Bud Foster and Charley Wiles Discuss the Hokies Backup Defensive Linemen

Virginia Tech Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster and defensive line coach Charley Wiles provided head coach Frank Beamer's website with updates on Tech's defensive line. Their takes about the reserves caught my attention.

"A guy who has really jumped out at me is Seth Dooley," Foster told BeamerBall.com. "I like how much he's improved and where he's headed. Woody Barron has really stepped up. And Vinny Mihota is really having a great spring."

Pencil Seth Dooley in as the winner of the Richard Bullock Award for most improved defensive player of spring. Foster and Wiles have complemented Dooley so much I'm borderline worried that they're trying to pump up his confidence because they know how much they need a third (and fourth) end. Dooley is the guy my eye 'll be trained on the entire spring game.

"Nigel Williams was solid with 45 plays and 34 points," Wiles said. "Woody Barron recovered two fumbles, had 45 points in 45 plays with 4 tackles and 2 assists. Woody is the guy I nominated to carry the Lunch Pail this week. Seth Dooley continues to have a really good spring. I'm proud of his growth and hopefully he just keeps getting better and better. Melvin Keihn got a little better. He still has a ways to go, but he's improving. Ricky Walker was solid."

Any mention of Melvin Keihn and the immediate reaction is his size, or lack thereof. Smaller ends have had varying amounts of success at Virginia Tech. Tyrel Wilson (6-2, 230) was a solid, versatile backup. Corey Moore (6-0, 212) was a unanimous first-team All-American. I'm not going to count the 6-1, 211 pound Keihn out on size alone. However, I haven't heard, read or seen anything to leave me bullish on him contributing significant defensive snaps this season.

I've mentioned many times before, Wiles wants a dependable two-deep across the board so he can rotate bodies throughout a game. If Keihn doesn't take the next step leap forward, Tech seems to be out of options for a fourth end.

BUT WAIT...

You're starting to notice Vinny Mihota," Wiles added. "He has good twitch and quickness. He's also explosive. He had 4 tackles, 1 assist, a tackle for loss, a QB harass and had 37 plays with 22 points. I'm thinking about taking a look at Vinny at DE as we start to finish up spring ball."

If you've been an avid reader, that last bit of info should've hit you like a ton of bricks. This is a 180 from last year.

"We're probably going to look at Vinny Mihota some inside," Foster said in a Hokiesports.com video interview in March 2014. "We've got a little class conflict with a couple guys. So just getting an opportunity to get him on the field and get him evaluated. And he's going to grow into that position when it's all said and done."

At 6-5, 270 Mihota fits the traditional build of a Tech defensive tackle, not an end. However, Wiles noted Mihota's "twitch", "quickness" and described him as "explosive". If Vinny has the pop off the line that d-ends in Foster's scheme need, it's prudent to rep him there. And given there's a plethora of d-tackles, and only three ends the coaches seem high on (Dadi, Ekanem and spring sensation Seth Dooley), it's not inconceivable Vinny sticks on the outside to fill out the two-deep.