The Virginia Tech Hokies had some concerns with depth at defensive end entering this spring, especially after Dewayne Alford decided to leave the football program. The Hokies saw Seth Dooley emerge at one spot, but were looking around for an answer at the other spot.
Melvin Keihn started out the spring as the potential solution, but the issue was the fact that he was just over 210 pounds and mostly muscle. Keihn never had the size to be a defensive end, and the Hokies eventually found their answer for the other backup defensive end spot in Vincent Mihota who made the Hokies' two-deep depth chart.
Now, the former Under Armour All-American Keihn is headed out of the Virginia Tech football program.
https://twitter.com/AndyBitterVT/status/626792393208107013
With Darius Fullwood and Houshun Gaines arriving as the two healthy defensive end along with the injured Trevon Hill, Keihn's future did not seem to be at defensive end. However, Keihn seemed like a player that could be given a shot at the whip linebacker spot to compete for playing time behind Ronny Vandyke, but that will not be the case.
Keihn was used some on special teams as a freshman, and would have likely been used in that role once again as a sophomore. However, Keihn has decided that Virginia Tech is not the best fit for him anymore with the rumors suggesting a return to the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area to play for Randy Edsall and Maryland.
For the Hokies, the loss of Keihn isn't too big of a loss with Frank Beamer having plenty of hard-working players to replace Keihn on special teams. The loss of Keihn does mean that Vincent Mihota is certain to stick at defensive end, and will likely be one of the backups unless Fullwood, Gaines, or possibly Tremaine Edmunds have a strong fall practice.
The loss of Keihn is unfortunate, but the Hokies could not find a role for Keihn in the team. Now, Keihn will get a second chance to earn some playing time somewhere at the FBS level while the Hokies will get an extra scholarship that could go towards the Class of 2016 or a current walk-on.
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