Author: Ricky LaBlue

Alright folks, it’s Monday. Yes, that means you have to go back to work, but it also means you get to ready my Monday Mail. Not a fair trade, but it’s all I’ve got for you.

Before we get into the mail, Virginia Tech earned a commitment on Sunday from Tayvion Robinson. The 5-foot-10 and 165-pound athlete from Virginia Beach, Va. is rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals and as a three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN. Robinson is the 11th member of Virginia Tech’s 2019 class and is the fifth Tech commit from Virginia.

Robinson isn’t a headliner for the class, but the coaching staff is ecstatic about him. He’s a great fit for Virginia Tech’s offense and several Power 5 programs had their eye on Robinson. This is a solid pickup for Virginia Tech and it’s a continuing of the Hokies’ recent recruiting boost.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s Monday Mail.

How best to utilize the new RS / Transfer riles?

— Kris Olin (@kristopherolin) June 18, 2018

I addressed this not too long ago, but I think this rule change is being overlooked. This is a monumental change for college football and it will alter how coaches recruit and manage their teams.

The best way to utilize this change seems to be getting freshmen playing time in situations when the game’s result is no longer in question. Up four scores vs. Old Dominion early in the season? Play some of the freshmen who might not be ready to contribute vs. the ACC. Dealing with a group of beat up running backs and trying to run the clock out? No worries, just insert Caleb Steward or Cole Beck for a series.

The change will also allow coaches to replenish their special teams ranks late in the season, as guys get dinged up more and more. Instead of trotting guys out there who need a break, throw in some of the freshmen who are healthy and need game experience.

All in all, this is a terrific rule change. It helps coaches play more guys while also making freshmen feel like they’re making an impact early in their careers.

Who wins a national championship first – football or men’s basketball?

— Treadmill Horse (@treadmillhorse) June 23, 2018

This question is being asked more and more as Buzz Williams elevates the Virginia Tech men’s basketball program. I think the true answer might be another sport at Virginia Tech, but I’ll stick to this specific question.

There’s an argument to be made on both sides. On one hand, the same 10-15 football teams win the national title every season and unless you’re in that group, your chances are slim to none of winning.

On the other hand, the men’s basketball tournament is such a crapshoot that even if you’re a good team, the chances are you being upset in the early rounds are higher than ever. (See: UMBC vs. Virginia)

But for as much perceived parity as there is in college basketball, the same few teams win the national title each season. Here’s a list of the last 10 NCAA Tournament winners…

2018: Villanova

2017: North Carolina

2016: Villanova

2015: Duke

2014: Connecticut

2013: Louisville

2012: Kentucky

2011: Connecticut

2010: Duke

2009: North Carolina

See any non-blueblood programs there? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

I still believe Virginia Tech football has a greater chance of winning a national title before Virginia Tech men’s basketball. The program recruits better and has a better coaching staff that’s more likely to stick around. If Virginia Tech can catch Clemson and Miami on a down year, it’s realistic that a College Football Playoff berth is possible.

Who are your starting linebackers for the Hokies vs FSU?

— Mark Turner (@mytvt3) June 24, 2018

I’ll be shocked if Rayshard Ashby and Dylan Rivers aren’t starting at linebacker vs. Florida State. Rivers has been the heir apparent to Tremaine Edmunds since he signed as a member of the Class of 2017. He’s a former four-star prospect and came into his own this spring.

Ashby will be the starting mike linebacker by default. There simply isn’t anyone who’s ready to challenge him yet. Rico Kearney redshirted last season and Dax Hollifield just arrived on campus this month. Bud Foster doesn’t start true freshmen at linebacker and for good reason. Willie Taggart is a brilliant offensive mind and will surely have some tricks up his sleeve on Sept. 3. Those tricks are more likely to work against a guy making his career debut.

Who is third best Hokie all time if Bruce Smith & Mike Vick # 1 & 2 in what order you want to put them ? #Hokie

— T-Bone (@hallberg8147) June 25, 2018

This is an interesting question. I’m a pretty young guy, so forgive me if I undervalue some of the older Hokies.

For me, this is a two-man discussion between Corey Moore and Tyrod Taylor. Both were legendary and transformative players that helped lead their teams to great achievements.

Moore was the linchpin in Virginia Tech’s 1999 defense, winning both the Lombardi Award and the Nagurski Trophy. Moore was named an All-American and won consecutive Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1998 and 1999.

Moore was the heart and soul of that defense and gave quite the entertaining interview at the National Championship Game is New Orleans. Spoiler — he doesn’t like it all that much.

Taylor would be the most dynamic player in Virginia Tech history if it weren’t for Michael Vick. Taylor’s numbers are better in every imaginable way, but much of that is due to modern offenses. Taylor was exciting to watch in his four years in Blacksburg and though Virginia Tech couldn’t get over the ump while he was there, Tech fans will be forever thankful.

I think Moore has a slight edge here. Moore was arguably the best defensive player in the country as a senior and pushed Virginia Tech towards a National Championship Game appearance. Moore’s jersey is already retired and if Tech is smart, Taylor’s jersey will be retired in the near future.

As for Bruce Smith and Michael Vick, Vick is No. 1. Bruce Smith turned into the better NFL player, but Vick was the best and most consequential Virginia Tech player of all time.

Let us harken back to May 18, when Devyn Ford announced his commitment to Penn State.

Virginia Tech fans were disappointed and rightly so. The Hokies pursued Ford for several years and were still spurned for an out-of-state power. The explosive talent that Virginia Tech needed in the backfield eluded them once again.

But since then, Virginia Tech has rebounded nicely on the recruiting trail. Four Class of 2019 prospects have committed to Tech since Ford’s decision, helping to boost the Hokies’ rep.

Cam’Ron Kelly kicked things off on June 7, shocking the recruiting world by picking Virginia Tech over Penn State and Clemson. Kelly is a consensus four-star prospect from Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Va. and has quite the offer list. Kelly holds 41 scholarship offers, most of which are from Power 5 programs. The fact that Tech beat out Penn State and Clemson is impressive.

Kelly is an athlete but the 6-foot-1, 190-pound prospect is expected to play defensive back. Given Virginia Tech’s issues at cornerback, the Hokies could use some talent there.

Jaden Payoute was the next to join the Justin Fuente Faction. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound athlete was a late riser in the recruiting rankings, cracking the Virginia top-10 on the 247Sports Composite just this month. Payoute’s offer list is far less impressive than Kelly’s, but Boston College, Illinois, Pittsburgh and Tennessee all pulled the trigger. Payoute is rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN, so he’s scrub.

Virginia Tech’s next two commitments became public in the last week. Defensive lineman Norell Pollard and tight end Nick Gallo announced their commitments to Virginia Tech on Monday and Tuesday, bringing Tech’s Class of 2019 to 10 members. Pollard, a 6-foot-1 and 260-pound prospect from Apopka, Fla., will add some beef on the interior where they desperately need it. Gallo, the younger brother of former Tech offensive lineman Eric Gallo, holds 12 Power 5 offers while Pollard owns 17 Power 5 offers.

Sure, none of these prospects are five-star players or dynamic running back talents. However, all of these recruits are more than talented enough to make an impact in Blacksburg. It’s been quite the rebound for the Hokies since things came crashing down last month.

247Sports agrees. Virginia Tech’s Class of 2019 only ranks 29th in the country but eight of the teams ahead of them have a lower average rating per prospect. Tech’s class will be smaller than most, which will prevent them from climbing much higher, but each prospect that they’re adding has plenty of qualities to be excited about.

Virginia Tech’s Class of 2019 won’t be as good as some had hoped. But so far, it’s shaping up pretty darn well. And with targets like Tayvion Robinson and Adarious Jones still uncommitted, there’s plenty of room to grow.

Thanks for reading folks. This is my first time ever holding a mailbag for my followers and I couldn’t be more excited. You all know how often I interact with you on Twitter and answering your questions each week gives me another opportunity to talk with you guys. Without further introduction, let’s see what you guys are thinking about this week.

How does the defensive line look like this year #Hokies

— Eric Barnes (@ericcbarnes) June 17, 2018

The starting four of Virginia Tech’s defensive line should be solid. Trevon Hill, Vinny Mihota and Ricky Walker all return to the starting lineup in 2018, with Mihota moving inside to defensive tackle. The trio combined for 25.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks last season, so the group should produce. Mihota and Walker with both be seniors, while Hill will be a redshirt junior.

Even the new guy, Houshun Gaines, is an experienced player who produced off the bench last season. Gaines racked up seven tackles for loss and three sacks in 2017 and is entering his fourth year in the program. Virginia Tech’s starting group has the chance to be quite good.

As was the problem last season, Virginia Tech’s lack of depth at end and tackle could be an issue. On the edge, Virginia Tech will be relying on redshirt sophomore Emmanuel Belmar and redshirt freshmen Zion DeBose, TyJuan Garbutt and Nathan Proctor. Belmar does have some experience after playing in 10 games in 2017, but he’s far from a seasoned guy. DeBose, Garbutt and Proctor will all be playing their first season of college football.

The real problem lies on the interior. Virginia Tech’s third defensive tackle at the moment is Jarrod Hewitt, a redshirt sophomore with zero career sacks. Hewitt also played in 10 games last season, but as the season wore on the Hokies began to play Walker and Tim Settle almost exclusively. Behind Hewitt, Xavier Burke, Jimmie Taylor and Darius Fullwood will try to make their first impact of their careers.

The X-factor of this group is Cam Goode. The 6-foot, 317-pound freshman didn’t arrive in Blacksburg until this summer but given the Hokies’ lack of depth, Goode could play right away. He’ll certainly see the field, given the NCAA’s new redshirt rule, but how much will he see the field?

If JJ is dismissed or suspended and the team does not gel with Willis as the starter (from a leadership standpoint) between HH and QP who can get the job done in Doak

— Trevor Mays (@TrevorMays5) June 17, 2018

If this situation were to unfold, which I find rather unlikely, Hendon Hooker would start at quarterback vs. Florida State. Hooker would be the most experienced player on the roster and would likely be the only player prepared to run the offense.

If Josh Jackson is indeed unable to play this season, there’s a 99 percent chance that Willis would take over the starting role. Despite his inconsistent play in practice, Willis would give the Hokies their best chance to win. The players wouldn’t want anything else.

I think something else needs to be addressed — Quincy Patterson is not ready to start at quarterback. I know fans are uber excited about the stellar prospect,but people have to be patient. Patterson is as smart as they come, but he played in a very basic offense in high school and is a raw passer. As talented as Patterson is, he needs time to develop. Throw him into the fire too early, and you might spoil the whole dish.

Whats your opinion of recruiting do you think coach nix could help us get a couple more higher rated recruits or do you think its as good as its going to gey

— Dale Kizer (@dkizer5) June 17, 2018

For those who missed the news, Virginia Tech hired Tyrone Nix to take over as safeties coach. Nix has plenty of experience as a college coach, though very little working with defensive backs. Nix coached at Southern Miss from 1995-2004, working with the defensive tackles, outside linebackers, safeties and inside linebackers. Nix was hired by South Carolina in 2005 and served as co-defensive coordinator there for four seasons before leaving for Ole Miss’ defensive coordinator position.

Nix worked as the Rebel’s defensive coordinator from 2008-2011 and moved on to Middle Tennessee in 2012. Last season, Nix served as a senior analyst for Texas A&M.

Given the situation, I think Justin Fuente hired the best and most realistic option. Nix is well-versed as a coach and even though the overwhelming majority of his experience is with linebackers, Nix can realistically coach any position group on defense.

In terms of recruiting, we’ll find out if Nix can get it done. He’s got plenty of experience recruiting in the SEC, which isn’t a bad thing. But fans should give him a chance, and also understand that Virginia Tech doesn’t have the budget to hire any coach in the country that they want.

Do you think Adonis Alexander realistically has a future in the NFL?

— JeannieBarton (@jeanniebarton88) June 18, 2018

If Adonis Alexander is able to put his off-the-field issues behind him, he certainly has a chance to play in the NFL. He has the prototypical size to cover anyone in the league and if a coach takes the time to work with him, he’ll develop as a player. Alexander never reached his ceiling at Virginia Tech, partly due to his own mistakes, but he could get another chance in the NFL.

History doesn’t bode well for Alexander, in terms of being drafted. Just five players have been selected in the NFL Supplemental Draft since the start of the decade, with the last selection coming in 2015. None of these five players have had long and successful careers, even though Cleveland’s Josh Gordon certainly has the talent to do so.

Alexander will hold his pro day at Virginia Tech on Wed., June 20. Alexander’s agent, Andy Ross, says that Alexander will be meeting with teams prior to his workout and after, which shows teams are interested in the former Virginia Tech corner. The supplemental draft is expected to take place in July.

Few players in recent Virginia Tech memory have shown as much promise as a freshman as Adonis Alexander did in 2015.

Alexander made mistakes, sure, but he looked like a potential star at free safety. His four interceptions and six pass breakups made him a bright spot in Virginia Tech’s secondary. There was little doubt that by Alexander’s senior season, he would be the bedrock of Tech’s defensive backfield.

Fast forward to now, and he isn’t even on the team. Virginia Tech announced on Friday that Adonis Alexander is “no longer participating in team-related activities related to the Virginia Tech football program.”

“We wish Adonis the very best as he determines the next steps he wishes to pursue,” said head coach Justin Fuente in a written statement.

Later on Friday, Alexander released a statement through his new agent, Andy Ross, taking responsibility and announcing his decision to apply for the NFL supplemental draft.

“After last season, my family and I received positive feedback from the NFL, but I decided to return to Virginia Tech to make a run at the National Championship with my brothers. Unfortunately, I have been ruled academically ineligible for the upcoming season and have therefore decided to apply for the NFL’s Supplemental Draft.

“I take full responsibility for not taking care of my business in the classroom. I will use this tough lesson as motivation to get better and learn from my mistakes as I become a professional. I appreciate all the support VT’s coaches and athletic department have given to me during my time on campus. Thank you all again! Hokie for life!”

The news came along with the confirmation that JUCO transfer Jeremy Webb will miss the entire 2018 season due to a left Achilles injury. Virginia Tech is now in dire straits at cornerback and the Hokies’ most experienced option is no longer on the team.

Alexander’s departure from the team shouldn’t be surprising. In fact, we all should have seen this coming. Alexander’s career has been filled with missteps and mistakes, all of which have culminated in the end of his Virginia Tech career.

Doubt began to sink in when Alexander was suspended indefinitely after being charged with marijuana possession just days after the Hokies’ spring game in 2016.  Alexander, as well as defensive end Houshun Gaines, were both reinstated to the team in July 2016 but suspended for the Hokies’ opener vs. Liberty.

Alexander’s second faux pas came at the beginning of the 2017 season, when Alexander was unofficially suspended for Virginia Tech’s games vs. East Carolina and Old Dominion.

“We will continue to uphold the exemplary standards of Virginia Tech football,” Fuente said in a statement. “Integrity, trust and teamwork remain the foundation of this program and that will not change. Adonis has not lived up to our expectations at Virginia Tech. He will continue practicing and participating in team activities. Our staff will continue to monitor his progress and evaluate his progress going forward.”

Alexander returned for the Hokies’ showdown vs. Clemson but never broke into the starting lineup. Alexander battled a nagging injury later in the year and entering this past spring, Alexander was hoping to find his footing once again. Virginia Tech desperately needed him to rebound, given the Hokies’ lack of depth at cornerback.

Instead, Alexander missed Virginia Tech’s spring game. Fuente announced the news just days prior, citing an injury and academic issues.

“Adonis has got — he’s a little nicked up and then working on school,” Fuente said.

Behind the scenes, there were serious concerns about Alexander’s academic standing. Even if he got himself healthy, would Alexander be eligible for the Hokies’ season-opener vs. Florida State on Sept. 3?

As it turns out, this final blunder was the last straw for Alexander. Despite the vague language, it seems like Alexander has played his final snap for the Hokies and that a transfer is more likely. Even more likely, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, is that Alexander will declare for the NFL Supplemental Draft. (UPDATE: Alexander has signed with NFL agent Andy Ross, who also represents former Virginia Tech players Tim Settle and Wyatt Teller.)

Players are rarely selected in the supplemental draft. Clemson’s Isaiah Battle was selected in 2015, but no one has been taken since then. Before that, the last supplemental draft pick was Baylor’s Josh Gordon in 2012.

Alexander has desirable tools. He’s experienced and athletic but for many teams, the off-the-field issues may take him out of the equation. Alexander deserves credit for taking full responsibility for his current situation. Not many young men would have the courage to come out and admit that it’s their fault. But he also deserves blame for putting himself in this situation.

If Alexander is picked, many will proclaim his time at Virginia Tech as a success. But in reality, it’s clear that Alexander has things he must work on. No one questions his talent. At 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds, Alexander is a prototypical defensive back. He’s a high-level athlete and has a knack for getting his hands on the ball.

But all the talent in the world can’t keep him on the field. Alexander must fix his problems off the field before his true potential can be realized. For his sake, let’s hope he gets back on the right path soon.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been amended to reflect Alexander’s statement and decision to declare for the NFL’s Supplemental Draft.)

An abundance of criticism was hurled at Josh Jackson during and after the 2017 season. Some of it was warranted, while some of it frivolous. But it’s hard to find a Virginia Tech fan who doesn’t have a strong opinion of Jackson these days, whether it’s positive or negative.

There were plenty of reasons to be impressed. As a redshirt freshman, Jackson completed just under 60 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,991 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Jackson took care of the football generally, while avoiding unnecessary risks. He was a serviceable runner and even had the Hokies’ longest run of the season — a 46-yard scamper vs. West Virginia.

With the good came the bad. Jackson failed to produce against Clemson or Miami in 2017, throwing two interceptions in each of those two games. Jackson struggled down the stretch, throwing for 200 yards or more in just three of the Hokies’ final seven games. Sure, Jackson was dealing with multiple unspecified injuries — believed to be foot, shoulder and elbow injuries — but the production was absent for most of the stretch run.

Jackson should improve in 2018 and Athlon seemed to be banking on that in their recent rankings of each starting FBS quarterback for 2018. Jackson was ranked as the 19th-best quarterback in the country and the second-best signal caller in the ACC, behind only NC State’s Ryan Finley. Here is Athlon’s ranking of ACC quarterbacks.

No. 13 – Ryan Finley, NC State

No. 19 – Josh Jackson, Virginia Tech

No. 20 – Kelly Bryant, Clemson

No. 23 – Eric Dungey, Syracuse

No. 30 – James Blackman, Florida State

No. 38 – Daniel Jones, Duke

No. 39 – Malik Rosier, Miami

No. 40 – TaQuon Marshall, Georgia Tech

No. 62 – Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

No. 63 – Jawon Pass, Louisville

No. 65 – Kendall Hinton, Wake Forest

No. 69 – Anthony Brown, Boston College

No. 74 – Chazz Surratt, North Carolina

No. 98 – Bryce Perkins, Virginia

According to Athlon, as far as the ACC is concerned, Virginia Tech couldn’t do much better than having Jackson as their starting quarterback. I do believe Jackson is one of the better starting quarterbacks in the ACC, but I would drop him one spot in my rankings. Here’s how I view the ACC’s starting quarterbacks heading into the 2018 season.

1. Ryan Finley, NC State

Finley is tied for the most experience in the ACC, in terms of number of games played, and has been the most consistent throughout his career. The former Boise State transfer has two years of starting experience under his belt with the Wolfpack, completing 63 percent of his passes while throwing for 35 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. Finley won’t have the reliable Jaylen Samuels to help him in 2018, but he should still be a productive and consistent quarterback.

2. Eric Dungey, Syracuse

In terms of numbers, Dungey is the best quarterback in the conference. But given that his numbers are inflated by Dino Babers’ Air Raid-style attack, I’ll slot him right here. The rising senior is a talented thrower and runner and runs Syracuse’s offense efficiently. Injuries have been an issue but when he’s on the field, few quarterbacks in the country can put up similar numbers. He’s thrown for 29 touchdowns in just 18 games over the last two seasons and has a career passer rating of 131.5.

3. Josh Jackson, Virginia Tech

Jackson’s skill set is suited for the Hokies’ offense, given his intelligence and advanced understanding of the scheme. He may be limited physically, but he will improve in 2018. He should have a slightly more productive rushing attack to lean on and the offensive line should be solid once again. Jackson should hit the 3,000-yard mark this season.

4. Daniel Jones, Duke

Jones struggled at times during 2017, specifically against Virginia when he completed just 14 of his 42 pass attempts for 124 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. However, with the team healthier than they were at any point last season, Jones should find his form again. Remember, as a freshman, Jones completed nearly 63 percent of his passes and threw 16 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. He’s a threat with his legs as well, with 14 career rushing touchdowns.

5. Malik Rosier, Miami

Perhaps I have Rosier too low, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the Rosier we saw later in the season is closer to the real Malik Rosier, rather than the one we saw for the early portions of the season. Miami was loaded last year and both Braxton Berrios and Christopher Herndon are now in the NFL. Rosier is an explosive runner but faltered down the stretch last season. Rosier failed to complete more than 49 percent of his passes in each of his final three games and threw a combined five interceptions to Clemson and Wisconsin. He should improve somewhat as a senior, but I don’t believe he’ll be better than any of the four passers ahead of him.

6. Kelly Bryant, Clemson

Clemson made the College Football Playoff in spite of Bryant, not because of him. He completed a high percentage of his passes last season (65.8 percent) but threw just 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. I think the numbers paint a better picture of Bryant than my personal impressions, so maybe he proves me wrong this season. But before he does that, he’ll need to hold off five-star freshman Trevor Lawrence.

7. James Blackman, Florida State

Blackman had no business starting last season. The fact that he was Florida State’s best option after Deondre Francois went down at the beginning of last season should reflect poorly on the Seminoles’ quarterback depth in 2017. Nonetheless, Blackman was serviceable as a true freshman, completing 58.2 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,230 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on a losing team. Blackman might not even start this season, given that Francois was a talented passer in 2016 and showed flashes of being an elite quarterback. Whoever wins this job should be more than capable.

8. TaQuon Marshall, Georgia Tech

Marshall is the perfect fit for the Yellow Jackets’ offense. He’s undersized but quick and agile. He can run as well as Georgia Tech’s tailbacks and can even hit throws over the top for big plays. Just ask the Virginia Tech secondary.

9. Chazz Suratt, North Carolina

Surratt was clearly North Carolina’s best option at quarterback for most of 2017, though for some reason head coach Larry Fedora kept trying to give Brandon Harris another opportunity. Nathan Elliott emerged later on in the season, throwing 10 touchdowns in the Tar Heels’ final five games. Here’s another quarterback competition that should produce at least a capable option.

10. Kendall Hinton, Wake Forest

Hinton is a junior with 243 pass attempts already under his belt. John Wolford was a highly productive quarterback in 2017 and even though Hinton could follow in his footsteps, he hasn’t been nearly as successful. Hinton’s career completion percentage is 53.9 percent and he’s thrown just eight touchdowns to six interceptions.

11. Jawon Pass, Louisville

No one should expect Pass to replicate Lamar Jackson’s video game numbers, but Pass has been decent in limited work. He’s completed 22 of his 33 career pass attempts for 238 yards and two touchdowns and has a rushing touchdown as well. He’s inexperienced, sure, but the former four-star quarterback has plenty of talent.

12. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

Pickett started Pittsburgh’s final two games and though he wasn’t particularly good, he showed flashes of being a quality quarterback. He can create with his legs and is a capable passer. Pittsburgh will need him to take a massive step forward in his sophomore season.

13. Anthony Brown, Boston College

Brown showed flashes in his first season but simply wasn’t all that good. He completed 51.9 percent of his throws for 1,367 yards in 10 games. Brown had a breakout game vs. Virginia in late October 2017, but the rest of his inaugural campaign was inconsistent.

14. Bryce Perkins, Virginia

Kurt Benkert was much better as a senior in 2017, helping the ‘Hoos make their first bowl game since 2011. Unfortunately for Virginia, their bowl chances may hinge on a JUCO transfer that didn’t do much at that level. Perkins struggled while at Arizona Western College in 2017, throwing seven touchdowns and eight interceptions while rushing for another four scores. Time will tell if Perkins can be more productive at the Power 5 level than he was at the JUCO level.

Virginia Tech’s spring game is three weeks in the rear-view mirror, so perhaps the timing of this is off. But given how hectic the last few weeks have been for me personally, I think I’ve earned a pass.

The Hokies are far from a finished product entering the 2018 season. It’s Year Three of the Justin Fuente era, and he hasn’t had a chance to stock the team full of his players just yet. Underclassmen defections have rendered the Hokies thin at a few positions, while some of Virginia Tech’s past recruiting failures are finally coming home to roost.

Virginia Tech knows what they’ve got going on at a few spots, but other positions remain unclear. Here are my five biggest questions facing the Hokies as we enter the summer.

Can Ryan Willis catch Josh Jackson in Tech’s starting quarterback race?

Kansas transfer Ryan Willis impressed in Virginia Tech’s spring game, completing 10-of-15 pass attempts for 262 yards and two touchdowns. That glorified scrimmage was likely Willis’ most impressive performance this spring, as his level of play fluctuated throughout the Hokies’ spring practice schedule. Willis clearly has the arm talent but also has a penchant for giving the opposing defense too many gifts.

Justin Fuente looks at three key things when evaluating his quarterbacks — demeanor, predicted outcomes and valuing the football. Incumbent starter Josh Jackson satisfied all three of those criteria in 2017, throwing just nine interceptions, getting the ball where it needed to be on a consistent basis and handling the ups and downs of each game. Jackson may or may not be limited in terms of talent, but with a full year of starting experience and another 15 spring practices under his belt, one would expect Jackson to improve in 2018.

Jackson should be the starter come Labor Day vs. Florida State. But unlike 2017, Virginia Tech now has a backup quarterback they trust. Jackson’s leash could be a lot shorter this season with Willis nipping at his heels.

Does Virginia Tech have two cornerbacks capable of playing at a starter level?

The early answer to that question is no. Senior Adonis Alexander has a starting spot gift-wrapped for him but is dealing with an injury and academic issues that kept him out of Virginia Tech’s Spring Game. Alexander is the Hokies’ most experienced option at corner, but also may be the most unreliable. Alexander has missed three games due to suspension over the last two seasons and dealt with injury in 2017, making him hard to count on this fall.

Unfortunately for Virginia Tech, they don’t have much depth around him. JUCO transfer Jeremy Webb is the Hokies’ next best option but hasn’t played a single snap at the FBS level and won’t enroll until this summer. Sophomore Bryce Watts and redshirt sophomore Tyree Rodgers have very little in-game experience, while redshirt freshman Caleb Farley was playing wide receiver last fall until tearing his ACL.

Freshman Jermaine Waller showed flashes of good play in the Hokies’ Spring Game, but also made a few freshman errors.

Virginia Tech may be forced to get creative. Whip/nickelback Mook Reynolds could move outside to corner, but it’s unclear if he could hold up out there. If Reynolds moved outside, Tech could start sophomore Devon Hunter at the whip/nickelback position. If Virginia Tech wants to get their best five defensive backs on the field, that might be the way to do it.

Will Virginia Tech’s wide receivers be more productive in 2018?

Cam Phillips isn’t walking through the doors at the Jamerson Athletic Center any time soon. Virginia Tech’s next two leading receivers in 2017, Eric Kumah and Sean Savoy, failed to match Phillips’ numbers in receptions, yards and touchdowns when their stats were combined together. Phillips was easily Tech’s No. 1 option in 2017, but who will be the No. 1 in 2018?

Kumah played well down the stretch in 2017 and impressed vs. Oklahoma State, catching five passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. Savoy failed to make a consistent impact in the second half of the season, peaking vs. Boston College with nine receptions for 139 yards and a touchdown. Hezekiah Grimsley capped off the 2017 season with back-to-back games with at least five receptions and 56 yards but didn’t do anything of note prior to that.

Damon Hazelton is eligible for 2018 but didn’t participate at all during the spring due to injury. Phil Patterson played well in Tech’s Spring Game, catching five passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. The Hokies will have other options as well, including the oft-injured CJ Carroll and freshmen Tre Turner, Darryle Simmons and Kaleb Smith. But until one or two of them prove they can be consistent producers, this will remain a glaring weakness.

Will the Hokies have sufficient depth at defensive tackle?

The Virginia Tech coaching staff seems less concerned with this than I am. To me, defensive tackle is the thinnest position on the team.

Ricky Walker is a known quantity. Walker is a productive redshirt senior who serves as a vocal leader for the Hokies. But outside of Walker, who can make plays at defensive tackle?

Vinny Mihota is moving inside, which gives Tech another veteran option. However, he’s coming off an ACL tear and hasn’t played defensive tackle in a couple years. The coaches have praised Jarrod Hewitt and Xavier Burke for their improvement, but will either be able to play a significant number of snaps and be productive? Hewitt failed to register a sack last season, and Burke played very few snaps as Tech’s fourth defensive tackle.

The Hokies might need Cam Goode to play right away. The 6-foot, 317-pound freshman has a lot of talent, but will be ready in 2018? He enrolls this summer.

If you think this position is thin now, wait until 2019. Ricky Walker and Vinny Mihota will both be gone after this season.

Who will start at mike linebacker?

For now, the answer is Rayshard Ashby. The sophomore from Chesterfield, Va. is one of the older members of the Hokies’ linebacker corps, which is a statement in itself. Ashby played special teams in 2017 and has a long way to go to be a reliable option but might be Virginia Tech’s best option.

Ashby will be challenged this fall. Both Dax Hollifield and Keshon Artis will enroll this summer, and Hollifield has the talent to unseat Ashby right away. The four-star recruit stands at 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds and made the trip to see several of Tech’s spring practices. Hollifield could start next season but defensive coordinator Bud Foster has never started a true freshman at mike linebacker. Ashby should be the odds-on favorite to start vs. Florida State.

There’s some truth to the notion that Virginia Tech has a recruiting ceiling. Simply put, the Hokies can’t recruit above a certain level.

Raising that ceiling can be difficult. It requires a lot of winning, a lot of fans who care — I’m looking at you, North Carolina — and even a lot of money. It can take a long time to get those things in order.

A quicker way to boost your recruiting profile is to find the “diamond in the rough” prospect, develop him and send him to the NFL. You do that enough, and recruits will see themselves using your school to get to the promised land.

The NFL doesn’t care where you come from. The defending national champion Crimson Tide? Of course. Division II Ashland University? If you’re Chicago Bears tight end Adam Shaheen, yes.

Of course, it’s more likely that you will have a professional career if you play football at Alabama than if you play at Ashland. So as a college coach, you want to send more players to the pros. That is why the selections of Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds at No. 16 (Buffalo Bills) and safety Terrell Edmunds at No. 28 (Pittsburgh Steelers) in the 2018 NFL Draft is so important.

Tremaine and Terrell Edmunds are just the 10th and 11th Virginia Tech players to be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, or the 11th and 12th if you count Mike Johnson, who was taken in the NFL’s supplemental draft in 1984. Eleven first-round picks might sound like a decent amount, but when you look at how the Hokies compare to other programs, it isn’t all that much.

Here are the top-10 college football programs, as it relates to first-round NFL Draft picks.

(Note: All figures via Winsipedia and do not include 2018 NFL Draft picks.) 

Clearly, Virginia Tech doesn’t come close to some of the premiere programs. Virginia Tech’s nine first-round picks entering Thursday was tied for 54th nationwide. When you just compare the Hokies to the rest of the ACC, they don’t stack up well there either.

This is why Edmunds’ selections are so important. The Edmunds family made history on Thursday night, as Tremaine and Terrell became the first two brothers to be taken in the first round of the same NFL Draft. Virginia Tech needs to show recruits that they can achieve their goals in Blacksburg. Clearly they can, but there are dozens of other schools who have a better track record of sending players to the NFL.

The Edmunds brothers should be used as the poster children for Virginia Tech recruiting. The Hokies will continue to recruit those four and five-star players, but Edmunds gives Virginia Tech a blueprint that they can lay out for the average high school football recruit.

The youngest Edmunds, Tremaine, wasn’t always a 6-foot-5, 253-pound specimen. The Danville, Va. native was just a three-star recruit in the Class of 2015 with just six other Power 5 offers. Edmunds wasn’t a highly-recruited high school player, and not many thought much of him until 2016, when Edmunds started his first full season for Virginia Tech.

Edmunds turned into one of the Hokies’ best players in his two-plus seasons worth of starts, finishing with 100-plus tackles in 2016 and 2017. Edmunds finished his Virginia Tech career with 10 career sacks and 35 career tackles for loss, both of which are impressive numbers.

Terrell Edmunds wasn’t projected as a first-round pick, but the Steelers clearly saw something they liked. The former three-star defensive back played three positions in the secondary for Virginia Tech, making 31 career starts and six career interceptions. Terrell was stout against the run and though he struggled at times at free safety, he was good in coverage throughout his career and served as a leader for the Hokies.

Virginia Tech was able to coach and develop Tremaine and Terrell Edmunds into first-round draft picks. Their career tracks should show future prospects that even if you aren’t a highly-touted recruit, you can still get to where you want to go at Virginia Tech. The Hokies need more of those examples.

Virginia Tech is making headway in the other areas to raise their recruiting ceiling. The Hokies have won 19 games over the last two seasons, have had greater success in pulling in large donations and have made several facility upgrades with more to come. But if Virginia Tech wants to break through that glass ceiling, they need to have more success sending players to the NFL. Having two of your players go in the first round of the NFL Draft is a step in the right direction.