BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry met with the media Wednesday following the Hokies’ practice in preparation for Saturday’s home game against Old Dominion.
Here are some quick-hitting notes from the availability:
» Running back Terion Stewart made his Virginia Tech debut against Vanderbilt after not traveling with the team to Atlanta for the season opener. He had three carries for 10 yards and had one catch for 6 yards against the Commodores. He’s listed as Marcellous Hawkins’ backup for this weekend’s game against ODU.
“He had a good week. He hadn’t practiced much. And last week was day-by-day,†Pry said. “And so now to have a full week with him where he knows he feels good and he’s repping and he … should only help us.â€
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» The Hokies have settled on a defensive back rotation with five cornerbacks (Caleb Brown, Isaiah Brown-Murray, Dante Lovett, Thomas Williams and Krystian Williams), four safeties (Quentin Reddish, Tyson Flowers, Jordan Bass and Christian Ellis), and two nickelbacks (Isaiah Cash and Sherrod Covil). The rotation is expected to be the same as the Hokies aim to keep the players fresh deeper into the season.
“I think we’re going to continue to give opportunities to some other guys. We’ve got a bunch of depth back there. We’ve got to figure out who’s going to play the best for us,†Pry said. “But there’s been some even snaps right now at the corner position. I think the combination of Bass and Quentin Reddish has been pretty good. We’ve got to get Christian Ellis kind of going. He had an injury a while back and it’s just taken a little time, but he’s a guy that can help us back there in a bigger role. I think Thomas Williams is getting better. I think we’ve got some … Krystian Williams is finally healthy. You saw him, the pass breakup he made, then you saw his range and speed tracking that ballcarrier down. He’s smart, he’s long. And then Jojo Crim is a young guy that we keep feeling like we need him out there, even though he’s a true freshman.â€
» Bass was the surprise on the initial depth chart as Reddish’s backup. Bass didn’t play safety during his time at Pittsburgh and he moved to the position during training camp.
“He’s eager. That’s where he’s behind right now. He hasn’t had the practice reps that the other guys have had. He didn’t play the position at Pitt,†Pry said. “So he’s still coming from behind, and he’s eager, he’s anxious. He wants to be right. Because he’s got tremendous play-making ability. Yesterday, he made plays on defense, he made plays on special teams. He’s just got to continue to learn the playbook and be assignment-sound.â€
» The Hokies entered the season expecting to rotate Benji Gosnell and Harrison Saint Germain at tight end. Ja’Ricous Hariston (Bassett High) has emerged as the No. 2 tight end behind Gosnell and is being used when the Hokies go to 12 personnel packages. Hairston had his first career catch (which went for a touchdown) against Vanderbilt and delivered several key blocks to spring runs.
“I think we’re trending in the right direction. We’re improving,†tight ends coach Brent Davis said. “Fundamentally, I think we’ve been pretty good. Speed of the game, got to come along. I think we can play faster. The second game was better than the first. I expect this week to be better than last week. So I think we’re improving. Got to get on the perimeter. Just consistency is what we’re looking for.â€
» Pry revealed Tuesday that slot receiver Takye Heath suffered an injury the day he spoke with the media about his journey to starting in the opener, and that’s why he didn’t take the field against Vanderbilt. He was listed as Cam Seldon’s backup at slot receiver for ODU, but there’s a chance he may not play for the second straight game.
Takye Heath fought through growing pains and adversity. Now he's the Hokies' starting slot receiver.
“I’m in a great spot,†Heath said. “I feel free, like just ready to play some ball.â€
“He didn’t look too good today,†Pry said. “He tried, he did a few things, but I’ll say he’ll be a gametime decision.â€
» Two other wide receivers, Keylen Adams and Chanz Wiggins, did not dress for last weekend’s home opener. Both suffered setbacks during training camp and Pry isn’t expecting them to be ready until closer to the midway point of the campaign.
“They’re getting closer. One of them is closer than the other one, to be honest,†Pry said. “I think we’ll have them both back midseason, maybe a little bit sooner with one of them. But we’re still a couple weeks away.â€
» The players appreciated Monday’s day off after preparing for the opener against South Carolina and then not having a full day of rest to get ready for Vanderbilt on a short week. Pry got the team back on a normal week after the loss to the Commodores, which meant Sunday film review, corrections and initial preparation for ODU, and then Monday was a day off.
“We talked about that as soon as the game was over. Me and my roommate were talking about what it would be like having a Monday reset day,†wide receiver Tucker Holloway said. “Sundays are film, get the film watched and move on to the next game, but man, Monday. It’s tough when you have a short week like that, it is really tough. It’s not easy to turn around and play another game in just a few days after already being a little beat up from the last game. Just being able to take care of our bodies, but also the mental side of it. Getting ahead film-wise. Monday is a big film day for us. Even though we’re not doing anything physically, we get in here and have player-led meetings where we’re just watching film, so it was a good opportunity for us to kind of not only physically, but mentally, reset and get ready to go into a good week of practice in preparation for the next game.â€