To play or not to play? A look at the Hokies’ true freshmen and whether or not they’ll get on the field this year
Playing time for freshmen is always a balancing act for college coaches. They want to get players experience, but meaningful reps aren’t always available for depth reasons.
On the other hand, truly talented players are hard to keep off the field. And in recent years, head coach Frank Beamer has lamented redshirting stars who would skip their final years of eligibility to enter the NFL.
“You’re always sitting there trying to say, ‘OK should we play this guy or not, and can we get him enough plays to make it worth while playing them?’” Beamer said last fall. “I think the real lesson is if they’re talented you better play them early. We sat here and two guys, Ryan Williams and Michael Vick, had two years of eligibility left when they did leave. You hope you can get guys like that who have the ability to do that and you better go ahead and get them playing.”
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Still, playing time has been scarce for freshmen at Virginia Tech. Of the 19 members of the 2011 class who enrolled last August, six got on the field — safety Boye Aromire, cornerback Kyshoen Jarrett, defensive tackles Luther Maddy and Corey Marshall, tight end Ryan Malleck. Preferred walk-on punter Michael Branthover also played. (Caleb Farris was a January enrollee after signing in 2010, so I didn’t count him since he had a year to develop).
In the 2010 class, only cornerback Kyle Fuller and defensive tackle Derrick Hopkins played right away.
Also, things don’t always go as planned. If you asked a Hokies fan which freshman defensive tackle would have gotten on the field the most last year, the answer would have been Kris Harley. Well, two-star recruit Luther Maddy made the biggest impact and could challenge for a starting spot this year. So you can’t ever tell how a young guy will react once he steps on campus.
So which of this year’s freshmen might have a chance to get on the field this year? Here’s how I think it might play out (and I’ll likely revisit this list before the opener after seeing some of these guys in August):
They’ll get on the field:
- RB J.C. Coleman: The running back situation is wide open and Coleman got the jump on August by enrolling last January. He’s a spitfire-type back at 5-7, 176, something that’s unique in the Hokies’ offense. Because of that, there will be a role for him somewhere.
- CB Donaldven Manning: Another early enrollee who plays a position that has a critical depth situation. He’ll probably be the No. 3 cornerback to start the season, behind Fuller and Antone Exum. The Hokies will need to get him game ready, because he’ll get meaningful reps this year.
- WR Joel Caleb: He played quarterback in high school, so he might not be that polished at receiver. But he’s a talent (Rivals’ No. 84 player last year), and you just don’t keep players like that off the field. Plus, with the top four receivers this year being seniors, Tech will need to get some receivers ready to for the 2013 season and its opener against Alabama. You don’t want that game to be his first action.
- LB/RB Trey Edmunds: Simply too skilled to keep off the field. Coaches have raved about his versatility, which always helps. He can play offense or defense and, despite being on the younger side for a true freshman, seems like the kind of player who won’t be overwhelmed by an immediate role. Giving the running back situation, that’ll be his best bet.
If things fall the right way, they could play:
- RB Chris Mangus: A speedster, Mangus could have a place in the running back situation if he can catch on quickly. Speed always helps and he might bring a different dynamic to the position.
- S: Desmond Frye: With Theron Norman leaving in the summer, Tech is not particularly deep at safety. An injury wouldn’t necessarily put him in the starting lineup, but it’d mean the Hokies would have to have him ready to play in a pinch.
- S: Dahman McKinnon: Originally listed as a whip linebacker, he’ll start as a safety this August, which might be an indication of how thin the Hokies are at the position.
- CB Donovan Riley: Same situation for Riley at cornerback. A true freshman is already the No. 3 guy. Somebody’s going to have to step up on the depth chart.
- WR Joshua Stanford: Another guy who might be a factor in 2013, the staff would probably like to get him accustomed to playing at the college level this year. He was a sleeper recruit, but unlike Caleb, he at least played wide receiver in high school. That should help his cause.
- CB Davion Tookes: It all comes back to depth. Tookes is a speedy guy who is still pretty raw at cornerback. He’ll need to develop, but he’ll get his share of reps in practice, just because of the lack of scholarship players at corner.
- P A.J. Hughes: A big-legged preferred walk-on from Terre Haute, Ind., he could step in to an unsettled punting situation and play right away.
- P Hunter Windmuller: A preferred walk-on from Oakton, he’s in the same boat as Hughes. Based on the performance of last year’s punters, the opportunity is certainly there.
Depth situation probably means a redshirt:
- LB Deon Clarke: A four-star recruit who was among the best in the class, but he’s going to be an inside linebacker. Not the best place to get immediate playing time, given Tech’s depth there.
- DE Ken Ekanem: A bona fide talent, he plays a position where Tech already has two second-team All-ACC performers. The knee injury doesn’t sound like it’ll be a problem (trainer Mike Goforth said he’s a full go right now), but it’ll be hard to crack that two-deep.
- WR Der’Woun Greene: Another quarterback in high school, he’s a little lower on the wide receiver pecking order as far as freshmen go. But reps could be available for a receiver who catches on quickly.
- TE Dakota Jackson: A big-bodied tight end who is physical, he’s just what Tech is looking for in a tight end. But the Hokies have a ton of guys there. Randall Dunn, Eric Martin and Malleck could all share duties with the first team this year. There’s not much room for a freshman.
- DE Jarontay Jones: The Tech two-deep on the defensive line is a tough place to make any headway for early playing time. I don’t think we’ll see Jones this year either.
- DL Nigel Williams: Could play inside or outside on the line, but he’s in the situation as Ekanem and Jones.
- LB Devin Vandyke: Like Clarke, he plays a bad position for early playing time. Those two figure to be inside linebackers of the future, though.
Looking at a redshirt:
- WR Mark Irick: A big but raw wide receiver prospect, he’s still pretty new to the game. A year on the scout team will help.
- QB Brenden Motley: My guess is he won’t displace Logan Thomas (big leap, huh?). Like any quarterback, he’ll need extra time to learn the offense.
- OT Augie Conte: Was originally going to prep for a year, but he’s enrolled now. Like most offensive linemen, he needs a year to develop and add size.
- NT Alton Smith: Great genes, bad position. If guys like Harley are having a tough time cracking the two deep, Smith doesn’t have much of a chance as a freshman.
- C Jack Willenbrock: Interesting position for Willenbrock to start at. But Andrew Miller is the clear starter and Farris the backup. Heck, even Michael Via can play there.
- OT Adam Taraschke: Like Conte, he’ll need time to get bigger. All freshmen offensive linemen go through that process.
August 2, 2012 - 10:09 AM
Wow. JC Coleman is smaller than Daniel Rodriguez, and we hear about how Beamer will find a place for JC on the field. Yet, Frank Beamer couldn’t bother to assist Daniel Rodriguez in gaining admittance via a waiver.
Interesting Frank couldn’t be bothered to find a walk-on jersey for the Bronze Star Purple Heart recipient as a locker room leader. Ah, well. I guess it’s too much trouble to do that for a combat veteran, even though it’s done for scholarship players on a regular basis.
Wow! Crooked Road, props to DR for serving and sacraficing for us all.
Do you know all the details of his position with VT? Do you have an inside lane into the football office or athletic dept? Or are you just the same blowhard posting on TSL.
Until you know how DR’s situation went down with VT, UVA or any of the other 50 schools why don’t you show some class and layoff…unless you want the athletic dept come out and give ALL the reasons why VT didn’t work out with DR.
As much as I would have really enjoyed having Rodriguez as a Hokie and all of the positive mojo that would bring… it’s not Beamer’s job to find a place on his football team for veterans. It’s his job to find a place on his team for football players.
Making a statement like, “I guess it’s too much trouble to do that for a combat veteran, even though it’s done for scholarship players on a regular basis” doesn’t really mean much. You could slip anything in for “combat veteran” and see that, just like your statement, there’s no reason that a combat veteran should get more focus from a football coach than a scholarship football player.
I guess it’s too much trouble to do that for a nobel prize winner, even though it’s done for scholarship players on a regular basis.
I guess it’s too much trouble to do that for a heart surgeon, even though it’s done for scholarship players on a regular basis.
You see what I mean? Nobel prize winners and heart surgeons are both certainly doing more for society than football players, but that doesn’t mean that if they decide to play football, that they should receive special treatment in front of other football players. Of course Beamer works to find places for scholarship players. Of course he focuses his efforts on scholarship players above all others. That’s his job.
Daniel Rodriguez did not have the right number of math credits to get accepted in to Tech.
As an army man myself I wish it could have worked out…….but it didn’t. Good luck to him but I won’t be cheering for clemson nor will I put beamer and staff down for not creating a waiver for the young man. On another note the running back situation looks to be young with talent. Should be fun to watch this group grow up on the field together.
Never posted before but had to respond to crooked road. What an incredibly ignorant and misinformed post. Lets not allow facts and reality get in the way of posting mindless pc dribble to make one feel enlightened
Guys, just ignore the first poster- I honestly think it’s a medical condition or something (he says some pretty kooky stuff). If you ignore him he will eventually just go away.
I was hopeful for Rodriguez when I heard his story last year. Sounded like a great opportunity for him and Tech and how could you not want a guy like that on your team? Too bad he didn’t make it into Tech, for whatever the reason. I, unlike crooked road, don’t have all the information, so I won’t speculate as to the reason he’s not at Tech.
Best wishes to DR and thank you.
Crooked Road – once again you blow heat with no sense of perspective. Do you hate everyone equally or just Weaver and Beamer? Who are you anyway? Seth Greenberg in disguise?
I can see Brendan Motley running the scout team offense. His familiarity with the single-wing offense and Pistol could help Tech prepare for Georgia Tech and Clemson in some respect. Also, since he played defensive back in high school, I would not be surprised if the coaches convince him to move to the secondary to help out, and with the soon to arrive Bucky Hodge (already anointed by the Hokies Faithful to be Logan Thomas’ heir), I think Motley may become an afterthought by the staff.
Crooked Road witha crooked post. Admitted via a waiver? I wish DR the best, but a evaluating two different people based on height & weight (solely) is a bit of a stretch. One hasn’t played football in 2+ years and one is a 4 star recruit. Dumb comment.
I was for Daniel Rodriguez (when he was considering VT) before I was against Daniel Rodriduez (when he declared he was going to Clemson). I promise to continue to spread rumors about him as long as it takes to minimize his accomplishments while I sit on the unemployment line posting 1000 a day on techsideline.com
I find it hard to believe that Clemson could get him admitted (a Top 25 public school) and yet, VT could not get him admitted. Are you folks willing to say that no one has never received a waiver at VT for admittance? If you say that, I say BS. There is no excuse for a Bronze Star recipient to not be admitted to VT…a war hero that showed extreme valor under fire in the Stan. When I look at our football roster, you cannot tell me that all of those guys have such superior academic records in HS. Who would rather have represent VT..Cody Journell or Daniel Rodriquez?
My pick – Daniel Rodriguez no question. Cody got off (the I want my pot back break in) by using a high priced lawer. Guess who paid that bill?
The coaches told him what was required for him to get into VT as a transfer and he didn’t have the required credits. And yes you can look at the football roster and every one of them did what was required of them to get into the school. Unfortunately Daniel Rodriguez did not but I think Beamer would have gladly taken him in if he could have. The coaches have pull with getting in athletes but there are limitations
You people forget that Frank Beamer and VT was the first school to contact/respond to Rodriguez and his quest/dream to play D1 football.Had it not been for that (and a great article by the Washingtonian)this story may not have gotten as much steam. Give Beams credit, he was going to take a chance and it just didn’t work out.
A link for you haters…
http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/sports/update-hokies-beamer-contacts-washingtonians-haber-after-piece-on-rodriguez.php
Mr. Beamer would have loved to have Daniel on the team. Implicit remarks contrary to that do not change the facts. There are underlying points of interest.
These commonly focus on familiarization as an alternative to memorization. This makes a child engaged without having the experience like they are learning. Thanks