The 2023 Virginia Tech Football Redshirt Tracker is back following the Hokies' 24-17 loss at Marshall. This game saw five true freshmen reach their fourth and final game before burning a redshirt and a walk-on joining the tracker.
Here's where things stand through four games.
- WR Ayden Greene: 4
- LB Caleb Woodson: 4
- CB Braylon Johnson: 4
- CB Dante Lovett: 4
- S Mose Phillips: 4
- WR Takye Heath: 1
- LB George Ballance: 1
Let's start with the newcomer that nobody would have imagined playing this season even a few weeks ago: walk-on LB George Ballance.
Yes, the son of former VT QB Jeff Ballance made his debut Saturday, playing four snaps during the third quarter with Jayden McDonald at a time when the Hokies were clearly frustrated with their LB play. George Ballance was solid in his four snaps having a tackle before not playing again on defense after that stretch.
There's an opening at linebacker for anyone who can step up and provide consistency to earn playing time with Ballance making a solid but brief case against Marshall for more opportunities. Will that lead to anything? We'll see, but his situation is worth monitoring.
Mose Phillips led all true freshmen in snaps this week with 44 on defense on his way to having five tackles. With Jaylen Jones now injured and Nasir Peoples still out due to injury, Phillips could be headed for his first career start this week against Pittsburgh. However, we'll see if Jones ends up being good to go or if VT slides someone like Mansoor Delane over with Derrick Canteen sliding into Delane's starting CB spot.
Caleb Woodson had a quietly productive day with three tackles including 1.5 for loss. The Northern Virginia native played 30 of the 76 defensive snaps even though Keonta Jenkins was back healthy as Tech continues to like what they see from Woodson.
Dante Lovett added a tackle and had a big special teams play to pin Marshall deep, while Braylon Johnson played seven defensive snaps. Ayden Greene had a 5-yard reception and was the only offensive true freshman to play for the third time out of four games this season.
Clayton Frady continues to be a non-freshman on redshirt watch after not playing against Marshall. His only appearance remains on special teams against Rutgers, so a redshirt seems very much in play at this moment.
We're near the breaking point for some guys who want to avoid redshirt this season. For any true freshman who doesn't play either this week or next, the odds of them avoiding a redshirt at that point will almost be 0.
