Virginia Tech Football: Week 1 Fall Practice Stock Report

The official countdown to the beginning of the 2013 season began Monday for the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Hokies opened fall practice only 26 days shy of their season opener against two-time defending national champion Alabama.

There are many storylines to watch throughout the next month. New offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler and his installation of a new offense will get the most attention. 

Can new offensive line coach Jeff Grimes find the right combination of linemen in time for the Alabama game?

Which, if any, true freshman will make an impact this season?

These are a few of the questions we will review each week, but before we get to that, we must review some newsworthy items pertaining to the Hokies this week. 

Antone Exum Likely out for the First Month

Antone Exum's visit to the doctor on Monday didn't go as planned. Exum, who tore his ACL in January, was hoping he would be available for the season opener. Unfortunately for Exum, Dr. James Andrews felt Exum needed several more weeks of rehabilitation, therefore possibly keeping him out for the first month of the season.

The Hokies have been cautiously optimistic about Exum throughout the offseason. In the spring, Donovan Riley, Donaldven Manning and Brandon Facyson all worked at Exum's position in anticipation of him being unavailable against the Crimson Tide.

It is a tough blow for the Hokies, but it is one they expected. Exum should be a full-go when conference play begins on Sept. 26 at Georgia Tech. 

Exum would likely have drawn the responsibility of covering Amari Cooper in the opener. Kyle Fuller, are you ready?

Former Top Recruit Changes Positions

The first week of fall practice is when we often learn of position changes. Coaches use the summer to review film of spring practice and weigh team needs in deciding if a player will switch positions.

The most noteworthy Hokie changing positions is redshirt freshman wide receiver, Joel Caleb. The team's top recruit in 2012, Caleb was low on the depth chart at receiver, and coaches felt the lack of depth at running back combined with Caleb's outstanding physical ability made him a perfect candidate to move to the backfield.  

Caleb, a former quarterback in high school, was happy with the position switch. This doesn't mean he still won't be a receiver, but his size (6'2", 205 lbs) gave the Hokies another big back behind Trey Edmunds.

At this point, the move appears to be more because of the lack of depth at running back than Caleb's lack of progress at receiver. This situation is one to watch, though.

Unfortunately for Caleb, his violation of a team rule will keep him out against Alabama. 

Offensive Line Depth Chart

In the first depth chart released since the spring, offensive line coach Jeff Grimes still has true freshman Jonathan McLaughlin listed as the first-team left tackle. However, on the second day of practice, Grimes had junior Mark Shuman playing left tackle.

In the offseason, many projected Shuman to be the team's starter at left tackle. But, in the spring, Grimes had Shuman at guard. This will be one of the more entertaining battles to watch over the next month.

It wasn't just left tackle where Grimes shook things up. On Monday, he had Caleb Farris at center and Brent Benedict at left guard. On Tuesday, he moved former guard David Wang to center and shifted Farris to left guard. Andrew Miller, the former starter at center, has remained at right guard while Laurence Gibson is at right tackle. 

On Wednesday, Grimes switched things up again, moving McLaughlin back to left tackle and Benedict to left guard. Expect this trend to continue the next few weeks.

The only thing for sure appears to be Miller and Gibson manning the right side of the Hokies' offensive line. And that could be subject to change if either struggles. 

Two Freshmen to Play Pivotal Roles on Defense

A pair of true freshmen defensive backs, Kendall Fuller and Brandon Facyson, are atop the depth chart at whip linebacker and cornerback, respectively. The surprise, however, is that it is Fuller who is listed as the whip linebacker. 

Fuller, one of the top recruits in the country, was expected to play as a true freshman. Many figured he'd line up in Exum's spot early in the season until he returned to action.

Facyson, who enrolled in January, helped himself with an outstanding spring that saw him named as the top defensive newcomer. He, along with sophomore Donaldven Manning, are listed as co-starters opposite of Kyle Fuller. 

Facyson is a big corner (6'2", 175 lbs) and just as impressive of an athlete. Head coach Frank Beamer is already among those impressed. He will be a big star in the coming years. 

Fuller playing whip linebacker may be a surprise, but remember, his brother Kyle got on the field early in his career by playing whip. The position requires a strong knowledge of the defense, good coverage skills and the ability to tackle. The younger Fuller is viewed as a complete prospect and should be up to the task. Bud Foster believes he can help the team most as a freshman in this position.

Kendall Fuller is also listed as a co-starter at whip with sophomore Ronny Vandyke. Expect the Hokies to play a lot of nickel this year so Kendall Fuller will play a lot.   

Miscellaneous News and Notes

Several other things have happened this week as well:

• Junior defensive end Corey Marshall will move back to defensive tackle this year for depth. Marshall, who played defensive tackle as a freshman, moved back to his natural position at end in 2012. The Hokies have three seniors in the rotation at defensive end, so this move makes sense. He, along with Kris Harley, will back up starters Derrick Hopkins and Luther Maddy at tackle. 
• A shoulder injury has forced fullback Riley Beiro to give up football. 
• Kicker Brooks Abbott, the kickoff specialist last season, will transfer. 
• Highly touted defensive end, Wyatt Teller, will play defensive tackle this season. Teller, who weighed 253 pounds when summer began, now weighs in at 276.