If you check out his roster page on Hokie Sports, C.J. McCray is now listed as a DL - not an LB. I would imagine the emergence of Jaden Keller as a strong true freshman and the incredibly thin DE depth spurred this decision.
As far as I'm aware, the roster does not distinguish between DT and DE, so I'm assuming this is another Barno-esque experiment.
[mod edit: link url/text were reversed]
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Link is dead for me.
https://hokiesports.com/sports/football/roster/c-j-mccray/11351
Thanks for the edit - it also looks like HokieSports updated their roster card page. Looks different than when I posted this like 20 minutes ago.
The move from LB to DE has worked in the past, of you can't recruit them, convert them I guess.
Kinda like TEs and QBs *ducks*
If you can't keep them from leaving in the portal, feed the next closest sized defender.
Can't keep some of them from getting suspended from the university.
I'm hoping this is either:
1) Temporary for DE depth
2) Some kind of hybrid OLB/DE type plan for him. He's not too big to be forced down to DE.
or some combination of those two things.
Assuming the height is legit at 6'3" and 221 lbs he's not far off becoming a hybrid edge rusher over time. Brian Burns played DE at around 225-230 for Florida State and is great for Carolina. He didn't bulk up until about 250 until the combine/pros.
6'3" and 230-240 would relatively small as a DE/edge type, but if the athleticism is there it could be a great career move. Also worth noting that Justin Hamilton's defense is most likely going to change as he gets more of his guys into the defensive rotation.
I agree with this line of thinking. Will be intriguing to watch as he might see the field as a pass rush specialist early in his career.
I feel like this is them saying they need to find a way to get this guy on the field, but he hasn't passed Dax and Tisdale. I don't see this as a negative, just them recognizing he's a difference maker.
I like this outlook.
I hope, or it could be that he won't pass Artis or Keller and they just put him at the position most in need.
Although If that's the case I don't know why they wouldn't just move Rudolph. He's closer to a DE frame anyway.
I think they see Ferguson and Keller as the next set of LBs.
He would be very quick. We could also use him as an extra outside edge rusher similar to Dadi Nicolas
He rushed as an OLB in some of his Hudl clips.
We desperately need the depth and after being an academic redshirt last year, I'm sure he wants to get on the field however he can.
We don't sub our LBs nearly as much as our DL so this is certainly a faster path to playing time if he can pull it off.
McCray and Rudolph to DE would make me happy. We also need Carroll and Nelson to be able to play this year. Scary how thin our DE depth is. I hope to see a lot of backups vs. Middle Tennessee, Richmond, and any other game we either dominate or get dominated in.