Virginia Tech Football: Week 3 Fall Camp Stock Report

The Virginia Tech Hokies completed Week 3 of fall camp Saturday with a scrimmage, likely the last open one before the season begins.

Fortunately for the Hokies, they remained essentially injury free last week, with no new injuries reported. It's a welcome departure for head coach Frank Beamer and his staff as the Hokies have dealt with numerous season-ending injuries in fall camp in recent years. 

Attrition once again reared its ugly head, though, as a pair of redshirt freshmen departed the program, per Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Holland Fisher, a former 4-star recruit from Midlothian, Virginia, requested his transfer, as did cornerback Shawn Payne. Payne wasn't as highly recruited as Fisher, and his departure likely won't be felt as Tech has several talented cornerbacks in the pipeline ready to contribute.

Fisher and Payne's departures come on the heels of C.J. Reavis' dismissal in July, although that situation was a bit different as Reavis was dismissed by the student conduct committee. Fisher and Payne's situations appear to be more about academics. 

As disappointing as it is to see a former top recruit depart without reaching his full potential, running backs coach Shane Beamer says that's the way it is everywhere, per Andy Bitter of the Roanoke Times:

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I think that’s recruiting. You look across the country, all these highly recruited guys that may not turn out to be great players and guys that weren’t recruited at all who turn out to be great players. That’s just part of the recruiting aspect of it. You hate it from a standpoint of you want guys when you bring them into your program to have success, and disappointed that it didn’t quite work out for Holland and Shawn because they’re good kids and they’re really good football players.

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What else went on with Virginia Tech during Week 3 of fall camp?

 

Freshmen DBs Ready to Contribute

As disappointing as it is to see promising, young players leave, it opens the door for other talented newcomers. In Tech's case it is a pair of true freshmen: cornerback Mook Reynolds and rover Adonis Alexander.

If Reavis were still on campus, there's a good chance Alexander may have redshirted. Tech would've had Desmond Frye and Donovan Riley—also a cornerback—behind Reavis at rover. However, Alexander took advantage of his opportunity and most likely will see the field this fall and could end up overtaking Frye as the starter at rover. 

Alexander has the size (6'3", 193 pounds) and athleticism coaches covet for the safety position. He also enrolled in January and has a strong grasp of defensive coordinator Bud Foster's defense. 

Reynolds figures to see his initial playing time at nickelback behind sophomore Greg Stroman. Reynolds, of course, could play in relief of Kendall Fuller and Brandon Facyson on the outside at cornerback, too. 

Regardless, Reynolds is ready and understands the coaching staff may call on him this season.

“No one has said it,” Reynolds said, according to Norm Wood of the Daily Press. “It’s understood. I know what kind of impact I had in the spring coming in early, and I know how high I set the bar for myself. Everybody wants to reach the bar that they set and go a little higher. I’m not the kind of guy to set a bar and then go low.”

That confidence is one of the many reasons why coaches love Reynolds and Alexander. 

 

Offensive Line Still Not Set

For most of the offseason, it was widely assumed Tech had its starting offensive line set in stone. Fall camp has shown us that isn't entirely true, though.

Right tackle Wade Hansen has missed some time with an injury, opening the door for Parker Osterloh, a 6'8", 323-pound sophomore. Osterloh has impressed coaches filling in for Hansen, while also spending some time at left tackle and inside at guard. It's that type of versatility Osterloh believes will help him see the field this fall, per Barber.

“I really, every day, have played at least two positions,” Osterloh said. “It’s sort of challenging, just being able to flip sides and flip plays in your head, but I pride myself on trying to be able to do the best I can wherever Coach needs me.”

Hansen's starting job doesn't appear to be in jeopardy at this time, but Osterloh has shown coaches that if Hansen does go down, he's capable of stepping in and not missing a beat. 

Wyatt Teller, the returning starter at left guard, practiced with the second-team offense at times last week, leading to speculation that perhaps he'd been replaced in the starting lineup.

That isn't the case, as it appears to be a case of Teller not finishing plays in practice as strongly as coaches would like and he was pushed to the bench. Teller's insertion into the starting lineup last season coincided with VT's re-energized running game. He has the ability to be a dominant player. 

If Hansen or left tackle Jonathan McLaughlin struggle this fall, keep an eye on true freshman Yosuah Nijman.

Nijman is 6'8" and 273 pounds with the athleticism of a tight end. He's also new to the position, as he was recruited as a defensive lineman and made the switch to offense in the spring. He's picking up the position fast and will be a starter at some point early in his college career. 

 

Other News and Notes

Redshirt freshman running back Travon McMillian continues to impress coaches. In Saturday's scrimmage, McMillian ripped off a 70-yard touchdown run, displaying his outstanding athleticism in the process. With his speed and shiftiness, McMillian brings a different element to the position and could help the offense this fall.

McMillian's rise also gives the coaching staff some time with rising sophomores Marshawn Williams and Shai McKenzie. Both second-year players tore an ACL last fall and could be redshirted in 2015 with J.C. Coleman, Trey Edmunds and McMillian in the mix. 

Former Hokie legend Bruce Smith was named to the 75th anniversary All-America team last week. It was yet another honor for Smith, who still tops Tech's record books with 46 career sacks and 71 tackles for loss.

Country star Brad Paisley will hold a free concert in the Cassell Coliseum parking lot September 6—the night before Tech's season opener against Ohio State. 

Athletic director Whit Babcock said this concert was a way to thank Virginia Tech fans for their passion and dedication, per the school's official website:

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Hokie Nation supports us with tremendous passion and dedication. The opportunity to bring a Grammy award-winning artist like Brad Paisley to the Virginia Tech campus is great way to thank our great fans and kick off an amazing weekend. We appreciate IMG helping make this memorable event possible.

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