Multiple coaches talking to media today, 3/16. Initial roster released. Biggest news is Devon Hunter has somehow run out of eligibility.
Hunter remains enrolled at Virginia Tech, but has not been with the team this spring. Sounds like the COVID year did not apply to him, so his playing clock has expired.— Matej Sis (@MatejS247) March 16, 2022
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Even if the COVID year didn't count for Hunter (which I guess makes sense if he wasn't on the team), I thought I remembered him getting pulled after a few games one year so he could redshirt. 2018 maybe?
Niziolek said the redshirt was burned in 2018. Looks like the beat guys are a bit stumped too.
I get the explanation, but still feel like the error of doubt should have been on letting him play another year.
I thought I remembered something about your eligibility clock starting as soon as you enroll and engage in an NCAA sport. So if his clock was running starting in 2017, even if he took a redshirt year in 2018, he wasn't on the team in 2020 and didn't get the COVID extra eligibility. So his eligible four years were 2017, 2019, 2020 (suspended), and 2021. Bummer. Great recruit that just never panned out.
Let me get this straight, so if he doesn't play in the 2020 COVID year, he loses a year of eligibility, but if he played in 2020, it doesn't count as a year of eligibility? Wow, I don't understand that logic, but I guess that makes sense, like everything else that comes out of the NCAA's mouth.
That's a really shitty way to end things, but I guess rules are rules.
the premise is that he didn't miss the 2020 because of COVID, he missed it because he was suspended.
This was my interpretation as well. The NCAA doubled down on the punishment.
Reid Pulliam is also not with the team "working through some personal things" per Niziolek's article.
Is this a case of another Texas kid not panning out for us for one reason or another?
considering he committed out of Life Christian, i'd say no
He is from Texas FYI.
are you really gonna lump him in with davis, wooten, and bryant because of that?
Nope, just getting that fact out there.
to be clear, I hope it works out with him. It was more of a tongue in cheek comment on unfortunate issues that have befallen our texas recruits/signed players
JR Walker moving to LB. LB Reid Pulliam also not present on roster, no reason given.
Silas Dzansi moving to left tackle to start season.
I 1000% trust wisky's OL coach here. Let's go
Was Hunter suspended or dismissed and reinstated from the team? In my non-professional, non-expert opinion, if he was still on the team and suspended, the covid year should apply to him, as he was still a member of the team
This is for spring sports - I found a reference to winter sports as well, but couldn't find a fall sports link. Regardless, I imagine it would be the same - an athlete would have had to compete to get the extra year of eligibility, and Hunter did not compete due to his suspension.
Per NCAA rules:
That's weird because I thought the point of an extra year was so athletes didn't feel like they had to compete during the Covid year.
I think the point is that you are given eligibility to compete. If the season is cut short for some reason, you didn't get to compete, so they'll give you extra eligibility. It probably has to do with whether it was in the athlete's control. So being injured isn't in your control, which is why we've had some guys be able to play a sixth year from injuries. But committing a felony is within an athlete's control, so why reward a player for an extra year of eligibility he could have had if he hadn't committed a crime and not been able to participate for that reason. I read several other things that sounded like you had to be eligible to get your eligibility back. And it did sound like it protected opt-outs (who were eligible). But non-eligible athletes (I'm assuming for grades primarily, but also if your schools suspend you for legal troubles) don't get the extra year.
And even though there was a football season last year, it was a train wreck, with some conferences starting much later, only playing a shortened season, very little practice for players and teams, the games were really wonky with how many players teams out, so playing walk-ons, etc. etc.
something something the numbers always work out something something
Im on record as "camp burn it to the ground now" . Get the roster right, even if it means 3-8. seriously- get the issues out of the way now, unlike Fuente who let them linger. Establish who is in or out even if it means losing a bunch of games.
This one struck me as a bit odd, but I'll reserve judgement.
it's doesn't jive with our perception of blumrick as fans who have seen a lot of football players over the years, but this roster is... oof . Not a stretch to say he's one of the best 22 because of that
my bet is blumrick will stick at a non-QB role
Hes certainly one of the 22 or less that LOOK like ACC bodies for sure.
It's definitely curious. But being that he was at the QB position under Corny we don't really know much about his potential. With proper coaching he might be really good. It will be interesting to see where he ends up
Slot him in at TE. The roles have always been reversible at VT.
You beat me to it.
It feels pretty clear that he means he's one of the top 22 athletes on the team, not necessarily the QB1, who I assume will be one of the recent transfers.
I think "oof" is putting it mildly...if Blumrick is in top 22, my primary concern is not really where he fits on the field if at all, but rather what in tarnation can we do about the other 63 scholarship players on the roster, granted of course some are freshmen/not here yet, etc. I mean YEESH, this is a MASSIVE rebuild.
I know there is excitement about Pry and the staff he's assembled, but they definitely have their work cut out for them. I've seen lots of talk here and elsewhere about our easy schedule and how 8 wins might be attainable but again.... oof. I'll be mildly surprised if we make a bowl and I'm okay with that. I just want to feel again
The difference is I think we have a staff that is evaluating all of the players and will figure out an offense and defense that will work with what we have while trying to get better instead of forcing what we have into a set scheme.
Yep roster wise we are currently worse off than the Pinstripe bowl. Gonna take a few years of recruiting and development to get back.
But the ACC still really sucks so I think we will be able to compete
Being athletic and playing football are two different things. I would bet he is a better athlete than all of the oline, but that doesn't mean we don't have some talent there. Also I don't think we want Bumerick on the line.
Nothing Bumerick did as a QB made me think he wasn't athletic, it made me think he wasn't a QB.
It definitely is a massive rebuild, but we're reading way too much into this comment. This comment shouldn't be taken to mean anything other than "we're going to try to get Blumrick on the field somehow even if not at QB".
Agreed, I don't think they're going to try to make him stick at QB, but he does some good things with the ball in his hands. Just not under center. A&M moved him to TE for a reason.
Not pulling any punches on his answers. I like.
I really appreciate the candor of this answer. If/when we see a big portal uptick of guys going out, it helps to know that the coaching staff is getting in front of the situation and saying "it's coming, be ready" rather than ignoring it or letting the speculations overtake everything else. The fans should know that at least a few of the RBs need to go, and other guys will need to leave to find playing time, but by reminding people of this it helps to ease the stress of when it actually happens.
Worst case, he's right and we have a lot of attrition. Best case, it motivates the hell out of the players and everyone brings their A game this spring.
It's to be expected and we should be on board with this. If the roster needs significant turnover it's better to do it quickly rather than drag it out.
Bingo... the rising juniors that can't bench press 200 pounds and have never contributed, we are moving on. Sorry but that's big boy football. If corny couldn't teach you how to block, we are moving on. We need this sooner rather than later
I'd be more worried if Corn did teach them how to block
And while we're getting rid of the 98 pound weaklings, let's also make sure we show the door to the kids that try to get in fights with other VT sports teams. Let's not keep those around too long, shall we?
Unsure if this is a specific reference to someone currently on the team?
No, it's a reference to a previous holdover that was given a few too many chances, and was eventually let go whereupon he went to Miami. Not gonna name names, though. ;^)
I thought we liked the '95 team?
One person fighting another sports team: no bueno
Whole team fighting another sports team: that's just a dance number, like Sharks vs Jets.
Wow. Blunt, honest, and to the point.
How refreshing.
I saw Hunter in street clothes on the sideline in the Bowl game. I thought for sure he would have played some in that one.
Wasn't he injured to end the year?
Whatever the situation is with Pulliam, I hope it isn't anything harmful/permanent and it all works out ok.
Didn't see the link provided CBP Presser