BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech football program is starting to solidify its depth chart, as the 2018 opener versus Florida State approaches, and the announcement of Josh Jackson as the starting quarterback marked the first step.
But the Hokies are still searching for a top guy at a relatively lightly discussed, yet very important position – kicker.
Tech saw four-year starter Joey Slye depart after last season and take his strong leg with him. His departure left the spot open, and both Brian Johnson and Jordan Stout have been competing for the job three weeks into August practices.
"We have not made a decision yet – and I know everybody wants to know," special teams coordinator James Shibest said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. "So do I.
"Both Brian and Jordan have talent. It's just a matter of who's going to win the job and doing it in the game. I'm glad both of them are here. I do think they have a chance to be really good. I would have said after the first week it would be Brian Johnson and then after the second week, I would have said it would be Jordan Stout. We're going to watch them again do some more live kicking this week and put them in a couple of situations and see how they do. Hopefully we'll know by the weekend.
Johnson, a redshirt sophomore, played last season when Slye injured his hamstring, and he made three of his four field-goal attempts. However, none of his attempts were beyond 40 yards. Stout, a redshirt freshman, took a redshirt year in 2017.
There could be a scenario where one kicks field goals and extra points, while the other handles kickoff duties. Johnson kicked off 12 times last fall, with six going for touchbacks. But Stout possesses the bigger leg.
"Jordan's probably got a stronger leg, and we would be leaning that way right now," Shibest admitted. "But Brian has been kicking them into the end zone and out of the end zone, too. Again, that's a good luxury to have. Jordan's leg strength is better and kicking it further, and at times, a little more inconsistent, too. But I think either one of those guys could man that job. We'll decide here, too, in the upcoming week."
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Tech's staff is also working out the situations at returner. Head coach Justin Fuente said he was leaning toward using C.J. Carroll as the punt returner, which comes as no surprise given that Carroll has returned punts in the past, but he surprised the audience when he mentioned Damon Hazelton as a top candidate as well.
Hazelton would be one of the biggest punt returners in the country at 6-foot-3, 222 pounds, but Fuente likes his hands.
"He can catch the ball, and that's the first rule of punt return – to make sure we have the ball at the end of the play," Fuente said. "That's kind of the first thing – can you judge it and make decisions?
"There are a lot of decisions you have to make. Greg [Stroman] was incredible at that in terms of balls he fielded, balls he backed off, the communication that goes into short kicks and communicating with those guys who are blocking for you. They don't know where the ball is, and there's a lot that goes into it in terms of handling that spot before you even get to your return skills and scoring touchdowns."
Hezekiah Grimsley and Bryce Watts also are in the mix as punt returners.
Fuente also said that Caleb Farley and Terius Wheatley are the front runners to be kick returners.
Other notes from the news conference:
Young DBs are impressing
Speaking of Farley, defensive coordinator Bud Foster said Thursday that Farley has been working at cornerback with the first-team unit because of an injury to Jovonn Quillen and with Jermaine Waller in and out of the lineup. Their absences have allowed freshmen Nadir Thompson and Armani Chatman to receive additional reps.
"I like where he is right now," Foster said of Farley. "I feel good about our first two, and I feel good about where Quillen was before some injuries and Waller, but the young kids have stepped up and are improving. I'm excited about their future."
Tech could play as many as five true freshmen in the secondary – Waller, Thompson, Chatman, Chamarri Conner, and Nasir Peoples
Keeping an eye on Notre Dame
Jarrod Hewitt, a defensive tackle who has played very well this August, hails from Florida, but did not grow up a Florida State fan – the Hokies' opponent in the season opener. In fact, he never cared for any of the Florida schools and for a good reason. His father was born in Indiana and liked Notre Dame, so Hewitt followed suit. He gets to square off against his childhood favorite in early October when Notre Dame comes to town.
"That's [game] absolutely circled," Hewitt said. "As a kid, it was a childhood dream to go play there, but now I get to play against them – and in my opinion, it's a little bit cooler, honestly."
Mitchell still earning praise
Shibest, who also coaches the tight ends, has been impressed with freshman James Mitchell, a 6-3, 240-pounder from the small town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Mitchell played at the Class 2A level in high school – Virginia high schools range from 1A as the smallest to 6A as the largest – but the young man has not been intimidated by the step up in competition. Tech returns tight ends Dalton Keene and Chris Cunningham, but Mitchell may get on the field this season.
"He's further along than we thought he would be coming in," Shibest said. "Obviously, he was a great player in high school. It was a smaller level, but they were very good where he was at, and he played a lot of different positions. He didn't do a ton with his hand on the ground and all that.
"As far as the physical part of it, he's further ahead. Now he can run around and catch the ball. Depending on how we use him and how far along he can continue to come along with the run game stuff will determine how much he'll play, but we've been very excited in his progress."