Josh Jackson's "Really Good Camp" Propels Him Into Middle of Virginia Tech's QB Competition

Virginia Tech's quarterback battle is no longer a two-man race.

Justin Fuente opened up about the quarterback competition after the Hokies' Tuesday practice, and divulged true freshman Josh Jackson entered the fray, gaining first team reps.

"He's had a really good camp," said Fuente. "Great summer. Don't overreact to what I'm saying. I still don't know which way it's gonna go, but he's had a really good camp."

Jackson enrolled at Virginia Tech in January and participated in spring ball. The three-star Saline HS (Ann Arbor, MI) product was recruited by former offensive coordinator Scot Loeffer, and even earned a Marcus Mariota comparison from ESPN's Gerry Hamilton.

Midway through spring practice Fuente acknowledged junior JUCO transfer Jerod Evans and senior Brenden Motley "leapt ahead a little bit" in the quarterback competition. Since then it's been presumed one of the two would emerge as Tech's No. 1 QB.

However, Fuente has been encouraged with what he's seen from Jackson thus far in fall camp.

"I think he's done the three things that we've set out for those guys to do," Fuente said. "I'm not saying on a more consistent basis than anyone else. I'm just saying more consistently than he did it in the spring. In terms of valuing the football, in terms of managing the ups and downs of practice, and in terms of predicting outcomes, you know, distributing the ball to the places it's supposed to go.

"We'll see how it goes. I'm encouraged by all three and all three work hard, are good people, and want what's best for Virginia Tech."

Fuente also noted that Greg Stroman will reprise his role returning punts this season. He, Der'Woun Greene, and a few others are also receiving reps at kick returner. Special teams will be a focus of Wednesday's scrimmage.

Justin Fuente

OPENING STATEMENT:

"Before we talk about practice, I just wanna thank everybody that came out to fan day. It was a really good time. Our department did a really great job putting it on. (It was) a lot of fun to the people that care and love Virginia Tech and Virginia Tech football. I also wanna thank Jeb Burton for coming out today. It was fun to meet him and his sister. The Wood Brothers (Racing) for yesterday. It's kinda been NASCAR week here at Virginia Tech, it's been kinda fun. Wrapped up practice thirteen today. We'll do some more scrimmage work tomorrow. Particularly on special teams. Not solely special teams, but we need to get some really, really good work in there. Continue to evaluate some young guys and make sure we're sound in our schemes and our techniques."

ON RETURN GAME:

"We've got a few guys that can run, you know. (Greg) Stroman, I can't imagine a scenario where's healthy and ready to go that he's not the punt returner. We've worked (Der'woun) Greene, Stroman, and a couple other guys back there at kickoff return. That will be part of the evaluation tomorrow. Kinda see how it goes."

ON IF JACKSON IS GETTING REPS WITH THE FIRST TEAM OFFENSE:

"Sure."

ON IF HE'S PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY JACKSON:

"I don't know. I just think he shows up every day and continues to work and get better. I don't know if surprised is the right word. That's why I did leave it out there to reserve the right, because stranger things have happened. But I've been pleased that he's making progress."

ON IF TWO GUYS WILL PLAY AGAINST LIBERTY:

"I could foresee any scenario. I'm hopeful in the next week that maybe I can see more clearly potential scenarios. We still have a lot of evaluation left and work to do."

ON OFFENSIVE INSTALLATION THROUGH CAMP:

"It's been good. I think the retention level coming into fall camp was good. Would continue to build on that. I think at times, we as a staff have to be careful about overloading the guys. Continuing to make sure we don't play the Virginia Tech defense this year on offense and the Virginia Tech defense doesn't play the Virginia Tech offense this year. Both sides have done a good job, in my opinion, of keeping that in mind in terms of making sure we're still teaching the fundamentals and techniques that we're gonna use during this season as opposed to just trying to get the better of the other side. We're still, on both sides really, laying the foundation for hopefully the tools and the skills and the schemes we'll need as you go through an entire season."

ON HOW HIS OPINION OF TRAVON MCMILLIAN HAS CHANGED:

"Well I would just say, I didn't have a poor opinion of him. I like the kid, he's worked incredibly hard. He's a great kid to be around. I enjoy every day with him. I just think he has more confidence in what he's doing, which you can certainly understand. He was a freshman last year and had a good season and then has to relearn everything that he's doing out there. On one hand, you can kind of understand why he may be a little bit, timid's not the right word, but just a little bit, a step slower or less confident than he was at the end of last season. But I think he's regaining those things. I think he's getting more confidence in what he's doing and how he's doing it."

ON MARSHAWN WILLIAMS:

"At times, flashes of a really good, powerful, inside runner. He's certainly got a chance to help this team. Everyday, he seems to do something that's better than the day before."

ON DIFFERENCE IN RELEVANCE OF FOOTBALL AT VIRGINIA TECH COMPARED TO HIS PREVIOUS COACHING STOPS:

"Certainly. I think (the fans love of football is) part of the attraction to Virginia Tech for student-athletes and for coaches. It's a place that (has) always tried to do things the right way, but values the football program. I think (it) also keeps that in perspective in terms of not over-valuing what we're here for, which is to help develop young people. But, yeah, it's neat to be a part of something bigger than yourself that's important to other people. So, absolutely, is the answer to that question."

ON IF IT WAS STRUGGLE TO GET ATTENTION AT MEMPHIS:

"Well we had a lot of coverage, good and bad. People noticed it, we just wanted to be noticed for the right reasons. We had a steady, loyal, fanbase that had been through some really, really tough times. Really wanted to, I felt like the neat part of that was they, in my opinion, they really rewarded steps in the right direction. Baby steps. They really felt like showing some confidence in forward movement. They told you good job even though it may have been a 4-8 season. And then the people came back as we began to get bigger, better, excuse me. There was a good core group of people there, and it obviously grew. Which was fun. It was rewarding."

ON IF FAN DAY GAVE HIM A BETTER SENSE OF EXPECTATIONS FROM THE FAN BASE:

"Oh yeah, but I get that quite a bit anyways. I don't have to go to fan day to know that they want us to win."

ON WHEN HE WILL DIFFERENTIATE CAMP MODE FROM SEASON MODE PRACTICE:

"We'll go all the way through this week. Obviously school starts next week. We will not practice on Sunday or Monday, Monday is the first day of school. And then we will go Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, kinda mix and match. Kinda little bit of good vs. good and some scout work. Friday and Saturday, we'll go through our mock weekend. We'll go through a dress rehearsal of everything we do from Thursday, Friday, and then ultimately game day. Which is little bit easier on their legs and their bodies, we don't wear pads and that sort of stuff. It's more of a mental deal. We'll go to our Friday night meetings and all that sort of that stuff. A true dress rehearsal. And then Sunday evening we'll practice and it'll be full-blown for the first game of the year."

ON HOW FAR AHEAD THEY HAVE SCOUTED OPPONENTS:

"For the summer time, it depends on how the, it's different every year. Sometimes it's three games, sometimes it's four games. It depends on when their off week is and all that sort of stuff. For us, we looked at the first four weeks."