Here are some quick highlights from the scrimmage with the backups. There was no scoring, and the plays were essentially contained between the 30-yard lines. Whenever a play went past that, the offense flipped around and went the other direction on the field.

First, some stats (courtesy of Tech sports info man Bryan Johnston), then some observations ...

Rushing
Ryan Williams: 7-111 (51 and 41 yarders)
Darren Evans: 6-104 (27, 23, 22 yarders)
Josh Oglesby: 10-63 (22 and 15 yarders)

Passing
Sean Glennon: 5-9, 58 yards, INT
Tyrod Taylor: 7-8, 102 yards

Receiving
Andre Smith: 4-47
Prince Parker: 1-37
Kenny Younger: 1-32
Dyrell Roberts: 3-31 (Even though Roberts is a projected starter, I guess the coaches wanted to get him some work. Ike Whitaker, who figures to be Tech’s third receiver in three-wideout sets, got the day off.)

Defense
Lorenzo Williams: 11 tackles (6 solo)
Jeron Gouveia-Winlsow: 6 tackles, 1 INT
Eddie Whitley: 4 tackles, 1 pass break-up

*

- Obviously, the running backs had a big day.

Williams started early by busting out his 51-yarder on the second series. He got his 41-yarder later by juking outside. He almost made it to the end zone, but Lorenzo Williams ran him down. Not surprisingly, Ryan Williams was smiling on the sideline, pleased with his progress after struggling earlier this preseason.

On Taylor’s first series, Oglesby had gains of 8, 15 and 5 yards. During second team versus second team later, he ran right up the middle but somehow shed tacklers for a gain of 22. He followed that up with a gain of 8. “Good push!“ offensive line coach Curt Newsome told his players after the play. The backup offensive line certainly looked stronger than the backup defensive line on this day.

On a series with third-string quarterback Cory Holt, Evans had two of his three big gains listed above, but he also fumbled the ball after breaking through the line for a run of about 10 yards. (The tailbacks rotated so that one guy didn’t run with the second team for the entire scrimmage.)

Other observations ...

- Nice grab by Prince Parker, reaching over Whitley’s head to pull down a Taylor pass.

- Whitley, a heavy hitter for a freshman, made a nice open-field tackle on Evans. He later slammed, helmet to helmet, into Ryan Williams near the sideline—probably the hardest hit of the day. It made that “clap” sound that players always say hard hits make. Whitley was shaken up on the play, but it didn’t appear to be anything major.

- Though Glennon had four incomplete passes, his receivers probably should have caught two of those. Tight end Chris Drager was wide open but turned the wrong way on one. On other, the ball went off fullback Kenny Jefferson’s fingertips, and I guess it was borderline on whether he should have caught it. Besides the interception—on which Glennon appeared to overthrow wide receiver Xavier Boyce (though Boyce may have pulled up)—Glennon’s only other incomplete pass was one he sailed high to tight end Rob Stanton.

- How ‘bout tight end Kenny Younger with some quick feet on his lone catch, on which he ran about 20 yards after the catch.

- Last play of the scrimmage, redshirt freshman cornerback Jacob Sykes, who moved from receiver earlier this preseason, knocked a Cory Holt deep ball away from Jarrett Boykin. Though it’s fairly insignificant in the big scheme of things, I’m sure Sykes was pumped about the play, and it was a nice one.

Posted by Darryl Slater in • College Sports • Virginia Tech
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