, who also
traveled with the team this fall, though he didn’t play. He needed to
get physically ready, but more importantly, become a more cerebral
quarterback.
Evans’ departure makes Jackson, who has bulked up to around
215 pounds, arguably the most important recruit in the class, if, for
nothing else, because of his position. So that makes spring practice of
the utmost importance for him. He needs to develop—and quickly.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” he said. “I’m going to try
to be the best that I can be throughout the spring and the summer,
and we’ll see how everything works out.
“I’d say this has been a good learning experience, just to be able to
sit back, watch and look at all the teams I’m going to be playing in the
future. It’s good to see all the tendencies and things like that. It’s been
good to watch and learn from Jerod and see how the coaches coach
him throughout the game. All of that’s been real helpful.”
The spring figures to be of importance to pretty much all of those
on the offense who took redshirt seasons, particularly the receivers.
The 2016 recruiting class consisted of four receivers, including
two—Deablo and Kumah—who played. Samuel Denmark and Phil
Patterson took redshirt seasons.
Deablo and Kumah saw most of their game action on special
teams, but they at least got practice reps that should serve them well
in spring practice. All four receivers bring size and speed, with each
listed over 6-foot tall. Tech’s receiving group lacked depth this season
beyond the big three of Isaiah Ford, Cam Phillips and Bucky Hodges.
Ford and Hodges also decided
to leave school early and make
themselves available for the
NFL Draft. So developing depth at these spots remains paramount.
The staff also wants to develop depth on the offensive line—the
prime reason that the coaches signed six offensive linemen last year.
Silas Dzansi, a 6-foot-5, 270-pounder from Woodbridge, Virginia,
expects to enroll in a couple of weeks for the spring semester.
Demetri Moore, a junior college offensive lineman, dealt with
an injury for much of the fall and didn’t play. TJ Jackson, Patrick
Kearns, Jarrett Hopple and Zachariah Hoyt used the fall to get bigger
and stronger. All of these guys are huge, with each standing taller
than 6-5, so the potential with this group is tremendous.
On the other side of the ball, Tech’s staff played four true
freshmen—Beckett, Floyd, Quillen and Taylor. Beckett played in all
13 games, while Floyd and Quillen played in 11. Most of their action
came on special teams, and Beckett led the trio with six tackles.
The coaches on defense hope to see an emergence from those who
took redshirt seasons. Tech’s defense played well during the 2016
campaign, but the Hokies lacked depth at every position outside of
defensive tackle. They were fortunate to keep most of their prominent
players healthy this past fall, particularly at cornerback and at
linebacker—hence the reasoning behind working Beckett at backer as
a true freshman and playing both Quillen and Floyd as true freshmen
in the secondary. The coaches needed them as insurance policies.
Now it’s time to learn about the rest of the freshmen who took
redshirt seasons. Expect to see Carter, a 6-1, 231-pounder, get a
lot of work at mike linebacker this spring, and expect to see Khalil
Ladler and Rodgers, two lanky defensive backs, see plenty of action
as well. Ladler, a one-time four-star recruit from Georgia, enrolled
last January and spent much of 2016 getting stronger after suffering
a torn ACL his senior season of high school. The 5-11, 183-pounder
should be ready to live up to his lofty rankings.
Continued on page 24
inside.hokiesports.com23
Tyree Rodgers
Emmanuel Belmar
Khalil Ladler
IHS extra