Hokies Open Fall Camp, Giving Spring Holdouts Chance to Get Back to "Full Speed"

As Justin Fuente walked off the field following Virginia Tech's opening day of fall camp, he reflected on a day's worth of data. Although he couldn't officially answer any burning questions, the head man had plenty of optimism about what the team had accomplished.

"I don't know if I felt like that or just hoped, but walking off the field, I feel pretty good about us having a general understanding of what's going on," Fuente told reporters after practice.

The first few practices are always a key part of any fall session, but when you add in a head coaching change and a radically different offense, there's always a little added worry about just how much knowledge a team would retain.

"My gut feeling just watching them move around was, I guess I should say my initial reaction was it was certainly better than our first practice in the spring," Fuente said. "They seemed to have a decent retention level."

Of course the pink elephant is still sitting squarely in the center of the room: is Fuente ready to name a quarterback yet?

"Not quite yet," Fuente said.

When the teams split into offensive and defensive units, it was JUCO transfer Jerrod Evans that took the first snaps with the first team offense. It's hard to tell if that was foreshadowing, or if Evans was simply the one to draw the name out of the hat, but it certainly makes one wonder if the coaching staff is leaning towards a certain side of the aisle.

While the quarterbacks were tucked away in their corner of the "Beamer Barn," there were some other takeaways from today's practice.

Several key players who were either held out or were injured in the spring were back to work today. That included WR Isaiah Ford, CB Brandon Facyson, RB Shai McKenzie, and RB Marshawn Williams. While Williams and McKenzie were both wearing knee braces, Ford was making plays and enjoying being back on the practice field.

"It was miserable for me sitting out most of the spring having to watch," Ford said. "So to be out there with everyone at full speed was really fun."

Ford has also packed on some weight this season in hopes of becoming a more physical receiver, as well as helping to lessen the blow of a long football season.

"I reported to spring ball, I was 179 (pounds)," Ford said. "As of last Wednesday, I was 195."

Weight gains and cuts seemed to be a big point of emphasis for the summer workout sessions under new strength and conditioning coach Ben Hilgart. Defensive end Vinny Mihota said the defensive line certainly heard plenty from Hilgart this summer.

"Everybody made their August goals for weight," Mihota said. "Some guys needed to lose, some needed to gain, but I feel like we are all where we need to be."

As for his personal goal?

"I wanted to drop down to 265 (pounds) and I made that."

The team's strength gains won't become fully apparent until the tolls of a rigorous campaign start to wear on the squad, but the enthusiasm is something that Fuente has noticed.

"I do believe, at least it's been my experience so far, that these guys are good listeners," Fuente said. "You can see them actively trying to do what we ask them to do. Which makes you feel good but also makes you look introspectively in 'How am I articulating it so that we can get it exactly?'"

Fuente also made more news about Henri Murphy available when he offered up that all the team needed to do was call Murphy's junior college (East Central Community College in Mississippi) and ask for him to be released.

"We just called and asked," Fuente said. "That's the truth. We just called and asked if they could release him and Coach (Ken Karcher) was great."

"I think his most comfortable spot starting out is at wide receiver."

On the flip side of the Murphy news, Deon Newsome was present and accounted for with "DBU" at practice today. Newsome was taking mixed reps in the 45-minute session that media was allowed to watch and offered his thoughts on day one playing for Bud Foster's side of the ball.

"Different. Good, I think I could be a good player on defense," Newsome said. "I feel like I need to make whatever happen, happen in order to make the team better."

Brandon Facyson was also back working at his corner spot after sitting the spring out following minor clean-up surgery on his knee.

"It feels great. I just kind of had to get back to where I was," Facyson said. "Seems like I'm getting back to where I once was and it feels good."

When Facyson was asked if he sees Foster's tweak of playing more zone coverage this season as opposed to years past, the junior didn't look too much into it. That seemed to be the mantra of the day: business as usual, with a slightly faster tempo to it.

"This year we really picked up the pace a lot," Facyson said. "A lot of fast movements, a lot of conditioning. I feel like we are in shape and feel like we've gotta attack every single day like that."

The offensive line also earned some some love today from the skipper, as he detailed the expectations he has for the now-veteran unit. With a core of starters returning this season, Fuente really likes what he has seen.

"I felt like, really since I've been here, that those guys have been the most consistent group just offensively," Fuente said. "A lot of juniors and seniors in that group that have played enough football that they know that an inside zone is an inside zone whether it's called something else in a different scheme, it's the same."

Junior guard Wyatt Teller echoed the coach's sentiments, albeit in cut-off, bibbed overalls.

"You know, the biggest thing, playing with these guys is trust," Teller said.

But don't let the praise fool you. Teller admits that he's his own biggest critic, something he attributes to his upbringing in a military home.

"I feel that I didn't come from a family where it was lollipops and pats on the back." Teller said. "I came from a tough family. Military dad. Tough, tough mom. Mom was the toughest person I know.

"Confidence is a little different, but where you're saying you're the best or something like that, I just don't believe in that. I'm always willing to get better, always thinking about the next thing to improve my play."

Teller recalled the first time he met Fuente and the advice that he gave the new coach.

"The first time I met him, we were talking about fishing on the New River and I was thinking, 'I don't think you're going to have a lot of time to fish on the New River, but I'll tell 'ya what works,'" Teller said. "Coach has to know you're real."