Despite the disappointment and regression last year, who would you say was the brightest spot throughout the campaign?
I would make an argument for Hazelton, Willis, or Walker as the three players you could most easily say were the MVP.
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Willis.
Exhibit A:
Yes, he threw the pick, but without that, two streaks might have ended that day.
Edit: To be clear, I'm not saying he is MVP because of this play. I'm saying, coming into the year as a back-up QB, getting to call after JJ went down, and to play with the heart and intensity that he did. I think he exceeded my expectations and don't know if we have the season we did with anyone else under center, even JJ
This play and the Reggie Floyd touchdown-saving play against Pitt easily rank in the top 10 Hokie plays for me
This one comes nowhere close because it was initiated by the poor call/decision/throw to get to this point. Full credit for the effort play, but it was more of a "oooh I was almost going to be irredeemably angry with you for that but you saved it" sorta thing.
I'd argue Keene's catch was a "better" play than this one.
While I understand your point, the fact that many players make a bad mistake and put their hands on their helmet and essentially leave the play (understandably in many cases) makes the times where they haul ass to try and do something about the mistake all the more impressive.
Like I said, he gets top marks for the effort and tackle. I just wouldn't put it in any top plays list because it's tainted. I think Willis might be the answer to OP's question overall, though.
It was definitely one of the most incredible plays of the year.
All QBs throw "dumb" INTs, even Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Almost no QBs are able to erase their mistake by chasing down a DB like that.
That was pure 5 on 5 violence right there.
I still remember Jimmy running down the UVA back Pearman inside the 20yd line....UVA never recovered......
11 with the on-field surrender cobra. I like it.
I get what you're saying, but that's like crediting a guy for stopping a wildfire he started in the first place.
So some idiots who become volunteer firefighters?
Unnecessary jab at volunteers. The volunteer ranks do not have the monopoly on arsonists in their ranks. Link to one notable example.
First I started as a volunteer, Chestefield Co. 5. Second I said some. The reason you don't see many career fire arsonist is because they can't exactly leave the station to start a fire then respond to that same fire. Which is why you see volunteers set fires to respond to said fire.
Willis with the text book tackle - he wrapped that DB up and there was no way he was getting to the promised land. Maybe Willis can help our Defense with tackling drills. This is one of the best tackles I saw last year.
Willis is even slowed up by the ref and still runs him down.
Missed a golden opportunity for a slant and go for a touchdown.
Trevon Hill
*ducks*
The end of the 3rd quarterRyan WillisYou have to update your signature to include Willis!
Has to be career undefeated. His career isn't over yet
you just became my new favorite person on here, thank you
I've always wants someone to start a twitter account with these stats. Kind of like the Commonwealth Cup and Black Diamond accounts. Just troll the shit out of LOLUVA fans.
Three players come to mind for me:
Interesting with Tre. His play did pop to mind, but I thought Hazelton had the better statistical year in every sense.
This is true, but he seemed to fade as Tre came on. Hopefully they both have big years ahead of them (and I think they do)
They combined for something like 75 receptions, 1300+ yards, and both averaged over 15 YPR. Assuming the OLine play improves, they could both be poised for very large years. Don't sleep on Heze either, quietly had a reallllly good year.
That trio is going to be fun to watch this season. Through in Mitchell, Keene, and even Patterson and probably youth of Bowick/Simmons/Ellis and we might have a receiving core that could surpass Ford/Phillips/Hodges.
It was more encouraging for me to see Tre come in as a true freshman and grow into a true game changer (on special teams too!)
Watching Dame Hazelton son DBs on fade after fade was awesome too, but he definitely dropped off as the season went on. Pretty sure he was playing through an injury.
and it is possible that neither Hazleton or Tre have the year that they had without Willis.
Um Jackson had similar numbers his freshman season with an injured Cam and a a couple true frosh pass catchers. They could have had similar numbers with Jackson.
I wasn't intending to imply they wouldn't have had good seasons with JJ, I was a JJ fan from day 1, but it's just one of those things we'll never know. Obviously, the entire season would have been different with JJ under center, maybe better, maybe worse
Dalton Keene, just for coming down with that jump ball that kept the streak alive.
I think the MVP was the friends that we made along the way.
Oh hi Mike London.
May have lost more than i gained this season....
*were
No, for the poster, it's was.
Dang right it are
How?
It just be.
A name that you won't see much in this thread who had a big impact is Rayshard Ashby. Having him healthy was a big part of the difference between just having a bad defense and the complete sieve we saw against Pitt while he was out.
I was going to say Ashby and/or Dax (for defensive MVP at least)
Ashby was probably the best defender not Named Ricky. Dax was the #1 hype man, but his play wasn't as solid as a lot of people think. Looked like he guessed on to many plays. Hopefully the offseasons helps him with reading the plays.
@3_ToDaNeck
That is one hell of a hold in the middle of that play that was uncalled. I can't believe that slipped by ACC refs.
That was a Clothesline morphed into a take down
I can
Kerry Blackshear Jr. is the winning answer and it doesn't matter what sport we're talking about.
Probably the guy who accounted for 28 TDs.
So Bud's D?
*runs away giggling*
The question for the season, not the Pitt game
These are both brutal comments.
I love Bud Foster, but legs for both of you!
Tre Turner
Willis. Probably not the 'best' player on the team, but I think the most valuable; if you replace Willis with the next best (healthy) QB on the team, we miss a bowl, lose to UVA, and possibly UNC as well as others.
This. To me, it's Willis hands down. Without him, I honestly think the team completely folds and is nowhere even close to sniffing bowl eligibility.
Ryan Willis. Season's toast if he doesn't step up as much as he did. We will always wish it was more, but the season as a whole was salvaged multiple times by him.
1) Blantons
2) Marshall
MVP was my heart for not giving out throughout the strenuous season
Ugh, we've had spring ball already. We are on to this season 2019. Did you earn your hard hat or you still bitter about Cincy? Don't miss the hype train!
Let's go!
🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃
Last season? For me, Jack Daniels.
You win, hands down.
/endthread
I don't uh... I don't remember seeing a Jack Daniels on the roster. Refresh my memory?
Gotta put a break point somewhere in this or the loop will be infinite
May I introduce you to some better liquor 3 posts up.