BLACKSBURG – Before its practice on Friday, Virginia Tech football met with the media for a press conference. Read below for what receivers coach Fontel Mines, safeties coach Pierson Prioleau, receiver Da'Wain Lofton and running back Keshawn King had to say.
Receivers coach Fontel Mines
On going up against his former employer to begin the season and his communication with former players and staff on ODU leading up to it:
"It's been fun, man. I enjoyed my time in Norfolk. Coach [Ricky] Rahne is one of the best guys I've worked for. He kind of rejuvenated me, to be honest with you. During that short time, I was able to learn so much from him from an organizational standpoint at practice to structure. Offensively, he spent a good amount of time with us game planning throughout the season, with bouncing ideas off each other. He had coached the position I was coaching at the time. He was tremendous for me, so that was an awesome time. But there is a good group of guys over there. I've been quiet and have given them their space, but it will be fun."
On how much he has shared with the Tech defensive staff on the ODU personnel:
"Just a good feel on personnel, the character of those guys and maybe strengths and weaknesses. But we have a really, really talented defensive staff. Those guys do a really good job down from quality control to analysts to GAs watching so much film. They got a really good feel for them. We may bounce ideas off of each other. I've coached a handful of those guys that played receiver, so I know those guys pretty well."
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Safeties coach Pierson Prioleau
On Chamarri Conner and Nasir Peoples bringing the younger guys along:
"Chamarri and Nasir have played so many valuable reps for this team over the years. Their experience on the field is very relatable to telling the younger guys different intricacies of the game, as well as things that they need to look forward to. Having guys in that room as leaders that have taken that many reps – on-field valuable game reps – is really a great opportunity for me to step back as a coach and allow them to give those players advice and help them come along."
On if the recent offensive coordinator change at ODU changed Tech's approach defensively:
"When you're playing somebody in an opener, it's always a guessing game. They've had all spring and summer to do a million different things. So, it's kind of a guessing game. When you hear an offensive coordinator is no longer calling the plays or no longer there, it's different but it's really not that different. We are focusing on us and our base defense and the things that we do well. If this was mid-season, it would be a little more complex because you have to adjust to whoever is the new play-caller and likely changing up the scheme. But because our focus is on us and implementing our defense and doing the things that we do well, we just have to enter the game ready for about anything the opposing team can do."
Receiver Da'Wain Lofton
On where he feels like he has grown the most this offseason:
"I feel like I've grown the most just knowing the playbook and knowing more positions. And with that, I've been able to think faster and play way faster."
On describing the younger receivers and what he's seen out of them recently:
"They are showing a lot of talent that they have. They also have shown that they can handle the playbook at this level."
Running back Keshawn King
On being comfortable with the offense and getting ready for ODU:
"I feel like I've grown the most with the plays and understanding the plays and building a chemistry with my teammates. Obviously, we got a new quarterback here, so diving in with my team to understand all that is going on and focusing on the things that I can do that will better me as player, like, my endurance. I've been running a lot and focusing on that, too."
On his game and his mindset heading into the season:
"I really just want to focus on the team that we're getting ready to play and taking it one game at a time. I want to continue working hard at practice every day and making sure my craft is to perfection and focusing on the small things. With me being explosive, that comes from working hard every day."