Fuente and Foster Discuss Hokies' Depth Chart Intricacies, Announce Special Honor for Frank Beamer

Virginia Tech released its first depth chart of the 2016 football season Monday, and there were some unexpected shifts in the Hokies' two-deep.

After a breakout redshirt freshman season in which he rushed for 1,043 yards (5.2 YPC) and 7 touchdowns, running back Travon McMillian is No. 2 behind fan-favorite Sam Rogers. Rogers, a noted former walk-on, is no stranger to carrying the ball, however, often lining up at multiple positions (fullback, H-Back, running back) over the last two seasons.

"Well, Sam was a guy that, even before I knew him, other people fed me information on him," Justin Fuente said. "You see why. He's a fantastic player, he's a great worker, he's highly intelligent. Very trustworthy and has talent, too. It's not just the story of the try-hard guy. He's a try-hard guy that has talent as well."

"Incredibly versatile," Fuente continued. "I knew that, at least someone had told, and I talked to Sam recently about it, that he was a walk-on, but not a walk-on for very long. I guess it didn't take Coach Beamer and his staff very long to realize that he's pretty special. He certainly is. He wants to do what's best for the team. Whatever he's asked to do, he's gonna do it to the best of his ability on a consistent basis. Excited to have him here, grateful to have him here. Optimistic he's gonna have a good season."

Bucky Hodges, the talented quarterback-turned-tight end, is now listed as a starting wide receiver. Chris Cunningham and Xavier Burke, a pair of redshirt freshman, are poised to get the reps at tight end this fall.

"The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Chris (Cunningham) is development," Fuente said. "In the nine months that I've known him is how productive his summer was in terms of continuing to change his body. We don't have a roster riddled with 'true' tight end guys. Obviously Bucky (Hodges) can move in there, do some things in there. Bucky's a little bit different in terms of playing on the line of scrimmage and that sort of stuff. (Cunningham's) not huge but he is a guy that can move around a little bit, play the tight end/H-Back role, on or off the line of scrimmage. He's made big strides, he's got a lot of work to continue to do."

Although, Fuente cautioned at reading too much into skill positions ordering on the depth chart.

"We'll see how it all goes, but what I would say is, 'It's all personnel group oriented.'," Fuente said. "So it's certain personnel groups. Sam may be in there, Travon may not be, in certain situations it may be flipped. When you release a depth chart, you guys take it all with a grain of salt, particularly offensively, like we talked about last week, even defensively a little bit now, the way things go. You could put a depth chart of every given personnel group up there and say you have a whole bunch of starters. I wouldn't read too much into it, I wouldn't take it to be an indication that Travon might not be carrying the ball."

However, Fuente reiterated his stance that the inexperienced Colt Pettit is outperforming Wyatt Teller, who is arguably Tech's best o-lineman. Teller's current second-team status reflects that position.

"Colt (Pettit's) playing better," Fuente said. "That doesn't mean things can't change or won't change. It's just how it is right now."

On the defensive side of the ball, the only real curveball on the depth chart was Mook Reynolds getting the nod at the whip position. Bud Foster noted that there were a couple factors at play when it came to making that decision. Redshirt junior Anthony Shegog has been in and out of practice this fall with a shin injury, and that opened the door for Reynolds to battle for the spot.

It seemed the larger reasoning for Foster to make the switch was the versatility of having Reynolds as an every-down player, whether that is at whip or at the nickel spot.

"I like Mook where he is right now," Foster said. "He can be versatile as a whip and as a nickel. I think as we move forward, with certain personnel groupings, I think you'll see Anthony in more in 21 or 12 personnel, multiple tight ends, or multiple back looks. But Mook, right now, gives us that versatility to be able to do both. So I think sometimes that's a positive for us from the standpoint that we're not sending up a red flag when we're getting in our nickel package or doing things of that nature where sometimes that happens when you start substituting packages and that type of things and then offense now, they have a plan and an idea of how they wanna attack you with certain personnel groups.

"I think that's one area, if we can get a guy that's an all-time guy, I think that's a plus for us. Mook shows some toughness and he's shown some ability to cover and do some things. I like where he's at and his playmaking abilities. He showed some of those signs last year in some games. I'm looking forward to big things from him."

Honoring A Legend

Fuente announced on Monday that after conversations with AD Whit Babcock and others inside the Virginia Tech program, the team will begin a new tradition of having a 'special teams player of the week' wear the No. 25 jersey that Frank Beamer wore during his playing days with the Hokies.

"One of the defining characteristics of (Frank Beamer's) teams were fantastic special teams play," Fuente said. "I announced this to the team yesterday. I do not know who's gonna wear it this week, before you even ask. It's something that I think shows great pride in the past and pays tribute to the way (football) has been played around here for some time. Something our kids will be excited about. Excited to announce that."

Fuente did note that he expects to tell the team of the decision at the weekly Thursday practice.

Foster was all smiles when he brought up the tribute.

"I think when Coach Fuente brought that up, thrilled for Coach (Beamer) and thrilled for, it makes a statement about what we've done here," Foster said. "But also with Coach Fuente building, he's told you that he wants to build on what we've done in the past and with some traditions and his twist and everything. Obviously special teams and BeamerBall was a big, big part of our success. I can tell you right now, that's not gonna change. As far as what we, our approach is to a football game, special teams is a third of the game and it's a big, big part. I think that makes a statement about the direction and the emphasis we want on that phase of the game by placing that jersey number, plus it recognizes one of the all-time great coaches and players here at Virginia Tech."

Although Rogers did not reveal which/if any special teams units he was on, he certainly has his eyes set on representing Beamer with the No. 25.

"I'd love to wear that jersey," Rogers said. "I'll be fighting to play on any special teams I can."

Justin Fuente

OPENING STATEMENT:

"Thank y'all for coming out. Obviously we are excited for game week. Happy to get through mock-game weekend which is sometimes a logistical, not nightmare, but logistically draining sometimes. There a a lot of little things that go into planning a game, obviously. Our kids did a good handling that. Like I said earlier, it's been a little more mental focus, a little less physical exertion. They did a good job all around. (We've) got a good challenge this week. Followed Coach Gill and his career for sometime, his various stops. They're a talented team, they've got good players on both sides of the ball. Playing a program that has had very good success in the last couple years. (An) athletic quarterback. Sound, physical defense."

"Before we get into all the things that come with that, questions y'all have. Got one quick announcement that I wanna make, awfully excited about. Months ago, I had a meeting with John Ballein to discuss ways that we could pay tribute to Coach Beamer and his time here throughout the season. Through some more meetings with Whit (Babcock), his team, and our coaches, we did come to this conclusion that we're gonna have one player wear No. 25, a special teams player, each week as an honor to that player. Obviously that was Coach (Beamer's) number when he played here. One of the defining characteristics of his teams were fantastic special teams play. I announced this to the team yesterday. I do not know who's gonna wear it this week, before you even ask. It's something that I think shows great pride in the past and pays tribute to the way (football) has been played around here for some time. Something our kids will be excited about. Excited to announce that. We still has have a few things to work through in terms of when we release that, to make sure that we are in line with all the rules in terms of the roster. It's certainly not meant to be deceitful towards the team and who's playing and all that sort of stuff. It looks like probably Thursday will be the day that we tell the team. Excited about that small thing and obviously kicking off the season."

ON GREG STROMAN AS RETURN MAN:

"Obviously Greg has been really productive as a punt returner. Optimistic he can continue to make good decisions back there. The first goal of the return team is to make sure they have the ball at the end of that play. It always makes you feel a little better when you've got a guy back there that's done it in games. It takes real courage to catch punts in the ACC or in college football anywhere. It's good to have him Greg returning there. We've worked several people back there, C.J. (Carroll's) done a good job as well. Kickoff return situation with Greg and Greene back there. Greene did it quite a bit last year. Optimistic that both of those guys will be trustworthy guys that will have a chance to help us in that area. Quite often, most of our time is spent with the other 10 guys on the field, in terms of making sure we are blocking, not making foolish penalties, getting good leverage and using good technique. If we can surround those guys with ten other guys who take pride in the success of those units, then we will have a chance at some success"

ON LEVELS OF ANXIETY FOR SEASON OPENER:

"Oh sure. For me, it's two-fold. One, it's logistics of everything that goes into it. I always feel better after mock-game. I don't particularly like mock-game just because it's a lot of logistical work to make sure everything is pointed in the right direction. But I always feel better after we've done it all once together. Everybody knows the way that I'd like for it to be done. So you feel good about that part of it. The first game is always, kind of like we alluded to earlier in the week, if you watch the Cal-Hawaii game, you watch the mistakes that are made that cause large chunks of yards, whether it's special teams, offense, or defense. Those are the things you try to the nth degree to make sure you cover. And then you combine it with the fact that it is a new team in terms of, it's one thing to go play the season opener, it's another thing to play the season opener with a new coach. There's no substitute for being on the sideline with your team and seeing how they respond and react to adversity and the good and bad that comes with the games. There's a little bit of anxiousness with that, I'm optimistic and I'm excited to go through those emotions with the team and help them kind of tunnel those emotions and that focus to try and win ballgames."

ON THE LIBERTY DEFENSE:

"They're a four down team that is not afraid to pressure. They're incredibly sound in all of their schemes. That's the thing that jumps out at you. When you start to watch film and start to look at them, they can run on the back end. They've got a couple guys that can rush the passer. Very athletic defense that is obviously well coached. They don't turn guys loose or bust coverages. They are well schooled."

ON DIVINE DIABLO AND JAYLEN BRADSHAW:

"At times they've looked good. At times they've looked young and inexperienced. I like the way they've gone about their work. They continue to try and improve. There's a lot to this in terms of playing wide out. A lot more than just running a post route and catching a ball, in terms of leverages and blocking and playing on the perimeter. Those guys are learning those things. Obviously Divine's a true freshman that graduated early. Both kids that this is important to, that have worked hard to give themselves a chance. I think they've both embraced the fact that there's a competition here behind those top tier guys. There's no proven, really anybody, behind those top tier guys. Those guys have done a good job of being the most consistent."

ON SAM ROGERS AHEAD OF TRAVON MCMILLIAN:

"We'll see how it all goes, but what I would say is, 'It's all personnel group oriented.' So it's certain personnel groups. Sam may be in there, Travon may not be, in certain situations it may be flipped. When you release a depth chart, you guys take it all with a grain of salt, particularly offensively, like we talked about last week, even defensively a little bit now, the way things go. You could put a depth chart of every given personnel group up there and say you have a whole bunch of starters. I wouldn't read too much into it, I wouldn't take it to be an indication that Travon might not be carrying the ball."

Bud Foster

OPENING STATEMENT:

"It was pretty cool to the guys who have been here a while, it was pretty neat to, Coach Fuente's honor of Coach Beamer. The way he is, particularly being around here as long as I've been, knowing Coach Beamer, he'd be thrilled by that recognition. Somebody wearing that jersey, I think that makes a big statement to kind of tie in the old with the new, and thus keeping with the tradition of being dynamic on special teams. That's a pretty big deal."

ON THE LIBERTY OFFENSE:

"Obviously we practice against an up-tempo style offense, no huddle. It's gonna be, I'm gonna be curious to see what they do. I know they changed coordinators, but they've got a lot of the same pieces back. Are they gonna change their scheme? They still do a lot of the same things we do. There's gonna be a different style quarterback though, with No. 3, (Stephon Masha), he's more of an athletic, can run the ball, dynamic guy with the ball in his hands. They had a quarterback last year who was more of a guy, throwing the ball was his strength. This kid can do a little bit of both. That's where the challenge is gonna be. How are they going to set their offense up to run the quarterback. That's something that they're going to do. What we prepare for, we prepare for a season, just with our offense. Our offense gives you several guys, you just talked with Coach Fu about personnel groups, we've seen every personnel grouping possible. Going on what we've broke down in their personnel from last year, they run every personnel group. I'm sure that's not gonna change. It's just going to be the tempo that's gonna change. I've got a lot of respect for what they do. Turner's(Gill) done a really good job there. That place, they're putting a lot of money into it. They're able to attract some good, quality players. I think the quarterback is gonna be a guy that can be a threat for them. Their tailback is a solid kid that played last year. I think, really, the real strength of their team offensively is their skill kids. In particular their receiving corps. They've got 8 of their top 10 from last year back. I think 5 of their top 7 are playmakers. No. 1 (Zac Parker) is a very explosive, dynamic guy. No. 7 (Damian King) is another guy that can do some things. No. 82 (B.J. Farrow) and No. 85 (Kyle Carrington), those are all guys that are smaller, quick guys. I've really been impressed by the explosiveness and the ability they have. Anytime you have skill kids, I don't care what level you're playing, that gives you a chance and there's some danger there. Those guys have some experience at that spot."

ON TYREE RODGERS AND SOME OTHERS THAT MAY PLAY AS FRESHMEN:

"Tyree's a guy that's, I've really been pleased with. Is he ready to play yet on a consistent basis? I'm not sure, but like where he will be in a few weeks. I think the guy who is not on the depth chart, the guy that I've been pleased with and I think is gonna be a really good football player is Tavante Beckett. He's a guy that will play as a true freshman. There will be some guys in the kicking games. Emmanuel Belmar will probably play in some kicking games. Jovonn Quillen may be a guy that can play some of the kicking games. Reggie Floyd is gonna be a guy that's going to figure in. I really think he's got a great, great future. All of those guys that I just mentioned, they can really help in the future. We just need some guys to step up in some spots, in particular special teams, and bring some guys along. I do like Tyree, I feel like Tavante is a guy that has a chance to play right away, even just on defense for us. So I'm excited about their future."

ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH TENNESSEE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR BOB SHOOP:

"I've known him for, probably a number of years. We visited with those guys when they were at Vanderbilt, when their staff was at Vanderbilt. Brent Pry, now the defensive coordinator at Penn State, was the co- coordinator and assistant head coach at Vanderbilt. Brent was my GA for a number of years, years ago. So we went by there and visit just to talk about their 30 package, third down package and that type of thing. Got a lot of respect for Bob. He's very good at what he does. Very cerebral guy. His brother was the offensive coordinator at North Carolina for a little while. Then John (Shoop) was at Purdue last year. Really good football family when it's all said and done. He's a good football coach."

ON SEEING NEW FACES ON THE SIDELINE WITH THE NEW STAFF:

"Just from the whole weekend, it was interesting. We did a whole mock weekend. We went over every detail. After being here for, this being year number thirty, we did things that we carried over from Murray State to Virginia Tech. It's interesting and neat. Change is good. We went over every little detail. It's new, but it's exciting. I'm really looking forward to the next chapter. I'm anxious to get started as a staff. We've talked, transition has been extremely smooth. I really think that we have a lot of dynamic guys as football coaches. We have a lot of good people that carry over with what we have done here before, as far as family first. We'll see the big picture down the road. I'm anxious to get started. This will be the first time the we play a true game together. I think I've mentioned before, you can simulate as much as you want, but until the lights come on, so to speak, playing under the lights is good for you. Not just the players, it's going to be good for us. I'm anxious to get started."

ON SETH DOOLEY:

"I'm hoping Seth will continue to grow and develop. I think with his shoulder surgery, he started a little slow. Slower than I wanted him to, to be honest with you, this fall. I thought he's picked it up the last week-to-ten days. We need for him to step up at that spot. He's a guy that has some abilities and has some length and size and experience. I'm ready for him to take the next step. We need for him to take that next step. To be a guy who's going to be a playmaker and play for us and do some dynamic things."

ON GREG STROMAN ON DEFENSE:

"Greg's just been very workmanlike in his approach to everything. He's a guy that's solid, dependable. I thought he had an outstanding spring. He had an outstanding camp. He's the guy who's going against Bucky Hodges and Cam Phillips and Isaiah (Ford) everyday. In my opinion, those guys are outstanding, dynamic football players. He's doing a great job competing with those guys. I really trust him. He's improved leaps and bounds at corner. I'm excited about what he's gonna bring to the table defensively. He's not always been the biggest guys, but he's worked at being a bigger corner and being a bigger, physical guy. Obviously in the kick game, the guy is dynamic. He has great potential. I think with what we're gonna do in the kicking game, I think he's a guy that can make his mark as he did in the bowl game and several games last year. I think he's a guy that's gonna be a factor in our success."