Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 9 No. 5 | May 2017

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4401 Starkey Road, Roanoke, VA 24018
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2017(in numerical order)
50 Patrick Kearns (6-5, 288, r-Fr.)
52 Austin Cannon (6-2, 302, r-Fr.)
56 T.J. Jackson (6-6, 324, r-Fr.)
57 Wyatt Teller (6-5, 308, r-Sr.)
60 Silas Dzansi (6-5, 310, Fr.)
61 Kyle Chung (6-3, 290, r-Sr.)
62 D’Andre Plantin (6-5, 295, r-So.)
63 Daniel Bailey (6-3, 301, r-So.)
64 Eric Gallo (6-2, 295, Sr.)
65 Matt Christ (6-3, 274, r-So.)
66 Billy Ray Mitchell (6-4, 285, r-Jr.)
67 Parker Osterloh (6-8, 326, r-Sr.)
68 Connor Kish (6-2, 280, r-So.)
69 Yosuah Nijman (6-7, 300, Jr.)
70 Kevin Kish (6-2, 286, r-So.)
74 Braxton Pfaff (6-5, 293, r-Jr.)
75 Zachariah Hoyt (6-4, 285, r-Fr.)
76 Jarrett Hopple (6-7, 293, r-Fr.)
77 Demetri Moore (6-6, 303, r-Jr.)
79 Tyrell Smith (6-3, 295, r-So.)
Offensive Line
The Hokies don’t have a true two-deep on
the offensive line just yet, but Gallo, Teller,
Nijman, Pfaff, Smith, Chung and Osterloh
give Vice seven reasonably consistent and
dependable players. Guys like Chung and
Osterloh give himmore in that they possess the
ability to play several spots.
That doesn’t mean that the Hokies lack
young talent. On the contrary, some of the
younger players caught Vice’s eye this spring.
That contingent included tackles T.J. Jackson
and D’Andre Plantin, guard Austin Cannon and
center Zachariah Hoyt.
Jackson may be the most intriguing of
the group. The 6-6, 325-pounder took a
redshirt season this past fall and impressed
Vice despite playing just one year of high
school football.
“T.J. has a very high ceiling,” Vice said.
“He’s in the process of learning how to work
from play to play. He’s flashy—and then he’s
not. We’re working on consistency, and that’s
typical of a lineman during his freshman year.”
Vice also came away impressed with the
work ethics of both Cannon and Hoyt, who
hails from nearby Salem, Virginia. In fact,
Hoyt improved as much, if not more, than any
offensive lineman over the course of the 15
spring practices.
Hoyt’s emergence gives the Hokies three
consistent centers, along with Gallo and Chung.
“The No. 1 reason why he’s made the
improvement that he has is because I don’t
know if there is a guy on this team that’s
matched the work he’s put in this past year,”
Vice said of Hoyt. “Over Christmas break,
it’s out there snowing, and he’s running 100s
[100-yard sprints]. He’s put in extra work.
He lives in the weight room, and he’s got
himself into position now. I’ve got comfort
because Hoyt’s getting bigger and stronger
every day, and he’s starting to understand
the game a little bit. That’s one of the most
pleasant surprises.”
Overall, the Hokies are in better shape
numbers-wise on the offensive front than a
year ago and even in years past. The staff likes
the mix of youth and experience, both for this
upcoming season and for future seasons.
Yet those younger guys need to develop.
Tech’s staffwants to run theballmoreeffectively
and wants to protect the passer better. That
means continued improvement—for everyone.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to know who
the five starters are going to be coming out of
spring practice,” Vice said. “I’ve never been
able to do that, but I’ve got an idea of who gives
us a chance. We’ve got a chance to be OK up
front, but we’ve got to develop some players.
“We need a great summer from everyone.
I don’t think we’re good enough anywhere to
take the summer off and say, ‘See you in the
fall.’ We can’t do that. But overall, I like how
they showed up every day this winter and this
spring with the right mentality. Now we just
need to continue doing that.”