After a disappointing loss to Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech returns to Blacksburg for their first home game of the season looking to avenge their 2023 loss to Marshall. Meanwhile, the Thundering Herd are three-touchdown underdogs looking to pull off another stunning upset of the Hokies.
So with that in mind, here are my Hokies to watch against Marshall.
S Quentin Reddish
After not playing a single defensive snap against Vanderbilt, Quentin Reddish seems poised to take on a much larger role at safety this week with the combination of a weaker opponent and Jalen Stroman being out for a couple weeks due to injury.
This is an important chance for Reddish to get experience and show he has what it takes to contribute at a quality level on defense for the Hokies this fall. While some may have concerns given the struggles Mose Phillips had last season, Reddish seems like a more advanced player than Phillips was.
Additionally, we've seen talented safeties come in as a freshman and make an immediate impact whether that was Malaki Starks for Georgia in 2022 or Caleb Downs for Alabama in 2023. Reddish has a fellow Hokie from his high school who made a big impact as a non-cornerback DB early in his career as well in Adonis Alexander who had 55 tackles and four interceptions as Tech's rover in 2015, his true freshman season.
Reddish also simply needs some game reps to complete his adjustment to the speed of things at the college level, with this game being a great opportunity given that Marshall may be the weakest home opponent on the schedule, or at least the weakest till late in the season.
With Stroman out, Reddish will get his chance to receive some significant defensive reps this weekend as the top true freshman who could make a non-special teams impact this season.
