From the sidelines
Marty Gordon
If there was one thing fans and coaches alike could write down on paper after Saturday’s Spring football game, the Hokies have plenty of depth.
Areas like running back and wide receiver have plenty of players to choose from. Now, several of those individuals might take this idea of “depth” as a reason to jump into the transfer portal in the next week, but the Hokie still will have plenty to choose from.
To be honest, this was a problem last season as the numbers game played a role in several close games. This year, it will not.
In areas like the secondary and the defensive front, this team is loaded. There is also some depth in both the receiving and running back room.
Coach Brent Fry feels in his third year, the team will have plenty of bodies to work with.
The depth has been helped thanks to the Transfer Portal where Tech was able to grab former Duke defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles, who was named the defensive Most Valuable Player for the Spring.
But he told the media on Saturday, he feels that he can do so much more.
“I feel like I always feel I can do more and I feel there’s still a ceiling I need to reach, you know, I don’t feel in any way that I’m tapped out as a player, I still feel that there is more development I could do,” said Peebles. “So, it’s really an honor to receive that from my teammates and my coaching staff.”
If there is a question, it still might be who will be backing up second-year starting QB Kyrone Drones.
In Saturday’s Spring Game, Dylan Wittke completed five of eight passes for 44 yards as Drones backup on the Maroon team, while on the Orange side of the field, William ‘Pop’ Watson III and Ben Locklear split the time. Watson completed 13 of 21 passes for 130 total yards, including a three-yard rushing touchdown while Locklear finished seven of 11 for 90 yards.
For now, it looks like Watson might be leading oh so slightly.
Drones finished the game with a total of 122 yards, claiming two touchdowns with an impressive 66-yard connection to Malachi Thomas. He finished six of 10 before taking the rest of the afternoon off.
The opening game is just around the corner, and there sure is a lot of excitement around what this year’s team could produce. Just keep watching.
