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

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anybody,” Scott said. “I think sometimes
younger players think that they have time
when they don’t. We’ve got to go. We’ve
got to get it done right now. He has to have
that sense of urgency. When he does, he’s a
dynamic player.”
Khalil Ladler, a rising redshirt freshman,
came out of spring ball behind Floyd at rover.
Ladler spent much of his time on the scout
team working at cornerback this past fall, but
the staff felt his skillset fit in better at rover.
The nickel defensive back position was
in a state of change this spring, as Reynolds
missed spring practice with an injury. Tech’s
staff had moved another nickel back, Anthony
Shegog, to backer, and then Shegog got hurt,
missing part of spring practice and leaving
the staff unable to work him at both spots as
much as they wanted.
As a result, Deon Newsome, a rising fifth-
year senior, received plenty of reps at the
spot, and he played fairly well. Newsome, like
Deablo, spent the early part of his career at
receiver, but the staff decided to move him
into a defensive back role last year. He played
in 12 games in 2016, with most of that playing
time coming on special teams.
Scott saw marked improvement from
Newsome and views him as someone with the
ability to help the Hokies in multiple ways
this fall.
“He really did a good job,” Scott said. “He’s
physical, he can run and he can cover. He’s
learned the defense, so I think he can help.
“I think he sees that as his chance, and he
wants to make the most of the opportunity. He
just needs to do what he’s supposed to do and
make the plays he’s supposed to make—and if
you do that, you’ll find that you’ll also make a
lot of plays that you weren’t supposed tomake.”
All these positions bear watching once
practice resumes in August. This group of
players performed much better in scrimmages
as spring practice rolled along. If the players
continue to improve, and the injured players
return to full health, then these positions of
uncertainty quickly could become ones of
strength when the season kicks off.
TERRELL
EDMUNDS
, C.E.C.
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