For the fifth time this fall, media members including myself were allowed to witness a portion of Virginia Tech's practice albeit the shortest portion to date. Here's a look at some of my quick notes from this briefer open portion of practice.
Jaden Keller Keeps Getting Reps With Dax Over Alan Tisdale
The evidence around who will win the starting will LB battle between returning starter Alan Tisdale and breakout redshirt freshman Jaden Keller continues to mount in favor of the young Keller.
Once again, Keller got work alongside Dax Hollifield in drills focused on the mike and will linebackers with Alan Tisdale working with other mike linebackers. This was rotated more earlier in fall camp, but has picked up more and more in terms of a Dax-Keller pairing at the mike and will linebacker spots.
Of course, the fact that this is a close battle could be part of the reason for that since Hollifield and Tisdale have some on-field chemistry previously while Keller redshirted last year. However, the evidence that Keller is the favorite to beat out Tisdale for the starting will linebacker job continues to role and as I mentioned on ESPN Richmond yesterday, I would say Keller will beat out Tisdale if I had to make a prediction today.
However, there's still just over a couple weeks between now and Tech's opener at ODU.
Jadan Blue Among Trio of Offensive Notable Not Fully Available
A trio of notable offensive players were either not fully available or not at Virginia Tech's practice today.
Temple transfer WR and expected starter Jadan Blue was completely unavailable for practice today wearing his jersey without pads while watching WR drills. Blue wasn't wearing any sort of medical equipment that suggested a significant injury and given Tech's current WR depth, it wouldn't be surprising if they were being more cautious regardless of the severity or lack of severity of injury.
Fellow transfer WR Stephen Gosnell was in a blue no-contact jersey today after being completely out of the previous open portion of practice we saw on Friday. That's an encouraging sign that Gosnell is on the right track to getting back to full health especially with the ODU game still over two weeks away.
Meanwhile, talented sophomore RB Malachi Thomas was not at practice today. Jalen Holston and Keshawn King continue to get some of the primary reps with Tech's top quarterbacks in the interim.
Second String WR Corps Starts to Emerge
Wide receiver depth has been a question for the Hokies this season with the starting trio mostly set with Jadan Blue, Kaleb Smith, and Da'Wain Lofton. A second-string wide receiver crew seems to be emerging now as well.
During some QB-WR drills, Jaylen Jones was second in line in the slot while Christian Moss continued to be second in line in his wide receiver group both working with Jason Brown who seems likely to be the backup QB behind Grant Wells. Meanwhile, Stephen Gosnell was getting first team reps in what would normally be Jadan Blue's spot once he returns to full health.
Jones is the least surprising of the three as he seemed likely to be the top backup receiver for the Hokies and has maintained his standing there. He is showing some versatility as he gets some slot work which may be another indication that they see Jones as a first backup WR in guy given that he's primarily been an outside WR to date.
Moss has worked a lot with Jason Brown in the portions of recent practices we've seen as the redshirt freshman seems to be pushing his way up the depth chart this fall. Gosnell has received some public praise and is backing that up with his rise up the depth chart even while he hasn't been 100% at times.
Nyke Johnson Works Some at Safety
Nyke Johnson arrived at Virginia Tech as a cornerback but with some guys his same year and younger appearing to be ahead of him (DJ Harvey, Cam Johnson), Johnson is getting some time elsewhere in the secondary.
Johnson was working some with the safeties during practice today while the rest of the cornerbacks were working away from the safety group. Johnson doesn't project in the two-deep at safety at the moment but the cross-training is interesting and could be a sign of Tech looking to expand their scholarship safety depth.
CBs coach Derek Jones previously mentioned as well that he looks for defensive backs who can be versatile with Tech wanting to be able to simply put the next best DB in when they have to deal with injuries or need someone with fresher legs in. Johnson's work at safety fits that mold as well of trying to develop more versatility in the South Carolina native's game.
