Virginia Tech Football: 5 Players with the Most to Gain in Spring Practices
It may seem hard to believe, but spring practice is just around the corner. For college football fans, it's the best time of the year—outside of opening weekend. The Virginia Tech Hokies, coming off a 7-6 campaign, will look to get back among the ACC elite in 2015.
That march begins in just over a month when the Hokies report to spring practice. The annual spring game will be held on April 25 at 2 p.m. ET.
Fortunately for the Hokies, they only have to replace seven starters combined on both sides of the ball.
Last season was a banner year for Tech freshmen. Players like Isaiah Ford, Bucky Hodges, Cam Phillips, Wyatt Teller, Greg Stroman and Andrew Motuapuaka all made significant impacts for Virginia Tech. That bodes well for Tech's hopes of returning to the top of the ACC.
Which Hokies player will step up in 2015? Here are five players with the most gain in spring practice.
Offensive Tackle Jonathan McLaughlin
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Junior Jonathan McLaughlin appears to be a shoo-in to start at left tackle for Virginia Tech in 2015. After all, he started every game as a true freshman in 2013, protecting former star quarterback Logan Thomas' blind side. However, new offensive line coach Stacy Searels moved McLaughlin over to right tackle in 2014.
So, will Searels change his mind about McLaughlin playing on the left side or does he think McLaughlin projects better on the right side?
This is a question McLaughlin must answer this spring. Laurence Gibson, last year's starter at left tackle, is gone. McLaughlin's prime competition to start at left tackle could come from true freshman and early enrollee Austin Clark. Clark will likely play this fall and is a highly regarded 4-star prospect.
It would make the most sense for Tech if Clark was allowed to ease into the starting lineup as a right tackle. But that's totally up to McLaughlin. At 6'5", 306 pounds, McLaughlin has ideal size and strength to play left tackle. However, he sometimes struggles with quicker defensive ends, something all left tackles will face.
He'll have his hands full this spring with Dadi Nicolas, something that should bring the best out of McLaughlin. If he performs well, he will answer Tech's biggest question along the offensive line in the 2015 season.
Wide Receiver Jaylen Bradshaw
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Willie Byrn's departure opens up a spot at slot receiver for Virginia Tech this spring. Byrn, a steady route-runner with good hands, was a reliable target for Thomas and Michael Brewer the last two years. He just wasn't a big-time playmaker.
Enter Jaylen Bradshaw.
The 6'1", 174-pound redshirt freshman from Chesapeake, Virginia, could help the Hokies next fall with a strong spring. Bradshaw redshirted last season as he adjusted to the speed of the college game and the complex nature of Tech's offense, per Evan Watkins of 247Sports:
"Transition has been good, it is a faster pace than high school. All you have to do is just learn the plays and learn your responsibilities and everything will come through. It has been a real complex playbook and in the huddle, they only call the play once and they call it very, very fast, so you have to know what your responsibilities are on that play and make quick decisions.
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Bradshaw is fast, quick and surprisingly strong. He used his redshirt freshman season to learn from former receivers coach Aaron Moorehead, who is now at Texas A&M. Bradshaw can give the Hokies a dynamic weapon from the slot or line up on the outside, too.
The Hokies have a new receivers coach in Zohn Burden. Bradshaw will have to show Burden that he's up to speed on Tech's offense and make plays this spring when his number is called. A good spring will go a long way in Bradshaw becoming VT's No. 3 wide receiver in 2015.
Quarterback Michael Brewer
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Brewer started all 13 games for Virginia Tech in 2014. The redshirt junior was a hero in Blacksburg after the upset win over Ohio State. He showed a clutch gene in making several big-time throws in the win over the Buckeyes while playing hurt.
However, things started to go slowly downhill for Brewer and the Hokies after that big win. His turnovers were an issue and so was his confidence. Early in the season, Brewer hung tough in the pocket, not afraid to make tight throws in small windows. As the season progressed, he struggled with confidence in his protection and also would hold onto the ball too long, leading to more sacks.
Brewer played well to end the season with wins over Virginia and Cincinnati. But his hold on the starting job is not tight. Offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler told head coach Frank Beamer's official website, BeamerBall.com the best player will play:
"Absolutely. That’s the way it’s always going to be in my room. You’re fighting for your job each and every day. Of course you have situations like we did with Logan Thomas where you knew he would be the starter, still, I walked into that room every day and told the others to go and beat out Logan. I want that competitive situation, that’s why we’ve recruited the amount of quarterbacks that we have. We’re very young at that spot, minus Michael Brewer, and I like it that way. I want it extremely competitive, I want every rep to matter, because it makes everybody in the room better. So, it’s no different for Lawson than it is any of the other guys in that room, they’ll all get a chance to compete for the job. What they do with it is up to them. Of course the advantage for the guys already here, is that they’ll get another spring under their belts and that experience is always important. But to answer your question, if the younger guy comes in and he’s better than the rest, he’s gonna play. It’s that simple.
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Brewer could end all of the talk about a competition with a strong spring.
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Cornerback Greg Stroman
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Rising sophomore Greg Stroman was a star in the Military Bowl. He was everywhere for the Hokies. He played some offense, rushing for 17 yards on two carries and also caught a pass. On special teams, Stroman returned a punt 37 yards and broke up a pass on defense before picking up a fumble and returning it for a touchdown.
That type of versatility will get you noticed.
Stroman is a tremendous athlete and will likely continue as Tech's primary punt returner. He played last season at a slight 164 pounds, so look for him to be stronger by the time spring practice rolls around.
All-American Kendall Fuller has one spot locked down, while 2013 star Brandon Facyson looks to get back his starting position after missing the majority of 2014 with a leg injury. Facyson, though, will miss spring practice, opening up an opportunity for Stroman to impress coaches.
Stroman will likely battle Donovan Riley and Chuck Clark to line up opposite of Fuller this spring. Remember, it's no sure thing that Facyson is the same player he was before the injury, so if Stroman shows coaches he's the best option, he could start next fall.
Safety CJ Reavis
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There's a big hole on the back end of Virginia Tech's defense in 2015. Free safety Detrick Bonner and rover Kyshoen Jarrett, starters of 40 and 39 games, respectively, have graduated.
Sophomore C.J. Reavis, one of Tech's top recruits in 2014, is the leading contender to replace Bonner at free safety. Reavis, who was a stalwart on special teams as a freshman, played sparingly on the defensive side of the ball.
At 6'1", 207 pounds, Reavis brings great size to the position. In high school, he was always around the ball and could be an upgrade in that department for the Hokies. Replacing Bonner, initially, will be tough. He was often responsible for lining up Tech's defensive backs and was a steady overall player for defensive coordinator Bud Foster.
Reavis' upside, however, could help the Hokies take the next step in 2015. He needs a good spring to show Foster and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray he's ready for the added responsibilities.
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