By Jimmy Robertson
BLACKSBURG – Vance Vice fielded the question as cleanly as Freddie Freeman scooping up a routine grounder.
A reporter at Tuesday's media session – Andy Bitter from The Athletic – asked Vice about downplaying his being the valedictorian of his high school graduating class and also having more degrees (three) than anyone on the Virginia Tech football staff.
"You ask me like you're surprised," Vice deadpanned, drawing laughter from the small group in attendance.
The veteran Vice grew up in a small town in rural Oklahoma, but that rural upbringing shouldn't fool people. He possesses more than enough smarts to figure out how to replace the three senior starters who departed off last season's offensive line.
The Hokies concluded their fourth spring practice Tuesday morning, and typical of his philosophy, Vice spent much of the session shuffling guys at different spots in search of the perfect combination, as he seeks replacements for departed seniors Kyle Chung, Braxton Pfaff and Yosuah Nijman.
"Spring time is obviously a time where it's all about development and growing up," Vice said. "We've got young and old, and it gives you a chance to slide guys around a little bit. We don't have a big number right now to do that with – we obviously don't have our incoming class here right now. We've got less now than we've had in the past, numbers-wise, but it's a great a time of the year. You get to go out there and experiment with a couple of things – and the scoreboard isn't on."
The Hokies entered spring practice with 15 offensive linemen on the roster, but three of them – Christian Darrisaw, Joe Kane, and Walker Culver – are missing this spring because of injuries. Complicating matters, at least temporarily, is that the group only features one senior in Tyrell Smith, who hasn't played a lot in his career.
Actually, of the 12 practicing, five are redshirt freshmen and one is a true freshman – Jesse Hanson, who enrolled in mid-January after a stellar career at nearby Lord Botetourt High School.
"Some days, we're learning left and right," Vice admitted. "Honestly, just keeping it simple right now so our guys can be physical. I love our athleticism, I love our work ethic. It's probably the best it's been since I've been here.
"All of these guys can move around, but there is a lack of game reps at some spots. We don't look at that as a problem, or as something that's going to prevent us from getting done what we've got to get done. We view it as an opportunity to get guys in there and get them all on the same page. This group does an unbelievable job of doing the extra stuff. There is not a day that they're not doing something on their own, whether it's film or footwork, and it makes my job easier. This is a fun, fun group to coach."
Vice's top order of business this spring probably centers on the guard spots. Chung brought versatility, with his ability to play any position on the line, but the Hokies obviously lost that and need for others to emerge.
Vice views Zachariah Hoyt, who started eight games in 2018, in the same mold as Chung. Lecitus Smith started three games at guard, including the bowl game, and Vice almost pulled the redshirt off John Harris, who played in two games last season. Harris and Hoyt both possess the ability to play center and guard.
"He's got a little bit of savvy to him," Vice said of Harris. "He's from Mill Creek down in Atlanta, which is a great program and a great program for linemen. They've had multiple guys come out of there. He just sort of gets it. He may not be the strongest. He may not be the fastest. But I'm very, very pleased with his production. He gets the job done."
At the tackle spots, Silas Dzansi, T.J. Jackson and Smith all are getting a lot of work. Dzansi got off to a slow start in 2018 because of an injury, but he started the final three games of the season, and after arriving at Tech a touch undersized, he looks great at 315 pounds.
Dzansi, a redshirt sophomore, is emerging as the vocal leader of the group.
"I think those last three games [of 2018] were a major confidence booster for myself," Dzansi said. "Just to get that experience under my belt going into this next season, I think it's going to help a lot. It was a confidence boost and something well needed."
"He brings it every day," Vice said of Dzansi. "He doesn't know anything except work, and I appreciate him every day. He's really developed this offseason."
No matter how well any of them play, none will secure a starting role at the conclusion of spring practice. Vice customarily wipes the slate clean at the end of the 15th session.
Truthfully, Hokie Nation won't know the starting line until probably moments before kickoff in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
"I just want these guys to be hungry," Vice said of his players. "I made a mistake probably 12, 15 years ago. I named a starting lineup after spring ball, and two of those five, I thought, took the summer off, so I want to keep that thing open."
Here are some other notes from spring practice:
• Head coach Justin Fuente said that he and his staff will conduct an intra-squad scrimmage Saturday – the first of the spring. He'll have his eyes on a couple of things during this scrimmage.
"It's their first time to really tackle," Fuente said. "We do a lot of drills centered around tackling, but there's no substitute for live work. You put the kids on the field and take the coaches off the field, and it's a whole new world. It's one thing when they're standing behind you, and it's another thing when you're out there by yourself.
"In the first scrimmage, we don't get caught up scheme as much as who can go out there on their own, go play and do what we're asking them to do on a consistent basis."
• Fuente said that quarterback Quincy Patterson is getting better as a passer. A year ago, Patterson attempted just five passes in the three games in which he played.
"It's an ongoing process, as it is with all of those quarterbacks," Fuente said. "He continues to work, get better and have an understanding of what's going on [over] on the other side of the ball as much as what his players are supposed to be doing.
"He's going to have to continue to get repetitions. He's going to have to continue doing that, and I think it's in there. At what rate that happens I do not know, but I do know that I've seen marked improvement from him on a consistent basis, as I have with Hendon [Hooker] over the past couple of years and Ryan [Willis] to some extent. That rate that which that comes, we don't get to determine, but I do know it's in there."
• Tech's staff appears to be very excited about the potential of tight ends James Mitchell and Drake Deluliis, who continue to receive the bulk of the work with Dalton Keene out this spring because of an injury. Fuente hinted that the staff may play two or three of those guys at the same time this upcoming season.
"It's something we have talked about, and we have yet to have all of our guys there together, and we won't have that until the fall," he said. "Those guys are competing against wide receivers and running backs for playing time. I'm pretty excited about those three guys and their development, as well as bring in Nick Gallo to help. That room is healthy and healthy with talent, great attitude and work ethic. I'm excited to watch those guys continue to get better."
