Hokies To Watch This Fall Camp

As camp starts today, we're waiting for so many questions to be answered. This year seems so different, doesn't it? Last year's camp had one of the most celebrated Virginia Tech players of all time leading our offense. We had the utmost confidence in our 1,600+ yard running back. We had John Graves, who was the latest installment of Bud Foster's defense personified. Those are the kind of guys that had you feeling at ease when you thought about leadership and production.

The next generation of those cornerstones are taking the field today, and we have a pretty good idea of who they are, but it's not 100%. Nothing is 100% right now.

And that's why today is so exciting. Logan Thomas takes over as QB1. David Wilson takes control of the backfield. Jayron Hosely is going to show us how agile he is on ESPN Sports Science.

But, again, there are so many questions to be answered the next 30 days.

Here are some Hokies we should be keeping an eye on this month, as their development could pay big dividends this fall:

Vinston Painter: It's time for the big fella to put up. The silver lining, if you can call it that, to Blake DeChristopher getting sidelined with a somewhat-minor injury is that the offensive line depth will get more quality reps. The buzz has been that Michael Via can step in and get really meaningful experience in August. While that's excellent news, it's a critical time for Mr. Painter. If one of the biggest and strongest members of the team emerges as a reliable blocker this camp, we should all feel a little better about our offense. If it's going to happen, it would be great if it happened now. Thankfully, hiss development isn't make-or-break this season, but I'm pulling for him in a big way.

Jeron Gouveia-Winsow: First off, as The Key Play astutely pointed out, JGW is up 10 pounds. That has to be a good thing. JGW43 took a shellacking at times in his first full season on the field, and just about all of it was warranted (see below). But he improved as the season went along, and showed progress in the spring. I wouldn't be surprised to see JGW even more developed this fall and someone we can rely on come Sept. 3. Now, if he's stuck in neutral, this is obviously a huge problem. I don't doubt he'll be under close watch, but I'm optimistic. Something tells me his career is going to be a lot like James Anderson (listed at 6'2, 222 as a rJr.), which I have no problem with and neither should you.

Josh Oglesby: Josh has had to wait very patiently for his share of carries. And now he's a senior who will get his shot this fall. Even though David Wilson can scale Cassell Coliseum and do 437 backflips on top of it all while eating a guinea fowl, young Shane Beamer needs a reliable and highly productive second running back. Josh has not been quiet about his desire to contribute, so I'm expecting him to break out this camp and have us all saying "Man, I wish we would have gotten this guy the rock more years ago."

Logan Thomas: Not sure I can write anything here that hasn't already been said. He obviously needs to be very, very good.

Randall Dunn and Eric Martin: Chris Drager, the other white meat, is going to do his thing at tight end this fall - I'm not worried about that. But Tech needs Dunn and Martin to really inspire Stinespring so we aren't all worried about the tight end position. Dunn is down to 228 pounds, so he better be running seam routes all day. Honestly, this is a position everyone needs to be watching this camp because 13 and 86 are needed in a big way this fall. Let's hope they break out.

Duan Perez-Means and Zack McCray: Even though something tells me James Gayle can play every snap, at both defensive end positions, the Hokies need more ends. J.R. Collins is slimmed down and will thrive as a starter, but proven talent ends with them. really. DPM and Zack are both big guys who are coming off a redshirt year. Considering neither has taken a snap in a college football game, this fall is extremely critical. It would be nice if both were impact players now, but if we could fine one very serious DE from that pair for fall, I could live with that. Both are playing regardless and both need to be ready to contribute.

Tariq Edwards: If I had to make a prediction for this camp, it's that Tariq Edwards will be the guy that turns the most heads. If the linebackers are a group the defense relies on this fall, it's because Edwards elevated his game and is wrecking shop with Bruce Taylor.

I'll end there for now. Because it seems to be this year's motto for football's return, I'll leave you with this: