Seeking depth on the defensive line, Virginia Tech’s coaches decided to move John Graves from tackle to end during spring practices.

Graves, a junior from Meadowbrook High, is now back at tackle, where he started last season. Defensive line coach Charley Wiles knows what he’s getting from junior end Jason Worilds, who was one of the ACC’s most disruptive players last season, despite battling an agonizing shoulder injury. At the other end spot, Wiles is hoping senior Nekos Brown can meet the challenge in his first season as a starter.

But one of the most underrated parts of the d-line’s success is depth. And Wiles is relying on two unproven players for that: junior Steven Friday and sophomore Chris Drager.

If it seems like Friday has been in the program forever, that’s because he pretty much has. Friday, who turned 23 in August, was a high school senior in 2004. In January 2005, Friday was shot in the chest at his home in Hampton. Six months later, he said he was fully recovered from the wound but decided to defer his enrollment until January ‘06. In the meantime, he stayed at home and worked out. He redshirted in 2006, his first season at Tech, and played sparingly the past two seasons, including 79 snaps last season.

But now, Friday is finally on the verge of contributing more regularly. Wiles said he is Tech’s No. 3 end right now, meaning he will be the first backup end who goes into the game.

“He may play more plays some games than others, but you’ve got to embrace that role,” Wiles said. “I’m trusting Steven. I’m seeing his production. I’m seeing him concentrating in meetings. And he’s not been up and down in his concentration and mental preparation and busting assignments. He’s been very consistent. He’s got a lot of ability. I think he’s a guy who could really be a playmaker.”

Drager, meanwhile, switched from tight end during the offseason but has “come a long way, really, in a short period of time,” Wiles said. “He’s shown some quickness and some suddenness at times, but not consistently. That’s got to happen. If he can get to that point, he’s gonna be a productive guy for us. ... He can do the things that we’re asking him to do, where some of the young kids can’t do it right now physically.”

Tech’s coaches always thought Drager was a promising player. Everyone remembers that quarterback Tyrod Taylor and rover Davon Morgan played as true freshmen in 2007. What some people might forget, though, is that Drager also played as a true freshman that season.

He started on punt and kickoff return. But his season ended when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while making a catch against William and Mary. Fortunately for Drager, that was the season’s fourth game, so he was able to redshirt. Last season Drager caught just three passes, but he started on the punt return, kickoff return and extra point/field goal teams.

The unit’s coach says Steven Friday is his third-best end, and the Hokies need him to provide some depth.