Taking a stab at the Hokies’ 2012 depth chart: Defense
Yesterday, I took a look at what the Hokies’ offensive depth chart might look like in 2012. Today is defense, where there are a lot of returning starters and plenty of familiar faces from a unit that finished 2011 ranked 10th nationally in total yardage (304.6 ypg) and seventh in scoring defense (17.6 ppg).
As I mentioned yesterday, this is a preliminary look, so it’s open for debate. I encourage all suggestions/changes/opinions in the comments section below (especially when it comes to the secondary).
Years listed are what each player’s eligibility will be next season. I won’t list current commitments if they are not enrolled. Once the signing day dust settles and Tech goes through spring ball, I’ll revise this list and maybe put a few of the incoming freshman on it.
Let’s get to it.
Stud
- James Gayle, 6-4, 257, Jr.
- Tyrel Wilson, 6-1, 219, Jr.
- Duan Perez-Means, 6-4, 248, So.
- Dadi Nicolas, 6-2, 214
- Justin Taylor, 6-2, 230
Comment: Gayle is the entrenched starter and is coming off a second-team All-ACC season, although Wilson gave the Hokies some good reps when Gayle hurt his ankle. Lots of message board chatter about Perez-Means possibly switching positions. I’ve heard nothing official about that, so I’ll keep him here for the time being. But with Gayle and Wilson, this is a position of depth.
End
- J.R. Collins, 6-2, 240, Jr.
- Zack McCray, 6-4, 254, So.
- Duan Perez-Means, 6-4, 248, So.
- Matt Roth, 6-2, 223, rFr.
- Dewayne Alford, 6-3, 220, Fr.
Comment: Another position with a solidified starter in Collins, who combines with Gayle to give Virginia Tech bookend pass rushers. McCray was a highly-touted recruit who has yet to have things really click so far. I didn’t know exactly where Alford, an early enrollee, will start position-wise, so I tacked him on here.
Nose
- Derrick Hopkins, 6-0, 301, Jr.
- Luther Maddy, 6-1, 283, So.
Comment: The nose position takes a bit of a hit with Isaiah Hamlette and Dwight Tucker choosing to move on from Virginia Tech and Kwamaine Battle opting not to seek a sixth year of eligibility. D. Hopkins is solid as the starter, emerging as a force on the inside, but the Hokies will need some depth here. Maddy might be one of several options. He’s the biggest of the backup tackles, so I’ll slot him in here for now, but it really could be any of the other tackles on the roster.
Tackle
- Antoine Hopkins, 6-1, 306, Sr.
- Luther Maddy, 6-1, 283, So. OR
- Corey Marshall, 6-1, 253, So.
- Kris Harley, 6-0, 287, rFr.
- Ross Ward, 6-3, 260, rFr.
Whip
- Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, 6-2, 205, Sr. OR
- Alonzo Tweedy, 6-2, 189, Sr.
- Nick Dew, 6-2, 196, So.
- Wiley Brown, 5-10, 197, Sr.
- Derek DiNardo, 6-0, 2112, So.
Comment: This will be an interesting position to watch next year. Gouveia-Winslow started but was lost for the year with a Lisfranc injury. He’ll probably be limited in the spring. Tweedy, once he came back from an ankle injury, played well, especially in the Sugar Bowl to help the Hokies contain Denard Robinson. I’m not sure which one starts, but Tech has options here.
Mike
- Bruce Taylor, 6-2, 243, Sr.
- Jack Tyler, 6-0, 229, Jr.
- Brian Laiti, 6-3, 217, So.
- D.J. Ward, 5-11, 207, rFr.
Comment: Taylor, barring any injury setback, will reclaim his starting spot next year, although Bud Foster has to be pleased with how Tyler played down the stretch in Taylor’s absence.
Backer
- Tariq Edwards, 6-2, 231, Jr.
- Telvion Clark, 6-1, 228, Jr.
- Chase Williams, 6-1, 223, So.
- Jonathan Halfhide, 5-10, 217, So. OR
- Griffin Hite, 5-11, 213, rFr. OR
- Brandon Spitzer, 6-2, 210, rFr.
Comment: Edwards is another returning starter in the front seven. Clark had an ankle injury that set him back last season. Williams, the son of New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, sounds like a guy who could play either of the inside linebacker positions.
Field Corner
- Kyle Fuller, 6-0, 187, Jr.
- Kyshoen Jarrett, 5-10, 193, So.
- Chris Caver, 5-6, 171, So.
Comment: Will Fuller, who showed some major chops at whip linebacker, stay at corner? He’s a great tackler, and with Eddie Whitley departing at safety, you wonder if Tech might try him out there. It’s a nice luxury to have a player this versatile. Jarrett was a highly-ranked recruit who got minimal playing time last year but sounds like he has a high ceiling.
Boundary corner
- Detrick Bonner, 6-0, 189, So.
- James Farrow, 5-10, 170, rFr. OR
- Donaldven Manning, 5-9, 163, Fr.
- Carl Jackson, 5-8, 176, So.
Comment: Bonner performed well in limited appearances last season when Jayron Hosley worked through a hamstring issue, although he had some rookie moments, as expected. Manning enrolled early, so I’m not really sure where to put him on the depth chart. He was a four-star recruit, so obviously he has some talent. His progress this spring will be huge in providing Tech depth.
Rover
- Boye Aromire, 6-0, 201, So. OR
- Ronny Vandyke, 6-3, 208, rFr. OR
- Josh Trimble, 5-11, 200, rFr.
Free safety
- Antone Exum, 6-0, 220, Jr.
- Theron Norman, 6-3, 196, So. OR
- James Hopper, 5-9, 180, Jr.
- Michael Cole, 6-1, 202, rFr.
- Scott Rolin, 5-9, 173, rFr.
Comment: Again, this is where Exum started last year, so you figure with Whitley gone, he would return to the position he played for 11 games before moving to rover for the final three. Free safety, from what I understand, makes the majority of the calls in the defensive backfield. It would makes sense to have your most experienced player in that spot.
January 17, 2012 - 11:50 AM
That Trimble kid is rather short for a Rover…LOL! Seriously, I look for VanDyke and Norman to make noise in the secondary in the Spring. Nick Dew is another kid I think will make leaps and bounds for the Hokies.
Really am suprised at how thin the nose spots are. That’s something Wiles is gonna have to keep an eye on. The rotation along the lines actually helped. The secondary sounds awfully young, but that’s where Gray is at his best, coaching up the young’un. The Mike spot looks to be competitive this spring as well as the Whip. I have to wonder though if Foster plans to continue utilizing the nickel to make up for losses on the whip if the injuries continues.
This D looks very good. Depth is always an issue but the starters look solid with few weak points.
I think you’re a little off on your OL projected depth chart and quite a few of the defensive positions. Dadi Nicolas will back up Gayle at Stud. He’s already 235 lbs and he’s just as quick if not quicker than Wilson. I think Tweedy will come in as the #1 whip. I just don’t see JGW coming back from that injury and being a significant factor because Dew will make a lot of progress this spring and take the #2 spot. I also think FS and rover are completely reversed. I think Exum stays at rover, while Boye, Vandyke, Norman and Cole battle at FS. Whichever one ends up 3rd/4th, ends up getting work at rover to back up Exum.
@scott whitaker
The depth on this defense will be the best we’ve ever had at VT. We have a legit 2 deep where both guys could start at almost every position. This defense will be top 5 next year and probably push for #1 in 2013.
Chris, open to suggestions on the o-line. Got something in mind?
Obviously the whole key in the secondary is whether or not Exum stays at rover or not. With 11 starts at free safety this year, wouldn’t surprise me if goes back there.
I think you throw Marshall in at the Nose slot, too, just like Maddy. They’ll both back up the Tackle/Nose positions.
This is going to be a very deep, very quick defense.
Something to consider Andy. Have heard strong rumors to sliding Tariq Edwards to more of a traditional outside lb and moving Tweedy with his speed to a safety spot. Having Tyler and Taylor as more conventional 4~3 insiide lbs. I think this would help in some of the run oriented teams like Va and GT in the future. Also could recruit higher level lb prospects knowing they are not going to turn into d ends second week on campus. Have you heard anything along these lines?
Have not, but when I get a chance to talk to Foster, I will ask him about it.
What does OR mean?
I look for Harley to work at NG. He’s strong for his size, which isn’t small, and he has a low center of gravity. Another possibility there would be Kirven if he signs with VT. I’m not trying to count the chickens before they hatch, but early playing time for KK would be a possibility. I agree with Chris that Nicholas will push to be #2 at Stud. I also would be inclined to slot J. Taylor at End and Alford at Stud, but that’s more a guess based their current size and body type.
Last bit, I think it would be great if T. Norman could emerge as the starter at FS and stay healthy. He played some QB in HS, so he should have a leg up in terms of making reads and calling the D. He’s also tall and rangy. Norman and Exum would give us excellent size at the safety positions.
OR means it’s either that player or the next one who is in that slot. Lots of “ors” this time of year.
This look to be another season where the defense will keep Tech in the game until the offense gets rolling.
There is a possibility Fuller moves to FS and Bonner and Jarrett start at the cornerback spots.
I agree i believe our defense will be close to #1 this year.What a great game those kids played in the Sugar Bowl,with all the players that were hurt and didn’t get to play.I feel Wiles,and Foster is on this for sure.There will never be a year (even if we win out some people would still not be happy) I can’t wait til we start back,miss our Football.God Bless Our staff and Players.Sparks-Nashville