Hokies Working to Develop "Pups" on the Offensive Line, Build Depth

While new head coach Justin Fuente has preached all summer that the Hokies need to find more consistency and quality depth at all positions, the offensive line has always been the position group that worries him a little less than the others.

Fuente called the group "the most consistent" one he has on offense earlier this week, and OL coach Vance Vice had plenty of kind words for the group's senior leaders after Saturday's practice.

But, unsurprisingly, he's a bit more reserved when it comes to his confidence about the group quite yet.

"I want to get one first that I can trust with everything, then let him help lead," Vice told reporters after practice. "Then get five, then hopefully six, then get to ten. I've got 21 guys. I'd love to get to 21 I trust right now, but some of those are pups."

Last year's group was riddled with injuries, forcing players to both start at positions they wouldn't normally play, but also let younger guys get onto the field.

Redshirt junior Parker Osterloh was among those forced into action last year that could be in line for major playing time this year — he's been an early leader to earn the starting right tackle spot, and he credits his time on the field at a different position with smoothing that transition.

"Definitely last year playing guard, I salute it because I got to experience playing a different position and switching," Osterloh said. "If that becomes the situation this year, I feel comfortable doing that."

Osterloh, who came into spring ball at 347 pounds, has been working this summer to lose some weight to help better his game. Offensive line coach Vance Vice was pleased with his efforts, noting that he's now down to 322 pounds.

"He needed to (lose weight), he feels better now," Vice said. "His knees feel better, he can move around a little bit. He tries to take his shirt off now, too. He started losing a little weight, start(ed) laying out and sun-tanning."

Parker echoed those sentiments, although he demurs about his tanning habits.

"I don't know about that," Osterloh said. "I feel a lot better in shape. Just conditioning wise, (strength and conditioning) coach (Ben) Hilgart has done a great job over the summer getting us running as well as lifting."

And while Vice was pleased with the progress made, he wasn't ready to say anyone had a starting spot yet.

"There's not one that has a spot right now," Vice said.

Indeed, Vice has been mixing things up this offseason to help keep players on their toes and build a little depth, noting that he shuffles lines daily.

"The one we had today won't look like this tomorrow," Vice said. "One, there's some guys that I think are very, very comfortable at their position. I like to move them around. In the spring, I moved everyone over one spot to the left just to see if they understood the entire scheme.

"If a guy can play multiple positions up front, that creates depth, too. All those guys up front right now, I think I can move in and out. I'll probably start doing some of that as early as tomorrow."

With the amount of younger guys that are working at spots this summer, Vice has turned to his two seniors to help lead this team from within.

"Augie (Conte) and Jon (McLaughlin), they do a tremendous job with the young guys, they do a tremendous job with each other," Vice said. "I address the guys after practice and Augie takes it. It's comforting having him in there. Augie understands if he's not doing the job on the field, it's hard to be a leader. He uses that responsibility to push himself. Jon does also."

That kind of leadership is something that Osterloh is hoping to soak up like a sponge.

"They're both my roommates, too, so we spend a lot of time together," Osterloh said. "Augie and I play next to each other so we'll be hanging out watching TV and talking about football."

JUCO transfer Demetri Moore from Mississippi Delta Community College could be an option to help solidify the depth on the offensive line. Though he has only been with the Hokies for a few months, Fuente is optimistic about his progress.

"He's made big strides," Fuente said. "His confidence level is increasing. We'll see how it all works out, but the improvement he's made has been dramatic. He's had a lot of improvement. So we'll see."

The biggest factor is the obvious step up in competition level from a junior college to a Division I, Power Five conference.

"There's a big leap, especially on the offensive line," Fuente said. "A lot of schools, especially at that position, will redshirt those offensive line just as a pure development. I'm not saying that's what Demetri's going to do, but there's a big step."

Osterloh welcomes the competition. The team strapped on the pads for the first time Saturday, and he's ready to show what he's got now that things are starting to look a bit more like football on the field.

"It's hard running around in shoulder pads and trying to lock up on D-linemen who are all slippery when they're not wearing shirts or anything," Osterloh said. Definitely good to have something to have to get your hands onto and knock your head around a couple of times."