Virginia Tech spring game will be online at ESPN3

Those who can't make it out for Virginia Tech's spring game on April 21 will be able to watch it on the Internet.

The Hokies announced that their annual Maroon vs. White game will be broadcast on ESPN3 as an online-only production. Fans can access it through ESPN3.com.

Virginia Tech doesn't begin spring drills until March 28, going for 3½ weeks before hosting the spring game at Lane Stadium on April 21. It starts at 4 p.m. Admission is free.

How does James Farrow's transfer affect the Hokies' plans in the secondary?

It might not be official from Virginia Tech's side, but all indications are that redshirt freshman cornerback James Farrow will transfer. Scout.com first reported the news yesterday and Farrow tweeted it last night.

"My decision to transfer elsewhere has nothing to do with VT football," he wrote. "I love the entire Hokie family and wish them all the best next season."

Virginia Tech has yet to officially grant Farrow's release, although it just seems to be a matter of processing paperwork.

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The 5-foot-10, 179-pounder from Chanhassen, Minn., would have been a redshirt freshman in 2012, likely to compete with true freshman Donaldven Manning for a backup spot.

Farrow was the No. 2 recruit from Minnesota in 2011 and the No. 40 athlete nationally, according to Rivals.

Although he didn't play last season, Farrow's departure could affect the Hokies' plan in the secondary this year. Virginia Tech was going to have junior Kyle Fuller and sophomore Detrick Bonner as the No. 1 cornerbacks entering spring, moving one-time cornerback Kyshoen Jarrett to free safety in an effort to replace Eddie Whitley.

But now they  are extremely thin at cornerback, where they lost Jayron Hosley to the NFL and Cris Hill to graduation.

Manning, Rivals' No. 11 cornerback in 2012, is a true freshman who enrolled this semester to get a jump on 2012 by going through spring drills. The only other scholarship cornerback on the roster is recent signee Davion Tookes, who won't be able to start practice until August.

Walk-ons Chris Caver and Carl Jackson, both sophomores, are also options.

With plenty of bodies at safety, it remains to be seen if the Jarrett move will take place. Secondary coach Torrian Gray told Frank Beamer's website last week that Jarrett, Michael Cole and Theron Norman was the expected order at free safety this spring, with Antone Exum, Boye Aromire and Ronny Vandyke at rover. Vandyke is also expected to be used as a whip linebacker.

With depth at cornerback now a concern, it might force the Hokies to reassess the plans for their entire secondary.

A call for the offseason Virginia Tech mailbag

Time for another call for the offseason Virginia Tech mailbag. Here's how it works: you send me questions in emails and I'll answer them the best I can.

So email me at andy.bitter@roanoke.com or andy.bitter@pilotonline.com with your questions. Be sure to leave your name and hometown so I can credit you with the query.

Football questions are obviously welcome (the NFL Combine starts today and there are always roster things to go over), but so are basketball ones if you're in the mood. I plan to answer them on Friday.

Journell's preliminary hearing continued to May 10

Virginia Tech kicker Cody Journell's preliminary hearing on a breaking and entering charge from December has been continued to May 10.

Journell and two others charged in the incident were scheduled to appear in Montgomery General District on Thursday, but a request by the lawyer of one of the defendants pushed that back to May 10 at 1 p.m.

Prosecutors say Journell, Matthew Dunton and Matthew Brady entered the house of Hokies basketball player Dorenzo Hudson and Sean Allen on Dec. 21 seeking marijuana stolen from Dunton. Dunton had a gun, raising the charge to a Class 2 felony, although defense attorneys have said it has since been determined to be an air-pressured BB gun.

Journell's lawyer, Jimmy Turk, said he is hoping "for a speedy resolution" to the case but couldn't offer up more details.

Per Virginia Tech policy, Journell remains indefinitely suspended from the football team until the felony charge is dropped, dismissed or resolved. That apparently won't happen until after the Hokies conduct spring practice from March 28 to April 21.

Journell spent nearly a week in jail before being released on a $100,000 secured bond Dec. 28. After a meeting with Virginia Tech's Student Conduct board, he is still enrolled in school this semester, Turk said.

Holland Fisher says Virginia Tech 'everything I need, everything I ever wanted'

Holland Fisher had exchanged phone numbers with Cequan Jefferson before they left Blacksburg last weekend. The two football prospects, who reacquainted during Virginia Tech's junior day, were on the same rec team in Highland Springs while growing up.

Fisher, who originally had planned on waiting until signing day to pick a school, texted Jefferson that he was going to commit. Jefferson texted back that he was too and, voila, the Hokies had their first two commitments in the 2013 class.

"I was going to wait until signing day to commit, but it seemed like nowhere I went was on Virginia Tech’s level," Fisher said. "I just felt comfortable there. I felt like I was at home basically when I’m at Virginia Tech. The coaching staff is great. It’s everything I need, everything I ever wanted."

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Fisher, whose commitment is non-binding until he sends in his letter of intent next February, is one of the best recruits the Hokies are poised to land in years, at least according to the rankings.

Receiver Joel Caleb, Fisher's teammate at Clover Hill High in Midlothian last year, was Virginia Tech's highest-ranked recruit in 2012, according to Rivals, at No. 84. Fisher checks in at No. 72.

Top 100 commitments don't come every day. Since 2001, the Hokies have signed nine top-100 recruits using Rivals' rankings, not including Fisher (one, Deveon Simmons, never made it to campus after being expelled in high school).

That group includes Caleb in 2012, Wilson (No. 40) and Thomas (No. 71) in 2009, Ryan Williams (No. 47) in 2008, Tyrod Taylor (No. 27) in 2007, Victor Harris (No. 28) and Simmons (No. 93) in 2005, Marcus Vick (No. 8) in 2002 and Kevin Jones (No. 1) in 2001.

Despite being pursued by Ohio State and Tennessee, the latter he said finished second on his list, Fisher picked Virginia Tech.

Just where the 6-foot-1 205-pound prospect will play once he gets to Blacksburg remains to be seen. He wants to play safety in college, but coaches have talked to him about playing whip linebacker. Nature might be the decider.

"Depending on my body and how much weight I gain will determine what position I play," he said.

Fisher plays middle linebacker at Clover Hill, although he said coaches might move him around on defense quite a bit his senior season. He'll also play running back in a new offense Fisher described as a "tight pistol" formation.

He said he'll probably still take a couple of his official visits, but the Hokies are where his heart has always been.

"I always liked Virginia Tech," he said. "Growing up, I always watched them on TV. Every time I played a game, I always picked Virginia Tech. I was a Hokies fan since birth."

Stinespring Q&A, Part II: Intriguing players, replacing Wilson and having a thick skin

 If you missed the first part of my Q&A with Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring, you can read it here. Here's Part II:

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Anybody you’re intrigued about seeing this spring?

"It’s a bunch of them when you really get down to it. First of all, Caleb Farris is a guy that, although we played him some last year on the line, I think he’s a guy who we’re anxious to see how he handles things inside. Because when we did play him, we were excited about what he did out there. A center is kind of like the quarterback. You don’t change rotations with your centers a lot. It’s not like your guard. That center-quarterback exchange is not something you take for granted. Working that position is entirely different than a lot of spots. But I think Caleb is a guy we’re looking to see if we can get him more involved on our offensive line, not, per se, a backup center. Can he move to get our best five in a position to play? Or best six or best seven. So he’s a guy I think we’re anxious to see.

"Matt Arkema is a guy we’re anxious to see interior wise. [Brent] Benedict, which you’re already mentioned, we’re anxious to see what he can do. Those three guys inside. I can go through [Mark] Shuman, through [Jake] Goins, through Nick Acree -- all those guys fit that [mold]. We could take the rest of this day to answer that question.

"Michael Holmes is probably right at the forefront of that discussion. I think J.C. Coleman is right at the forefront of that discussion. How well does Michael Holmes step in and adapt to … when we repped him a lot this spring, it was with a really concerted effort in certain facets of the game. Now you’ve got to broaden that gamesmanship of his and see if handles that part of it. But I liked enough of what we saw in fall practices and scrimmages and things like that that we’re anxious to see how he evolves at that position. I think that he has talent."

You lose a lot in a running back like David Wilson, but is this an interesting group that is in line to replace him? It seem like a lot of different styles.

"I think we recruited well at the position, and that gives you reason to be excited about it. We’re excited that J.C.’s already here. That helps a great deal. Knowing what Drew Harris brings to the table, with the speed and shiftiness of [Chris] Mangus, you like what he brings to the table. Trey Edmunds, he’s involved in this whole concept. So the real deal once we get here in the fall is making sure we get the number of reps at that position for each individual to really justify a great evaluation of what they can and can’t do when you really get down to it."

Do you have to fight Bud Foster about who gets Trey -- the offense or defense?

"As always." [laughs]

How rare is that to get a guy who legitimately could play both ways in college?

"It is. He has great football instincts. He’s a football player. He doesn’t just have talent. He understands the game. He’s one of those guys who will transition from one side to the other. He’s smart. He can learn. And he understands the game. It’s not calculus to him. It’s something that he absorbs really well."

Wilson had about 65 percent of the rushing yards last year. Do you think anyone will approach that this year or do you think it will be more by committee?

"I don’t know that I can actually answer that question right now. There’s going to be some things that we hope to resolve in the spring. And there are going to be some things that you resolve in August. And then as the season goes on, you’ll get a feel for the capability and the magnitude of their ability to carry the load, per se. But we’d like to be to not necessarily have a guy who is going to be 70 percent of the work force, but if he’s capable of doing it and he’s successful doing it, then we have no problem doing that either."

Does having Logan Thomas back at quarterback give you some peace of mind, despite losing eight starters on offense?

"I think if you look back to our entrance in the ACC and you look at what our quarterbacks have accomplished, we’ve had two ACC Players of the Year at that position. First-team quarterback. ACC championship player of the game. You just go back and look at what we expect from that position and what that position has brought to our offense and to have that guy returning certainly enables you to sleep a little better. I can’t put enough on the aspect of having Logan back. When you have your quarterback who is capable -- more than capable -- that can not only handle a game, manage a game, but be a difference-maker on the field, when you have that guy returning, that’s a great entity to have."

You were very complimentary about Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale’s work habits. Are there going to have to be guys to step in and set that example?

"I think there’s enough guys returning that understand the ideology, the way things have to be done and how you’re going to have to have success. There are enough guys out there that know that. And I think Logan certainly understands that. I think his approach in this offseason already has been outstanding in how he’s leading people through the weight room, extra time on their own, throwing balls, running routes, getting in concert with some of the receivers. I think you already see that idea following through.

"But I think you get receivers like Marcus [Davis], D.J. [Coles] … again you lose D.J. for the spring [because of an injury]. It’s a process in the spring. You’ve got eight guys you’re losing through graduation or early exit, but you have a couple guys who are key figures who are not going to be available to you this spring too. So that’s a concern. Marcus is going to have to be instrumental in how that position goes and set a tone for that position. Dyrell [Roberts] I know will take on that. He’s excited to be able to return, to be a major contributor. And I think he understands, he knows the dynamics of what it takes to be successful. We’re really counting on Dyrell. I think his energy level has got to be where he normally has it, and I think he knows that, to bring around some of the younger receivers that we have."

What do you think of the linemen in the signing class? It seems like they’re going to need some time to develop.

"Well, I think a lot of times linemen, in a perfect world, you want to bring them in and let them play when they’ve seen a lot, been through a lot and understand not just your offense. For an offensive lineman, everybody thinks, are they ready for their own skill set? And are they ready for their own knowledge of the system? You’ve got to see how well they react to the multitude of looks they get from the defense. Defenses don’t sit still often anymore. You might get three or four different looks in a series. Movements. Guys don’t just stay in one spot. They slant, they move. And then how well are they able to adjust to what the defense is doing. That’s part of the equation that you have to bring to it. And really, time and reps and practice and seeing it over and over again is the best way. Because it’s hard. When a linemen gets out there, he might be ready from a skill set, but is he ready for the adjustment level that has to take place at that position? And can he do his job, but can he do it with somebody else when you have to pass off a twist, when you have to acknowledge the different defenses that you have to see."

There were three linemen in this class. Do you want a big haul of offensive linemen in the 2013 class?

"I think we’d like to have a big haul at a certain spot, get at least three tackles in this upcoming group. The tackle is kind of like the defensive tackle: they’re commodities. They’re like a quarterback in some regards. They’ve got to be really good in the running game, but they’ve got to be outstanding in the passing game. When you’re on the edge and you face the defensive ends that we face week-in and week-out, in this league I don’t think the quality of the defensive ends that you go against week-in and week-out [gets enough publicity]. If you’re having a problem in pass protection because of one guy is struggling, then you’ve got a problem. You’ve got to adjust your protection. You’ve got to bring in another guy to help. And the more you bring in to help, that’s one less guy out in the route."

How do you think the play-calling operation worked, with Mike O'Cain calling them from the booth last year? Will having done that for a season help this year?

"I think with anything, there’s some things that you have to adjust, going through something for the first time, whether it’s platooning a quarterback, as we did four or five years ago, it’s an element that you do that you’ve got to make it work. And this is the same. But I thought it worked really well."

Do you hear the second-guessers? Or do you build a thick skin to that?

"You can read that. [He has a plaque on the front of his desk given to him by his wife after becoming offensive coordinator, congratulating him on having a 'thick skin.' Inside is an animal skin.] There it is. A thick skin. I think it’s a deer skin. I don’t think you can [hear them]. I mean, we live in a world where you blog, you tweet, you message board. There’s a lot of vehicles geared toward certain things. That’s part of the game. You don’t second-guess yourself. You can’t do that. The thought process I go through is when you start concerning yourself with that part of it, you’re taking away from the people you’re entrusted to have your full attention. And that’s your players. And when you let something else distract you for an instance, you’re negating from the people who deserve and warrant all of your attention. And in the end, that’s where you need to concentrate, because that’s where you need to have success. How that relationship, how that practice, how that preparation coincides to Saturdays, and that’s what you concentrate on."

You’re recruiting the 757 again instead of the Lynchburg/Danville area. When were you there before?

"I was in the Tidewater from ‘94 to 2005 probably."

Anything change other than a longer drive?

"No, nothing really changes. Recruiting is recruiting. 24/7. And I would go down to that are with coach [Curt] Newsome when time allowed, especially in December and January, I would get back down there some. So I never really completely vacated. Curt did a tremendous job and continues to do so. It’s a concerted effort down there really."

How is it split up?

"Basically Curt concentrates his primary efforts in the Hampton/Newport News and I concentrate mine on the Norfolk/Chesapeake/Virginia Beach area. But we co-exist down there quite a bit."

Hokies get 2013 commitments from Midlothian DB Holland Fisher, Richmond ATH Cequan Jefferson

Virginia Tech secured its first two commitments for 2013 from Midlothian defensive back Holland Fisher and Richmond athlete Cequan Jefferson on Saturday night at the conclusion of its junior day.

Running backs coach Shane Beamer was the primary recruiter for the pair of Richmond-area prospects.

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Fisher (left), a four-star recruit by Rivals and 247 Sports, plays at Clover Hill High, the same school as the Hokies' marquee signing from 2012, wide receiver Joel Caleb. 

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound linebacker/defensive back had offers from nine schools, including Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia, and had drawn interest from Ohio State. 

Rivals ranks him as the No. 72 prospect nationally, making him the highest-ranked Virginia Tech recruit by the website since 2009, when David Wilson was No. 40 and Logan Thomas was No. 71.

Rivals has him listed as a defensive back, although he played linebacker for Clover Hill last season. 247 Sports ranks him as the No. 8 outside linebacker nationally, the No. 9 player in the state and the No. 124 player nationally.

Jefferson (right), a wide receiver/defensive back from Henrico High, was the second player to commit. He's a three-star recruit by 247 Sports, which ranks him as the No. 51 athlete nationally and No. 26 player in Virginia.

He had drawn interest from Michigan, North Carolina, Penn State and Virginia, among others, according to Rivals.

The 5-foot-11, 167-pound Jefferson, whose 40 time is listed as 4.39 seconds, caught 25 passes and averaged 65.9 receiving yards per game as a junior for Henrico.

Commitments are non-binding until players send in national letters of intent in February of 2013.

Kyshoen Jarrett to move to free safety this spring

Kyshoen Jarrett, the highest-ranked recruit from Virginia Tech's 2011 signing class, will move this spring from cornerback to free safety, where the Hokies are trying to find a replacement for Eddie Whitley.

Defensive coordinator Bud Foster hinted at the move in a Q&A earlier this week, but secondary coach Torrian Gray confirmed the news Friday to Frank Beamer's personal website.

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The 5-foot-10, 193-pound Jarrett, a rising sophomore from Tannersville, Pa., played in 14 games as a true freshman last season but got only 25 snaps on defense as a backup cornerback. He worked mostly on special teams, finishing with seven tackles. 

Jarrett , who was ranked the No. 18 cornerback nationally by Rivals coming out of East Stroudsburg (Pa.) South High in 2011, will work ahead of redshirt freshman Michael Cole and sophomore Theron Norman at free safety. As a senior there last year, Whitley had 83 tackles, second most on the team.

Antone Exum will work at rover, where he finished last season, along with Boye Aromire and Ronny Vandyke. Vandyke, as Foster said earlier this week, could be an option at whip linebacker too.

Kyle Fuller, who excelled at multiple positions last year, including cornerback, nickelback and whip linebacker, will play boundary corner but could get some looks at safety, Gray told the site.

Detrick Bonner will start at the top of the depth chart at the other cornerback spot. He made 27 tackles and one interception as a redshirt freshman.

Bryan Stinespring Q&A, Part I: Missed Sugar Bowl chances, overhauling the o-line and tight ends aplenty

I sat down with Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring earlier this week to talk about a variety of subjects. Like the Bud Foster Q&A from Tuesday and Wednesday (which you can read here and here), I'll split this one into two parts. Here's Part I:

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Is the Sugar Bowl loss one that sticks with you?

"It’s been in the pit of my stomach since the final horn went off. We had gotten back and it was right back in here the next morning. We were just going through the tape two or three times."

What part sticks with you the most?

"We had a chance to win the game. We should have won the game. We didn’t win the game. We prepared exceptionally well for that game. We put a lot into that game. We had numerous opportunities to come out on the good end of it and we didn’t. And those are the ones that stick with you. Sometimes at the end of the day you look at it and you just weren’t good enough that day or the other team was just really good that day or those things. You understand games of such importance, the opportunity to win a Sugar Bowl, the opportunity to win 12 games, with all the things that we contended with throughout the season on both sides of the ball, it was an opportunity for us to win a Sugar Bowl. And I really hurt for those kids. For Danny Coale, for Jarrett Boykin, for Greg Nosal, for Jaymes Brooks, for Blake DeChristopher, for Chris Drager, for Josh Oglesby. I hurt. I don’t feel bad. I hurt."

It seemed like you moved very well between the 20’s but bogged down in the red zone. Was there a reason for that?

"We had first-and-10 on the 6 or whatever it was and you lose 20 yards. We miss a fourth-and-1. We’re going to have a third-and-2 and we have a penalty and it knocks us down at the end of the game. We could probably win it at the end of the game, because we’re going to have at least four shots from their 4 to get it in with enough time. So there’s really just missed opportunities that we need to do a better job. We just need to be better."

Did Danny Coale catch that ball?

"I just go by the way that it’s been described since Day 1. If they called the ball complete, I think it’s got to be overriding evidence to the contrary. And to me that’s hard. I saw a young man that in his career has made big plays and I thought the script was written right for that young man to make one more big-time play and I thought he made that play."

Is replacing the offensive line the biggest focus of the spring?

"I think that’s our starting point. We have about four primary areas where we’ve got to focus our endeavors on. But the focal point obviously has got to be up front when you lose the number of snaps and the group of seniors who have played a lot of snaps and have really played well for us. I mean, that has to be our focal point. And that’s a big concern for us. Somebody asked what I anticipate in the spring and I kind of compare it to kind of like when you get on an airplane. You know this spring is going to be like getting on an airplane. And every now and then that flight attendant is going to come on the loud speaker and say, ‘The captain has put on the seat belt [sign]. There’s going to be a little turbulence. So stay in your seats.’

"So I think there’s going to be a little turbulence out there for us through some things. But that’s part of spring. We take a lot of pride through the spring that we’ll get better and as the season goes on, that’s going to have to be our mantra this spring. We’re going to have to fill some spots and get better as the season goes on. At the end of spring we have to be better than at the start. That’s going to be the goal. It’s going to be baby steps and it’s going to be some trying times, for sure. But I know that we’re more than up to the task."

With the cohesion that the line had formed, is that a hard group to replace wholesale?

"Yeah, sometimes I go back and there were times I think, 2007 we probably started off the season unsettled at that position, and I think we were something like 340 yards a game for the first six [games] and ended up being like 400 yards a game, and it had a lot to do with that group growing cohesion as the season went on. But because of that I think there’s a sense of urgency in all of us. We have to expedite the process. You don’t want to be going into a season still shuffling.

"We had an injury to [David] Wang that made us kind of have to reshuffle the whole deal too at that time. So you’ve got to get that spot settled, get people working at spots that they’re comfortable with the people beside them. And it’s an individual spot, but that spot requires a group effort more than any on the field. They have to play well individually. There’s got to be individual ability, but there’s got to be an ability within the group to work together on the same page in what they’re trying to get accomplished. It’s critical."

Who are you looking at at the tackle spots?

"We feel really good about Nick Becton [pictured] being able to come back and be that anchor at that left tackle spot. We’re expecting big things from Nick and we know that he’s capable, more than capable. He’s proven that. Now it’s his time to really exert himself as the guy that we can count on day-in and day-out that’s going to get the job done and then some. We start it all right there.

"Then you’ve got to start moving out and Vinston Painter is going to have to come through and a great spring and be the guy we believe he can be. What happens is that it really gets back that it’s the four guys that we lost, coupled with the fact that Michael Via is not able to go. [edit: he had knee surgery in January and will miss the spring.] So not only do you lose those four guys, but in the spring, you’re still one man down that you know is going to be a central figure at that tackle spot somewhere. But he’s not going to be there this spring.

"So that really forces you to really say, OK, what else is going to happen here. Now it’s got to be a guy like Mark Shuman is a big come-through guy for us. I think it’s a critical spring for him, a very important spring for him and for us, how well he develops. Jake Goins. Those guys are going to have to out there, and all of a sudden they’re guys who are going from guys who got a few reps here and there, at the end of spring they might be tight end weight. They’re going to get a lot of work. And how they come through will be important."

So you envision Via as a tackle? I know he plays pretty much every position up front. Can you slot him in anywhere up there?

"Yeah, pretty much. But I think we would like to see us solidify that tackle spot right now. So that’s where we would venture to put the onus on him is at the tackle spot."

Nick Acree -- is he in that mix?

"Yeah, going down the line. Nick Acree is a guy who, again, it’s a big spring for him."

What about Georgia transfer Brett Benedict? What position will he play?

"Once we get through the winter workouts and see his movement abilities more, I think that’s something we’ll have to address. That’s a guy who has played tackle but we’re not sure if that’s his best spot. He’s one of those points within the offensive line itself, he’s one of those guys about where you want to put him in this equation."

Painter was a highly-touted recruits who hasn’t quite panned out. Can he realize that potential this year and what has held him back?

"He’s had some injuries. But then I think sometimes the transition from high school to college takes a little longer than others. There’s been a transition mode for him a little bit. And then I think sometimes if you’re not the starting guy, you start fitting into a role a little bit. I just saw him. He comes up here all the time right now. He’s telling me what he’s doing downstairs, how things  are going for him right now. I know he goes back and watches a lot of film. So from that standpoint, I think he’s very eager. I think he’s prepared himself to step out there and be the guy we need him to be. He’s got the tools. We’ve just got to put it all together. Obviously there’s got to be a tremendous emphasis on him. Obviously there’s going to be a lot of attention on every little thing that he does. He’s not going to be lacked for coaching up this spring."

What do you think of your group of tight ends?

"I like the group. I really like Ryan Malleck. We played him for a reason this season because we felt the more he could be around us every day as opposed to going down with the scout team, getting him on the field, playing when you can, playing special teams, getting acclimated to the speed of the game and getting on the field and playing, I think it was important. Going into spring, he’s further along in terms of knowing the offense. He’s further along in knowing what it’s going to take to be successful on the field. I think he’s got a lot of potential. I think he’s got a lot of ability. And he’s a guy that we’re really counting on.

"The other guy who I think has really, it’s been a long process for him, but a guy I’m really proud of and excited about it Randall Dunn. I think he brings a dimension to the tight end and with the loss of some receivers he’ll be an additional commodity for us in a lot of things. I know he’s excited for it. He’s put his time in. He had to transition himself from not playing … you know, he didn’t play football from seventh grade and up. He got into football late in his high school career. Then he starts to learn the position that he’s playing in high school, he’s playing in college and he moves positions, so it’s been a long process for him, but sometimes those opportunities, when they do arise, how well you prepare yourself for them, I think says a lot about your chances for success. And he’s prepared himself to get to a spot where I think he can really help us."

It seemed like the tight ends became more of a pass-catching threat as the season went on. Do you think with the turnover at receiver, they can be a big receiving option for you this year?

"I’m hoping so. I’m hoping in conjunction with our backs that you’ve got to have other guys, other receivers to step up. But I think you have other components within your offense that can help alleviate some losses that we’ve had. You still have Eric Martin, with a two-tight end, he’s well-versed in the offense, he brings a dimension. [George] George brings a dimension to the game. They’re guys who have played that know what you’re asking them to do. With Duan Perez-Means moving over [from defensive end], I think that gives us a longer, bigger guy at that position too. I’m anxious to see how well he performs at the spot."

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay solid on David Wilson, low on Jayron Hosley, high on Danny Coale

Todd McShay, the director of college football scouting for ESPN Scouts Inc., was kind enough to do a teleconference today to discuss the upcoming NFL Combine, which takes place Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium.

I had a chance to ask him about former Hokies running back David Wilson, cornerback Jayron Hosley and receiver Danny Coale. Here's his brief scouting report on each:

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On Wilson:

"I like him. I don’t he has great vision and patience as a back. He flashes it but sometime he gets a little greedy and tries to bounce too many inside runs to the outside. I think that’s one thing you’ve got to work on. I think he’s good just about everywhere else. His adequate hands can be a weapon in the passing game. Good agility, good power, very good balance I think as a runner, but he’s just not a huge guy, not great in terms of his initial explosiveness. And I think that [and] his patience, those two things, keep him out of the first round. I think he’ll wind up being the second or third back taken, but probably somewhere in the second round."

On Hosley: 

"Actually, I was a little disappointed in him this year. I thought he’d play better. He’s obviously a ball hawk. He does a great job on the ball in the air. He has very good instincts and does a lot of little things well. But when you start to look at the complete package of what you need at the cornerback position, he doesn’t have great size. He’s only around 175 pounds. And he’s not overly physical against the run. I just thought that he wasn’t as quick or explosive out of his peddle. I don’t know. I think that he’s just a few notches away from being where he needs to be from going in and compete to even be a No. 3 or No. 4 and I thought he could easily use another year at Virginia Tech and just didn’t come out. But he did and will probably wind up in the third- or fourth-round range."

On Coale, who McShay said in this video could be a third- or fourth-round pick (fast-forward to the 1:55 mark):

"I like him. I just think, he’s a little dinged up now, but you’re talking about a guy who produced at a high level in college, he has the size, around 6 feet, he’s in the 195-pound range. I think he runs well. I think that’s the misconception is that he doesn’t run well. I’m not sure if he’s going to be healthy enough to run at the combine [edit: Coale pulled a muscle near his rib prior to the Shrine Bowl], if he doesn’t he’ll be at the pro day, but at some point it won’t surprise me if he runs in the 4.4 range. I just love his toughness, the way he plays, his ability to catch the ball in traffic. I’m not saying he’s going to be a No. 2 [receiver], but I am saying that he can be a very productive No. 3 in the NFL and be in the league for a long time, the type of guy who can bring versatility."