I’m out of town this weekend at a wedding in Charleston, S.C., which means I’ll be taking in a tour of Fort Sumter later this morning. (And if you think I’m not psyched about that, you don’t know me very well).

Nevertheless, the mailbag will continue. Here are some more questions I got this week. I apologize if I didn’t get to everyone’s questions. There were a lot this week.

If you missed Part I, you can get to it here. Now for the questions …

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Who looks to be the leading candidates to be the starters at the WR and TE positions? (D.J. Coles being the one given.) – Chris Hall

At tight end, I still think Ryan Malleck is the guy the Hokies expect to develop into the starter. He had some hiccups last year where things didn’t quite come together, but he’s still the combination of speed and strength that Tech coaches have talked about wanting. That said, there’s plenty of competition. I’m curious to see what converted defensive end Zach McCray looks like out there. When he made the switch last fall, it was like he was given a new lease on football life. We’ll see if that carries over to the spring. Darius Redman, Duan Perez-Means and Dakota Jackson are all intriguing prospects too. If offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler’s comments are any indication, Tech will use more than just one. “Love the tight ends,” he said in January. “Playing with tight ends on the field, causes as many major problems with defensive alignment. If you saw how New England played with the two tight ends they had, the defense was never right. They couldn’t get nickel people on the field. You never knew if they were in run sets, pass sets, what have you, because of the diversity of the tight ends. But we’ll play with what we have. If we have great tight ends, we’ll play with them. If not, we won’t. But in a perfect world, yeah, I like tight ends a lot.”

At receiver, you’re right, Coles is a given. After that, there are a lot of question marks. I think Demitri Knowles started to show by the end of the year that he could do more than just run a go route, although he’s still a work in progress. Of the returning guys, Kevin Asante should get a good shot. Tech will need redshirt freshmen Joel Caleb and Josh Stanford to step into more prominent roles this year. Stanford was expected to play last year but a knee injury led to a redshirt. Caleb, who transitioned from quarterback, needed a little more polishing at the position. They will have the spotlight on them in the spring, for sure.

In the past I’ve heard it mentioned that Frank Beamer limits his assistant coaches to the media. They do less interviews post game, for example, than other schools. Will this continue with the new assistant coaches? – Mike Scollick, Columbia, Md.

I don’t expect anything to change in that regard. I do find it a little odd how infrequently we get to talk to assistant coaches after home games, although the explanation we get is that they have recruiting obligations to tend to with players who are visiting the game. (My response would be: you don’t have 10 spare minutes in there somewhere?) Auburn, for instance, where I was before this, did a pretty good job of making, at the very least, coordinators available to the media after every game. To be fair, Tech does that when we’ve requested it on the road. Bud Foster was available after the North Carolina game and Mike O’Cain after the Cincinnati game, for instance. But that’s not the case at home games, which is a shame. It just means we have to find out what the assistant coaches were thinking until Monday and Tuesday.

During the games, why is there no one sitting with Logan Thomas, looking him in the eye, and giving him encouragement or advice?  It seems most everything is done by phone. I realize this is big-time football, but most other teams I see on TV have a coach talking face to face with their quarterback.

I know this is old news, but why did Seth Greenberg let the Curry family get away?  Their dad was a real hero at VT and both sons are extraordinary talents. Can you imagine the publicity, as well as financial support, they would have given us? I did not like the way Seth was fired, but I am glad he is gone. Johnson is a good coach and will take us to new heights. – Nancy B. Bowser, Roanoke

I always thought it was odd last year that Thomas didn’t have someone on the sidelines that he could look in the face and talk to between series. In 2011, Bryan Stinespring was down there. But Stinespring went up to the booth with O’Cain last year, leaving Thomas on the phone most of the time. A lot of NFL teams operate that way, but for developing QBs at the college level, there’s probably a calming influence to having somebody down there to talk to you face-to-face. Loeffler was a press box guy at Auburn to start but quickly moved down to the sideline. The reason? To be a calming influence for a young quarterback. (Sidenote: it didn’t work real well.) I’m not sure yet how exactly he’ll operate at Virginia Tech.

As for the Greenberg-Curry saga, he’s never going to live that decision down. Yeah, in hindsight it was the wrong move. But every other major Division I program made the same wrong move. He ended up at Davidson for a reason. I’m not sure the entire backstory of Curry’s recruitment, and from the sounds of it, there are conflicting reports about when Greenberg offered and how enthusiastically he pursued Curry. Certainly, Greenberg’s time at Virginia Tech would look a lot differently — and probably still be going — if he had taken a shot on Curry. Again, though, that’s easy to say in hindsight.

1. What is VT’s linebacker situation looking like this upcoming year?

2. Which players do you expect to switch to the LB position this year/spring to provide VT with more depth?

3. The depth at linebacker is already thin, and in my opinion, VT also seems very undersized at the inside LB position.  Do you concur?

4. Where do you think DE recruit D. Hand will play college football?

5. Basketball question:  Who will be the leading scorer next year on the VT basketball team? – Ward

Woo, that’s a lot of questions. I’ll try to hit them quickly …

1. The inside linebacker spot is pretty thin. Jack Tyler and Tariq Edwards are the presumed starters, with Chase Williams as the most-experienced backup. Tech will need redshirt freshmen Devin Vandyke and Deon Clarke to come on. The whip spot is even thinner. Ronny Vandyke will be the top guy. Behind him, Dahman McKinnon should be back for spring ball after resolving his hit-and-run charge this week.

2. I don’t know if there are really any candidate to make a switch. You would have thought maybe Trey Edmunds, if the running back situation wasn’t as dire as it was. But with Drew Harris’ status in limbo, Tech obviously needs Edmunds there (perhaps another incoming freshman, Jerome Wright, will end up at linebacker, but he’s listed as a tailback coming in). Rover and whip linebacker have had some shuffling between the two the last few years, but the Hokies aren’t exactly swimming in rover depth either.

3. Yeah, there aren’t a lot of linebackers on the roster right now. There’s been some attrition. Remember, Telvion Clark would have been a senior this year. I don’t know how much size matters at linebacker. Tyler might not be huge, but he certainly brought ballcarriers to the ground all the same last year.

4. I think Virginia Tech has a chance on Hand, although it’s probably too early to tell where he’ll end up. He’s high on Alabama, Florida, Michigan, South Carolina and Virginia Tech. All those schools are pretty good at recruiting. It’ll be an interesting race to watch.

5. I’d say Jarrell Eddie has the inside track at being the leading scorer. Robert Brown seems too streaky. And Cadarian Raines doesn’t seem like someone you can count on to shoulder the scoring load. That team is going to miss Erick Green, for sure.

1.  So I know how you love your Alston Smith references, but here is one that is actually serious. I read a report saying that Alston has been very impressive in the weight room and is one of the workout warriors on the team. Have you heard of any reports on how well his work ethic in the weight transitioned to the field during his redshirt year? Do you see him as a starter before his career is up?

2.  I asked this same question before the season began and although Davis came close he still didn’t quite get there. Do you think we have a receiver hit that elusive 1000 yd mark this year? And/or does anyone break that 9 TD receiving mark? If so who do you think will be most likely to take care of business? Also, who do you see being this years Corey Fuller the receiver we all know but haven’t really talked about?  Coles and Knowles should be the front runners going into the season but for this question I am going to put my money on Kevin Asante. – Nathan Glover

I’ll say this about Smith: you can’t argue with his genes. Sons of star players usually have a good chance of panning out. I haven’t heard that much about Smith — honestly, I haven’t sought out anyone’s opinion of him this offseason — but I know he is a big kid who has come on after getting a late start on football (he didn’t pick up the game until 8th grade). It seems like if Bruce Smith is your father, you’d pick up a few pointers along the way too.

Coles seems like he’d be the receiver who would have the best shot at that elusive 1,000-yard barrier, but honestly, if Tech gets back to its running roots, you wonder if anybody will catch enough passes to get near that number. It takes talent and opportunity. Had either Jarrett Boykin or Danny Coale been at Tech without the other, one of them probably would have gotten to that mark. But they split the receptions. Coles might have plenty of opportunity this year, as the only really experienced receiver on the team, but I don’t know if he’s capable of getting there. I’d say he has a better shot at the 9-touchdown mark than the 1,000-yard one.

I think you’re right about Asante. I think he was a guy the coaches had high hopes for before last year, but it never really materialized. Then, when he had his shot at the end of the year, he had a toe injury that set him back. He won’t lack in opportunities this year, that’s for sure.

We made good changes to the coaching staff. One of the other areas that needs work is Special Teams. They used to be really special under Coach Beamer. They are more of a liability now versus being an asset. What is the strategy going forward? Will Coach Beamer still control them, will he turn over the duties to someone else, and will we return to having more starters on special teams? Unless constructive changes are made, the tern Beamerball should be retired. – Ben, Greensboro, N.C.

1) What can VT Football do to diminish or abolish the term “Beamer Ball”? The notion and concept was great 7-10 years ago but as of late, nothing has been really special about the special teams. In fact, most teams that play VT try to expose it as the Hokies weakness instead of a strength. They block our punts, run back punts for TD’s, and do fakes and onsides kicks. When the opposition Is successful with their special teams prowess, it appears to really fluster the team and especially the head coach. I was somewhat surprised during the recent coaching changes that Frank Beamer kept this position. Perhaps this spring he will give the reigns to another coach on the staff.

2) Will the new offensive line Coach Grimes be able to recruit actual guards And Tackles and not just a few high school tight ends that take 2-3 years to develop into a guard or tackle. VT needs to recruit offensive lineman that can contribute in 1-2 years, not projects that take 3-4 years and having only 1 year of eligibility once they become adept at their respective position.

3) Will Loeffler have a free reign to do his job without any interference from Stinespring? Will Loeffler be in the press box during the game or on the sidelines? Will VT have to make a visor for him with a VT logo or will he wear a hat? Appears to be a visor guy!

4) How often are Cavanaugh and Hite at practices? Were they truly sent to the “office” or do they still evaluate and participate on the field during practices. Those two have forgotten more than most have tried learning.

5) Do you think Jim Weaver has lost touch with the fan base? Is he the main reason VT is perceived as a football school only? Is Weaver approachable for you to speak to him as the VT scribe for the Roanoke Times or is he abrupt and evasive? – Mike Wilson

Another flurry of questions. The first one and the first part from the second questioner overlap, so I’ll hit them together.

1. I believe the term “Beamer Ball” (I never know whether that’s one word or two) will be with Virginia Tech for as long as Frank Beamer is around and longer. Say what you will about the team’s recent special teams showings, it’s the brand that he established long ago and the one that still gets referenced on TV all the time. (And if you think national TV folks will adapt the label associated with Virginia Tech football anytime soon, you’re sadly mistaken.) It needs a boost, yes, but Beamer is still the guy in charge and will continue to be. I don’t see him giving up special teams duties. Not after this long. I think Tech made some strides in turning around the “Beamer Ball” slide last year, although there were still too many major gaffes to consider it completely fixed. I don’t know if you’re ever going to see the Hokies block five or six kicks in a season again, though. Teams are prepared for it, and it doesn’t seem to be a priority in Tech’s special teams packages anymore.

2. I think this notion that Tech only recruits tight ends and converts them to linemen is way overblown. Yes, it happened a couple times. If you’ll remember, the best linemen Tech has had in the past decade (Duane Brown) was a converted tight end. But I’m looking at the roster now and I don’t think any of the guys are converted tight ends. I think what Jeff Grimes needs to find are linemen who have that physical mentality that he’s trying to instill. He mentioned it at the introductory presser: some guys have it; some guys don’t. He’s had a pretty good track record of finding guys that have it, though.

3. I’m not sure if Loeffler will be a sideline or booth guy yet. He did both at Auburn. But I think this “interference” that everyone worries about from Stinespring is unfounded. Loeffler’s the offensive coordinator. Stinespring is the tight end coach. Those guys have that designation for a reason. If Beamer was satisfied with the offense’s direction under Stinespring, he wouldn’t have stripped that title from him and overhauled the offensive staff.

4. Cav and Hite are at practice, but they’re just observers. In fact, that’s usually when I chat with them the most is between the practice fields during open sessions, because they’re not on the field doing anything anymore.

5. Every time I’ve requested to speak with Weaver, he’s gotten back to me, so yes, he’s available. I don’t know if I’d say he’s lost touch with the fan base. I think he made a miscalculation with requesting not to have a Thursday night game this year and probably has received some backlash because of it. But I think the AD gets blamed for a lot of things out of his control. The league schedule, for instance, is out of his control. It’s not his fault Tech doesn’t play FSU or Clemson this year or that the Hokies get Georgia Tech coming off a short week (and given that the Hokies have had extra time to prepare for the Yellow Jackets in the past, this seems like it’s just a matter of things evening out). I think it’s a fair point to question how he’s managed the basketball programs. Both hires were made from within the program, essentially, with the Greenberg/Johnson switch coming at a time that was not helpful in recruiting. Both teams are in last place in the ACC. That’s not a great track record, especially for programs that had pretty good promise just a few years ago.

Do you think the offense is once again doomed to a 100 plus total offense ranking or will Logan provide solid play along with his new O-line and hopefully an emerging tailback to get us back to the 50 to 75 range? – Jack, Raleigh

For as bad as Virginia Tech was last year on offense, it only ranked 81st nationally. So it’s not like the Hokies hit lows offensively like they did in 2008 (103rd), 2007 (100th) or 2006 (99th).There are plenty of question marks about the offense (o-line, receiver, running back), but there are some talented players who could step into those spots, plus the Hokies have quarterback Logan Thomas, who can make up for a lot of shortcomings, despite his struggles last season. Short term, I don’t think you’ll see a huge improvement next year. The line will need to come together and a featured back needs to emerge for the Hokies to show a marked improvement (although a slight bump wouldn’t be out of the question, simply for the fact that there’s new voices leading the group). The bigger question is what Loeffler and Co. will do long term. That means recruiting the right types of players who can work in their system and be that physically overpowering, mentally tough group that can impose its will on a defense, something Tech hasn’t had in a while. As usual, it’s impossible to predict the future.

I promised a mailbag earlier in the week, and here it is. Plenty of questions this time around, so I’ll split it into two parts, with Part II coming tomorrow probably. To the questions …

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1. Will a solid running back emerge out of our giant talent pool, and if so, who? It may not be fair, but Shane’s position did not perform very well in his first year having to develop the raw talent. Billy Hite had numerous seasons with freshman running backs and O-lines that were sub-par, but he was still able to produce in the run game.

2. Just for fun, *IF* we beat Bama, where (if at all) will VT be ranked the following week and how do you see the rest of the season unfolding? It’s only one game in and we are coming off our worst season in years. VT vs. GT last year was supposed to be the birth of an amazing season if we won. Well we did, and look where that got us. – Cliff Grunstra, Roanoke

I think the best bets from the running back pool are J.C. Coleman, Michael Holmes and Trey Edmunds, not necessarily in that order. Holmes was supposed to be the guy last year, but he never really seized the opportunity. Still, there was a reason he was the No. 1 guy last spring. Coleman was the team’s leading rusher of the backs last year with 492 yards, although his size will always make people question if he can be an every-down back. That’s why I’m intrigued by Edmunds. Frank Beamer threw out a Kevin Jones comparison last fall. He doesn’t do that lightly. Still, the Hokies thought he wasn’t quite ready to contribute immediately as a true freshman. I’d imagine he’d get an extensive look this spring. At 6-foot-1, 212 pounds (and possibly bigger than that, since that was his size last year), he seems like he’d be the size-speed back that Tech would prefer and one who could be the physical runner the Hokies are looking for. Carries are certainly open to whoever can seize the opportunity.

As for Shane Beamer, I’m not sure how much of last year’s woes you can rest at his feet. Of the guys who played last year, none were considered sure-thing backs (certainly not as talented as Jones, Ryan Williams or Darren Evans). And while o-lines in the past haven’t been great, they have at least been adequate in run blocking. That was the Hokies’ biggest problem last year, was inconsistent run blocking, something foreign in Blacksburg and probably a big reason Curt Newsome was shown the door. When there are no holes, even great backs struggle.

If Virginia Tech beats Alabama — and it’s a big if, since I can easily see the Hokies being at least two-touchdown underdogs — it’d be ranked, but it’s not like it would shoot into the top 10. Early-season shakeups in the polls are rare. Most voters are glacially slow to either move teams up or down, usually requiring a team to lose to truly earn a drop in the polls, and even then it doesn’t guarantee a far drop. You’re right about opening day wins, though — they only last so long. Lose the next week and it doesn’t matter. Why do you think coaches worry about letdown games so much?

What is the real story with his admission? Is it grades or did Fork Union or VT drop the ball and is he still committed to VT? – David Darden, Suffolk

It’s not a Virginia Tech thing. And it’s not a Fork Union thing. It’s a high school transcript thing, from what I’ve been told. And it’s really anybody’s guess at this point whether it gets cleared up for him to enroll in Blacksburg in the spring. I’ve spoken with Drew’s dad, and he expressed some frustration, but he didn’t want to get into the specifics, since the NCAA Clearinghouse — or as former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville sarcastically referred to it, the Slaughterhouse — is the ultimate arbiter when it comes to qualifying issues. Harris and Tech are really at the Clearinghouse’s mercy at this point. He’s still committed, but it’s unclear when or if he’ll be able to enroll.

Could you take a look at the defensive line depth chart and tell us which young guys have a change of getting playtime?  Gayle, Maddy, Hopkins, Marshall/ Collins will start.  Who follows them on 2 deep and who get left off the rotation or special teams only? – Eric Johnson, Charlotte, N.C.

I wouldn’t be so quick to rule out Dadi Nicolas as a potential starter. He had his legal ordeal last summer and missed all of camp. Tech didn’t expect much out of him last year (d-line coach Charley Wiles said it was probably like they were talking in Chinese to him during meetings), but Nicolas was surprisingly productive as his playing time increased down the stretch.  He had a sack against Florida State and made an incredibly athletic play in the bowl game, chasing down a Rutgers receiver after he broke free for a long gain on a short reception. That kind of effort earns you big points with Wiles. And it’s not like the end spot opposite Gayle was overly productive last year. Collins and Marshall were expected to be the two big contributors, but by the end of the year, it was Nicolas and Tyrel Wilson who had made the most plays, even though they were technically behind Gayle at the stud end spot to start the season.

It gives the Hokies some options. Gayle, Wilson and Nicolas are ends, Hopkins, Maddy and Kris Harley are tackles and Marshall and Collins can play inside and out. It’s a tough group to crack, although Matt Roth and Justin Taylor could compete to get on the two-deep somewhere. I’m also curious t see what Ken Ekanem can do after a redshirt year. He was pretty highly rated coming out of high school. All of this is just speculation, though. There’s plenty of reps to be earned this spring, and no coach on the team runs his group as a meritocracy as much as Wiles.

I am fairly new to paying attention to recruiting. I have read that this is one of the best years for Virginia, talent wise. How is VT doing in your opinion? Can you give some kind of breakdown on some players that are/maybe leaning toward VT? For example, Da’Shawn Hand, Andrew Brown, Steven Moss, Jamil Kamara, CJ Reavis, Derrick Nnadi, Jalyn Holmes, Ricky Walker, David Cornwell, Jacob Park, and Donte Thomas-William? And if I’ve missed some players who are leaning toward VT.  Also, as a follow up, would the commitment of a certain player influence, in your opinion, other players? — Chris Paunov, Blacksburg

Certainly, this is one of the better years in terms of pure talent Virginia has ever seen. Of the players you mentioned, Hand, Brown, Nnadi, Holmes and Moss are ranked in the Rivals 100. Even getting two of them would be a huge boost to the 2014 class. It’s always hard to say where any team stands with recruits throughout the process. Hand, for instance, has said Bud Foster is his favorite recruiter, but he still has a trip to Michigan planned in the near future. I hate to venture a guess as to which way these guys are leaning because it would be simply that — a guess. Quite honestly, I don’t really pay much attention to recruiting until a player commits. Even then, nothing is official until signing day and most players don’t contribute to a football program until their second or third year on campus. It’s easy to see why this is a niche thing that sites like Rivals and Scout and 247Sports have latched onto.

As for commitments influencing other players, I think this is one of the more overstated parts of recruiting. There’s only so much a friend of a player or a high school teammate can do to convince someone to go to the same place. Remember when Kendall Fuller’s high school teammate, Dorian O’Daniel, committed to Clemson last year? Plenty of people thought that gave Clemson the clear advantage on Fuller. Plenty of people were wrong. I can see certain situations where a player might influence his friend to go somewhere, but these instances of an early recruit being the Pied Piper that led a bunch of top-flight recruits to go somewhere, I think, is overblown. Recruits pick a place that is best for them and their family, somewhere they individually feel comfortable. It’s a much more personal decision than a lot of people figure.

I know it varies but could you give me an example of a football player’s class schedule during the season?  Do they take a full load?  I thought it was odd when Logan went to San Diego but I know he should have been ahead on his class schedule given his redshirt. Hey, yeah explain the educational benefit of redshirting. — Chris Cox, Philpott Lake.

The NCAA requires student-athletes to complete at least six credit hours per semester and at least 24 per academic year, only six of which came come during a summer session. Here’s a link with a little more information on that. Now, I’m not sure exactly how that breaks down during the season. I’m sure some guys might take it a little easier because of the time commitment to football, but it varies. As for Logan Thomas, he went to San Diego for only a few days, and it was during Virginia Tech’s spring break, so it’s not like he skipped class to do so. Redshirting is obviously a big boost to the educational outlook of a lot of guys. I think that’s one reason it’s so common for freshmen, since adjusting to the college academic life is sometimes difficult.

After reading your blog about the installation of the new scoreboard at Lane Stadium I was wondering if there are any plans to ever expand the north end of the stadium.  It seems that with as many sellouts that we’ve had over the years that our fans could fill the added capacity. – Cameron, Charlotte, N.C.

Right now, I’d say that’s a low priority. I think Tech’s ticket sales are probably about right for the current size of the stadium. I know there’s a “sellout” streak, but plenty of those games had open seats in the corners. I don’t know if there’s that much demand for more general seating past the capacity of 66,000 or so right now. Plus, the real reason to expand would be to add more luxury boxes. Those are the true revenue generators in an athletic program. And I don’t know if there’s a true demand for that right now. Anyway, the next big building project is the indoor practice facility, whenever the university decides a location to build it. With a new site and costs attached to that you’re looking at probably $25 million to build that, which is a priority in keeping in the college football arms race.

What are the odds Kendall Fuller will end up in the starting lineup now that Cole is gone and Exum is hurt as of now? If not will he redshirt or be a backup and special teams contributor? – Benjamin Kotchish, Lexington, Ky.

I think there’s a good shot the younger Fuller will have a substantial role as a true freshman, but I wouldn’t concede to him the starting spot quite yet. For starters, nobody will really know when Exum will be ready until the season gets closer. For all we know, he could be back for the opener (I’d say that’s probably unlikely, but it’s still within the rehab timetable). Second, Fuller won’t arrive on campus until the beginning of August, with less than a month to get acclimated to college football before the opener against Alabama. Fuller is undoubtedly a premier talent, but even the most talented guys sometimes have trouble transitioning smoothly to college. That’s an unknown at this point. Tech has two guys — Donaldven Manning and Donovan Riley — who have been in the program for a year (over a year for Manning) who will be getting most of the reps in Exum’s place in the spring. That’s quite a head start on an incoming freshman. So while I acknowledge Kendall probably will have a role early (in the nickel at the very least), I don’t know if that means he’ll have a starting spot immediately.

All things considered (last year’s record, returning players, new coaches, recruiting classes, schedule, etc.), what are reasonable expectations for our team? 8-9 wins? More? Less? — Ben Rosenthal

With the coaching changes and a schedule that most are not happy with (GT on 5 days rest and @ BC + MIA in back-to-back weeks), in your opinion, what is a realistic W-L goal for this season? – Stephen Smith

I think eight to nine wins is certainly within reach, and given the conference opponents that Tech misses (Florida State, Clemson), there’s a chance to get back to the 10-win mark, provided the offensive transition is smooth. Obviously, there’s an incredibly small margin of error for that second part, since even the most ardent Hokies fan would concede that Tech’s chances against two-time defending national champion Alabama are slim. But like I said, the Hokies avoid what are expected to be the league’s top two teams. Games against Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Miami are certainly not gimmes (and I’d imagine the Hokies would be underdogs heading to Georgia Tech and Miami), but they’re certainly all winnable too.

The defense, if it can continue on the path it had at the end of last season, could be very good. (I’ll refrain from any “best ever” statements after last year, especially knowing that the secondary will have a major question mark with Exum’s injury.) The big key is how these new coaches operate. If Scot Loeffler can tap into Thomas’ potential, that’d be a huge step in the right direction. If Jeff Grimes can instill that physical mentality into the offensive line — and that group can stay healthy, unlike last year — that’d be a huge step too. And if Tech is true about wanting to get back to its physical roots, and has a running back capable of carrying the load, that would go a long way in helping out. As you can see, that’s a lot of variables. If I had to guess, I’d say 8-4 would be a reasonable regular season prediction. That’s a two-game improvement, which is significant. But I think the potential is there for more.

Now that the offense is finally headed back to equilibrium, (run to set-up the pass) will Va Tech, from a recruiting aspect, focus more on pocket-types, mobile, or hybrid types of q-backs in the future? – Matthew D. Green, Princeton, W.Va.

I think any team would prefer some type of hybrid quarterback. Obviously, having a QB that can run and throw is preferable to one that can only do one or the other. I think Loeffler’s history might factor into it more. He’s had mostly pocket passer quarterbacks, although that’s largely a function of the type of offense that Michigan ran (remember, he inherited Tim Tebow at Florida, and he was a pretty darn mobile quarterback). The best indicator might be the guys Loeffler and Tech are targeting in the future. A pair of 2014 recruits, Jacob Park from Goose Creek, S.C., and David Cornwell of Norman, Okla., are both labeled pro-style quarterbacks. I don’t know if that’s a conscious choice by Loeffler or not.

Here’s what Loeffler said at his introductory presser about what kind of QB he’s looking for: “We’re looking for obviously a smart, tough football player. And time you find smart and tough, it doesn’t matter if a he’s a great runner, a great passer, you’ve got a chance. We’re going to tailor the offense to a guy who’s smart and tough. Obviously if you can find the 6-foot-5, 245-pound guy that runs 4.4 that can throw it all over the yard, we’re going to try to find that guy. Is that hard to find? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, every quarterback that’s out there has some deficiency. They all do. But any time you’re smart and tough, you’re able to overcome some of your physical deficiencies. And all of them are different. But the common theme is if we find a guy that’s smart, tough and loves the game, a great leader with talent, you’ve got a chance.”

Judging from that, mental makeup appears to be a lot more important to Loeffler than physical.

It’s time to revive the offseason Virginia Tech mailbag. I haven’t done one in a while, so here’s a refresher:

– Email me questions at andy.bitter@roanoke.com or andy.bitter@pilotonline.com. I’d prefer them to be football, since that’s what I cover year-round, but I’m sure, given the time of year, that a basketball question or two will get in there too.

– Be sure to leave your name and hometown so I can credit you with the query.

– I will try to answer them as best I can later this week.

Here’s Part II of the mailbag. If you missed Part I, you can read it here.

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To the questions …

I saw recently that the Pac 12 & Big 10’s deal for every school to play each other in football fell through. Do you think the ACC & VT would ever try or be interested in pairing up with the Big 10 or SEC in this sort of non-conference matchup? I would think that an ACC / Big Ten (or SEC) Challenge weekend in football would be a great weekend of college football and would bring great exposure to the conferences! What do you think?

– Harrison Poole, Virginia Beach

Those sort of scheduling agreements work in basketball, where you have plenty of non-conference slots available. But football is extremely limited, and with conferences going to a nine-game league schedule (which includes the ACC), you’re talking about three open non-conference spots.

Some schools have even bigger problems, since their big in-state rival is a non-conference opponent. Georgia Tech plays Georgia every year. Clemson plays South Carolina. And Florida State plays Florida. If you add on a comparable opponent from a power conference to a schedule that already features nine league games, a BCS-caliber state rival and a BCS-caliber opponent through some sort of conference crossover, you’re looking at some very unhappy schools.

I’d love to see it. I think the more big-league games that these teams can play in the first month would enhance the college football season. Inter-conference matchups like Alabama-Michigan and Clemson-Auburn and even N.C. State-Tennessee are what make the first few weeks so interesting. Realistically, though, I just don’t see it as a viable option because of the constraints so many teams have with their schedules.

Is there a chance Kendall [Fuller], Holland [Fisher], Bucky [Hodges] or any other current 2013 verbal commitments enroll in January? How do you see things like the talent to play early, guys leaving early for the draft, current grayshirts like Smith and Harris, and the moving target of scholarship numbers affecting the ability for this to happen from VT’s or the commit’s standpoint?

– Peter, Williamsburg

When I spoke with Carlis Parker’s coach after he committed in the spring, he said that it’s a possibility for the athlete. I’m not sure how many other guys that’s a possibility for because there are a couple of factors: first, the player’s high school calendar has to be set up to allow it, and second, the coaches have to feel comfortable that the kid can make a smooth transition.

The numbers aren’t really an issue in January. I think there are 15 seniors on scholarship who will be departing (a few others might get available schollies in their final year). Nowhere close to that many guys will be joining the program in January. I’d say it’s usually about two or three. The real numbers question comes in August, when an entire freshman class arrives and the 85 number becomes a concern. But these teams do their due diligence in preparing for situations and letting players know where they stand. They don’t yank a scholarship away from a guy. The player knows whether or not a grayshirt is a possibility.

How is the rehab of LBs Bruce Taylor and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow proceeding? If the season were to start now could they play or is more rehab time needed? Also, is the Lisfranc injury the type that is more likely to recur once a person has suffered one, or does he start again from square one?

– Scott Whitaker

Other than late game blowouts, how will the coaches get Ronnie Vandyke game experience?  I’m sure they want him to have as much game time as possible before the 2013 opener against Alabama. Could they possibly use Vandyke and Tweedy in nickel packages the way Exum and Fuller have been used in that role past two years.  I think this would make sense given their athleticism, Vandyke’s work in the secondary his redshirt year and the youth/Inexperience of our back-up corners.

– Alex, Damascus

I’ll take both of these at the same time. I wrote about Taylor’s situation in the middle of July. Structurally, his foot is fine. But he’ll have some pain that he’ll have to deal with this season. It’s not ideal, but it won’t keep him off the field. As for the Lisfranc, I don’t know if it’s likely to recur or not, but it’s always a threat for any football player given the twists and blows that a player’s foot takes over the course of a game.

Gouveia-Winslow’s injury was not as severe, so he was further ahead in his rehab. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him, but there is probably some similar element in his recovery as Taylor. But he might not be in the mix. Colleague Mark Giannotto of the Washington Post had a chat with defensive coordinator Bud Foster the other day and reported that Tweedy and Vandyke might be the two players vying for the starting spot this year, with Gouveia-Winslow next on the depth chart. That might have more to do simply with athleticism.

Gouveia-Winslow has never been known for his physical traits on the field, while Tweedy is a guy who can run with wide receivers and the 6-foot-3, 215-poundy Vandyke has been described as the “ideal” guy for the position by Foster. Either Tweedy or Vandyke would be able to stick with receivers, which, as Alex pointed out, would mean Tech could essentially play nickel defense with its base package, a nice little option to have. Bottom line: Vandyke is the player of the future at the position. It seems like the Hokies would like to start grooming him for that role.

Any clue if Virginia Tech will be a part of the Pro Combat unis this year? I know they’re wearing the camo for the Bowling Green game but didn’t know if they had any other plans.

– Bryan Head

I have not heard anything to that effect yet. This is the time of year that special uniforms start getting released. Nebraska showed off its black-helmet, all-red look the other day (although that was adidas). The Hokies have never been shy to experiment with whatever Nike wants to try, so I wouldn’t rule it out. But I don’t have anything definitive that something special is in the works.

I don’t have any real question pertaining to this season and probably won’t until practice gets rolling.  I just wanted to hit you up with a question with a what-if scenario about next season. With the official commitment of Kendall it got me thinking what will happen to our secondary in 2013. If Kendall comes in and is able to play right away which from what I have seen he is what will that mean for our team. Here are the different scenarios that I have considered. This is all assuming Kyle and Antone both stick around for their final year. #1. Kendall plays a backup role and fully learns the system to step in as a starter in 2014. #2. Kyle gets moved over to the open Whip spot giving up his CB spot for his younger brother to step in, this of course is assuming Kendall is further along at that time than Manning. #3. Kyle and Kendall get the starting nods on the outside whereas Antone gets moved back to one of the two safety spots. I know there is no way of knowing beforehand exactly what scenario is going to play out just thought this would stir the imagination some.

– Nathan Glover

I suppose I should have included this in Part I of the mailbag when I was addressed another Kendall Fuller question. I think he most likely scenario if everyone sticks around, is for Kendall to get his feet wet in the nickel package. That’s how a lot of cornerbacks work their way up to primetime. Assuming Kyle and Exum return and with Detrick Bonner and Kyshoen Jarrett at safety, that’s the entire starting defensive backfield coming back. I don’t think you’d mess with that. Add in the fact that any true freshman is going to have to make an adjustment to playing at the college level, and it seems to me like it makes more sense to have Kendall play a smaller role that grows rather than giving him a big role right away. But with Vandyke expected to be a do-it-all whip, it makes you wonder how much nickel Virginia Tech will even use. I know this: the defensive coaching staff sure likes to have these kind of problems rather than trying to make up for a lack of depth.

I have a rather research-intensive question but one I think would have an interesting answer. We hear a lot about the accuracy, or lack thereof, of recruiting rankings, but are these rankings more accurate for some positions than others? E.g., is a 4 star RB more likely to be successful at VT than a 4 star OL? This would require going back at the recruiting rankings and comparing players’ star rankings with a subjective “success” ranking that you could base on the players’ contributions at VT. One challenge would be treating players that leave the program early and how to assign them a “success” star ranking. I’d suggest categorizing them differently so for each position there’s be a star ranking comparison as described above for players that finished their careers and another statistic of percentage who leave the program early.

– Mike Leonard, Fredericksburg

This is a fantastic idea and one, for the purposes of this mailbag, is a little beyond my scope right now. I certainly think this would be a good story to do around signing day. I’ll try to revisit it then when the on-the-field stuff isn’t the primary focus of my reporting. I’d like to do this question justice.

Who are your dark horse picks to win the Atlantic and Coastal division?

– Trevor

For this question, I’ll assume the favorites are Florida State and Clemson in the Atlantic Division and Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech in the Coastal.

In the Atlantic, I think I’d go with N.C. State. That team started to figure something out in the second half of last year, winning six of its final eight games, including a 37-13 beatdown of Clemson. Granted, the Wolfpack lost to Florida State 34-0 during that stretch, so there’s still a lot of work to do, but plenty returns. You’ve got quarterback Mike Glennon, who threw for over 3,000 yards last year. Some are saying he could be among the best in the ACC. Plus, four offensive linemen return, which is always a good indicator. Defensively, they return all four defensive backs, including All-American cornerback David Amerson, in an interception-happy secondary. There are plenty of question marks, like linebackers, but there is enough talent to make you think N.C. State could surprise people. Plus, the Wolfpack gets its toughest matchup, FSU, at home.

In the Coastal, I just can’t see anybody springing a surprise. North Carolina would have qualified, but the Tar Heels are ineligible for the postseason and can’t participate in the ACC title game. Miami lost a lot and will be very young. Down the line the ‘Canes will be a threat again, but not now. Duke is Duke, so I don’t really need to get into the Blue Devils. And Virginia, for all the steps forward it took last year, lost a ton from that defense, which was the heart and soul of that team. To run behind that strong offensive line and play a ball control offense like the Cavaliers prefer, the defense has to hold up its end of the bargain. I’m not sure it is capable of doing that this year, at least not to the point of winning the division. That leaves Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, the two favorites. I guess the importance of the Labor Day night game hasn’t been overstated after all.

The mailbag is upon us. I received plenty of responses this week, so I decided to split it into two parts. Look for Part II tomorrow.

To the questions …

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Any thoughts on if the staff will stick to their normal game week preparation schedule for GT, or do you think they might deviate a little and use the extra time to focus on GT? I know last year they used some of the Duke week to prepare for GT, but I wonder if that almost backfired since the Duke game was much closer than desired.

– James Copeland

Frank Beamer and his staff are very much about routine. It’s why they alter the days on their schedule to match up to the usual days in the week of practice leading up to a game. For instance, the Wednesday before the Georgia Tech game on Labor Day will be the team’s “Monday” practice. It’s even labeled such on their practice schedule. That said, they’d be foolish not to use at least some extra time to prepare for Georgia Tech’s option offense. Coaches have been preparing for the matchup since earlier in the summer. Even if it’s not a full-scale practice devoted to the Yellow Jackets’ scheme, I’m sure they’ll take a look in bits and pieces leading up to the week of actual game prep. I don’t think there’s the same risk there was last year, since the Georgia Tech game is the next game on the schedule. It should be the one you’re preparing for anyway.

What recruits should we be watching to finish out the 2013 recruiting class? Does Kendall Fuller have a chance to play as a True-Freshman and play with his brother Kyle?

– Christian Case, Grundy

I just wanted to share a bit of info that you are probably aware of. Derrick Green has Ohio State off his list of potential destinations. They pulled their scholarship offer!! This should make VT the frontrunner for the 5 star running back don’t you think? This would mark their first time of getting 2 five star recruits, if they are successful, with the recruitment of Green. Shane is on the case, so things look much better for VT’s success in this instance!!

– Tim Salyers

I’ll combine these questions into one answer. Green, from Hermitage High in Richmond, is certainly high on Virginia Tech’s list. The Hokies are in the final six he announced Thursday, along with Michigan, Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Oregon, although it sounds like Michigan and Auburn are the teams to beat.

Other than him, it’s actually a pretty small list of targets. The Hokies have 15 commitments already for 2013, and with 15 scholarship seniors that I count coming off the books at the end of the year, Tech is still going to be right up against the 85-man scholarship limit. (There’s a little bit more room than there was after some offseason attrition, but not a ton.)

Other names to watch, according to the recruiting sites, are defensive end Wyatt Teller of Bealeton (UVa is a big competitor for him), athlete D.J. Reid of Chester, wide receiver/defensive back DaeSean Hamilton of Stafford and outside linebacker Oren Burks of Lorton. Expect some offensive linemen to be looked at too, but it’s not going to be a 28-man class like last year. Tech simply doesn’t have the scholarships available for that this year.

As for Kendall playing with Kyle, there are two things involved: is he good enough to play right away and will Kyle stick around for his senior season?

First, everything indicates Kendall is a special talent who can get on the field as a true freshman. Looking at Virginia Tech’s depth situation at cornerback right now, it seems very possible. After Kyle Fuller and Antone Exum, none of the scholarship cornerbacks have played a down of college football. That sounds like a good opportunity right there.

The other issue is whether or not Kyle will be around for his senior season. After Kendall committed, Kyle tweeted that he was looking forward to playing with his brother, so there’s at least a strong indication that he’s leaning toward coming back. But you can never tell with these things. What if Fuller has a huge year? What if he’s first-team All-ACC and a lock to go high in the NFL Draft? Circumstances can change quickly. So for now, I’d lean on the side of Kyle coming back to play a year with Kendall, but I wouldn’t rule anything out, especially when you’re talking about NFL money.

I’m a big proponent of an ACC Championship game. However, due to its short history and lackluster out-of-conference performance of the subsequent Championship Game winners, the overall prestige of the ACC title game, along with the conference in general, leaves something to be desired.

The national perception of ACC football is lacking respect, and the less-than-capacity attendance of the ACC title game only adds to the ridicule.

I believe that, instead of a neutral-sited championship game that may take place in an area that is generally indifferent to ACC football, the title game should be held at the home field of the one of the participating schools. Home field would be determined by some ranking system (e.g., polls, conference performance, etc.) with tie-breakers in place as needed. An allotment of tickets could be reserved for the visiting school. This would ensure packed stadiums and allow for an atmosphere that hasn’t been realized by remote ACC Championship games.

After ACC builds its football reputation, perhaps a neutral site title game could be considered again.  I don’t think the ACC title is at that point yet, and home field for the regular season ACC winner would further emphasize the importance of regular season matchups.

Has this approach to determining the ACC Championship game location been considered? What are your thoughts?

– Allan Pineda, Virginia Beach

That’s exactly what the Pac-12 did once it went to a title-game format last year. UCLA played at Oregon and the Ducks ran them off the field. It’s an idea that I’m sure the conference has considered, but I don’t think it’s going to gain much traction.

Charlotte has established itself as a good location for the game. It’s within driving distance for a good chunk of the league, is a nice facility and is in a city that is able to accommodate an event like that. The ACC actually bids for the right to host the game (although the league didn’t take any competing bids the last time the game was put out there), so moving to a home-field site would mean the loss of at least some revenue, something you won’t see happen in today’s college football.

Honestly, the game lacks prestige because the teams involved haven’t been too good. It comes back down to the same argument you see in TV ratings: if Florida State, Miami and others elevate their teams back to where they used to be, you’d see a much more attractive matchup and larger interest in the game. But when you have three-loss, four-loss teams making it to the championship game or teams that aren’t in the top 15, of course it’s going to suffer.

I have no problem with the neutral site model. You’d like to not have a homefield advantage and give both participants a level playing field (mostly to offset any random regular season advantages a team might have had in scheduling). As long as it’s in an easily accessible place and not on the fringes of the league’s footprint like Jacksonville and Tampa, I think it’s a good setup.

Have you seen anything lately that suggest that the ACC will add two more Teams? What’s your thoughts on this and will ND be the next team to join the ACC ? IMO, ND is in the works and I have no idea who the 16th team would be, my guess, Rutgers

– Jack L. Ratcliffe Sr., Radford

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you will get take Notre Dame’s football independence away from it when you pry it from the school’s cold, dead hands. The Irish like to flirt with a lot of conferences, but that’s mostly to find a landing spot for all their non-football sports. Football never seems to be in the talks, at least by the people who are actually making the decisions.

The larger point is that there’s still no need for Notre Dame to move its football team into a conference. Everyone anticipated the new postseason format would force its hand, but it didn’t. There’s no conference championship requirement to get into the four-team playoff (it’s a component the selection committee will consider, but not mandatory). And if you wonder how much clout Notre Dame will have in the new landscape of college football, remember that 11 conference commissioners met to decide the new playoff system, plus a representative from Notre Dame. BYU, another independent, didn’t get that consideration, so that tells you how influential the Irish are in the process.

So no, I don’t see Notre Dame joining a league anytime soon, no matter how much people want to see it happen. It’ll give people plenty to speculate about every offseason, though.

Given the fact that Tech doesn’t always have great recruiting classes but excels in player development, I often wondered what would happen if we had a top 10 recruiting class for example. Do you think the recent recruitment of Kendall Fuller can help attract some other highly-rated recruit to Tech in the future and is that what we need to go to the next level (by that I mean a national championship/BCS bowls wins) or is there something else to change (style of play, play-calling…) ?

Most dangerous non-conference game: at Pitt or “neutral field” against Cincy ? I think Cincinnati is a better team but in DC we kind of have “home-court advantage” right?

– Fred, Strasburg

I was just wondering what affect you see Kendall Fuller’s commitment having on the future recruiting classes. Obviously, he has to play well to get anymore recognition than he has now, but do other high profile recruits remember previous year commitments? And how much did Shane Beamer have to do with getting Fuller?

– Lucas Branson, Blacksburg

I’ve never been a big believer in recruits affecting future recruits, whether it’s laying the groundwork by showing that top-notch talent can go to a school or by directly trying to influence their friends to go somewhere. Players go where they’re most comfortable with the staff, where they think they can get to the next level, where they can get early playing time and (usually) where they are close enough to home for their family to make easy trips to see them play. That’s pretty universal. You always hear about how some top-flight commitment “recruits” other guys to come play with him, but I honestly think in the end that players make decisions based on what’s best for them, not what their friends from prospect camps want them to do.

And I think that extends to whether or not players see a five-star guy like Fuller commit to a place. Sustained success and the coaches’ ability to recruit quality players are the big factors. Virginia Tech has done that well in the last few decades and seems to be ramping that up a notch of late. Shane Beamer’s addition to the staff certainly helps, but he’s not the only reason (and from what I can tell, he wasn’t really involved in Fuller’s recruitment).

Obviously talent always helps you compete on the field, but recruiting rankings don’t necessarily equal success on the field (ask Florida State about that). As I’ve written before, winning a national championship take a combination of good players, good coaching and good luck. A lot of times you need all the pieces to fit at the same time (ie. Auburn in 2010), and that doesn’t happen often. Schools like Alabama, which has 5-stars on its bench ready to go in the game, obviously have a larger margin of error. I don’t think you’ll see Tech get to that point (mostly because only a handful of teams ever get to that point), but the addition of top-100 talents like Fuller and Holland Fisher and Joel Caleb certainly gives the coaching staff more to work with.

As for the toughest non-conference game, I’d probably go with Cincinnati in FedEx Field. The Bearcats at least have the same coach in place from the previous year and have been successful in the recent past. Pittsburgh has been up and down and is getting used to first-year coach Paul Chryst. That adjustment will take time, so I think it’s less of a threatening game, even if it is a true road game vs. a neutral site one.