planomateo
Member
Check the notes section at the bottom as well w/ regards to the number of true freshman expected to start.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/college/virginia-tech/true-freshman-in-tech-s-starting-offensive-line/article_af3ec530-51d2-51bd-8090-d5521c9a0c2b.html
BLACKSBURG Going into Virginia Techās football season opener against Alabama, the Hokiesā two new starting offensive tackles have a combined 27 career plays in college competition.
Junior right tackle Laurence Gibson has those few plays of experience. Left tackle Jonathan McLaughlin is a true freshman. He will become the first true freshman to start on the offensive line for Tech since 2006.
How does that make Hokies coach Frank Beamer feel?
āFeel nervous,ā Beamer said with a smile after Saturdayās final preseason scrimmage. āBut again, thatās kind of where we are.ā
After allowing the competition to continue throughout camp, new offensive line coach Jeff Grimes announced his starting lineup Saturday morning, posting a picture on Twitter of himself and the five starters.
Junior David Wang, who has battled injuries throughout his career, will play center on Saturday in Atlanta when Tech plays the two-time defending national champion. Senior Andrew Miller, the teamās center the past two seasons, starts at right guard with junior Caleb Farris at left guard.
āTheyāve just performed the best over time,ā Grimes said Saturday. āWe had a fairly good idea that all those guys would be in the mix, even going into the spring. But there were some other guys that made some large improvements over the summer and during camp that put them in competition as well.ā
Junior Mark Shuman underwent knee surgery earlier this week and will miss four to six weeks. Grimes didnāt have many options at tackle and McLaughlin, who enrolled in the spring, impressed immediately.
Still, like Beamer, Grimes acknowledged itās a bit nerve-racking to have a rookie protecting quarterback Logan Thomasā blind side.
āYeah, any time youāre playing a young guy you donāt know for sure how heāll respond, but really that applies to anybody who hasnāt really played before,ā Grimes said. āYou know, a guy like Laurence who hasnāt really had any game experience. You donāt know how heās gonna respond, either, in a pressure-packed environment, against a great opponent, with a crowd thatās decidedly Alabama, Iām sure.ā
Farris said Grimes stressed that the starting lineup isnāt set in stone and he didnāt want the playersā effort level to drop off just because they secured a job.
āCoach Grimes made it apparent that itās vital for us to keep moving forward as a unit,ā Farris said Saturday. āAnd that the line could change at any point this season.ā
Farris said Grimesā strategy of not announcing starters until Saturday kept the linemen motivated throughout camp.
āI think he did it to keep us working hard,ā Farris said. āAnd it worked.ā
With his starting lineup set, Grimes was asked if he had decided who would be the first guard and tackle into the game for subs.
āThere will be a picture coming out next Friday with the top backup, the No. 7 guy,ā Grimes joked.
Junior Brent Benedict, a transfer from Georgia who started six games for the Hokies last season, is the player Grimes mentioned as pushing for playing time up front. Benedict spent most of camp working at guard.
NOTES: Beamer announced that walk-ons outside (whip) linebackers Josh Trimble and Derek DiNardo, wide receiver Willie Byrn and Charley Meyer (Benedictine) have all been put on scholarships. ā¦ Tech will take 11 true freshmen to Atlanta for the Alabama game: defensive tackle Woody Baron, safety Chuck Clark, cornerbacks Brandon Facyson and Kendall Fuller, punter Mitchell Ludwig, McLaughlin, wide receiver Carlis Parker, offensive tackle Parker Osterloh, fullback Sam Rogers, offensive tackle Wyatt Teller and fullback Jerome Wright (Highland Springs). McLaughlin, Fuller and Rogers are expected to start.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/college/virginia-tech/true-freshman-in-tech-s-starting-offensive-line/article_af3ec530-51d2-51bd-8090-d5521c9a0c2b.html
BLACKSBURG Going into Virginia Techās football season opener against Alabama, the Hokiesā two new starting offensive tackles have a combined 27 career plays in college competition.
Junior right tackle Laurence Gibson has those few plays of experience. Left tackle Jonathan McLaughlin is a true freshman. He will become the first true freshman to start on the offensive line for Tech since 2006.
How does that make Hokies coach Frank Beamer feel?
āFeel nervous,ā Beamer said with a smile after Saturdayās final preseason scrimmage. āBut again, thatās kind of where we are.ā
After allowing the competition to continue throughout camp, new offensive line coach Jeff Grimes announced his starting lineup Saturday morning, posting a picture on Twitter of himself and the five starters.
Junior David Wang, who has battled injuries throughout his career, will play center on Saturday in Atlanta when Tech plays the two-time defending national champion. Senior Andrew Miller, the teamās center the past two seasons, starts at right guard with junior Caleb Farris at left guard.
āTheyāve just performed the best over time,ā Grimes said Saturday. āWe had a fairly good idea that all those guys would be in the mix, even going into the spring. But there were some other guys that made some large improvements over the summer and during camp that put them in competition as well.ā
Junior Mark Shuman underwent knee surgery earlier this week and will miss four to six weeks. Grimes didnāt have many options at tackle and McLaughlin, who enrolled in the spring, impressed immediately.
Still, like Beamer, Grimes acknowledged itās a bit nerve-racking to have a rookie protecting quarterback Logan Thomasā blind side.
āYeah, any time youāre playing a young guy you donāt know for sure how heāll respond, but really that applies to anybody who hasnāt really played before,ā Grimes said. āYou know, a guy like Laurence who hasnāt really had any game experience. You donāt know how heās gonna respond, either, in a pressure-packed environment, against a great opponent, with a crowd thatās decidedly Alabama, Iām sure.ā
Farris said Grimes stressed that the starting lineup isnāt set in stone and he didnāt want the playersā effort level to drop off just because they secured a job.
āCoach Grimes made it apparent that itās vital for us to keep moving forward as a unit,ā Farris said Saturday. āAnd that the line could change at any point this season.ā
Farris said Grimesā strategy of not announcing starters until Saturday kept the linemen motivated throughout camp.
āI think he did it to keep us working hard,ā Farris said. āAnd it worked.ā
With his starting lineup set, Grimes was asked if he had decided who would be the first guard and tackle into the game for subs.
āThere will be a picture coming out next Friday with the top backup, the No. 7 guy,ā Grimes joked.
Junior Brent Benedict, a transfer from Georgia who started six games for the Hokies last season, is the player Grimes mentioned as pushing for playing time up front. Benedict spent most of camp working at guard.
NOTES: Beamer announced that walk-ons outside (whip) linebackers Josh Trimble and Derek DiNardo, wide receiver Willie Byrn and Charley Meyer (Benedictine) have all been put on scholarships. ā¦ Tech will take 11 true freshmen to Atlanta for the Alabama game: defensive tackle Woody Baron, safety Chuck Clark, cornerbacks Brandon Facyson and Kendall Fuller, punter Mitchell Ludwig, McLaughlin, wide receiver Carlis Parker, offensive tackle Parker Osterloh, fullback Sam Rogers, offensive tackle Wyatt Teller and fullback Jerome Wright (Highland Springs). McLaughlin, Fuller and Rogers are expected to start.
