Top 10: The biggest impact freshmen in college football: http://t.co/1EfzPFHwNa— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) October 2, 2013
7. Brandon Facyson, Va. Tech, CB: Bud Foster's D has a knack for finding--and-developing play-making young DBs and he's done it again. Facyson, who has four picks, leads a terrific CB duo and has wowed coaches and teammates with his football IQ. The lanky 6-2, 173-pound Georgia native, who says his goal is to become a heart surgeon, also has broken up seven passes and forced one fumble
Just missed the cut:
- Kendall Fuller
- Trey Edmunds
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Comments
Top 10 freshman as CB, we move him to WR
And for some reason, we think Exum should take reps from him after a major knee surgery. God I hope Exum doesn't start. Facyson should start period.
Just think about this. DJ Coles had an entire year off, to heal from a knee injury that was not nearly as bad as Exum's and he is still is unable to play a full game.
Facyson should be applauded for the level he's played at, but it's not like he didn't know Exum would start when he was healthy again. Facyson will also have at least two more seasons to terrorize opponents.
True, and he can count on VT doing the same for him if he gets hurt. But why not make him Nickelback and not Kendall. He has outplayed Kendall up to this point IMO. Or split reps or something.
It's been addressed in other topics here that Kendall is a better turn and run, press cover type of CB which is what Bud asks of his nickelback. For me, I can't say Facyson has out played Kendall since they are doing different things. I think Facyson is getting picks because he tends to play more of a robber type of coverage to bait the QB to throw and then uses his ridiculous closing speed to get the pick. Kendall has been fantastic at pressing receivers, running with them, and when needed making the sure tackle.
Couldn't agree more
This
Yah I saw it on the other thread, but I don't agree. Leading the nation in INT's no matter you are playing press coverage or robber coverage is outstanding. I'm not saying Kendall is playing bad because he's not. He's been great as well, but I just don't think you bench the guy giving you the most positive turnover margin.
That's fine you can disagree, but I think it's a jump to say he is outplaying Kendall. I agree that taking a playmaker off the D is a bad thing, but Frank runs his program with a lot of loyalty and it is what it is. Personally I think Exum won't be able to play a full game in a while (maybe not even the rest of the season) given the severity of the injury so really if we give Facyson some rest on the D side and let him contribute on the O side, why not?
Not a single person has said that he is being benched.
To add to what vtfly said, you have to consider how many times each guy was targeted. I remember last year some of Exum's numbers, INT's and passes defended in particular, were better than Xavier Rhodes. But you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks Exum was the better DB. Not to detract from what Fayscon has been doing, but you need to look at a lot more than INT numbers to evaluate defensive play. I admittedly don't have the best football mind, but I've been equally impressed with Kendall and Fayscon.
Very sharp analysis, and dead on correct. It is like comparing a New York Strip to a Cowboy Ribeye.
mmm, steak
Excellent analysis - dead on.
I was really pumped about this until I saw 'Va. Tech' after his name... wwhhyyyyy. Just put VT!! I promise no one will be confused!!
But... but... but... people will think Vermont and get confuzzled!
This post written in Sarcastica.
Exactly, because EVERYONE knows that Vermont is a football power.
I realize you were being sarcastic, but people back home in New England have told me that it would be confusing and I always have to point out two things:
1. While the abbreviation for the state of Vermont is VT, the school is UVM, and they would be offended if it was written any other way.
2. UVM does not have a varsity football program so nobody would be confused anyways.
So really nobody should ever be confused by the use of 'VT'
Don't worry he will have his game Facyson no matter what side of the ball he plays on! Also Sam Rogers gave Frank permission to try it out!
I see what you did there
kendall hasn't been thrown to as much as facyson ... because he's basically blanketing receivers ... he may be the best man-cover DB on our roster .. and that's saying a lot.
he's also gonna be playing plenty o' whip against these spread teams i think.
i think people are overblowing this whole facyson to WR thing .. he'll get some reps there, more for political reasons (to keep a fire lit under the WRs ass) than anything else. He'll be like macho .. may have a few sets and with his great hands .. could be in for some 3rd down situations ... i don't see him spending much time on the O side at all .. and none after this season.
I turkeylegged this comment and it went from 0 to 2...
*pats head gently* yes, ohherro, yes you are.
but facyson is SMART AS HELL (like wants to be a heart surgeon smart) ... he's absorbed so much in just a short time and it's really showing on the field .. he is a ball hawk. if anyone could handle both playbooks and positions, it's him.
I'm absolutely giddy thinking about our secondary over the next 2.5+ seasons with Brandon and Kendall locking down the corners. They are true freshman right now and they are playing out of their minds at a national level!
Not to be a debbie downer. And I think both these guys have the potential to be All American type players. But let's not forget a lot of their success has been because of the contributions from the Defensive line. When you can create pressure with just four guys, it makes the secondary's job a lot easier.
And it makes it easier to generate impressive match ups when your CBs can handle covering the best WRs out there.
Also, depth is a concern. Nickle corner is a critical spot which currently has no one plugged in for next year. And let's not wonder what would happen if a freak injury would occur...
The loss of D. Manning hurts. He was extremely important to the Hokies depth 2014 and beyond.
It's possible that we may need less nickel corner if Ronny Vandyke can lock down the whip next year.
I think it could be argued that 2 of Facyson's pics could have been made by Fuller, as both where in position to make the play. They are both awesome, as is Exum, and this is a much better "problem" to have then last years O-line getting manhandled weekly w/ no solution.
One thing that really stuck out to me is that just about all the names on there were 5 star players in their recruiting classes. It's kind of embarrassing that I know this, but off the top of my head I remember Winston, Hargreaves, Nkemdiche, Cravens, and Ramsey all being elite recruits.
Every once in a while, the powers that determine the star system get it right. Some dominant high school players are able to easily transition to making plays on the field at the college level. However, at least 2 of the guys on that list (Facyson and a LB from Colorado) were 2-3 stars.
Catches 2 TD passes and returns an INT for..wait for it...TOUCHDOWN TECH!!!!!
Good point - anyone know if thats ever been done?
GO HOKIES!
If Jarrett doesn't recover like a beast and intercept the ball at the goalline against Marshall with 1:00 left, we would have been roasting Facyson for letting #11 just run right by him at a critical moment.
Yep, anybody can get beat, even All-Americans. Except Sam Rogers.
Not a strong argument, especially on that play - it's Jarrett's job to help out and he delivered!
GO HOKIES!