Countdown to ACC Kickoff, No. 17: A fourth wide receiver
The ACC Kickoff (aka media days) is fast approaching. I’ll be using the blog to count down to what we media members consider the unofficial start of the football season. This isn’t a list of the 25 best players on Virginia Tech’s roster. It’s a list of 25 things/people that will determine whether the Hokies’ 2012 season is a success or not. That includes players and coaches from both Virginia Tech and, occasionally, a few of its opponents.
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No. 17: A fourth wide receiver
The Hokies’ first three wide receiver spots are pretty well locked down. Seniors Marcus Davis, Dyrell Roberts and D.J. Coles figure to get most of the snaps out wide (provided Coles is all the way back from offseason PCL surgery).
After that, however, there are question marks in the receiving corps. The only other returning wide receivers to catch a pass last year were Corey Fuller, who had two receptions for 19 yards in six games, and Willie Byrn, who had one grab for 15 yards.
To diversify the offense with more multiple-receiver looks, insure against injury and — it must be in the back of the coaches’ minds — get players game-ready for the 2013 season once all the seniors are gone, Virginia Tech will need to establish some additional threats in the passing game.
Three come to mind right now — Fuller, redshirt freshman Demitri Knowles and true freshman Joel Caleb.
Fuller is the oldest of the group, a senior who transferred after running track at Kansas for a couple years. The second oldest brother in the Fuller clan, Corey had to knock off the rust on the football field after joining the Hokies in 2010. He’s got speed (4.35 in offseason testing), decent size (6-foot-2, 191) and started to come on given the opportunity in the spring, catching three touchdown passes during one scrimmage.
Knowles is another speedster who is relatively new to football. His 4.28 testing time was the fastest on the team, but the native of The Bahamas only played two years of high school football at Liberty Christian Academy before coming to Tech. A redshirt year helped him develop, although the raw skills are there in the 6-foot, 174-pound athlete. His explosiveness was so attractive that he nearly burned his redshirt last year to play on the return team.
Lastly, Caleb is among the highest-ranked receiving recruits Virginia Tech has signed. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound freshman might have some work to do to familiarize himself with the position after playing quarterback his last two seasons at Clover Hill High in Midlothian. He’s also coming off a knee injury. But he was ranked that high in the recruiting rankings for a reason, and Frank Beamer has said he has no reservations about getting talented players on the field immediately (lest they turn pro early and the Hokies get no extra year from the redshirt).
There are other players on the roster too — E.L. Smiling, Kevin Asante, Christian Reeves, Byrn and freshman Joshua Stanford – and reps appear to be available for anyone who can stand out in the crowd.
Getting some of those receivers a supporting role this year is probably a high priority, since they’ll be the ones carrying the load once 2013 — and that Alabama opener — comes around.
Coming Friday: He got an All-ACC honorable mention last year.
Previous entries:
- No. 25: Randall Dunn, senior tight end
- No. 24: Donaldven Manning, freshman cornerback
- No. 23: Pick a punter
- No. 22: J.C. Coleman, freshman running back
- No. 21: Georgia Tech’s option offense
- No. 20: Antoine and Derrick Hopkins, defensive tackles
- No. 19: EJ Manuel, Florida State quarterback
- No. 18: Bud Foster, defensive coordinator
July 5, 2012 - 8:54 AM
Andy:
Good info on the 4th WR. Hopefully we will get one of them (or two) ready to compete for PT this fall. It seems pretty critical to our overall offensive success, ESPECIALLY with Coles sounding “iffy” 9THAT one scares me a good bit).
Thanks for your work. I really appreciate the inside info and analysis………….
Why not go to the future and have one of our extra RBs line up in the slot? Some of them must have ahnds and with the talent we have they can always be a valve – even if they don’t know the routes like they should.
I don’t know how many of you remember Homer Jones who played with the Giants in the Tarkenton years. Jone was fast, didn’t know the routes, and broke off early on the ones he did know. Trakenton was a famous scrambler. So with no one knowing where Tarkenton going and no one knowing where Jones was going the defense was always confused. It did mean that Tarkenton had to be a sight thrower on the scramble but it did have its advantages.
Considering the athlete Logan Thomas is, it could work. Rather like the “Tyrod do your thing” play.
The ” Tyrod do your thing ” play has been in the playbook for all quarterbacks at Virginia Tech, even when it was unintended to be that way.
This has been because of terrible offensive line play in some years.
I was impressed with Fuller at the spring scrimmages. He looks every bit the 6’2 he’s listed at, unlike some guys. Thomas has the tendency to deliver the ball a bit high and Fuller, along with the other receivers, can reach up and haul it in. Knowles is going to help in the return game and will be expected to be a big contributor in 2013. The jury is still out on Caleb until camp opens to see what he’s capable of at this point.
I really think this will be Thomas’ last year. This will be his 4th year on campus and a 1st round grade will be too much to pass up. Plus, this year he will be playing with senior receivers, guys he’s been around since he’s been a Hokie. In 2013, all the wideouts will be not only be inexperienced but young as well.
I think Knowles have the speed to be the 4th receiver and could be used in a wildcat, speed sweep, and some option plays that Tech could call up to take advantage of his speed.
I would like to see Tech employ more spread variation and borrow some of Rich Rod’s run-heavy spread options. I agree with Zman on the running back lining up in the slot. I think they did that when Evans, Williams, and Wilson were all sharing the load. I know…it’s a pipe dream, and something I can only do on my Xbox 360.
Its called we need an offensive coordinator with some imagination and that doesn’t always run the ball in the red zone. We had 114 offensive plays that went for negative yards in 2011, with a now departed offensive line…We have to solve the offensive line for Logan to be able to work.
caleb will be the surprise if they dont redshirt him. he is very good and will only get better. and he can play multiple positions ala marcus vick . except for i hope the going down I-64 90 mph blazin a joint play. go hokies!