VirginiaTechSports.com has posted the Spring Football roster. After a quick glance, defensive tackle Steve Sobczak and defensive back DuWayne Johnson were among the names not listed and could possibly be out of the program.
http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players/
Sobczak, a 6'1 287lb redshirt junior, would have likely been a second string defensive tackle in the spring. Sobczak saw action in nine games on the defensive line this season and registered four assists, including half a tackle for a loss.
Johnson, a redshirt sophomore defensive back, did not factor into the two deep last season.
Update:
Former quarterback recruit Chris Durkin, former preferred walk on defensive tackle Clay Dean, and punter Mitchell Ludwig are also not listed on the roster.
Comments
I get Johnson, but why would Sobczak leave? He was likely to be heavily involved this year. I hope this is just an admin error.
he hasn't left VT, he just can't play football this spring. it is TBD whether he will be back with the team in the summer.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW
not much I just read things on the internet
So you're saying you have inside info...
Did someone check Flight Tracker?
info inside message board posts maybe.
I just look for tidbits , breadcrumbs even. and put the pieces together
credit to VTJ12 for this gif
This certainly makes things interesting at defensive tackle. Walker, Settle, and Dalton Roe are the only three players listed as defensive tackles. Jarrod Hewitt is listed as "DL", as is Vinny Mihota (who can't participate in the spring.) Darius Fullwood got work late at defensive tackle against UVA. There is certainly an opportunity for a freshman to have a chance at playing time next year.
Looks like AJ Bush is bringing one of his Iowa Western teammates as well- Ishmiel Seisay
Wow... that just boggles. He had some impressive work in spring/fall training, and like you said, would think to figure heavily in the 2 deep.
We will see. I was working on a different piece and went to the roster page. It said "Spring Football roster" and I was stunned to see him missing.
So punter wise, we will have two freshmen plus the recently announced Aussie by the summer assuming he signs his NLI? Where do we see that going? I thought Ludwig did a pretty decent job this last year although he had a few hiccups.
The Aussie is already enrolled.
Thanks, didnt catch that part, just saw the commitment info. So that being the case, we have two freshmen in a kickoff? Not super thrilled by that, although this is a position that doesnt take as much development before seeing the field as most do.
I thought Ludwig did fine if we needed a punt from the 50 or thereabouts... but I wasn't too pleased when he went for distance, the majority of the time.
My thoughts exactly. I was wondering if he stayed if it would have made sense for Ludwig to continue handling those "pin them deep" punts and the the rugby kicker go for distance.
Aussie punters always seem to do well. The rugby-style punt that they are usually more familiar with seems to work well at the college level. And if that doesn't pan out, we always have Stroman, right?
Shame, my nickname of Ludwig Van Punter never had a chance to take off.
Aren't these things famous for being error-ridden? I'd wait for confirmation on anything we see or don't see in the spring roster.
As Bitter said, Durkin and Dean are also not listed.
I thought Durkin transferred to Youngstown State-- was that not previously confirmed?
I was looking for that, don't see anything on it. His recruit sites still list him as an Active Player at VT. Perhaps he will go to Youngtown since he is from there.
Jerrod Hewitt still in at DT. Hope Sobs comes back in the summer and Fullwood makes the transition. Pretty sures Gaines has the edge over Fullwood at DE, plus Jimmy Taylor will make a push.
Glaze is listed as a DT on Recruit sites but he could be a D-End also.
SO D-End Looks like:
Mihota and Trevon Hill at Starters
With Backups Gaines, Jimmy Taylor and Potentially Emmanuel Belmar. Only issue here is if we have Injuries.
Wonder if other guys like Ray Minor could make that transition to Defensive End or willing to.
DT Looks like:
Settle and Walker at Starter
With Sobs hopefully coming back in the Summer, then Jerrod Hewitt, Fullwood, Dalton Roe and Glaze (Pending LOI). DT is a really concerning spot. Hope we can get a guy to Committ.
no chance can glaze play DE.
Now wait for the conspiracy theories that this was done on purpose to promote early playing time to DL recruits just before NSD and by the time spring ball starts, Sobczak is back on the roster.
Ryan willis is here too...great now we got a QB room even if he has to sit out a year.
Loss of steve sobczak would hurt.
Attrition season in full swing. Interested to get clarification on all these.
2+2 will always equal 4. Good luck to these Hokies wherever life takes them.
Alex is working on it.
What is the first column to the right of the name, VI?
It's "VL" for "varsity letters," e.g. how many years they've been on the team. This column is definitely out of date.
Minor clarification (which you probably know)- # of varsity letters is not exactly equivalent to # of years on the team. You need to hit the minimum required playing time in a season to earn a letter. (I'm honestly not 100% sure what the minimum is for Tech in football, although I'd guess it's 3 games.)
To your larger point- as things stand right now, they have not yet updated the # of varsity letters or the Class for any returning players.
Thank you!
Varsity letters
edit: i am already pouring one
varsity letter
Maybe Varsity Letter?
I think you can get them playing at Bethel High, as well.
Big, if true.
I am very disappointed to see Durkin leave. I thought he could have been a special player if used properly at quarterback. Loeffler's infatuation early with Lawson and the myriad of injuries really put that kid in a bad spot.
i agree here, Durkin could have been properly guided here at VT. Wish he came in as a Fuente Recruit. Good Luck to him. I think he could certainly run the Zone-read offense.
Durkin for Short Yardage TB!
After seeing him get a few carries a while back, and inflicting pain on would be tacklers, I was really looking forward to seeing how he would fit in to Coach Fu's offense when healthy... was envisioning him stepping into, at least a bit, the void left in Sam Rogers' wake.
Ah well.... Best of luck to the Durk!
Same here. I'm incredibly disappointed to see Durkin go. Great athlete, just seems injuries and position changes really screwed up his time in Blacksburg. Really hate to see him go.
With a heavy emphasis on injuries. At the wrong times.
The position change (not changes, plural) might not have benefited him, but it did him no harm either. He was never going to be better than a 3rd string QB - past, present or future.
To be fair, hard to be special if you are hurt all the time.
I hope we get 30 recruits in this class, we should have no problem signing them. I want Sobczak back but best of luck to the others, hope it all works out, let's load up on more talent!
Wow, with Durkin transferring the QB competition is truly wide open.
It's now or never for Dwayne Lawson
Too bad Bucky is leaving. Could've made the competition intriguing.
He would have moved to OL eventually.
So if Durkin chooses to transfer, can we just offer his dad?
Sorry but not sorry - no surprise about Dean.
This will be SS 4th year in program this would be his first time to really contribute. Have to think its a personal issue or he wants to start somewhere.
My guess is that he has an opportunity to have an internship/study-abroad type thing line up for the spring that wouldn't allow him to practice. Perhaps he sees that he might not have a future in football and knows that this spring is more important for him off the football field. He's been around, he knows the playbook, and he can walk back in during the summer and not miss a beat.
That's a very positive take on it. My first guess would be that he has a mandatory study-at-all thing lined up for the spring. I hope whatever the situation, he ends up being able to rejoin the team in the summer.
Ah so you mean like a Dean sponsored vacation? The best vacations last 5 months not 2 weeks!
Colt Pettit at TE?
WARNING: TE POSITION SWITCH JOKES INCOMING
via GIPHY
Only if it has to do with a quarterback
He moved to TE for the last month of the 2016 season, changing from #58 to #80. He plays as an in-line blocking TE, mostly in the redzone.
When you see a Tight End don't you think to yourself "Petit"?
Maybe grades are a factor for some of these? I know final grades from Fall are done but maybe coach is giving them a wait and see for midterms before approving them on the roster?
All these roster drop offs mean Fuentes is now going to be getting his guys front and center. And on top of that, he's having his first full recruiting class, he can look forward to molding players to his offense.
I think Bud will be fine on defense, he always figures things out.
Fuente
WHIT MAKES ANOTHER GREAT HIRE AND HIRES JUSTIN AGAIN! TWO FUENTES! COACH FU-FU
my granddaddy says Fuentes too and its like nails on a chalkboard.
Fuentes doesn't bother me as much as when people say Foo-WEN-tay.
wait, how are you supposed to pronounce it then?
It's pronounced "Kevin"
Cha-ching!
I guess he wants it Fwentay?
I believe it's pronounced Fuente, but English is my second language, so who knows?
/fwen.te/
Which is fine for the skill positions, but in the trenches it's harder for young guys to come in and compete right away. DT depth is extremely thin now if SS can't get back and I'm assuming we'll have some attrition on the OL as well with some non-contributors.
Makes the recruiting strategy this cycle for the OL and DT make even less sense.
From what I hear its a lot easier to get on the field sooner the further you are away from the ball. Oline is footwork/ strength and technique. Same can go for dline. Easier for a safety to get on the field early than a DT.
That's an old Beamerism right there. The closer to play you are, the harder it is to play early
Bodhi Long keeps switching his position, First he was a Safety, than he was a Long Snapper, Now he's a Wide Receiver. Also last year in the Roster his name was spelled Bodhi, but not it's Bodhie. Just pick something man!
Does anyone know if/when there will be clarification on the status of these guys? Such as if they are expected to return or not (specifically wondering about Sobczak).
Nooooooooooooooooooo
This sucks. I was so excited to see what he could do. Kid was a Rhino on the field. Wish him the best.
Here's to hoping Durk excels, I just hate that it has to be under ole Pelini.
In all seriousness, this fake account is one of my favorite.
My favorite follow on Twitter by far!
One of the best things about the JMU victory over Youngstown for the FCS championship was watching Bo lose again.
Three more players off the roster. LB's Eron Carter and Tre Hubbard and holder Wright Bynum.
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/virginia_tech/linebacker-eron-carter-two-o...