With less than two weeks until the Hokies take on the Broncos in D.C, it’s time to take a look at who has been a standout this summer for the Virginia Tech Hokies. The two-deep is all but finalized now with Logan Thomas taking over the number two quarterback job, J.R. Collins and James Gayle adding depth at defensive end, and Jacob Sykes emerging as the number four cornerback. All of those names you’ll see below.
Obviously, you’re going to wonder where Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Williams, and some of our other big names are on this list. I’m not saying those guys have had a bad summer, far from it but I wanted to leave this list to some of the newer faces on this Tech squad. If I had to, I would put all those guys on this list (especially Williams) but that would make the list a little more boring. That’s just my opinion though.
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Alright, let’s get to the list.
David Wilson – Running Back – Sophomore
With Williams and Darren Evans taking the majority of the spotlight coming into summer practice, Wilson took it upon himself to make this potential redshirt opportunity a tough decision for the coaches. He’s done just that. In my recent article on Wilson, I pondered how could you redshirt the kid. He’s explosive and another homerun threat when he’s on the field.
Logan Thomas- Quarterback – R-Freshman
Thomas was a player who needed to step his game up this fall and so far he has. With Tyrod entering his senior year, Tech needed to find their QB of the future and they found a good one in Thomas. Obviously, if Tyrod does get hurt I’m not 100-percent sold that Thomas could keep us on a national title pace but he would be a lot better option then we tend to have as our backup quarterback.
Kyle Fuller – Cornerback – Freshman
The Hokies lowest ranked recruit from their 2010 class is looking like he is going to be one of Tech’s best prospects for the future. Fuller appears to be one of possibly two true freshmen that are going to play this fall. Obviously, with the emergence of Sykes (who we mentioned earlier) he still may redshirt but he’s another player that’s done all he can possibly do in order to play this fall.
Derrick Hopkins – Defensive Tackle – Freshman
Hopkins is the other true freshman that will definitely play this fall. With Dwight Tucker and Isaiah Hamlette failing to step it up this fall, Hopkins will likely enter the season as the fourth defensive tackle on the depth chart. With his brother Antoine being just a sophomore, there is a strong possibility that we could see a brother combo at defensive tackle in the future. The good news for Tech fans is that there is another Hopkins brother in high school. Man, I love these Fuller and Hopkins families.
D.J. Coles – Wide Receiver – Sophomore
Coles was an interesting prospect in high school, as he waited until the fall to commit to Tech and never talked to any of the recruiting services about his recruitment. Now that he’s at Tech, he’s remained fairly quiet at least until this August. With Boyce suffering what is likely a season ending knee injury, Coles will be able to slide into the fifth wide receiver spot behind Jarrett Boykin, Danny Coale, Dyrell Roberts, and Marcus Davis.
Bruce Taylor – Linebacker – Sophomore
When Taylor signed his LOI, many Tech fans had him penciled in as the future Vince Hall at Mike linebacker. This fall he finally began living up to those expectations. With Rivers out until October at the earliest, Taylor has taken the reigns at MLB and probably won’t let go of them any time soon. If I had to give a defensive MVP award for this month, it would go to Taylor. He’s been by far the most impressive player on that side of the ball thus far.
J.R. Collins – Defensive End – R-Freshman
Collins was a huge coup for the Tech coaching staff back in the 2009 class as Tech beat out UVA and Penn State for him. After a much need redshirt year, Collins has impressed the coaches that Wiles said this about him in a recent Kyle Tucker blog update: “Now it’s kind of Friday, maybe shakeup Drager and J.R. in a bag. J.R. has made a really good preparation.”
Andrew Miller – Center – R-Freshman
Miller has missed a lot of scout team reps last year due to injury but that hasn’t affected him much this fall. Miller has locked up the back-up center job and will likely inherit the starting job in 2011. Also, Miller’s play will open up an opportunity for Michael Via to play offensive tackle (where he’s a better fit) when he returns from his ACL injury.
James Gayle – Defensive End – R-Freshman
Gayle is out of the same high school as Chris Ellis and if you look at him in a uniform, they do look very similar. Gayle exploded onto the scene with a great spring practice and he will be Friday’s primary backup this fall. Right now, Gayle is probably the best true pass rusher on this team but he needs to work on being more consistent and playing at a high level on every play. If something happens to Friday this year, I’ll be a little concerned about Gayle taking over as a starter because of that inconsistency but he’ll definitely be a great player to stick into the game on 3rd and long situations.
Jacob Sykes – Cornerback – R-Junior
Sykes was a player that could have easily transferred least year but decided to stick around and now that decision is really paying off. Sykes has been a ballhawk in the scrimmages this summer and will likely enter the season as the number three cornerback behind starters Rashad Carmichael and Jayron Hosely. Cris Hill could technically have that title but Hill hasn’t been as impressive this summer. Those four will be the complete the two-deep at the position this fall. I would suspect Fuller to be the fifth or the emergency cornerback this season.
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