Sean Huelskamp Named Hokies' Starting Mike Against Purdue

Well, the secret is officially out. Without much prodding, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster stated that Sean Huelskamp (r-So.) will get the nod as the Hokies' starting mike linebacker against Purdue this Saturday.

Despite being a walk-on, Foster believes Huelskamp will handle the starting duties at mike just fine for the next few weeks until Andrew Motuapuaka (MCL sprain) is ready to return.

"He reminds me a lot of Jack Tyler," Foster raved about Huelskamp. "He doesn't have the experience right now, but has the same make-up."

For Foster, that 'make-up' includes a high football IQ, toughness and the ability to run fluidly.

"I like what he's about," Foster added. "He's a tough kid and he's athletic enough. He's got a lot of good qualities about himself."

While a segment of the fan base has clamored for true freshman LB Carson Lydon to get a shot as the starter, Tech's defensive coordinator indicated the 6'2", 233-pounder needs more live reps in practice before he's ready to lead the defense.

"He's been repping some with us, but not on a regular basis," Foster detailed. "Mentally, I think he's ready. He's just got to get out there and do it."

Other tidbits from Foster

Foster didn't rule out a possible "mike-by-committee" scenario.

Foster pointed out the game plan will be simplified somewhat for Huelskamp, but added Huelskamp will be making the calls on the field.

He said Lydon wasn't ready to play at the end of spring practices, but did a great job during the summer in the film room and weight room, improving "100 percent."

The reason backup LOLB/backer Dahman McKinnon hasn't been moved to mike is because of the "subtle differences" in pass coverage between the two positions. Foster also said that McKinnon was "all over the place" when he was given a shot at the mike spot last year.

Foster brought up LB Tremaine Edmunds as a guy that could be utilized as an edge player in the defense's 30 package.

Foster on Purdue's offense: "It's run-oriented. There are a lot of double-moves. A lot of deception, meaning there's a run play, but they're going to run a pass route coming off of things, trying to get your ends or people to leak up the field. They're very physical. I've really been impressed. Their line is all experienced. I've been impressed with their backs. Their quarterback (Austin Appleby) has a live arm. They got good enough receivers. They're somewhere between Ohio State and Furman."

Player Quotes

MLB/MIKE Sean Huelskamp

ON WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HIS MIND WHEN THROWN INTO ACTION IN THE THIRD QUARTER FURMAN:

"You know, I just realized I had to step up when someone comes down. Coach (Bud Foster) is always talking about how you got to prepare like you're the starter and that's what I try to go in with every week. I felt a little nervous just with my first few reps but as my reps went along I got a lot more comfortable with it."

ON HIS DECISION TO JOIN VIRGINIA TECH AS A WALK-ON AND WHAT HIS OTHER OPTIONS WERE:

"I got recruited my senior year of high school as a preferred walk-on and my only other serious option for me was to go to William & Mary on a scholarship. I wanted to compete at a higher level, so I just chose Virginia Tech and I love it here now."

ON IF IT'S A CHALLENGE TAKING OVER A LEADERSHIP ROLE AT THE MIKE POSITION:

"A little bit, but we've got a lot of guys that have experience that help me out. I feel comfortable with all the calls and everything because I've been here for three years now. I know the defense just as well as most guys."

ON WHICH TEAMMATES HELP HIM OUT DURING PRACTICE:

"I think just Luther (Maddy), Dadi (Nicolas), Ken (Ekanem), and Kendall (Fuller) and all those guys coming back. Just people who've played for two years on the defense."

ON THE BIGGEST DIFFICULTY OF PLAYING AT MIKE:

"I just think, really, just doing your job. You can't really do much more. As a middle linebacker, you're trying to make every tackle, but you realize sometimes you just got to take on a block. You may just have an x-factor play, where you might not make the tackle, but you make the play."

ON THE IDEA THAT HE'S UNDERSIZED (SAID HE'S UP TO 212 LBS) FOR THE MIKE SPOT:

"I think our defense is more geared towards speed. I'm good in my reads and speed and I have enough strength, so it's not an issue for me."

ON WHAT HE'S SEEN FROM THE PURDUE OFFENSE ON FILM:

"I mean, they have a great running game, I think. I think they're pretty simple, relatively, but we've got to come out and just do our job because if one person doesn't do their job, they could go for a touchdown."

ON IF HE'LL BE MORE COMFORTABLE AGAINST PURDUE COMPARED TO FURMAN KNOWING HE'S STARTING:

"Yeah, I think I'll definitely be more comfortable just because I know exactly what's going to happen. Just being thrown out (against Furman) you're adrenaline's rushing and my reads might have been a little off in the beginning, but I settled down towards the end."

LOLB/Backer Deon Clarke

ON WHAT KIND OF PLAYER NEW STARTING MLB SEAN HUELSKAMP IS:

"I mean, he's a fly around guy just like Drew (Andrew Motuapuaka) was. If you play mike, you got to know your things. You got to be able to drop back, run downhill and be in coverage. Sean (Huelskamp) can do all those things. He's just a little slower because he's just getting into it and playing his first game and all of that. But, you just got to know your keys, play fast and don't let your mind tie up your feet. That's where he's at right now. That's where all of us started, but you just gotta get used to it, fight through it and play through it."

ON WHAT HE'S SEEN FROM FRESHMAN LB CARSON LYDON AND IF HE'S AHEAD OF THE CURVE:

"Yeah, he's definitely got the build to it, but he's way younger than Sean (Huelskamp). So, yeah, he's out there in practice still messing up a lot. We were just in the locker room and he was like, 'man, I don't want to watch film tomorrow because I know I messed up.' It's just learning. He's got to learn, learn and learn every single day. If you're not taking the reps, you always got to look and take mental reps every single day."

ON IF THE UNCERTAINTY AT MIKE CAUSES HIM TO SHADE MORE TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD TO PICK UP THE SLACK:

"I mean, sometimes you're like,'oh, I want to get to the gap because the ball's going over there.' But in Coach (Bud) Foster's defense, you can't play anybody else's position. You got to play yours because as soon as you go out your gap, there goes the running back, wide receiver or quarterback shooting up your gap. Then, you're the one getting yelled at."

ON IF BUD FOSTER COACHES ALL THE MLB'S THE SAME WAY REGARDLESS OF EXPERIENCE:

"Yeah, especially if he sees something in you he's going to definitely jump down your throat extra hard at practice. He doesn't treat anybody different. Nobody gets to slack off. If you do a play wrong it's not, 'oh, okay, just do it better.' As soon as the play's over, he's jumping down your throat. Or, he's stopping the play to jump down your throat because he already sees you lined up wrong. He treats everybody the same. I've been through it all. Ups and downs with Coach (Bud) Foster. But, I love him. He's a coach that just wants the best for you no matter what, so he just wants to treat you like his son."