At Tuesday evening's media session, Virginia Tech defensive backs coach Torrian Gray was asked if he thought corner Kendall Fuller would play Saturday against Pittsburgh.
"I doubt it," Gray said.
When asked if he had a timetable for Fuller's return Gray responded, "Until I hear back from (associate athletics director for sports medicine) Mike (Goforth) and those guys on how the surgery went, and exactly what it was, or how bad it was, I won't know."
The Key Play reached out to Virginia Tech Tuesday evening for additional comments and clarification regarding possible knee surgery and was told once all the details are known, they will be released—likely Wednesday. Fuller had been working through a knee sprain since preseason camp.
"He tried to battle through it as long as he could, and him being a gamer and wanting to play," Gray added.
The Roanoke Times' Andy Bitter and Daily Press' Norm Wood both reported Kendall would need surgery.
Torrian Gray said Kendall Fuller will need some kind of surgery. Didn't know what exactly. Not sure how long he's out. #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) September 29, 2015
#Hokies DBs coach Torrian Gray said CB Kendall Fuller needs surgery on his right knee. Had no further details to share.— Norm Wood (@normwood) September 29, 2015
Redshirt freshman Terrell Edmunds is listed above senior Donovan Riley on the Hokies' unofficial depth chart. As of right now, Edmunds is likely to get the start against the Panthers.
Comments
Would it make any sense to move Facyson to boundary? I know it's been a while since we just put our best/most senior corner at boundary by default. Just wondering the opinions of the TKP staff.
I was wondering why he wasn't playing more press coverage against ECU to be honest. I think that could be a smart move, but if not, at least have him up on the line and not back playing what looked like part of a cover 3 or robber type role. He's the next best we have in man coverage. Excited to see Terrell though.
Facyson has such great ball skills and is so explosive breaking on the ball he's actually more dangerous in Gray's matchup zones schemes than in press coverage, imo. Having him facing the QB and being able to read route combos and jump them is more valuable than to have him jam a receiver then turn and run.
Best wishes in your recovery, Kendall. Next Hokie up
So much for seeing Kendall and Facyson on the field simultaneously at full strength
God damn it. Can our team ever be fully healthy? I hate it for Kendall, both because he sacrificed pain to play what little he could at not his best strength for the team and now he might have season ending surgery? Both very frustrating situations. I feel for you Kendall, get well soon.
Edit: I am very excited to see what Edmunds can do though.
at least he can medical if he wants still....
True, but as was discussed on another forum, it's most likely he cuts his losses and enters the draft with what accolades he currently has. Because if he comes back, yes he COULD have a stellar season and move up draft boards further, but there's a chance he re-injures himself. He probably won't want that risk.
It sure seems like we're well overdue for some relief from the injury bug.
Maybe if the injuries weren't always to key talent we'd be better than we showed last week. But they're ALWAYS to key talent (Fuller, Marshall, Motu, Facyson, etc)
Take your time and get healthy, Kendall!
Thus ends the first generation of Fullers at tech :(. Best of luck in your recovery and looking forward to seeing you in the silver and black next year! Next man up
First generation...Hopefully Vincent Fuller Jr. will have some kids soon. Classes 2034 - 2049 if each Fuller has four more Fullers over the next 16 years, one Fuller per year. Or if they have sons at the same time, maybe we can field an entire D of Fullers.
Any word yet on Moto?
He practiced in blue today. He's at the top of the unofficial depth chart Tech released on Monday.
In blue jersey today.
Sorry but there is clearly another thread on this that was started 10 minutes prior ;)
You have no idea how frustrated I was while I waited back on a response from Virginia Tech.
But I wanted to make the report as complete and as accurate as possible.
I finally got enough legs to upvote. I'm glad I got to save my first for Emma.
You will fit in just fine.
Not like this.
Losing Brewer and Fuller kills me but I refuse to let this be a "well at least their replacements will have experience for next year" type of year for me. Motley has been a pleasant surprise, Adonis has been a pleasant surprise, Huelskamp has been a pleasant surprise, I expect the same with Edmunds! Facyson, Edmunds, Reynolds, Clark, and Alexander should be good enough to get the job done on the back end.
This team has so much potential if not for Brewer getting injured and Motley being unexpectedly thrown into action and the rest of the team looking like it brought them down we could have beaten osu again and the terrible officiating that gave ecu an undeserved 3rd down conversion, took a td from Bucky, and took Huelskamp out of the game among other calls we'd be 3-1 or 4-0 but National Champs ranked #1 I can handle that loss especially when we were up at the half and only down by 4 until we lost our qb. I know in my heart we beat ecu and their fans and refs are delusional if they think the ref's didn't give them that game because they even gift wrapped it for them. We haven't played our best football by any means and we are finding out a lot about our backups sooner than expected but I am ready for ACC play to begin. Motley hit the nail on the head when he said practice and play pissed off, that also rings true for our defense. The best is yet to come, my rant is over GO HOKIES!!!
Wow, a lot of people are convinced he's gone after this year but every Fuller before him stayed through their senior year, so something tells me it's not a given. But that's just me being an optimist.
Find a way you can clone him 11 times by Saturday. Not because of his jersey number, but because we need a Fuller at every position on defense. Just might have to alter the process so the DL and LBs gain size but retain his speed and instincts for intercepting the ball.
Now that he has been injured part of me can see him coming back, the other part thinks he may not want to risk it getting worse before he even gets pro so he may not come back and just beast in the combine. I can see both arguments but being a definite first round pick and the thought of a career ending injury because he came back for his senior year doesn't make sense, take the money and if you get injured early in the pro's you have plenty of money to pay for college to finish your degree. Flip side is getting injured in college, getting drafted lower or going un-drafted and no money at all from NFL. Again I understand both sides, just don't want to get my hopes up with him returning after this season, if he does then great, I am happily surprised!
get well Kendall and rest up.
Having the team stay healthy is like winning the lotto...always off a number...
I think the injuries to this team are more depressing than the losses. That's probably because I attribute to at least one of our losses this season to injuries, but I'm trying to make a point. A previously blown knee is practically a prerequisite to running the ball for us and the defense always seems to have a banged up part of the unit. I suppose this is why we continue to beat the depth and recruiting horse on here. Wishing Kendall the best, feels like just yesterday I was hyped as shit about him coming to Blacksburg. I'll stop crying now I promise. Here's to coming out and surprising Pitt with an old school ass whooping in the rain this weekend. In the great words of Christopher Walken, " The offense has a fever, and the only prescription is more McMillian."
Injuries on the whole seem to be up this year in NCAA football. Have not seen any stats on that but it just seems like every week there are multiple star or legit players getting knocked out of the season or for weeks.
Statistically, there might be an upswing, but devastating rashes of injuries are nothing new. Football is a tough game. Back in the day my freshman year, with the exception of one, the whole defensive backfield was sidelined for at least part of the season.
Please help me get on K.Fuller hype train...
Things I enjoyed about K.Fuller - I think he helped us beat Ohio State last year, the pic against UNC last year.
Outside of that I am struggling - anyone please go watch the Georgia Tech game last year, outside of Brewers interceptions, I think the most disappointing thing about that game was K.Fuller - DeAndre Smelter ran him ragged. (please go watch the game in full and keep your eyes on Fuller)
K.Fuller has had several good plays, some good sacks (great coaching calls), and I think he is one of the smartest DB's we have had. But one of the best? His high school film shows him being a better WR, and why has he never gotten a chance to contribute on special teams? Is his hype the last three years been because he is a 5star recruit?
All in all I have always struggled with the K.Fuller hype, so please tell and show me how wrong I am with that.
Don't start naming the UNC pic last year or the horrible under thrown ball interception against Cincy in the bowl.
I have always wanted to love him like all our other great DB's, but with him it has been hard for me. Maybe that is because the defense as a whole hasn't been as good?
His freshmen year, it is hard for me to see where he had a better year than Fayscon.
If I watch a highlight film of our former DB's - I would say I get more excited after seeing a Macho and Flowers tape than K.Fuller.
I will say it again, he may be smarter and more of a field general, the unnoticeables from that standpoint, but from the make a game changing play impact - take away UNC last year and OSU last year and it is hard to find.
I think NFL scouts will struggle with his film
But I would sure welcome him back next year for the experience heading into Bristol and touchdown Jesus.
The only times offenses throw at him is when he's hurt or obviously tired...that's something right?
In all seriousness, no-one throws at Fuller...I thought his first year he would put up insane numbers like his brothers did...but I saw good numbers, not great, but not even a little bad either...
I've looked and looked and can't find any data, but I'd willing to bet that Kendalls PBU-Int-PDs to thrown at ratio is much better than alot of corners. Look at the other "elite" corners in the NCAA, overall stats have none of them near the top in PBUs INTs or PDs...why? 'Cause no-one throws at them...
People threw at Kyle, alot...I guess they assumed that since he played whip for us so much, his coverage skills weren't as good...