Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Following its 14th practice of fall camp on Friday, Virginia Tech football met with the media for a press conference. Read below for what associate head coach/defensive line coach J.C. Price, defensive lineman Norell Pollard and punter Peter Moore had to say.
Associate head coach/defensive line coach J.C. Price
On the defensive tackle spot and if he feels like he has enough quality players there:
"Well, you never have enough. It doesn't matter if it's tackles or ends, because it's the most physically demanding position in all of sports, and definitely in football, especially the tackle guys. You have 600 pounds laying on you every other play. That takes a toll on your body. Right now, we are trying to create that depth. I'm really excited about the top three that we got, with [Josh] Fuga, Mario [Kendricks] and Norell [Pollard]. Those guys are playing at a high level. I think we can win a championship with those guys. The rest of them need to keep coming along."
On Norell Pollard being named a captain and his growth in leadership:
"It started in our (position) room. When [Amaré] Barno left and really last year Norell did, just no one noticed. Norell has played a lot of football and has been here for a long time. The reason I like him is because he doesn't always say, 'Look at me. Look at me.' So, sometimes his leadership will go unnoticed. People are finally taking notice and that's a great thing."
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Defensive lineman Norell Pollard
On being announced a captain:
"It means a lot when your peers vote you as a captain. It means I'm doing something right. It means they see me as somebody they can follow and that means a lot to me. That is something that I've wanted to be since I've gotten here. It just happened to be my fourth year here. It means a lot that I'm viewed as an example to the other guys for how to work and how to go about your business. I really appreciate the guys for seeing that in me."
On Mario Kendricks, Josh Fuga and himself having a lot of experience up front and the dividends that will pay:
"It's a big advantage. One thing Bud [Foster] always told us was that you can't coach experience. So just having those guys and trusting those guys. So, if I can't make a play, I know they will go make a play. I don't have to be on the field, they can be on the field and vice versa. We all trust each other and know all three of us can go out there and get the job done. That's a great thing to have in that room."
Punter Peter Moore
On his time at the lake Thursday with his teammates and the surprise announcement:
"Absolutely it was great just seeing the guys having a good time. It was good to just get away for a little bit and relax, and get refocused for today. Then yeah, we were shocked. We went crazy. You all may have saw on social media. It was awesome."
On what he has improved the most on since the spring:
"Probably my hang time I would say. What has gone into that has been work in the weight room and working on being explosive. The staff in the weight room has done a great job. So, a lot of weight room for my hang time and then refining my technique with working on small things to make that better."