Notes and Quotes From Yesterday's Practice

The Hokies held their fifth practice of spring yesterday which concluded with a closed 47 play mini-scrimmage. The Frankinator described it as, "ragged," but not lacking in effort. "I think what you have to really be pleased with is the effort and how we worked against each other and our aggressiveness in full speed work. As long as you have effort, we'll get better and that's the important thing."

Michael Holmes was a shining star of the scrimmage and was singled out by Coach Beamer, "The guy who you kind of notice a couple times is Michael Holmes." "He's got good moves, power and speed. He's a guy you kind of notice."

It sounds like J.C. Coleman is enjoying his fill of HokieClubs from West End, "Almost up to my goal weight of 190. At 183 right now. #hypee !" And the Gentrification has only just begun.

The Frankinator mentioned Ethan Keyserling as, "the guy who has been punting well," and Michael Branthover as, "the better guy at field goal." However, the kicking game is still a work in progress. Keyserling had punts of just 37 and 29 yards in the mini-scrimmage. Branthover had a punt of 33 yards, made and missed field goals of 32 and 37 yard respectively. Conor Goulding missed a 32-yard attempt.

Kyle Fuller's calf injury last week wasn't serious and he was back at practice. And it sounds like Bud likes how Jarrett and Bonner are playing at safety and the flexibility that provides in the secondary.

It gives us some athletic guys at safety and so we've got four good athletes across the field that can play corner or safety or whatever," defensive coordinator Bud Foster said. "It gives us some speed on the inside where people try to attack you in the slot and that type of thing."

Bonner, who played safety his senior year of high school, has embraced his new roll, saying he has to, "step up," but it, "feels good," and it, "comes natural" regarding both the position and the added responsibility of communicating to the rest of the secondary. Exum has accepted the challenged of being Tech's next great boundary corner, "I'm not going to go into it thinking I'm not going to excel at it. I feel very confident out there."

Kick return hasn't been put in yet, but Dyrell is getting an opportunity to return punts, and may yet end up returning kicks again. (Yay!) Kyshoen Jarrett and Kyle Fuller are getting looks too.

French said everything I was going to write about the offensive line better than me.