Notes and Quotes From Tech's First Day of Spring Practice

It doesn't seem like Logan Thomas is really concerned about replacing Wilson, Coale, Boykin, #DRAGERBOMB, or four senior o-linemen. He was doling out compliments and reassurances about the new faces in the huddle.

• "Those guys will be just fine," Thomas said. "They have one of the best coaches out there in coach Newsome. He'll get them right, get their minds right and they'll be ready to go when that time comes. Of course there's going to be some learning, but I think they'll be just fine."
• "We've got some experience out wide in our receiving core, and they'll use their knowledge and let the young guys know."
• "I think he's [Holmes] a lot like Ryan Williams, in comparison," Thomas said. "He's got great lateral movement, and he’s got good quickness straight ahead. He'll make you miss more than he'll run over you."
• "Also, the backfield, they've got me back there, so if they've got questions they can ask me."

I like that reserved swagger, LT3 is confident in his abilities, and only critical of himself, because he knows he can be better.

No one knows where anyone in the secondary is going to play past tomorrow. And what's wrong with that? At the end of the day we'll have a bunch of guys familiar with 2 or 3 positions.

"I think as a coaching staff we are just going to see," Gray said. "I think the players have bought into it. Right now we're gonna be committed to working through this through the spring but we may look after the first scrimmage and have a discussion. But right now from the little information I've gotten today, it's gonna be something we wanna go ahead and fixate in the spring."

Gray also explained why he moved Exum, who was a dynamic playmaker last season as a safety, leading the team with 89 total tackles, to cornerback.

"Antone has great physical ability," said Gray. "He kind of slowed down at times last year when things started moving and shifting. He's a good enough athlete where if you just put him out on a number-1, whether it is man or zone, we just figure that would give him a chance to just go and play."

/Really hopes Michael Cole wins the safety job so Jarrett can move back to corner.

Incoming quarterback Brenden Motley was at practice and thought a lot of Holmes and Coleman, "Both @MHolmesRB20 and @jc_coleman4 got those earlyyy reps in today!!! Got me excited for the future #hokienation".

Coach Wiles' summarized his thoughts regarding the d-line on day one, "Good 1st practice. Thought we picked up closer to where we left off in January. #excited! Look fast". And Wiles isn't a bullshitter. The d-line is going to be so effing good this year. /maniacal laughter

Punters are kickers, kickers are punters, the third-string quarterback is a holder and punter. This is the kicking situation going doing in Blacksburg, Fancy Gap's running any body capable of pushing a football through the uprights, or into the stratosphere, though drills to find the best of the bunch. Michael Branthover, Scott Demler, Conor Goulding and Skyler Hutcheson kicked and punted, Trey Gresh did just the latter. Ethan Keyserling is another kid capable of wining the punting job. My guess, the specialists swing will last through summer until the start of the season. Kyshoen Jarrett, Detrick Bonner, Kyle Fuller, Dyrell Roberts, Demitri Knowles, Willie Byrn and Donaldven Manning were among 11 players returning punts. A combination of Jarrett and Knowles are who I expect to be fielding punts this fall.

The Frankinator overseeing, what has to be a kicking session, during the lightening shortened first day of practice via @RTD_MikeBarber.

Attrition after only a single practice? Jonathan Halfhides' (@j_HALFHIDE) Twitter profile, "follower of Christ. ncaa free agent linebacker. #FFF". He tweeted the following after practice.

@MrLightSkin95 is Zack McCray

Halfhide, a former walk-on, was slotted at Backer for the spring, and didn't figure to see much action in the fall.