Per twitter.com/Hokiesports
Two notes before practice: Corey Marshall has rejoined the team after taking some time away for personal reasons. Today is his 1st day back.
One other note before practice: Alston Smith will begin working with the offensive line today.
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Comments
Nice. I hope he brought a truck stick, tear ass, whirl wind attitude with him to the field.
Glad that he's back, and am hoping he brings a renewed sense of purpose...and anger. Good for Alston; I hope heats w/ the same rage as his dad!
This is good news and regarding Alston's move, we used to have TEs for that!
Hopefully Corey Marshall comes back ready to play.
As for Alston Smith, that seems like a weird move to me, unless he can contribute at guard immediately in 2013. Otherwise, he'd be buried on the depth chart in 2014, although he would most definitely sure up the position in 2015.
Defensive Tackle, on the other hand, is an immediate position of need in 2014 and especially in 2015. Alston moving to the OL means that Kris Harley better step up and Ricky Walker and Derrick Nnadi better be hokies, with immediate playing time available on the 2014 and 2015 National Championship teams.
2014 Offensive Line
LT Jonathan McGlock, Wyatt Teller, Brady Taylor
LG Caleb Farris, Mark Schuman, Braxton Pfaff, Billy Ray Mitchell
C David Wang, Matt Arkema, Kyle Chung, Jack Willenbrock, Eric Gallo
RG Brent Benedict, Parker Osterloh, Alston Smith, Colt Pettit
RT Laurence Gibson, Augie Contie, Tyrel Smith
2015 Offensive Line
LT Jonathan McGlock, Brady Taylor
LG Augie Conte, Braxton Pfaff, Billy Ray Mitchell
C Kyle Chung, Jack Willenbrock, Eric Gallo
RG Parker Osterloh, Alston Smith, Colt Pettit
RT Wyatt Teller, Tyrel Smith
2014 Defensive Tackles
Luther Maddy, Kris Harley, Derrick Nnadi
Nigel Williams, Woody Baron, Ricky Walker
2015 Defensive Tackles
Nigel Williams, Ricky Walker, Kris Harley
Woody Baron, Derrick Nnadi
2014 Defensive Ends
Dadi Nicholas, Dewayne Alford, Seth Dooley
Corey Marshall, Ken Ekanem, Matt Roth
2015 Defensive Ends
Dadi Nicholas, Dewayne Alford, Seth Dooley
Ken Ekanem, Matt Roth
Good move for recruiting for EXACTLY that reason.
Marshall's return is important long term. While the defensive tackle rotation seems to be set with Woody Baron and Nigel Williams as backups, the Hokies lose 3 senior defensive ends next season. Marshall may not factor this season, but his size and run stopping ability will be critical to what is shaping up to be a tiny defensive line next year.
Why "tiny"?What's Ekanem's measurables? Is he smallish?
B/c Outside of who's your Dadi, who else is small?
Maddy is the only big tackle, since I doubt Harley will play a lot.
Right now, the next man on the depth chart at stud end is Dwayne Alford. One look, and you can tell that Dadi is significantly smaller than Gayle and Collins, and Alford is only slightly bigger. Baron and Williams are both on the small side as defensive tackles to play with Maddy, with only Harley in reserve.
Ekanem and Matt Roth are both decent sized players, and I really like Ekanem, but there is a reason he is behind Gayle, Collins, Dadi, Wilson, and Alford on the depth chart right now.
Glad to have you back, Corey! Rip sh!t up!
Our D-line just got even scarier.
Anyone for a healthy dose of double pounds to the ground followed up by a Superman shirt tear?
our possible top 5, probable top 10 D just got deeper & better
Wonder if Smith's move to OG means Miller's injury is more serious than we thought (or Shuman is further away)?
Welcome back C Marsh, now get out there and distribute some rage
quick interview about Marshall's return from Coach Wiles:
That's the first time I've heard "disciplinary action" instead of "personal issue." I rather prefer discipline as the reason, it's a lot better than the Manning "I'm not sure if I want to be here anymore" type of problem.
Yeah, that took me by surprise, too. I guess if you are thinking of bailing on the team, the coaches probably should think of it as disciplinary action. I hope he got a big welcome back from his teammates. Nothing like people letting you know they missed you to help you feel like you should stay.
Very happy he's back. I love watching Marshall chase down quarterbacks. He is relentless.
Welcome back, Million Dolla!