Editor's Note: Will Grooms is a sophomore business student at Virginia Tech. He's previously been the sports editor for its student-run newspaper, Collegiate Times, and a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Will's a native of Northern Virginia. He's going to be working the Virginia Tech football beat for TKP this spring and fall. He'll attend most if not all media events, games, open practices and report on them. --Joe
Production from the secondary has been a premium for the Virginia Tech football team for the better part of the Bud Foster era.
A unit fondly coined "DBU" has produced more professionals than any other position group over the past 20 years. Since 1995, 19 Hokie defensive backs have been chosen in the NFL draft — three of whom have been selected to at least one Pro Bowl and two of whom have won Super Bowls.
2015, however, will be the first time over the span that the Hokies will be tasked with replacing two potentially NFL-bound safeties, if both Kyshoen Jarrett and Detrick Bonner were to be drafted.
According to cbssports.com, Jarrett is currently the 10th-ranked strong safety and Bonner is the 10th-ranked free safety. Both are projected seventh-round picks.
The longtime duo combined to appear on 5,406 defensive plays over the past four seasons and highlighted a 2014 secondary that was forced to compensate for the loss of 2013 freshman All-American Brandon Facyson.
Jarrett and Bonner made their respective cases for NFL draft selection, both recording career-bests for total tackles, tackles for loss and sacks during their senior seasons.
Though the 2014 defense bent more often than it broke, Tech often felt the pangs of its inexperience. Through all the turnover and turmoil — a defense that lost one of its best cover guys in Facyson and arguably its best run stopper in Luther Maddy — Jarrett and Bonner were the constants.
The seniors' longevity and unprecedented personal production helped boost a unit, that could've been written off, to a 21st-ranked total defense — one that allowed just 343 total yards per game.
The issue going forward will be the undertaking of replacing the Hokies' 2014 interception leader in Jarrett and filling a vacant free safety spot that was occupied by Bonner for 40 consecutive games — the eighth-longest streak for consecutive games started by a player under Frank Beamer.
Excelling last spring, Desmond Frye figured to be a player that would appear in spots for Jarrett and receive an increased role after appearing on 30 defensive plays in 2013.
The Thomas Dale High School product, however, was stymied by injury early on.
Recently granted a medical hardship waiver after 11 missed games following left shoulder surgery, Frye will have to compete with younger players that have gained ground at rover and free safety.
The most experienced returning defensive back is Chuck Clark.
Clark started 11 games in 2014 and saw an increased role following Facyson's injury. The rising junior fits in well at rover due to his familiarity with the system. Twice recording a team-high in tackles in 2014, Clark's a player whose physical nature will only be enhanced by making the full-time switch to rover.
Der'Woun Greene is another player that figures to be in the mix at rover to replace the departing Jarrett.
The rising redshirt junior had little to boast, other than appearing on special teams and occasionally shuffling in on defense, until the Military Bowl.
Greene saw his first action as a kick returner in the Hokies' season finale, setting up two scoring drives on two returns that totaled 73 yards — one of which, a 46-yard return — set up a 49-yard Joey Slye field goal that gave Tech the lead as the first half expired.
The Portsmouth, Virginia, native will be a fourth-year player — one who appeared on 27 defensive plays in 2014 and made one start in Jarrett's stead.
Anthony Shegog is someone who continues to improve and graduated as far as to making his first career start in the Military Bowl after missing action early in the season with a thumb injury. The North Stafford high school product appeared on 16 plays defensively in 2014.
Additionally, after two years, joining the fold will be Holland Fisher — a four-star product of the 2013 class who redshirted during the 2014 season after spending the 2013 season at Fork Union.
Ranked as the No. 1 prep player in the country by 247Sports, Fisher likely fits in best at rover — though he could compete for the free safety spot, with other returning players.
C.J. Reavis finished the 2014 season as Tech's two-deep at free safety — behind Bonner. The first-year Chester, Virginia, native was able to bubble up amid injuries and solid special teams play. Reavis logged extensive duty on special teams, appearing on 105 plays, and appeared residually on defense.
Reavis recorded a season-high three tackles in the Hokies' finale against Cincinnati.
The youngster should figure to be in the mix with a recovering Frye.
Three-star, class-of-2015 signee Jahque Alleyne highlights a Tech DB class that includes a trio of three-star cornerbacks.
The safety who helped lead Ocean Lakes High School to its first 6A Virginia State Championship win in 2014 will, at worst, provide depth to a secondary that was riddled with injuries in 2014.
The leadership and experience factor that Jarrett and Bonner brought isn't something that can be easily replaced. Whoever is given the reins to DBU will be forced to grow up quickly.
Comments
Very Good article Will ,Keep them heading our way .
Thanks Will and welcome aboard. Who do you think will be the starters?
my money is on Fisher, Reavis and Clark fighting for the top spots, with Shegog competing . Fisher may be the dark horse because nobody heard anything about him last season.
seems like more people are wondering if fisher will contribute at all rather then potentially starting this year. I was hoping he would at a minimum be a ST ace this year.
yeah I know, power of positive thinking on my part. That's why I listed him first
Fisher is a mystery to me. He has a lot to prove for a two-year buildup, and this will certainly a big spring for him. It's hard to say now, but with Facyson back and healthy -- with fair depth on the corners -- Clark would figure to fit in well at rover. Shegog will be in the mix too, and Reavis may fit in well at free. Also depends on how Frye comes back from his injury.
This area concerns me more than QB, especially since we did not schedule a cupcake or two to start the season off to get the new players some serious in game reps. practice is nice and all but the actual games are where valuable experience is gained...
Welcome aboard, Will! Nice write-up. It will be very interesting to see how things shake out at safety. Despite our reputation as DBU, until these guys prove it on the field, there's no small amount of concern regarding experience.
Wow, didnt realize bonner was a 40 game starter. Early on he was very suspect, but eventually developed into a nice player. Hope they both get a look at the pros.
That caught me by surprise too. I wonder who has the longest current streak. Or who those longer streaks were
I only have data from 2002-present, so earlier Hokies aren't here.
I'm gonna guess DeChristopher and Render had at least 40, but Hokiesports doesn't keep track of big ugly starts.
LT3 had 40.
Xavier Adibi had 40.
Vince Hall had 48.
Boykin 45.
Derrick Hopkins had 40.
Tyrod had 42.
Coale had 54.
Bam Bam Cam had 41.
Macho had 40
If specialists are included, I'm guessing Collin Carroll and either Schmitt or Bowden could be on the list
Wow, Danny Coale started every game but one in his career.
Ironically, Coale didn't start what may have been the game he is most remembered for: the Nebraska game at home. Xavier Boyce started that game, and was the starter in the first three games of that season. Boykin took over in Game 4 and started every game the rest of his career. Roberts actually started ahead of Coale at FL in that game and continued to start occasionally as the third WR.
That was his coming out party, but I remember him most for being wide open in the FSU secondary (just scored again) and blowing by them with his deceptive quickness (re: whiteness)
If you count punters, probably AJ Hughes.
For position players, I would guess Kendall Fuller would have the longest current streak although with DBs it's a little unclear what's a start and what isn't. I don't think he technically started some games his frosh yr.
It probably doesn't matter though...all of the other underclassman starters from 2013 were injured in 2014 (Maddy, McLaughlin, Edmunds, Facyson)...
The battles will be Greene and Reavis at free and I think we see Clark and Shegog at rover. The sleeper is Desmond Frye. He was Foster's most trusted back up safety before he got hurt.
I don't think Fisher factors. We have heard zero commentary about him from the staff. For me that is a red flag. I can vividly recall one coach telling me "if I am yelling at you and giving you a hard time, it is because I think you have a chance to be a player. If I am ignoring you, I don't think you have a shot."
When I watched film on Fisher, he looked and played like a smaller linebacker. He didn't look like a safety. Countless people said he looked great in camps, but I didn't see it. That may be playing out now.
If Clark has a future in the NFL as a CB, I hope he stays there and Fisher balls out this spring/fall and is the rover. Hopefully being the #1 Prep player means he has some ability. Was it quiet because he was scout team or was he practicing with the team and having no impact? If Fisher plays as a small LB, that's kind of the role of our rover or whip, right? Or is the whip outdated due to the spread?
he missed some practice due to clearinghouse issues, but never heard much about him period other then that. clark's potential would be at safety for the NFL not CB IMO. my money is on clark and reavis for the two safety spots.
I recall reading somewhere that Shane Beamer said they were impressed with Fisher on the scout team. He mentioned Fisher and Reid, that was the only time I saw Fisher mentioned and it was around military bowl time. It was 1 of 2 times I saw Reid mentioned. The other was when he discussed Reid and McMillian and said they'd done good in the weight room and McMillian was in his opinion the most gifted rb on the team but he said all 3 players were turning heads all around the same time a couple of months ago. I know we are talking DBU but some of the guys on offense are rarely mentioned as well but it does not mean they are not doing well.
Am I remembering correctly reading somewhere that Fisher became a father at some point in the last year or so and that the added responsibilities contributed to him redshirting?
Edit: Googling so far has only come across a post referencing it on a 247 board, I think I also remember it being in one of Bitter's mailbags or live chats as well though.
He does have a baby daughter that, I believe, was born in the Fall. It may have contributed
I have a feeling you're right. The words & body language about him from coaches sound and feel like they did for previous players who never put it all together.
I have nothing more than that to base my opinion on -- and hope I'm wrong -- but I suspect those that expect to see him in the mix are doing so largely on wishful thinking based upon star ratings from several years ago.
Its hard to answer this question without knowing what's going on with Facyson and the Nickel position. If Facyson is healthy, I imagine it will be Stroman* at Nickel (actually might mean Fuller slides inside to the Nickel spot) and Chuck Clark at Rover. If Facyson isn't healthy, it may mean Clark plays Nickel, Stroman in Facyson's spot and Greene/Shegog at Rover.
I feel confident that Reavis will be the starting FS.
*I could see Mook battling it out with Stroman for that 3rd CB position. French loves Stroman. I wouldn't mind seeing Stroman switch to slot receiver permanantly if he can catch and guys like Mook, Johnson or Williamson are capable at CB.
It depends on need. If the need is at corner on the outside, Stroman has a significant advantage. If the need is on the slot and Foster needs that position to be strong in run support, Mook has a big advantage.
I am really interested to see if Donovan Riley and Edmunds the 2nd can step up and make an impact. They need as many cover guys as possible because the system puts so much strain on the starters.
I've heard whispers of Edmunds2 to WR. We'll see, could be a number of position shuffles in spring.
Only complaint I have is using yards for defense rank. C'mon man we were a top 10 D!
Awesome stuff Will. I am also a sophomore business major, but enjoy writing in my free time as well. It'll be interesting to see if Jarrett or Bonner get a shot at the next level, depending on where they fall in the draft.
If you are sophomore business majors you should be out partying and living the life, it is not like you have difficult classes or real homework to worry about! ;)
I'm a second-year community college student and transferring to Tech in the fall haha. Not much partying to do for me right now
Good for you. Keep up the grind.
I remember digging in a busting my ass for 5 hrs to knock out half of my ChemE HW so I could get out to fraternity social at a bar DT and when I showed up at like 10:30 to catch the end one of the brothers ran into some other B-school guys and they were complaining about how they had an assignment due in two days that "was going to take like an hour". My sleep deprived, overworked, and undersexed mind contemplated murder by broken shot glass. I was not surprised when I was able to work 50 hrs/week and still get my MBA in less than 3 years with a perfect 4.0 avg. God bless business as a major.
Awesome article and welcome to TKP.
Random side note, but are you Amy's brother?
Thank you! Yes I am
Ah I figured, she's good people.
Article is awesome, looking forward to more.
I've always believed that a good LB core is the key to a great defense. That's what is keeping this Defense from being as dominant as lets say, an Alabama team. They always have an insanely good LB core.
Tell that to OSU. Our LB corps played well against them while Bama's got picked on all night long.
Anyway, I would argue that LB play wasn't the main issue last year, though more so when Chase Williams got hurt. D-Line depth/size, safety play, and the struggles of Donovan Riley were generally bigger issues.