Shane Beamer Discusses RB Redshirts, Plus a Bevy of Notes and Quotes from Tuesday's Media Session

One of the more discussed topics over the past few weeks (and months, honestly) has been whether or not running backs Shai McKenzie and Marshawn Williams will redshirt this season.

Running backs coach Shane Beamer addressed the question, first making it clear the Hokies do not plan to redshirt McKenzie.

"I would plan to be full-speed ahead on him once we get to Furman, depending on how he feels," said Beamer, referencing McKenzie's nagging hamstring. "We expect to play him as long as he's in good shape."

As for Williams, it appears a redshirt for him is more likely given the fact he's not 100 percent and hasn't officially been cleared to play.

"With him, I'd say it's kind of iffy right now," Beamer said. "Once he's cleared and once he feels in shape, we'll see where we are. Right now, it's not worth discussing because he's not 100 percent and he'll tell you that."

Additional quotes from Shane Beamer:

ON HIS EXPECTATIONS FOR RB TREY EDMUNDS:

"I think he's going to have an outstanding year. I really do. He's going to play a lot and he's a key member on some kicking teams. If J.C. (Coleman) is the starter, he's '1' and Trey is '1A' in our mind."

ON WHERE SHAI MCKENZIE STANDS IN THE RUNNING BACK ROTATION AFTER HIS ONE-GAME SUSPENSION:

"After the Ohio State game, Travon (McMillian) will be the number three going into the week, but we tell all our guys that, 'it's a competition going into every week and wherever you are right now, you need to continue to compete and keep that position because you got guys that are behind you trying to come for your position as well.'"

ON IF HE'S CONFIDENT THE OFFENSIVE LINE CAN OPEN UP HOLES FOR THE RUNNING GAME:

"Yeah, I hope so. You know, we certainly finished on a strong note last year, so I'd like to think that we'd continue to build upon the way we finished and carry that into this year. That's the anticipation and that's what we're working for. "

Additional tidbits from Tuesday's media session:

• Beamer stated that QB Michael Brewer was "more beat up in the Virginia game than anybody let on." He remarked that he had "no idea" how Brewer stayed in and finished the game.
• Hat-tip to our own Joey Coogan for noting that offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler confirmed that offensive linemen Yoshua Nijman and Parker Osterloh will be the first two guys off the bench in case of injury.
• Starting right tackle Wade Hansen said his right foot feels good after undergoing treatment. He added that he's no longer wearing the protective boot and has been a full participant in practice the past few days.
• Hansen is roommates with TE Ryan Malleck, saying they constantly bring home the offensive playbook and discuss certain plays together.
• Starting right guard Augie Conte said the run game has been stressed a lot this week in practices and the meeting rooms. He pointed out the goal for every game is to get at least 200 yards on the ground.
• What impresses Conte the most about OSU's defense is the physicality and quickness of the front four. He was also quick to praise the Buckeyes' linebacker corps.

Player Quotes

RB J.C. Coleman

ON THE ATMOSPHERE HE EXPECTS FOR THE OSU GAME:

"I already know it's going to be crazy. Real electric. I just feel like that whole weekend is going to be crazy. They cancelled school for that day, so I just feel like that whole day is going to be an awesome day, one that I'll probably never forget."

ON WHAT THE DAY IS FOR THE TEAM WILL BE LIKE LEADING UP TO KICKOFF:

"We normally have a wake-up call around 11 o'clock for a night game. We'll wake up, have breakfast or lunch and have meetings pretty much all day. We get probably about two to three hours of downtime and then we start getting prepared for the game and everything."

ON IF THE TEAM IS ANXIOUS FOR THE OSU GAME:

"Yeah, we're definitely ready to just go out and play the game now. You get tired of just running up and going up against the same guys every single day, practicing against the same guys every day. It's just getting to a point now where you want to go out and see a different colored jersey and see a different opponent across the field from you."

ON IF HIS APPROACH HAS CHANGED NOW THAT HE'S THE STARTING TAILBACK:

"It's still the same. You know, I'm preparing the same way just as if I was to get five carries or 20 carries. So, you know, it's still very important to me whatever my role is and I just have to make sure I'm ready for it. That's how I'm approaching it mentally."

ON WHETHER WHAT WORKED OFFENSIVELY LAST YEAR AGAINST THE BUCKEYES WILL WORK AGAIN THIS YEAR:

"The passing game was clicking really well last year. I feel like (QB) Michael Brewer played lights-out last year. He just made a lot of plays. A lot of Johnny Manziel-typish plays, you know when he's running around and somehow finds an open receiver. That's something we'll have to have this year as well. He's going to have to make plays and we're going to have to run the ball a little bit better this year too. If we can run the ball better and Michael (Brewer) can throw the ball better like he did last year, then we'll come out on top."

ON WHAT HE'S SEEN BREWER FOCUS ON IN OFFSEASON THAT WILL MAKE HIM BETTER IN 2015:

"The importance of turnovers. You know for him, he had a stretch where he was turning over the ball a little bit. During the offseason, coach (Scot) Loeffler placed an emphasis on not turning the ball over and I think that helped him a whole lot. He didn't throw many interceptions, probably just like one or two during spring ball and maybe not even any in this camp. He's done real well taking care of the ball. That's the biggest thing I think that's improved about his game."

RT Wade Hansen

ON HOW MUCH QB MICHAEL BREWER GOT HIT IN LAST YEAR'S GAME AGAINST OSU:

"When we watch film on our game last year and we see some of the hits he took, honestly you just cringe looking at it. You can't let him get hit like that. That's almost disrespecting our quarterback, you know. You can't let him get hit like that, so we're going to make sure we do everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen."

ON THE CHALLENGE OF FACING OSU'S DEFENSIVE LINE:

"I mean, they have a great defense. They're great all the way around and you know, we're watching all the necessary film. We're just prepping the way that we prepare for games and we're expecting good players to play against us, so that's how we're going at it."

ON WHAT THE ATMOSPHERE HAS BEEN LIKE FOR A FOOTBALL PLAYER AROUND THE VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS RECENTLY:

"There's a lot of eyes on you. We've been told that we always need to have the 'VT' logo on us at all times. So no matter what brand of clothing you're wearing, we've always got to respect Virginia Tech and us as a football program we've got to make sure we wear it right and go to the classes that you have to go to. You don't skip any because it's a travel day, none of that. You're still a student here and you still have student obligations."

RG Augie Conte

ON WHAT HE THINKS WORKED FOR THE OFFENSE LAST YEAR AGAINST OHIO STATE:

"I just think that we had a really good game plan going in. Lefty (Offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler) really prepared us and obviously he has some experience with them before, coming from Michigan. I think we went in with a really good game plan. Our defense played their [expletive] off and kept their offense in-bounds, I guess. Kept them from making a lot of big plays and it was just an overall team effort last year."

ON IF HE WAS AMAZED THAT QB MICHAEL BREWER GOT UP AFTER SOME OF THE HITS HE TOOK LAST SEASON:

"Uh, I wouldn't say amazed, but he's definitely a tough kid. I mean there were some times when he was scrambling for first downs on a third-down and if it were me and I was his size, I probably would have slid. But I guess that's not Brewer's mentality, so I'm glad to have him on our side of the ball."

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF VIRGINIA TECH'S TIGHT ENDS TO THIS YEAR'S OFFENSE:

"I think (Ryan) Malleck and Bucky (Hodges) are going to be big keys to our success. Obviously, Bucky's a big playmaker and Malleck is a senior. They're definitely going to be leaders on and off the field in terms of mentality to the team and I think they'll contribute a lot this year to the offense's success."