Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 10 No. 4 | March 2018

inside.hokiesports.com 9 by Jimmy Robertson Young players under the spotlight, as Tech’s football staff looks for options this spring It’s time for that annual rite of spring. No, not Groundhog Day, or moving the clock forward an hour, or even the family Easter egg hunt. No, in Hokie Nation, the most important rite of spring is the start of spring football practice, and their beloved Hokies started the first of their 15 allotted practices March 17. For the players, the time marked the end of the first quarter to their season—grueling winter workouts. Tech finished its 2017 season with a respectable 9-4 record and a No. 24 national ranking in The Associated Press poll, though a bitter loss to Oklahoma State in the Camping World Bowl still lingers. Now, the Hokies look to the 2018 season needing to replace three starters on offense, six on defense and the field-goal/kickoff kicker. The Hokies will be young—again. So which of those young players can emerge this spring to replace the talent and production lost off last year’s team? Well, here is another annual spring right: this column’s five players to watch this spring. Here is the list: Ashby enters spring practice as the most experienced contender at one of the more critical spots in Tech’s defense—mike linebacker. The rising sophomore played in 13 games a season ago, with nearly all of his action coming on special teams. That modest experience gives him an edge on the other candidates. He resembles departing starter Andrew Motuapuaka in that he is a little short at 5-foot-10, but a powerful 230 pounds. Motuapuaka, though, made a ton of big plays. Can Ashby? Finding out that answer began March 17. Basically, all the material written about Ashby applies here, as Tech’s staff lost potential NFL first-round draft pick Tremaine Edmunds and steady backup Anthony Shegog at the backer position. Rivers played a little more on defense in a mop-up role than Ashby this past season, but outside of that, the similarities are striking. Rivers, at 6-1, 235 pounds, was highly recruited, and the rising sophomore finds himself in the perfect position for a young player—with the edge on a starting role on Tech’s defense. Hopefully, he takes advantage of that opportunity over the next month. The Hokies entered spring practice with 13 players listed at the receiver positions. A year ago, they relied extensively on one—Cam Phillips, who took all of his Tech records and departed. Josh Jackson needs for some receivers to emerge this spring, and Kumah may be the best bet. The rising junior caught 28 balls for 324 yards this past fall and needs to take the next step in his development. He provides the best combination of size (6-2, 220 pounds) and hands, which he showed last season when he made several difficult catches. He just needs to be a little more consistent. Tech’s staff, and this team, really need for him to develop into a 70-catch option this fall. Pairing these two makes the most sense because one of them figures to be the favorite to start at the cornerback position opposite of Adonis Alexander. Which one? Well, Watts, a rising sophomore, played in all 13 games a year ago, mostly on special teams, while Rodgers, a rising redshirt sophomore, played in seven games. Watts certainly brings serious speed, having won the 55-meter state indoor championship as a high school senior in New Jersey. Tech’s staff has lacked depth at the cornerback position in part because the Hokies play so many defensive backs at other spots (safety, rover and nickel). The coaches certainly need for another consistent corner to step forward—and this is the time for Watts and Rodgers. Tech’s staff appears to be leaning toward moving last year’s starting right tackle, Kyle Chung, to center to replace Eric Gallo. That leaves an opportunity for Smith or Plantin, both of whomare rising redshirt juniors. Smith nearly won the starting job at right tackle this past season before offensive line coach Vance Vice elected to go with the more experienced Chung. Plantin played quite a bit at left tackle toward the end of the season after an injury to Yosuah Nijman. The time is now for both, but especially the 305-pound Smith, who is in his fourth spring practice since coming to Tech. The Hokies actually possess a lot of depth and talent on the offensive line, and Vice thinks highly of some of his younger tackles, including T.J. Jackson and Silas Dzansi. But Smith and Plantin possess the experience, which usually helps a player win the battle. It’s certainly a position worth monitoring. Not a valid offering in any state where registration is required but not yet completed.One resident must be at least 55 years of age and no residents allowed under the age of 19. 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