Following media day at Virginia Tech, some of the media were once again invited to see about a 20 minute section of practice, the third time so far during fall camp. With that, this has given people like myself a view of about 5% of what has been happening at VT practices with a few data points now to try and start interpolating what that means overall.
Here's my quick notes from the Hokies' third open portions of practice to the media.
Jaden Keller Keeps Getting Loads of First Team Reps
We haven't been able to see a lot and especially not a lot to interpret what is happening on the defensive side of the ball. However, from what we have seen and the growing data points we have, Jaden Keller's odds of being the Hokies' starting will LB against ODU are significant to say the least.
In what I've gotten to see now over three open portions of practice, I've seen Keller work more often with Dax Hollifield especially of late than I've seen Alan Tisdale working with Keller. Of course, we only see a limited data set as you've heard me already say a couple times and will remind you to again in later notes.
However, this no longer seems like a battle where Keller has broken in but Tisdale is still the favorite. Rather, I think that the redshirt freshman from Bristol may actually be even if not ahead of Tisdale at this point in time.
Tisdale and Hollifield do have lots of experience playing alongside each other in Tech's defense so that may be part of the reason why Tech is giving Keller more reps to build that experience up should he win the job. However, it's hard to believe that's the only reason anymore and easier to believe that Keller not only has a serious shot to win the job but might even be the leader currently.
If I had to make a prediction on this battle today, I think I might go with Keller over Tisdale which I wouldn't have said prior to yesterday.
CJ McCray Getting Some Spotlight Time
The one position that we've seen the least of in terms of drills that may give us a depth chart picture is the defensive line. However, one thing that was interesting was to see two of Tech's top 3 defensive tackles paired with C.J. McCray during a sled drill yesterday.
Now this may be an overread given the lack of data we have on the defensive line but usually, the top players in a position room get the first rep in a drill. If that is fairly true for the defensive line, then that may be an indication of where McCray currently stands compared to Cole Nelson and Jaylen Griffin in the battle for the starting DE spot opposite TyJuan Garbutt.
There was also plenty of praise for McCray yesterday during Media Day from Brent Pry, Chris Marve, and J.C. Price along with Cole Nelson with those 2 being the first 2 names mentioned. Jaylen Griffin also received some mention as well but those comments combined with that data point from sled drills suggests that maybe McCray has a slight lead.
However, it's definitely clear that Tech is big on his future and sees him as a serious contributor even if not a starter given the spotlight, tone-setting time he's getting at the front of the line in DL drills.
Keli Lawson Works Some With LBs Separate From Sam LBs
Brent Pry mentioned that all of the main sam linebackers were also spending some time cross-training at other spots, and we got to see that some when Keli Lawson was with the group of mike and will linebackers while the sam LB of Keonta Jenkins, J.R. Walker, and former walk-on Ben Skinner were doing a separate drill.
Lawson has always profiled more as a true LB than the hybrid role but his insane athletic skills and length also make him a very good fit at that sam linebacker spot. However, Lawson could also play some will linebacker with his skill set with that being the likely spot he is training at currently when not at sam linebacker.
Now Lawson's path to playing time currently is clearly at the sam linebacker spot, but Tech clearly has interest in developing him at multiple spots now that he is on the defense to see where his best fit may be.
Christian Moss Getting Second Team Work
Christian Moss may have been the most under-the-radar among the non-true freshman scholarship WRs entering this fall camp yet the Georgia native has made a solid impression so far as Tech looks to build on their WR depth chart.
Currently, Moss is consistently getting reps with a bunch of second team guys and likely second team guys including Jason Brown who is the underdog in VT's QB battle. That showed in some QB-WR-TE drills yesterday where Moss consistently received passes from Brown and was the second guy in his smaller group of WRs getting those passes.
Moss definitely profiles as that bigger receiver that Tech doesn't have a lot of with only two scholarship WRs being bigger than his 6'2'', 194-pound frame in Kaleb Smith and Stephen Gosnell.
Keep an eye on Christian Moss who may be pushing his way into a limited role and is clearly climbing the depth chart this fall camp.
