Raising the Bar

0:45 And welcome back to the boundary Corner podcast, along with my partners, bronzy glow and Jonathan tally. I am Curtis Wilson and this episode is brought to you by dr. Lord, Jeremy counts at Mean Street. Pharmacy, in Blacksburg, if you love this podcast, I hope you've the town of Blacksburg, make sure you are supporting Mean Street. Pharmacy. When you make your way to town, whether you need prescriptions, the Tupa toothpaste or just want to stop and say, hello, let Jeremy and his team take care of you. The money you spend at Main Street, Pharmacy. Goes towards the things. You support the next time, you're in Blacksburg head on down to Main Street Pharmacy, at 301 South Main Street fellas. It's been a little bit of while, but a lot of stuff has happened how we feeling tonight.

1:29 Feeling good man. Feeling good. Got a new job getting off earlier kids and wife got me doing more stuff around the house. There you go, still feeling good man but you don't work yet. The honey do list growing feeling good man, I love her. First of all huge, congrats to that on tally man. You better tell them the so long about looking for something that fits like your life with your son and your kids. When you tell us about this man, you told us like some of the benefits. It it's great because you know, we all know how it is man. And It's lovely that you have that opportunity. It's also lovely for us because we're going to talk more the podcast.

2:14 But tonight, you know y'all it's going to be a lot of fun, right. We've had this man on multiple times and for the last 11 days, David Cunningham has been living out of a suitcase between Seattle back. The Dulles and then instead of driving back to Blacksburg, he stays in Dulles and flies back to Dallas. Bring him on because the question, the first question I have for David as you pull him on here, when did you actually get back to Blacksburg? Because you told us, you left the Thursday before the sweet 16? When did you actually get back in Blacksburg this week? First of all, I appreciate you guys having me on. I got back Sunday at 4:00, so I was gone for 11 12 days. So I mean, amen, that's they went to the final four. It was, it was a treat to cover the sweet 16 and the elite eight in Seattle and then to get to cover for Virginia Tech in the final four.

3:14 And in Dallas that was really, really special. And, you know, they play good basketball, they play good basketball when they played in this in the Blacksburg sub-regional when they were one seed. So it played good basketball, your 31 and 5? Went to the final four, for the first time in program history. Nothing to be ashamed of it. All I would say probably the second greatest 14th export season ever, so it pretty impressive all around and it was it was a treat to be part of it just so happened that it took a whole lot of travel on my part, but Coast-to-Coast Cunningham. Yeah, let's talk about it first. Let's talk about the sweet. 16 up in Seattle, man.

3:55 And it was, it was, you know, for for pretty formidable, foes there too. Nasir who the program is seen earlier beat in Knoxville and across. It wasn't gonna be Ohio state with that. Unbelievable press and defense, they have or the Juggernaut, that always is Yukon. So, just take about that those first couple games AV attendance with the fans and just the way the team played in those two games, how impressed where you to see they hadn't been there before. And it didn't look like that. Yeah, well, I think one of the things, first of all, you mentioned the fans, I thought it was a good showing. A lot of a lot of Virginia Tech fans, you know, and I was talking to some people including very some wind assure. You guys know he flew up from from from La. He flipped to Seattle to come.

4:41 Watch. Virginia Tech play. There's a good crowd from Virginia Tech fans but there was also a good crowd just from everybody else. In Seattle, the locals, it's a great woman sports city, obviously, they had the Seattle Storm there, it's great, local sports city period but they especially love their women's sports, you know, a Subaru who was in attendance, I thought it was really cool. I mean, there was essentially sold out arena for every single game that was played there, except for the tech game on Monday night against Ohio, State. Not, that was a little bit tough because Monday night, all the people that were covering Ohio State, Fair of Virginia, or I guess all people are recovering, Iowa, and Louisville, and ever be on the other side of the regional, along with UConn Tennessee had already left.

5:21 There will be two teams there, so, but it was really cool atmosphere. The Arena's phenomenal, As far as the games are concerned, you know Virginia Tech. I've never been on that stage before but they never thought twice about it. The moment was never too big for them. They played really well against Tennessee, you know, I think in both games against Tennessee, against Ohio State there were moments where things could go on South and they buckled down and kind of stuck together. And that's what they've done all season and they fought through it and against Tennessee, you know, that was when the volunteers cut to Lon. One late in the second half and they kind of turned things around then scored a couple of big baskets lockdown on defense and wrote out the wind first Elite eight appearance in program history and they play press happy, Ohio State and income, pretty much completely dominated that game. You know, Ohio, State LED for some moments here there. But never felt like Virginia said, wasn't in control of either game.

6:23 Really maybe a little bit when Tennessee had some momentum but you win two games and get The final floor so special. And again it was, it was a really cool moment and a lot of the families were there for the Virginia Tech players and I was cool and kind of tech fans there just to see that happen. They put they played really good basketball, and I don't think they never doubted their ability to get there. So many other people did. And I think, I think that kind of made it even more special. The fact that they were the ones, he, they always knew they had the ability to get there and Some people looked at him and said, you know, they're not historically a women's basketball school and they just said we don't care and they went on to the final four and I think that was a pretty unique part of it.

7:08 Yeah. The movement never seemed too big for their. Definitely seemed like they were playing for each other and kind of playing within the framework. That can he broke sit laid out for each each opponent there and I think the fact that the moment never got too big for them and that they stuck together and kind of trusted that process definitely help them out. Out and it's incredible. When you look at how the, you know, the the matchups played out there and they you had Tennessee, which you know, a lot of history. And then you looking at, okay, either hiyo State, you know, they've got some horses and you also have, you know, you come on that side of the bracket with their history and it's just, it's incredible. The eyes that got put on Virginia Tech, women's basketball, that have really been there before.

7:54 If y'all seen the eating with Monday night did but the late does a late game slot, 2.78 million That's insane, that's higher than some of the football games this year. And I know the product will get to that later in the product everything. And then, you know, we talked about down Friday night. I mean, I said and watched it here. I'm here in the man cave would get the big TV and the kids want to watch a movie and that's fine. I got watching the game. Either rating was almost 4 million people like Brian said it sighs, right. How do you keep bringing more people to the program? How do you keep bringing more money? Go to the national championship in wrestling? Go to the final four in basketball and Friday night, you know, against LSU.

8:37 I mean, it hurt, I mean, anybody who's a fan of the team, know it hurt. But watching that game, I mean, the physicality at which LSU played in, which the refs, let them play. And I will say, let them because there were quite a few, in my opinion, maybe I'm Homer, there were quite a few times where it was Dammit fouls, that weren't called and I think tally, Brian, y'all both can same day that as well. Everybody's playing, if you if you're playing a physical team and they're not getting called fouls, it's immediately in their favor of. However, the game Flow goes even if yes, we did have a lead going to the fourth, but I'll throw this in there real quick just thinking about some of the, some of the AFC Championship games of yesteryear where the Colts are playing the Patriots, and they're just LED them Corners bug the receivers, and it kind of reminded me of that. Because the Colts in that time frame, were very much, a finesse type offense in the Patriots were very much a we're going to get in your face.

9:36 We're going to push you around. We're gonna whatever the rest will let us get away with. We're going to do and it kind of felt like that that type of mirror. They're looking at the physicality that LSU brought to the table and I mean no fault of them. I mean, if they're going to let you play that way and you've got the ability to go for it. Yeah, man. It mean Besides everything that we're talking about, we got to give a got to give a shout out to Kenny Brooks. And, and the girls man because I see me know, all of us on Twitter, we see that we see the hashtags, and the means, and all types of stuff conference candy. And, you know, it seems like through the whole season. Everybody was waiting on them to falter waiting on him. No, you don't make a mistake and they didn't, you know, they ate the whole season.

10:22 They were solid basketball. Team, a really good basketball. All team, you know, to go win the conference to go and get a number one seed to get to the final four. It's just like, like David said, that the moment was never too big, you know? And when you get into a game like that, you know, I'm kind of on the other side of it, I love to see if I'm a watch women's sports man, like women's basketball. I love to see them. Let them be physical. You know I'm saying because they're athletes, you know, people think also warming, they're not supposed to do this or not supposed to react this way. Way we've seen all the hoopla in the news. Like just let them their athletes and we're watching them play, let them play. If a man did it, you would have nothing to say about it.

11:03 It's let them play, you know, so if that's what we're doing, let him play. So I think again, the moment wasn't too big. Virginia Tech was definitely, right? What they needed to be. We let one slip away in my opinion, but no fault to the coaching staff and the girls man that played a young ladies, they play they played a great game, a great tournament, and I was I was proud to watch him play. They let me ask you this. This was your first final four coverage. Give me the field because that Arena looked jam-packed. It looked loud. Not only from the LSU side but from the text as well. What was it like your their courts? I'm assuming Courtside? Okay, Courtside I know sometimes they pick y'all up an awkward spot. So yeah, no, I mean it was just cool environment man. You mentioned the just I Eyeballs. I mean, they were almost 10 million people that watch the championship game between LSU and Iowa. That's how you continue to grow the game, you know, even when for those people who don't like Angel Reese Angel, Reese FaceTiming, Lil Wayne after LSU wins stuff like that is how you grow the game, right?

12:15 Kam Chancellor and Brandon Flowers, showing up to watch 14 Tech, like that's how you continue to grow the game. And yeah, I thought the arena was The re in Dallas is really cool Mavericks and Stars Arena, really really great crowd. And again, Virginia Tech was 10 minutes away from getting the national championship game, and I think it got to a point where LSU was just better. But, you know, I think you mentioned a tally multiple times this year in the past where where I don't think Kenny Brooks in the team would have gone to that next step. And they never really wavered. They never really Blinked. So many people were like, oh, Virginia Tech's gonna gonna lose here, okay. 46 not lose here.

13:02 Well, they went out and won the ACC Championship anywhere number one, see, they want 15 straight games and then play the team that ended up winning the national championship. So there's only so much you can do there, and they played some really good basketball along the way they were fun to watch. And, you know, now you recruit, you know, obviously, Elizabeth Killian Georgia hamor and Kayla came here. I'll come back. That's to all Americans. Starters to attend that we just went to the final four at the solid core to recruit to and you're recruiting you're pitching them on. Hey, we just went to a final four. You know who wants to, who wants to go try to win a state championship again and you know we have the final four experience and again really historical year, honestly kind of amazing.

13:46 I don't know if it's really set in for a lot of people, just how just how amazing that season was, it's hard to get to the Sweet 16, let alone the final four and And you know, the Hokies beat some really good teams to get there and we accomplished a lot of really cool things along the way. Yeah, absolutely. And like you said, the news of King and kitley in a more having in Georgia, having one more season. It's you go out there and you get that core. And what are we looking for? I mean, I know we're a finesse team David but is it looking for a couple physical bodies that, you know, next year, you play LSU is, you've got the, you got the two Shooters, you've got your inside present? Is it looking for someone who can be a little more physical? Do you think that's what Kenny's going to go with? Or you think he's going to try to find what's been working? To get him to 31 and 5 this year, which is just, you know, tell us, tell us all, we're running 28 plus games. The next five years, women's basketball, women's basketball will start paying for itself.

14:47 Yeah, I think it's interesting. I think. Okay, he's done a good job. I mean, first of all I don't know if you guys know this but but they've got four top 100 recruits coming in. They've got they've got a recruiting class coming in but Kenny's done. A good job with the portal in the past. Anyway, came on a trailer and Taylor sold to players who had big roles for Tech this year. Came in and transfer portal this year. And last year, the Asia Greg who was text essentially six starter she came in, she went to Juco route, after transferring from Georgia Tech, but, but Kenny Brooks is always found success in Transport. Oh, I'm not worried. I think the biggest thing was but when you looked at Kenny Brooks and his tenure at Virginia Tech from 1000 full perspective, if you want to say, I think the biggest thing was always 1010 the product on the floor, be better. You knew he was going to get talented, he's always had really good talent.

15:41 Even when Tech even his first couple years and Tuck wasn't making NCAA tournament. He's had good talented teams. Now, the good talented teams are coinciding with win, so they're putting out wins on the core. They're getting to that next level. You've got You gotta keep going doing what works and made again, they were 10 minutes from a national championship, right? Like, you know, and you can talk about them, heading Inland physicality, but they handle Tennessee's and the handle bit, you know, they handle Dukes to handle multiple other teams throughout the season eight or 31 and 5 and I think LSU was kind of just a team of Destiny. A little bit. Right? You know, I'll see you Hadn't hit any three-point shots, really all tournament and then come out and shoot the lights out on son in the championship game, right?

16:27 That's just kind of way basketball work so they're going to stick their guns and I'm sure they'll pick up they'll pick up some really good additions as Kenny and his staff have done in years previous. But yeah, I mean, they're in a really good spot man. You were going to have a team that just went to the final four. Nobody else in Blacksburg can say that. Nobody else in the ACC are very few teams in the ACC, okay? In say that. So you got a log up on everybody and they were already really good in terms of recruiting the portal in mining, the portal, trying to really good players that fit their system. I think they'll continue to do so yeah, pretty easy. So to say hey we just went to a final four. Come join us and see if we can run it back. Yeah.

17:10 Definitely. Let's talk about men's suits a little bit as we kind of move forward here into into. The next topic will lead a little bit here with the with the Mike Jones departure, you know, how is, how is that going to hurt Virginia Tech as we kind of move into your further into the offseason? And is there any any sort of rumor about who that next guy up is going to be to kind of fill that role? Yeah, well I think it's interesting. So for those of you didn't see my job, Owns a set of accepted a job at Maryland. He was at the math of 4 for 19 years. That's kind of his home. That's his background. That's his backyard. I'm not surprised at all. I think everybody involved with Virginia Tech around the program. Everybody kind of knew Mike Jones is going to move on eventually where.

17:57 And when just kind of had to be figured out, I'm surprised that he didn't stay longer, but when when a spot comes open at the school, you know, at the At the school year used to being around, you know, again he was at the Matha and Maryland right there next to College Park. I'm not surprised at all. You know, somebody told me the other day, they called it a waste of time, and I don't know if it wasn't necessarily a waste of time. Now, what I will say is this, Darren Buchanan, one of his two big recruits, he got in already entered the transfer portal. He was the Washington d.c. Metro player of the year last year. Obviously everybody knows Rodney rice.

18:39 From what I've heard Rodney rice is kind of told Mike young in the staff that he's planning on saying, but if my Rodney was to leave, okay, well then those are the two main guys Mike Jones brought into the program. I think, at that point you kind of look at it and throw your hands up and go, there was no net gain, there was no net loss, kind of just was a waste a little bit of waste of time but like nothing happened. UND. But my Jones was a great guy and you know, I think there's probably some things that go on behind the scenes and Player Development stuff that we don't necessarily know about, but I'm happy for him and I think again I think this higher is going to be really interesting. I'm not sure. Who am I going to go after?

19:22 I've seen some names thrown around on, on message boards and on Twitter and stuff, I'm not sure if there's anybody specific, but I but I do think it's interesting that You know, you got Kevin goner, you got Christian Webster, two guys who have you've been very familiar with for four or five years now? Kill Kevin guilting her for longer. Can you get somebody that brings? Something different to the equation? I think that's kind of interesting piece Chester Frazier was the guy who was here before Mike Jones. I thought he did a really good job of providing a very good defensive aspect curious to see if if Mi kyung could get somebody that can kind of bring a different perspective.

20:02 It's kind of like Frasier did to this team but you also got to bring in somebody that's really good. Recruiter again, I don't know how much it will route, you know, this move really affects the roster and really affects what Virginia Tech was going to do over the summer AJ. Swinton is a twin 24 kid, who would who had connection to Mike Jones, he had played at the math and the past and I think, you know, we're still too far out for him to figure out whether or not he's coming or not. And again, a high school recruit not coming after a coaching. Change is not surprising to anybody so but I but I think text tone in a good spot.

20:42 Now I'm curious to see where my down goes from here and how he kind of if he can kind of get somebody that kind of bolsters the staff in a different way. Phil's maybe a whole or to that Tech didn't necessarily have covered previously if that makes sense. Yeah, that does make a lot of sense. Because like you said, Buchanan and rice and if you only lose one of the two, it's a net gain. And I like what you said Dave, it's a, it's a, it's a net neutral, maybe it's a waste of time, but anytime you get someone from that program to come at, least it shows and this is just me, maybe, it's me being half full, I'm an optimist.

21:24 It shows that Michael is going to be able to get guys that can recruit down the Blacksburg and help them out because if you pull Mike Jones from there, When you know that there have been probably other programs to offer them, it shows you he probably can land a suitable replacement form. Now I'm going to flip it over here since all this has been going on, there's then to transfer portal guys, which I assume probably already knew. Mike Jones was going to be out before they even came to Tech first McHale long, the ODU transfer last year, you know, averaging roughly ten points, a game eight rebounds long lanky to Thunder seems like that was something. I know we on this podcast mentioned a couple times. That might have been missing from the team this year. Originally, you know, was a Virginia kid top-10 recruit back in 2019 out of Massanutten.

22:19 David. Just if you've got a chance to look anything on long that you like so far, I like his ability to rebound. I think that's I think that's big. I mean look true he he led the he led to a Conference USA I believe in double-doubles this year, I mean he's a he's a good Prospect. I'm curious. I'm curious to see and again we can spend time talking about him and Tyler nickel, obviously the other another transfer, North Carolina transfer, I think I think a lot of Virginia Tech success hinges on whether Grandpa's only 100 or come back. I'll just put that. At out there and I think everybody understands that but I think long has a solid addition, he gets to the rim, he hits and he gets fouled, he shoots a lot of free throws, I think he'll be a solid addition in terms of he can kind of help stretch the floor and drive it and he's a good Defender who can rebound.

23:12 I think it can kind of do it all. Maybe a little bit more accustomed to playing on the outside. The Justin mutts was but I think he's a solid addition. The particular kind of filling that role for oh go ahead tally. I'll let you know. No I was just gonna say, you know kind of what Cunningham was saying getting to the getting to the goal and shooting free throws like watching Virginia Tech a lot of times for me it's just you just want somebody to just have some a little um you know love just a months and what he brings to the table but he just for big man. First of all, he's not really a big man being sick. 768, you know, it's tough to go up against them trees and just not getting to the free-throw line enough, man. And that's what we mentioned.

24:04 We playing games and people get physical with us because we are such a finesse thing. You know you got mazzilli shooting threes which he's great at doing but you got to have somebody that does the Dirty Work. You got to have somebody that's in there getting rebounds and can hit those free throws for you. Not just getting rebounds and look at the outlet to go back up with him. So you know I think that's a A good pickup and I think we need, you know, a couple of more, you know, three and D Defenders as well. That's why, I guess Couture is a is a big thing. Whether he's coming back at night because more, of course, he can shoot, everybody knows that. But I don't think people give him enough credit for his defense, you know, when he went down the defensive aspect of the, of the team was much different.

24:47 So, Similar to what, what, what, what David is saying, man? Just this higher, I hope did he bring somebody in? Because I've been very almost like critical, but I just been skeptical because I like to argue with people just about basketball, but, you know, I hope he brings something in just that defensive aspect to just wrap it up a little bit. So I got off course a little bit but when he said that, that kind of touched a little bit of what I was thinking. Yeah, and I can do a little bit of that. What do you like about? Tell him Nicol David it's tough because he's so young right. I think I mean he's you know, he's only played his freshman kind of a similar situation, John Camden, although he played all the more.

25:32 I think he's kind of a more advanced John. Can't if I think he's a guy who can stretch the floor a little bit, he can shoot the three ball. He's a saw a reminder, he's a good scorer. My biggest thing is going to play defense, I think so far. You know, he showed a little bit at Creek Carolina that he could play solid defense. Since I think he's going to be good role player, I wouldn't expect them to come in and start but I think he's gonna be a big help. I think text, I don't want to say problem but I think the question you run into it. If you're Virginia Tech is if under to torque doesn't come back, you don't have any guys with experience and Makai. Wong has experienced, but you'd essentially playing Sean Padula. You hope Rodney rice, your plan.

26:18 MJ columns are taught Nicole, you're probably playing with Kyle long and if you don't get Grandpa silly back, you know you're playing when kid, right? So I think a lot of it hinges on whether Couture bacilli, come back. But I think there's a lot of positives. I think this is a group that could have been better defensively a lot last year and I think long and nickel or two solid defensive pieces scoring the ball is not really ever going to be the issue for Virginia Tech. Mike, youngmee's, you know, it's not like texting to always be. A tan offensively but Patek is go. Usually better better than most. I'm curious to see how those guys gel defensively and it because I think I think Tech needs a bigger better paint presence.

27:03 I think of Lynn Kate continues to take steps that would be good but but I think there are a lot of just questions. I have about Tex ability to play defense and guard some of the more athletic teams in the ACC like a Miami for example, but I think Tyler you mentioned it. Arcturus defense is probably the biggest reason why he so effective. His defense was really good, mutts played good defense for the most part. So, I'm curious to see if a guy like Sean, Padula can take that next step defensively. I'm curious. If if nickel and and Collins and rice long can all slot in and ever and this can be a better defensive team for Virginia Tech because I think there were times last year where the offense was fun.

27:49 Following and then on the defensive end there was kind of just a low and they couldn't get any stops. I think we saw a little bit towards the end of the year so I'm curious but I think I think Dex in a good spot, I think a lot of it again, hinges on the bazillion guitar and whether or not they come back. Yeah. Kind of my big observation was always looking at the defense. How can that get better? And then looking offensively? How can we get guys that can generate some offense, when those shots aren't always falling, right? Because we had some of those spells where the shots weren't falling. How can we still generate offense during those there's period. So you don't let the team's going some of those longer runs that we saw two kind of claw back in the game that we thought we had in hand a little bit there.

28:34 It's to what Shelton said a couple about a month ago on this program. When he talked about there are times in Mike's offense that ball gets stuck. When we see the ball getting stuck right. Is when we see the other team, had bigger islands. I think what we all fought with Rodney rice was. He's the guy that can break that mold Rodney rice has the capability and you saw a state, why was he rated so high? He has that ability to take it off the dribble, right? He's athletic. He's a really good guard nickel similar that you look where Nick was right to as a top hundred player, he was pretty much borderline for or four star everywhere, top three player in the state of Virginia. Now, does he have that type of game? No, but usually, when you You see guys rated that high, there's a few more elements to their game than just shooting or just, you know, being a good rebounder.

29:19 So I think the two pickups are good but you know, David you made the perfect point. It's hundred Grant if Hunter. And Grant come back with the additions, they've made a the team better be better, better be better or tally will start. Well, you say Hallie want to shed next door, sighs criticize criticize, let slip it off, and let's go. We're not even to the practice yet, because between the last time we came, we got commits. We got commits all over the place and whoo-hoo. The first one, we got our first commit for the 2024 cycle Davy Belfort.

30:02 Out of Fort Lauderdale Florida, Western High School if you don't know, Dad's Vitor Belfort dad was a stud in the UFC back in the early 2000s and still a stud now knocking people out in these. Some sort of boxing, I saw that pop up the other day on my Twitter feed is pops knocking somebody out three star, you know, pretty good offer list here Brian. I'll flip to you on the IV. I know you had a chance to look at the highlights. You know, smaller guy 510. 185, what do you like about him? Do you know in what do you hope will write about? I mean, pretty polished quarterback, kind of out the gate. I think that's the big thing that you see with him, you know, the question is going to be frame wise size-wise, can can he hold up in an offense?

30:47 It's going to have a little bit of that. RPO, little bit of run, run action for the quarterback and the ability to throw on the run and things like that. But everything I'm seeing right now, I mean, he's got the ability to get that done. I like the, I like the ad, you know, we can have a debate about whether we should be taking another quarterback, that is about 10, 15 minutes down the road from me, as well in this class. And if we can push hard enough to get both of them, but I like, I like this as a Kickstart to the 2024 class. Yeah, I like it. I like it. I mean, definitely was happy that the that it that it we finally got started. I kind of look at him, I don't know. Look, the a little bit of him and kind of reminds me of a more polished Burmeister just with the athletic ability, athletic ability that he has, you know, it looks scared. You know, on film, of course, taking some hits, still delivering the ball, able to move a little bit. So, I mean, if you're going to start off with a quarterback, I don't see a problem with it.

31:55 Now I will say since you brought it up I won't go too deep into it because we're talking about people, we do have but there's been so many arguments about why we're looking at this quarterback. A wiring looking at this quarterback away. We doing this. I'm a Virginia Tech fan and have been for a long time. I don't think it's in, Virginia Tech's. Best interest to wait on anybody to commit. If you can get somebody, you need to get them because we've been burned. So many times thinking all we have this person, or this person is in silent commit, and then they go elsewhere. So, if these quarterbacks that's right down the road or whatever, the case may be, may be coming. I still want them, but I don't think you can, we're not in a position to wait like we got to get We Got Talent is wanting to come. We got to let the Talent come in. Hey, what's your thoughts about?

32:43 What's your thoughts on Davi? Honestly, I've been so busy and him and dandy the other commits. I've been so busy covering women's basketball and doing all Spring football stuff as they haven't, had chance to dive deep into him. But I do think he's a, he's a good committee at a lot of good offers. Honestly, there's plenty of quarterback controversy on this current team. I don't think the worry about, so, yo, But he's a guy who could turn out really really well absolutely North Carolina's. Top 25 players in the state of North Carolina. We had already mentioned him back a few weeks ago. Matej in tally.

33:48 Six-foot-four 215 pounds. Callie been saying we getting bigger and bigger, we're getting busy. Only a few offers here, but also mount airy's, a smaller school, you're talking about on the western side of the state but you know we talked Brian me and you were talking to Ravi about him just a few weeks ago and he says he reminded him of house gains, I know house Has career-tech been you know Flores like we all hoped it would and hope he's doing okay. Now I hadn't seen him on the timeline in a while but coming out house games. Had a lot of offers a lot of interests. Brian, did you pop quick pop quiz pop quick? He did, you know what are you looking at? I mean, he's got a good frame.

34:38 I'd like to obviously see him put on a little bit more weight before he's ready for prime time but you know, I like having a guy. By 64, frame plays, a little bit bigger than his weight just looking at the tape. So that that's a good sign, you know, like most high school Edge rushers. He doesn't quite been the way you want him to yet. But I mean, that's something that's very coachable. So, I like the pickup and I think it's something that you can kind of build off of your definitely kind of an under-the-radar type Talent you know, similar to, we saw, you know, a couple guys that were in the previous class as well. Hungry. I'm all right with. It ain't what buggy?

35:20 And I watch a whole bunch of tape on him. I just seen the size and I'm like, no 511. Well, 511 defensive and I'm all right with it. The best part about Talia. And, you know, the funny part y'all is, if you all who are here a few weeks ago, watch him until you know, David, you know, you have some relationships. Mattei there for taming, we talked about Florida, check made me happy because I'm worried about like listen Florida's a talent, Rich State, go get somebody down there, we did that, but they said, watch North Carolina this year. S commits from North Carolina and then It was talking about how we sit better with a lot of the top recruits in Virginia in sure as hell, right out the gate.

36:02 We get our highest recruited, you know, 24/7 player from Virginia. Since this coaching staff took over full cycle, Josh Clark about of Alexandria, the 13th, ranked player in the state that's automatically up for from Caleb Woodson who was 17 last year, six 170 pounds recruited by Derrick Jones and Pearson Prelude. Wonder where he's going to play y'all. Yeah, well, if you watch this tape, you'll be able to see it too. I mean, first couple of plays on his tape man. He's affluent Runner, he's picking balls off, he's taking them to the house, good Vision, once he gets the ball, once he picks the ball off for me, and of course, High School is much different in college, but that's why you go recruit you recruit for the athletic ability and that's what a, you get them in there and Coach him up.

36:55 So, Far as size goes, I think he had, you know, is already 61 170 easily easily put a little weight on in the college ranks. And like I said, just watching the first couple of Clips on his tape, man. I was impressed, he's a great, he's great with the ball in his hands once he gets it. So I think it's a good pick up, really the pickup. I was impressed with that. Pick up even more so than the Dhabi pick up. I was impressed with the clock, pick up. Yeah I think he's probably going to have be one of those guys that's position. Fluid his first year on campus, probably throwing out their corner, see what he can do, probably going to end up as a safety kind of a fluid rangy safety.

37:37 That can be a ball hog, but I like the pick. A big-time big-time pick up for the Hokies in my opinion. David. We know you've been traveling anything on him. Anything you heard. Yeah. But I tell you what they can produce new tech continues to pick up big kids in the Commonwealth. I think that's I think That's the big thing, right? Grand prize made an emphasis and Derrick Jones is a sin. Pray Lord, are solid recruiters, you know, I think again, I think this is a pretty solid recruiting stuff. I think like they've continued to put good pieces together. I don't think the questions are really in recruiting part anymore. I think the questions are on the football field. I think that's bottom line, but I do think Clark is a big pickup, you know, Tech is continuing to make up ground.

38:25 And make progress in terms of picking up higher rated kids in the Commonwealth did well in Richmond, especially in last year's class, can you continue to make progress? And if you do and, and you go out and put out a good product on Saturdays? You'll be all right, but I think the product on Saturdays part, you know, I'm sure which we're going to talk about in the sack, you know, I think that's where it all comes down, because if you're not winning football games that really matter how well, your And in the piggyback off what DC is saying, also kind of goes back to the basketball situation as well, because you got Tyler nickel that is of Virginia. He is, you know, was the best player in Virginia. When he, when he graduated ourselves. All-time leading scorer.

39:16 You've got, you know, same as like Mac McDonald, right? So Virginia people, they pay attention to each other which most people do. My son plays tribal baseball. He's in seventh grade we hear about a kid that made the ninth grade team. He's playing right over at our high school. We go watch and play, we don't know him, we just go watch him play. He's a seventh grade and it's already throwing 85. Yeah, let's go, let's go watch his kid play to see, he's pitching them. Nice great thing. So I say that to say when you get these when you when you get, you know, a Tyler nickel to come in and then you start producing with somebody like that or you get one of these kids from Don't you just pick one from last year?

39:57 Yeah, Raylan princess. Oh Caleb, listen, one of these kids goes out and makes a name for himself. A lot of times. Again, these kids are the best kid that the people around him have seen. But traditionally in the past five years we haven't had big name. Virginia kids doing much you know you got. You got to get your money instead just signed a Killer Contract but I mean that was a that was a while ago we need to see Somebody at Virginia Tech that produces and gets these other recruits excited. May. I just play, I just played against him, I just played against him last year and he's already dead doing this. That's what's going to take that the staff and the school to the next level and I will not sir.

40:41 I keep telling people is not, it is recruiting, it is the staff but the staff doing everything they can do. In my opinion, they're going to the places, they're out in the highways and hedges. It comes down to somebody producing them. And it's their job to put them in that position. So we got to go out and make something happen. It's on the field this year DC, you said it just a few minutes ago. This is a good recruiting staff and tally to your points. Been five years. Tim settle in The Osmond Brothers, were the last time I was Virginia products who went drafted high, and now they've been in the league over a half, decade that hole while, but to your point on the field is where it's got to happen. We can recruit great all day, but then they got to start winning and I love what they did with bringing in Brent, Davis. I mean David, you saw I'm out there a little bit earlier before anybody knew, you know, offensive line. Coach was at army, always a big Russian attach��, you know, you have you had any interactions with them or just seeing them on the field.

41:38 I mean, I'm assuming him and, you know, he's out there a because you're just bringing in a brand new offensive line, coach is going to be full-time on staff just to help him move along, but what's just your thoughts on rent? Davis out the gate? Well, I tell you. Sir works a lot with the office for line. I mean, he's trying to fix this rushing attack which you know, there's so much talked last year about, okay, they wanted to do this thing in the games. They wanted to be this type of team but didn't really have the Personnel, do it and there were these injuries Bawa. Now they're trying to reconfigure it. I think they've got the Personnel to be a type of a better rushing team this year.

42:26 I think having Brian Davis coming in and helps you incorporate helps, you be more creative and more clever incorporating different. Different type of Russian style. I think into your tack, these look pretty good. I mean, obviously we won't know much until they actually take the field, but but I do think it's a big addition in and, you know, for anybody who was questioning whether or not, you know, What tech was trying to do? Well, they hire Brent Davis, and they're like, we're trying to figure out a Russian game and we're hiring him to come help us. Figure it out and clean everything up. And I think a lot of that has to do with what happens up front. But I think Crook and Brooks which I know you guys have, you know, as topics later.

43:12 I think you know those three editions Davis helping out those two guys, I think if they all gel properly, it can get the Personnel to Properly will see some success in the running game yet. It's really hard to do a whole lot without a good running game like and we talked about it, you know, last year and I know we're switching schemes. But even in, you know, if we go have your RPO this year than we saw last year, you're still going to need to establish a good running game for that to have any sort of success because the threat of the rush has to be there for everything else to work. So getting that figured out is definitely Point number. One for us, having successful the offense this year, because we actually do have the skill players outside this year to make defenses pay, but it's only going to work. If we can Rush the ball at least effectively, if not very well. All right, very well, we got here, Douglas 45 minutes. A day that we message of what?

44:14 Two months ago. We're going to talk Spring ball David, I'm sure David listen here. Now we're 45 minutes in and we're just getting the spring Ball but I don't think we trade the world for it because I think what happens with the ladies. Having all these recruits come in. It's wonderful but let's set it up. We're going to start with one subject before we go to break and it's the quarterback room. You have a question that you want to ask mr. Cunningham. Yes. I mean, we got these, we got this big transfer portal ad with Karen Jones coming in kind of a two-horse race in the, in the offseason with, with Grant Wells.

44:55 There. What have you seen, what have you heard thus far as to the competition? And will this be something that we think kind of carries into the fall? Yes, it is going. Going to carry into the fall. I mean this is going to be like a like I know quarterback decisions are usually made, probably later, unless you got an incumbent, this is going to be one that drags on. And it's not because either guys are not talented but it's because text still trying to figure out how the offense gels together Tech, you'll still trying to put pieces together, right? Grant Wells has experienced Tyron. Drones does not. That does not mean Chiron.

45:36 Drones is Talented. But right now, he's still trying to think figure things out. He has not had any time in this offense before. This Grant Wells had all last year to learn the offense, and he played in that, right? You know, whether or not he played well, good or bad, he played in the offense, that's more experienced than drones has. This is a, I mean, I think it's pretty even right now. I would say Wells probably has a little bit of a Tej simply because he's got more experience and because he's been in that situation before and because he knows what exactly the coaches are expecting of him. But I don't think that counts, drones out at all and I think, two drones, I think it'd be unfair to say drones is, is pro is like even with Wells simply because he does not have that experience, right? This is his first semester on campus. As a college student, he's got so many other things he's dealing with.

46:37 He's learning the offense, he's learning his teammates. I mean again remember like I know a lot of the receivers are kind of new faces but he's never throwing passes that happen. You know any of these guys. Well just turn passes to a handful, I think I think the competition will oh, really heat up over the summer. And once we get into July and August and I think it's going to be legit, I think it's going to be a two-horse race and, you know, I think it's way too early to tell but But I think I think they both have their skill sets and I think a lot of Brent Davis coming and the new offensive line I think all the pieces around them are improving right.

47:18 People can look at Wells last year and say well it was not a good quarterback. Well, Virginia Tech was not a good offense knows, no wine Keshawn King Malachi Thomas was okay when he was healthy, but he was barely healthy, right? The tight end room was okay, but the only way, Wide receiver who could get separations. Caleb Smith. That's not a lot to work with, right. I think if the other pieces continue to improve Grant Wells or tiring drones, whoever is the starting quarterback is going to be in a better position, right? And I think this is a good opportunity for Tyler. Bowing to experiment a little bit and figure out what works and what doesn't so it's going to be something that progresses on through August and go.

48:10 Now, don't worry. Is uncle's or something on Twitter? I don't know. He was on my head. You paid, and you got an agenda against him. And I'm like, I just said he wasn't good last year, that's it. I understand that the offense was not objectively, I don't think he was very good. This is kind of going to lead into the next Point as well. When you do have what we had, which was a shit show last year, a quarterback that can make plays with his legs, as well as his arm.

49:23 They keep talking about triple threat. I've never seen a quarterback, make a play with his head for real to see this handles on. I mean his legs or Farm but I get what they're saying. I feel like if we had somebody in place that could do that, and I'm not saying it's drones. I'm just saying, I feel like if we had somebody that could do that, It just we would have lost a couple of games, not because the team was so good at a team of so bad. I just think we just didn't make one or two plays that we could have made at that position to propel us to a win. And again, takes us to our next point because I'm a big drawings guy. Just watching them watching what he is and how he plays, you've seen them a little bit more than we have. What?

50:06 Have you seen anything from him and practice just kind of made you go like, damn, we didn't have that last year. Well, I think, is that flight us'? And I think that's important right now. That Wells is not athletic, but I think welds, I think I didn't drones as a guy who's built more for that. The exact reason why you hired Brent Davis, is an offensive consultant, because you want to run the football and use the quarterback. I think, I think that could be if it does end up being drones, I think that's something he could provide, right, you can provide a little bit more that quarterback running game. I think his athletic Is, um, is is, is something that stands out to me. That doesn't necessarily, you know, I think some of the, some of the younger guys vote. Taj Bolick, an indictment feral or also athletic pop Watson. I don't really see much of him.

50:55 I think some of those younger guys are also athletic but they don't necessarily have the, the composure in the Poise that drones does right or that Wells does. So I think his athleticism, if anything is going to make him stand, Doubt. But I also think we'll see more. We'll see more of that, as he gets more integrated to the offense and as it becomes less of, hey, let's learn the techniques and fundamentals of how we want to do things and more of hey, lets, you know, once we get to the fall right, it's going to be okay. Who's the better quarterback? Now, it's more of. Do you understand what we are trying to systematically install?

51:36 Do you understand what we are trying to run? But I think his athleticism could potentially provide. A different Dynamic for Virginia Tech this here? Yeah, I mean, just looking at him. I mean athleticism combined with a little more physicality than Wells would bring to the table, right? Because he's not just athletic, but he's athletic and strong and I think those two combined. Well, to if you want to use your quarterback as a rushing option and Implement again more RPO were you can have that quarterback as a legit rushing threat on. On every play and that's going to put that defense in lot more conflict. It's going to put them in the bonds.

52:17 You just going to put them having to make decisions every single time. He sticks it in Teutons or Thomas's gut. If you crash and he pulls, you're giving up a big-ass play. We saw, we saw that in some of the tape, with West Virginia, some of this High School film, he's athletic. By the way. David Thomas, Train agrees with you. He probably doesn't know everybody's name yet. Yeah, yeah, that's really important with that. Yeah. I mean that's a big thing, right? You got it. And it's not just not just him. It's all the young guys. Like I know we're going to get down and talk to wide receivers later. I guess not the young guys in sewing, but the new guys, right? We're going to get down and talk to wide receivers later like like Ali Jennings and Daquan Felton and Jalen Lane to die soon.

52:59 As I assume they know the quarterback Same by now, but like getting into getting into a rhythm probably takes a little bit of time and learning what they want to do. So I'm curious. Yes. I mean everybody's gonna have their eyes on. Drones come, come the fall. I'm really curious to see what the biggest changes are in his development over the summer, right. His in terms of his work ethic and how he gets into the gym and and stays working on his craft because he's, I think he's got a real legit chance if he continues to work at it. Well, just kind of has a little bit of experience on I got. Yeah, it's true. So we'll, we'll see that as time progresses. We'll see it as is Brian. Toal said a few weeks ago, The real competition starts at the spring game.

53:43 It's not right now. Now let me ask this because you mentioned a little bit earlier, all the young guys in there are boatload, I'm here because I'm staring at for as I look at the roster, do you feel like before the end of spring? Or after spring, we're going to see position changes or potentially portal from any of those guys. It's kind of Tristan's. Got to come from somewhere, Virginia Tech's at 90 scholarships right now. You got to be down 85. Address is going to come from somewhere and you don't need six quarterbacks on the roster. That's just plain and simple. I mean II hate to like Point mate, you know, like name names but but I think I think a lot of it, you know, I wouldn't expect Grant Wells or Chiron drones and transfer out and I wouldn't expect pop Watson or Dylan wit key to the two other newcomers to transfer out.

54:40 I think it comes down to the two guys in the middle and that's Devon Farrell anti-bullying. And I think at this point, a lot of it is, can you play a different position, right? What is your position, versatility? And some of those guys might have position versus to it. The other thing is, those guys want to play too, it's not like quarterbacks one position. I think one of a few positions where it's like, if you're not playing, you don't get experience, right? If you're not a starter, I should say. You know, if you are, if you're the third string or fourth-string quarterback, you're still going to get a lot of reps, right? If you're the third string quarterback, you're not touching a field. So so I think it comes down to kind of what those guys want to do.

55:23 What they mentally. How are they do? They do they enjoy being at Virginia Tech? Do I want to go somewhere where the grass might be greener, where they can probably play a little more? I think that comes down to a but I think I would expect to see a little bit of attrition office and that room but I mean a lot of the rooms where you've got your way over the limit or probably where you would like to be simply because you're trying to rebuild this roster, it's all understandable right now, good deal man. And yeah it's got to be attrition somewhere. I know we'll talk about attrition in another room and a little bit of time here but we are 57 minutes in. We need to pay some bills before we go to even more spring practice takes from David.

56:09 Pam from Tech sideline. We are going to take a quick pause for a message from our digital partners because we take a quick break. We'd like to tell you about getting your free website report from our digital partner, Grassroots, digital marketing Studio. They'll tell you how your website ranks on Google on-site, SEO and social media. No commitment to buy anything. You can get your free report by visiting. Grassroots digital studio.com forward slash free Dash website, Dash report. Now back to the episode All right, we got an interesting question in the chat here from Jerry, and I will just throw it in before we get into the offensive line, because this is an offensive line podcast and it says, speaking of coaching or PT fans, okay?

56:50 With the toxic coach, or a wholesome, coach referring back to my Twitter question today. I didn't see the Twitter question, so I can't comment too much. David's laughing, Brian smirking tallies looking down, trying to find a tweet. I'm trying to find a tweet. I want to tell you what, I'm you clearly know about it. I think if you're winning doesn't matter. No fuck no, not really. If you're getting to where it needs to be no matter. The does that matter, winning cures, everything winning, cures everything, the old staff, David you're getting so much more access to practice now but at Virginia Tech had gone ten, eleven nine ten eleven during that tenure. You wouldn't care.

57:40 Hey, you're an Alum beer writer because of hell of a lot more fun to write about a team, that's winning the team that's losing. We're fans. Oh, he doesn't open practice, I don't care. We won 11 games last year. You're actually give a shit about that. Winning cures, all sins band if you're winning it, nobody cares, but, you know, it's always good to be, you know, a little bit. People want coach has to be specially, Virginia Tech fans. They won't coach has to be frank. Beamer, you are never going to get a Frank Beamer. Again, you're never going to get somebody like that. You know. Again I love the white, I love those guys when they come on and talk about that culture and stuff. But nobody is going to empower in embody, what Frank was in that area? Again, even if you're doing the best you can and you're doing a good job, he's just different.

58:30 That's why he would. That's why he's a Legend. So wholesome just you know touching on that. Do you know it's great to have a wholesome coach like that but Frank got it done on the field as well so you just can't you, you got to win, you know, ladies and gentlemen, that's your answer. We love you so much. Puppies either this time. No sir.

59:13 Nothing with him. He's a licensed pharmacist and all of it. No thanks. Yeah I think he's he's fitting right in now. He's a guy that's got West Virginia Roots, you know D3 Roots kind of same Roots it from prai has those East Stroudsburg, PA Roots, sort of that same conference that same division.

59:56 Again those those what some of those West Virginia schools, a tiny schools and he's fitting right? In again, we talk about people who are still trying to learn, learn other people's names. My I guess is he's still trying to learn as Personnel because he's on, he's barely been on the job, but I do think he's somebody that the past, in the past, she's done more with less, and from everything I've noticed so far. He's done a really good job in terms of fitting in. I thought it was evident when Tyler Baldwin believe most to hold mention that, you know, he and Elijah Brooks had come in immediately, and they'd barely, they'd barely been in the same coaching Circles at some of those guys before and everybody just came in and got to work on their first day. And they basically spend entire day together in the office and everybody was yelling together and it was fine. It was like they had known each other for for a while. So it sounds like Crook and Brooks. Are both fitting in really nicely. I love hearing that.

1:00:58 And, you know, we had talked about crook last time we were on here talked about how we like the fit, how we liked that. He seems like a guy that Easy. He is the embodiment of what an offensive line coach when you think of an offensive line coach. So the fact that he's got in there, hit the ground running, I like that. Let's let's pivot to more of a depth chart here it for what it's worth at this point from the offensive line standpoint. I was very adamant that when you look at the center position that was the one I was most worried about. I know we had some some depth concerns that tackle, but when I was looking at Center I was like, all right.

1:01:41 That's going to be problematic heading into the season obviously came or sliding over has helped alleviate some of that. But who were the guys that are getting the majority of reps there at Center? And give me at least, you know, at least two maybe three, yeah, Katie Maurice, the guy at Center, Jack hollifield is the era behind him, I think. It to put a plain and simple. I think more taking that position. Pretty well. That was some Joe Rudolph. I'd suggest to him before he left from everything. I can tell, you know, Brent pry. And the end and I don't we, you know, I wasn't there when Ron crook spoke to the media but sounds like everybody finds that to be a natural fit for Kayden.

1:02:22 So so him and hollifield or the two guys there right now. Well, that makes me feel good because we know Jack was brought in to be the center and, you know, we had a conversation with Kate and a few months ago and he and he, we didn't know, I didn't know. Callie didn't know Brandon, no. But when he told us like that, oh yeah, been snapping. Learn how to play center like what? Like, you've been like a really good Right Guard since Jump Street and I know Brian. You've been mentioned it to like, you know what, he is a really good Right Guard and if he can get the snap down and get the calls out. Out, you're talking about taking you're talking about taking a guy who could play it, an all-conference level guard, and put him there to run your offense and somebody you trust and note. It also gives more of the guy you actually have more depth on that in that guard slot.

1:03:15 So it gives you a little bit more flexibility of how you're going to mix and match the rest of the line to get that best five out there. When I say best, I've done necessarily best five players but the five players that play the best together. It gives you a lot more flexibility there and let's talk about that. A little where some of the other Titus position battles taking place across the line, is it kind of that the Tackle Spot is that, that that Right Guard spot? What are we looking at so far as terms of tight battles for the the starters? Yeah, I think Bob Shake Jesse handsome their right to artist. Probably the the one big interesting thing to me. I think it I think the other thing is it a little bit too. Too early to tell, right?

1:03:59 It'd be one thing. If, if it was an offensive line coach that I've been here for a while, Ron Cook still trying to figure out who all work together again. He's probably still trying to figure out guys names, right? Remember the guys names, I think I think Hanson and Schick at, Right? Guard is what I would keep an eye on in to see how that plays out. But I also think it's interesting league is the first semester for a lot of a lot of these, some of these young early enrollees. You know, we've been seeing a lot of Lathe, Hannah guys like that. Once they start to get more reps under their belt. How do they kind of fit in? I, I think we'll know more.

1:04:42 We're going to see a little more maybe in the spring game and then, you know, once fall Camp rolls around, we'll get to see a whole lot more, as far as that is concerned, but but right now, it's Stuff. There is not a lot of, they're rotating a lot of the different guys, right? It's not necessarily the same. Same line of all the time. They're moving guys around and trying different things. So, it's kind of tough to answer, but I do think that, you know, couple weeks ago, Hanson was kind of the guy, Right Guard? Not shift playing a little more there with the starters and curious, to see how that plays out. Yeah, I guess, kind of rolling into the next point that we have. When you talk about the, a lot of a rotating, That they're doing and you're seeing we know that that group is young as far as the offensive line goes, but are we seeing, or are you seeing some more reliability in the numbers?

1:05:34 Maybe, you know, hey, if we if this guy goes down the guy behind him, is ready to go, a little bit more than we've seen last year. Yeah, I think so. I think a guy like Brody Meadows for example, that's just one example. I think he's got a little bit. He's got more experience under his belt. I think the depth is there a little bit more. I'm curious to see what happens in once the guys have a fun summer and to kind of figure out what crook wants to do. As, you know, maybe he wants to do something different completely different than what jogger, dope, right curious to see how that kind of But I do think I do feel a bit more comfortable with the offensive line that I think there's more Talent there to be honest. I think the kind of bolster that a little bit. There's a lot of young Raw Talent, that's the thing and how quickly those guys can develop, I'm not sure. But I do think, I feel a little bit better about the time. I think something else to notice for some of these guys, this is their third offensive line coach in three years, so that's a whole lot of change.

1:06:43 Cheers to see it. How if at all that affects anybody. But, but yes, the answer your question. I feel better about about it. I'm curious to see if those young guys can continue to develop over the next couple months. So where we get to the fall where where when we talked to Ron Kirk again Ron crook sitting there going yeah I like how this guy's improved and come along. I got he got I thought he got a better grasp of stuff as the spring ended stuff like that. I think right now. Crook is kind of just messing around and trying to figure out, you know, who's comfortable where? Yeah, he said that and when he was interviewed after practice one day, and I know you were out, but you guys have had any better luck. First of all, love that you guys have added Andy loved it, but he talked about, he's like it's fondant who gels.

1:07:30 It wasn't just saying I'm trying to find the best five offensive lineman for Brian. Who played it in tally who played right on the outside. He That magic work. I'm not I'm looking for the five that gel who and I put together it just it flows the push you know the punch to the right. He's right on the next level when you hear it wrong crook say that it was like, okay he's going to be mixing it up but you know most 01 coaches will do that. Now you mentioned the youth. We got to thank you mentioned Brody Meadows. Brody Meadows is only been here. One year. You know you've got like Lance Williams and chaplain in hundred McLean so many guys. Guys, coming in their babies basically and Meadows was working a lot at guard last year and now he's working mostly tackle. It seems.

1:08:18 So that's a that's a little switch that I think you know, could be an answer to some of our tackle depth concerns that we were feeling like coming into this spring practice so far. And you want to know what? I'll say this aloud. David you can agree or disagree with me. I don't think we're going to be worried about guys portly. Now, the offensive line room. Oh man. I mean, you also got it. Well, I wouldn't. I would say now. No. I mean, I think, I think this is kind of a breath of fresh air with the new offensive line, coach right now.

1:09:00 Nobody's going to be portaling out, but, but there are, you know, come depending on what happens after next season. I mean, I think they're like, like, I guess you met you meant like right now. Right now I would not expect anything simply because it, yeah. Yeah. Well and again so I you know, Force for a lot of the guys would be Year to in the program, right there, s different offensive line coach and if some of them still are not playing they're going to want to go somewhere and play naturally right now. No, I think I think this is a good opportunity for crook the kind of refigure things and and figure out.

1:09:45 Okay maybe maybe Joe Rudolph had this guy playing at this position but he's more comfortable here. R-right, Brian and tally. You guys, you guys have played the position, you know how interchangeable some of that stuff could be at time. So I'm curious to see how kind of Court kind of figures things out and messes with in tries to come up with the best possible combination. Yeah, I mean there were times like we're we would have different offensive, Iver tations depending on the type of opponent we were playing. So I mean it's definitely a fluid situation especially this point of the offseason were crooked still trying to figure out. He has and guys are other than, you know, a couple and trench starters are still fairly green heading into this year even though some of them have experienced.

1:10:32 So you know, outside of, you know, more in Clements, there's not a ton of full season experience that are that are coming in here. So it's going to be interesting to see. you know how how the line gels and, you know, if there's any more shuffling both at the veteran position and some of the young guys that are kind of fitting into, where we can have that, you know, 88 man rotation that you can kind of feel comfortable with Definitely, definitely. We've talked about a little bit about the office of line and fluid situations, which come to takes us to, you know, some other fluid situations which is the running back room.

1:11:12 I mean, we've had a lot of running backs come through here and had a lot of running backs in that room. One of my guys Alabama boy Kenji, transfer it out. He's no longer with the team or an angle, say transferred out he's no longer with the team, don't know where he's going or if he's transferred yet. But he's no longer with the team you've been watching them a little bit, has there been any of those younger guys that has kind of impressed you from watching spring practice so far? Well, I tell you what I mean, I think Bryce to can chance black or both. I think they're both coming along strong. I think that whole room is is coming along better.

1:11:52 I'm curious to see what happens when we get into a game situation. But, but from what I can tell in practice that whole rooms coming along, I think the overall competition, Petition in that room is better. And and guess what prime mentioned Jeremiah Coney by name. Obviously, he's an early enrollee kid I wouldn't, I don't know, I wouldn't expect him to contribute right now, but I do think I overall talent in that room is better and I think a lot of the young guys, I think I think Tony has some. I think Tony has some promise, I think I think Duke and chance black kind of be solid options. I think. It also runs through toot and Thomas I think that's probably the logical guess but I do think there's a there's a bit more depth there in the younger part of that room. And I think there are a lot of guys that kind of Might take advantage of that opportunity.

1:12:47 Should it come their way? Definitely definitely. I like you said, kind of tooting Thomas is what most people's thinking, and kind of knowing, and looking at Thomas, has a much different when he's in the game, where much different team, you know, no matter how bad or good, we were how bad a good to line was. He's just, he runs different. It's not very big, but when he's in the game, he runs he wants different. But if you're in that room, you got to understand. I mean, he has been Injured a lot. He had been on the field a lot so a lot of those young guys have to be taken, you know those reps thinking I could be next man. Up at any time, you know, they're going, maybe wanting to but it's the game of football, somebody can twist her ankle and I need to go in and get a couple of reps.

1:13:31 All it takes is one play to solidify yourself as getting some playing time. So I'm hoping it, you know where we are. We are 3 and 18 last year. These guys are looking at it saying, hey I got a I got a Hard every rep to earn my playing time because it's there. Then I feel like we got a pretty decent for main group. Now with tuned coming in and obviously Bryce Duke had some burn last year, we saw chance black, get some burn last year. So we got white guys that you know have shown some flashes here. They're obviously behind tuning and Thomas but again, Thomas staying healthy is going to be important. Just from a deaf perspective because I think you know you do you got tools That black and embrace dude bring to the table that are a little bit more change of pace compared to what? What those two can do.

1:14:22 But yes, speaking of Thomas, I mean he's a guy that always, you give him the ball, he's going to get you a little something. It's not it's not that, you know, hit the line fall down gained a half yard and try again and he's gonna get you a little bit extra yardage there. So you always appreciate that. But let's talk about the new coach, Elijah Brooks. He's got a track record of getting good production from his position group. And we already talked a little bit about this which backs are poised to see the biggest benefit from having Brooks in the room. It's tough because I think all of them, to be honest, but I think a lot of the young guys, I mean, I think if you can give them a better base early where they can get off to the right foot and I wouldn't expect them to maybe contribute right away, but I do think if you can start to build that Foundation from the minute, they step on campus to the point where, you know, tune and Tom is eventually going to be going.

1:15:20 And it's gonna be up to this kind of core young guys in this room. Umm, I think they're they've all got some Talent. I'm curious to see if they can kind of take those notes and even challenge the guys adopted and Thomas for those spots. Nice. Yeah. And that's what you want. You always want the competition. But, you know, for so long, we had way too many running backs and now we're getting at that perfect level of having the right amount, having some experience, having some youth obviously, potentially more gas, to come in this recruiting cycle. And like you said, David Looking at Brooks track record and then setting a foundation of a few come play. For me, you will get production. And if you're selling that and Tune In The Hope is this year, tooting Thomas.

1:16:04 You know, we can only hope go Suggs and Jones. I mean that would be perfect but, you know, just a good combination. I want to go to the wideout room next though, because you said it earlier, and you knew we were going to get to it. That room was overhauled. I mean, completely overhauled tons of recruit coming in to already. On campus. Which five wide receivers. And I did not do the three where it would be difficult for you. I did five. Who are you seeing getting the most run first and then with those guys? Who are you noticing line up at The X? The y in the slot? Well, it's not because wide receivers kind of the one position that we haven't really gotten a good look at and I hate to say it. But but that's one of those things where fonts on mines. I mentioned earlier, Ali Jennings and Jalen Lane into kornfeld and are still trying to figure out. Wraps and frontal Minds.

1:16:57 Does this thing where the new guy started the bottom have to work their way up? I tell you two guys that have stood out to me or Gosnell and Holloway Tucker hallway and see you in the snow. I've looked pretty good got snow especially he's trimmed a lot of weight. He looks quicker, he looks leaner. He overall looks better, I think hallways look really good but besides that, we haven't really gotten to see a lot of a lot of them that stuff a lot. It just comes against are a lot of, a lot of their, their reps. You can't really tell much against are everybody looks good against are? I'm sure sure all of us would so, I think it's, yeah, but I feel like some of the new guys I should say, I think Felton, and Lane, and Jennings wall. Once we see them, maybe in the spring game, will get a good glimpse of.

1:17:59 Okay? These are the guys who are really showing out and are really coming along the way. I think, gosh, now in a hallway or have done, a really good job, in terms of setting themselves up for Success this year. And as far as as far as a young guys concerned, I've been impressed with aiding Green from the few glimpses of got to see of him. It seems like he's got these really Quick got some good hands. There are, I'm trying to remember, I don't remember how many freshman wide receivers are on campus. I don't think it can be many, but I do think that, that, that whole room is has been overhauled.

1:18:42 And there are a lot more talented, guys. I mean, you just look at the three transfers Jennings Felton, and, and Lane those three transfers that's more depth than Virginia Tech really had all last year in the wide receiver. So I'm curious Ceci, we haven't really got a good chance to see how those guys fit in with everybody else yet but I think the spring game will be a really really good opportunity to see. Okay, here's how this this receiver can get separation against this guy or oh, hey, this is, this is kind of a lineup all hanging with main lines up in the slot. That makes a lot of sense stuff like that. Well, couple of things that you said that I thought were really, really interesting because of course, that's why your own BCP and you're our boy and you giving us some jewels that, I don't think nobody even knew. New, you said Minds, when he brings wide receivers in, he likes to let them fight from the bottom. Hey, why we may be doing that in the quarterback room? I don't know.

1:19:36 Y'all been going crazy on Twitter, you might be coming in fighting from the bottom in the quarterback room. But anyway, that's not what I wanted to Pivot to you. Also said, 18 greens. Name, we had Mateo on here a couple of weeks ago and he mentioned that name as well. So I know you said I think you said you liked his He's got really good hands. I'll just ask what you see in him in person. Do you think that he has the body size to play right now if we needed him to play because I thought he was a little bit more slender before, I said some woman, look up his height and weight on the Virginia Tech depth chart so I so I know for sure what I'm talking about.

1:20:21 Gosh whatnot, but talk about Aiden green, he is 26. 62 170. He's got the height. I think he's a little. I'm trying to picture him here. Really good catch the other day. Now, again, a lot of these caches are coming in Zaire, but I was impressed with just His body in the way it's set up like he's put himself in a good position. I think he's learning. I think if he, if he continues to get in the weight room over the summer, I think he probably has a pretty good chance to be in the rotation. That would be my perspective of it. Next time we get a chance to talk to fontelle mind.

1:21:01 I think that's one of the guys, I'm curious asking about how he's coming along because it seems like he's taking some pretty big strides and, of course, he was a, I don't know. He was a big-time recruit but he's somebody that that Tech went to what I believe. Tennessee, right. Yeah. Knock. So he's an actual kid, you're going to go to Tennessee to get him, right? So committed to, he was committed to, I think Cincinnati. Yeah, before. So he's impressed me so far. I think he probably put a little more weight on, but I think his hands his quickness. I think that's been, that's that stood out to me. As far as he's been, pretty good in those areas so far. All right, let me ask about one more before. For we move on too tight ends.

1:21:43 I'm curious to see what you think is Avion Bradshaw at this point. In Spring practice. I think he's put on a little bit more weight, which I think is good considering he was very, very 150 155 last year, when they pour it on roster. Yeah, I think I think he's looked better. I think putting on weight certainly helped it's tough because Again a lot of the wide receivers or it's kind of all over the place I think they're still trying to figure out the rotation. I think we'll know more when we watch a spring game green just kind of stood out to me because he's one of those few young guys that are currently in. That room guys would know experience really at the college level.

1:22:27 I saw some ketchup ass the other day and I looked up I looked up my roster and was like Hey That's angry. Okay, that was dumped Rica catch. I'm impressed, Turner Bradshaw, I think he's, I think he's been okay. I think I Continuing to grow. I think that's important, right? Coaches always say most important times between your freshman and sophomore years, that's where you make the biggest growth. So I'm curious to see if you can continue to get in the way when we get bigger. But I think he's taken some strides, you know, I got and I think the wide receiver room is, I think that, that group there might be an odd, me an hour or two in terms of, in terms of portaling, we'll see what happens when The depth chart is set if that's what you want to call it. Yeah.

1:23:13 After the spring game, I think we might see a guy or to kind of leave that room because again, there are a whole lot of scholarship guys in that room but like guys, like Duan Lofton, a guy who's been around for a while, right? Christian Moss, two guys and that those are just two examples. I'm giving you guys are guys who have been around for a while. Are they? I don't want to say they haven't stood out but I think God's now and I'll waive both made but put on a good impression this year. I'm curious to see if Lofton and Moss if they can continue to develop or if they're going to get passed over by some of those younger guys, right. I don't know what fontelle Minds thinks about those guys right now.

1:24:03 We haven't talked to him in a while but that's definitely the wide receiver room. Is definitely one of them. Things. I'm keeping an eye on. You come the spring game and and once we get into August just to see how it all shakes out because to be honest, that's one of the reasons why Tech struggled last year on offensively, right? It was Caleb Smith and everybody else and you need more guys to kind of step up and and so far I like what I've seen from gas now and Holloway, and I know he's young, but if they didn't bring continued Trend in the right direction, I think that's good. And then he got that core of those three transfers that I think can all come in and make a big impact. Yeah. And Caleb was definitely more of a straight line guy. I feel like we didn't have a whole lot of Separation laterally through that, there's like mid-range routes last year.

1:24:45 Hopefully some of these guys can kind of step into that type of role. Let's pivot over two tight ends here based on your observation. So far. This is a standard question. This is a staying question by the way from Brian. How many different packages? Do we have that you've seen so far? We've got Gallo in right on the field of the same time in other. Any packages where we're taking? You think we would take right off the field. Fully I guess right? And Gallo off the field fully at any point. I'm trying to think I guess it's more of a spring game question.

1:25:25 We haven't really gotten to see a lot of them run full stuff. We didn't get to see some blocking stuff. Okay, must have been two weeks ago when I was here last meeting with Brian Davis and a lot of it. There were a couple things with a couple things with gallo and right working together. There were a couple things with one tight end here. One tight end there. I do think it's important to note that right was a little bit. Nicked up, he's dealing with an injury over the, he's been dealing with the injury. He was doing some solo stuff when we watch practice on Tuesday, so he hasn't been been completely go but we all knew it wasn't full go Tuesday. I'll think. Yeah, we honestly don't have a whole lot of the stuff they're doing, but from what I can tell, the few things I could tell seems like they're trying to get both of them of all at the same time. I think it'll kind of be a mix and match thing I think Gallows probably better blocker, I think rights Ali. Better receiver.

1:26:22 That's BB my opinion. That's what I'd have to guess. But I think if you can get both of them on the field the same time that could be a pretty big weapon. You guys can use and then speaking of that, you do you just brought up blocking? Like, besides we know Gallows a pretty good. Blocker besides Gallo. Do we have any other titian's? It's been standing out blocking that you've seen. So I think yeah, I was gonna say, got Stephen does know. But Benji guys know I've been impressed with with Benji God's. Now, you know, obviously had a big injury but I think both in terms of blocking and receiving he's come up and he's continued to improve which kind of says, a lot about, you know, mental toughness, another the the way that he's able to kind of you'll fight through those injuries, I think he's looked pretty good at blog, nothing rights gotten better from what I've noticed. East.

1:27:18 Besides that. That's kind of been the top three guys, right? It's been Gallo, right? Kind of a 1A 1B and then I think Benji got snails kind of been that guy right behind them. And I think all three of those guys are probably guys, that that they feel comfortable with in terms of blocking. You know what? I think that's been a big part of it again, I think that's one of those things will know more with the spring game 1. See those guys in action in terms of them, getting off the edge and actually having to put somebody on there. But right once they have an opportunity to do that, it's a little bit different when you're when you're blocking the guy with a big giant pad and practice.

1:27:59 So but I but I liked what I've seen so far. Yeah absolutely. And I'm going to my buddy right here talked about Vision, have in the town of town and then she was illegitimate for star. Yeah. Before his injuries and everything. So Benji was recruited by a lot of different schools and with his size like 65 240, you know, straight out of the gate. Wait, that doesn't shock me that you say that. He's that next guy and I think just from a perspective of us as fans, if you tell me after Gallo graduates this year, it's Benji Gosnell and Daquan writer 12 tight end room that can be sick. Sure, because of how damn leg those guys at how nasty they can be. Yeah. And I like that because I mean, I always like to see a good balance of tight end Talent. So you telling me Benji's Too long. He's going to kind of be your more balanced guy that can block guy that can be a threat in the receiving game, Daquan more, the heavy caring and the rescind, the receiving game by itself and then obviously Galligan kind of work, they're a little bit more in the end line situation.

1:29:03 So if we can kind of mix and match those and make that work, I like that. But let's move over to the defensive line. Looking at the returning production and depth at defensive end, is it time to worry about this unit? In 2023, or have you seen guys kind of take that next step so far? This offseason I tell you what, that's one of the spots. I'm worried about the defensive end out mostly because a lot of it's healing experience guys that they never had to be the starter, right? I think, Cole Nelson. CJ McRae, Jordan McDonald. Whichever McDonald twin is. Jordan sounds right? Yes, Jordan.

1:29:46 I think a lot of those guys have They've got good talent. I just think a lot of them never had to be that defensive end before that starter the one that has to the one who has to play snap efforts not ever snap. That's what I worry about. I think maybe a little bit I think there could be more depth there. I think that's one of the big problems that that you know JC price obviously brought in multiple guys at tackle in the last class didn't really bring in any guys in this year's class and thin layer. The Freshman Ishmael from from Canada. I believe he does arm in a sling. The other day of practice. He had he had an injury so That's a spot where I'm not worried.

1:30:32 I'm a little bit questioning concern, maybe, I think you could use. I'm curious to see how that plays out. And if, if those guys had taken the next step, right? We know how good the taxes are, we know how experienced they are. Can call Nelson and CJ, McRae, and Jordan McDonald. And those guys on the edge, take the next step because if they can it's going to be a long, she's on the offensive line. But there's not a whole lot behind them necessarily and I think that's kind of a problem a little bit. I will say I mean Keyshawn Burgos I think is it guy who he's got more reps with the kind?

1:31:15 I think with the twos and I think he could have a solid role but I did think it was interesting. The other day Jordan McDonald was taking the two snaps at the right end and then with the threes he moved over to left and which kind of tells you that they're really only four or five guys that they're comfortable with. Oh. Oh, so and again, but here's the thing, maybe I mean you know, maybe one of those guys call Nelson's he immigrated come out and have a fantastic. You're right. We don't know. But I think they lack that one. True veteran. Who's been there before and done it?

1:31:56 I should add that filled area Spain and he's kind of going to be a hybrid guy a little bit. He's still dealing with an injury to and then they get, they get James, your net in, which I think is important, which I think adds a little bit more depth. But, but Now, there's not really that experience guy. Yeah, yeah, definitely. When you look at it, you don't have a guy that you can just point to and say that guy is going to make you a play when you need. It is, you know, we saw last year There Was, You Know, up and down performances even even for a guy that was experience like Taiwan garbett. And, you know, I just think that if we can find someone that can can be that at playmaker, that guy that can get to the quarterback this year, because that's something.

1:32:38 We've And of really haven't had a little in a couple years now. So I'd like to see maybe one of those guys come on and be able to take over that role definitely definitely and I'll looking at the defensive tackle position. We know we have a little bit more size and a little bit more, you know, veteran presence there when you look at you know Foodland Kendricks and Pollock. Thank God. They came back but have you seen some You seen anybody pushing to get into the to deep behind those guys that we kind of know we're going to see. And again like we talked about, I think they're sliding the what Spain I think that's lying pain down inside as well. So we got some things going there. But have you seen anybody pushing it to try to get it back to date?

1:33:27 Yeah, well I think now Wilfred Benes was the guy there last year. I've been impressed with Malachi Madison and I think he's kind of pushed that envelope. I think he, I think he could make a really good case to be that fourth guy, I think Lamar logged under Givens aren't necessarily that far behind. Now, I'm not saying I'm not saying, I would expect them to play, but I think hitting those in the next two guys that are kind of pushing that group. There's certainly much more depth at tackle, and there is an end. I'll say that, but I think Malcolm Madison could be that fourth guy. I legitimately think that I think he's come a long way.

1:34:08 Way and I JC prices is kind of haven't talked to Jason a while but but but he's a guy thing to JC's, pretty high on that that has a lot of potential if he can continue to determine the right direction and I think he's a guy that can give pain a run for his money for that fourth spot. Cool. So I David David's like, tempered my expectations woes. Yeah, what you did? Which what we said earlier? Though, it's the Freshman to sophomore years is, where you will see, guys, take the steps. And when you hear it, when I hear you say Malachi mask, we saw him last year, he is a big body guy. We know Lamar law is a big body.

1:34:50 Gang Gunner has the body and Cal he's been preaching all along with got to get bigger on the trenches. And when you say, those guys are looking better, I hear that, that freshman and sophomore things are clicking. They're pushing more. So I mean, not get, I don't expect. And by all means, if they start this year, that's great. But, you know, The point I got excited about is knowing that when Pollard and when Kendricks are gone next year, it's not just pflug out there. You've got some young guy pushing for playing time and these other two are starting to make that steady rise up. And I do really worried about the end, like you mention her. I think we all do, and I think, if you see there's one portal addition this year after spring, it's got to be Edge without a doubt. Now, let's flip to the linebacker in because I think that room Does not need any portal, guys. I mean, goodness gracious.

1:35:40 Jr. Walker, you know, left the program, but it's still loaded all over the place, but the big questions that might, like, who's going to play there? Is it Tuesday? Oh, is it Keller? Which of the young guys are making the big push for that spot? This spring? Well Jaden McDonald's working here a couple of weeks ago that was when Tisdale was out, Walker was Stone program. It's changed a little bit since Jaden color was taking the one. Upset that Mike the other day and pride as been impressed with them. And I think Keller's starting to actually come a long. I think before, he said so much potential, right? You've heard everybody Rave about him time and time again. I think it's gotten to the point where where he's really starting to show that he knows what he's doing and he can kind of digest the information and help people adjust from prai specifically referred to him, instance, and practice. the other day, where Keller noticed that the defensive line was was kind of lined up, not incorrectly, so to speak but they were off a little bit and he noticed that and correct them and was able to be in his bright spot right price.

1:36:53 I was kind of concerned with him just being able to get down will and he's gone been able to kind of get that will and Mike a little bit. So I think I think Taylor might be the guy at Mike, as far as young guys are concerned, obviously Tisdale still there and he missed practice the I was a couple weeks ago and then, of course, I would go on and not Tisdale's back as I'm back. I think he was at practice last week is as well, but but I think it kind of could be the color Tisdale punch at 12 and they say, in no specific order. But I think Keller is coming along along way which bodes, well, because they've got they've got a good, a good will.

1:37:36 They've got a Good Sam, right? They got Kelly loss. And count the drinking. Those are two talented guys. If you can figure out the Mike, you're in good shape. Speaking of that. So you know you talked about loss and you talked about the other positions there, it's Sam and we'll what is the most intriguing? Three mankind combo that you've seen at practice so far. I think it's got to be the Jenkins color Lawson because those guys fly around the field and they're fun to watch. I mean, we all saw what Lawson did last year towards the end of the year, just his Length and his defensive presence but counted Jenkins. I think hadn't had a really wants a quiet year maybe. But you kind of had quiet really good year last year and I think of kellard mediated.

1:38:29 I think those three can be really formidable and that's not just You know, that's not just this year's this year's group, but that's a couple of years down the line, right? I'm trying to think, okay, she can to Jenkins I believe has maybe one more year. I don't have it up in front of me, but I do think that Lawson and color are your guys and I think they kind of fly around the field. They're, they're very young. They've got the energy. They've got the ability to kind of cover all this ground that man Jenkins, I think that's going to be really intriguing.

1:39:09 If it plays out that way, I think that's going to be a real intriguing Trio. He is a legend. He is the man and Jenkins is a senior this year, so he was there during covid. So he came in 2019 2020. So he has a covid year left. David So Jenkins, technically has two years left. So I mean skiing more excited, What You Got Talent? Um, listen to him, talk about just the people that we have, that could fill in these spots, has is intriguing and Siding because I just keep hearing length length length, you know what I'm saying?

1:39:50 You've got people that of course athleticism to you know, Kelly Lawson is a much different type player than someone like a Dax hollifield. No disrespect to Dax. I think Dex did what he was supposed to do really well, but when you have an athlete that you can put it linebacker you're able to do some different things and I think that that's going to be fun to watch another question that I guess I have for you David. It's just Name one player in this this linebacker unit that maybe a lot of folks in Virginia Tech Twitter, Virginia Tech fan base. Don't know that it's just not on our radar that could crack this this too deep going into the fall why I think there are a lot of young guys coming in right over the summer.

1:40:38 You got a Saint Stephen's to whirring Copeland Caleb Woodson who you guys mentioned earlier. Don't forget about Stone Schneider the VMI. Into right? I don't know. I don't know what what his in the impact is going to be. But I think I think going into the fall, there's going to be a hole with those four, guys. I mentioned the linebacker room, it's going to be a pretty deep room in my opinion. I think there's going to be a lot of a lot of talent there and here's the other thing, right? Snyder obviously is an older guy. Only going to be here for a year Tisdale's. Not after this year chhanchhan does one more year left Left. Everybody else is multiple years ago, legibility left.

1:41:18 This is a line back room for the future, right? I know that didn't exactly into your question, but I think I'm curious to see how those three freshmen when they get here, when they get to campus, where do they call you fall in line? And I think McDonald is another guy. I'm very curious to watch, you know, it's going to be hard for him. I think to, to get number one rep, potentially just because of the other talent in the room, But I do think, you know, he's come a long way and he and his brother. Obviously, you know, they're really hard working, guys, and I think they could both play potentially big roles. So this is a linebacker. And I think, for the future for Virginia Tech, he has a McDonald's seem like they picked up the defense really quick and that helped them get kind of on that feel pretty quickly.

1:42:05 And obviously, you know, there are other talented guys around them and some of that starting to kind of rise to the top. So yeah, that definitely explains that, for sure. I'm interested to see what what stone can do as well just because, you know, we know the numbers that he put up elsewhere, so Ken that translate in if that does translate, does that and just another layer to that at Mike battle, you know, once once fall practice starts, everybody who doesn't know a buddy Robbie that usually on the show with us. And Is in the comments. He is a, he's one of the coaches that's that's close to the program, he got some air time the other day on the on the promo film of the coaches.

1:42:55 So Robbie it was good to see you on that, but he does give us a lot of insight on what he sees at practices and players that he see in the that he sees in the area. So he's not just somebody that's on here bullshit and he knows his stuff and he's seen a lot of football, but he got two players with rings. Yeah, yes, that is rings. But if you look at Robert, Robin looks like a football coach. I don't know. And dark alley by himself. But Switching gears a little bit, David talking about one of our, you know, hopeful Stars Dorian strong. He was kept out a lot last year due to an injury. How has he looked coming back from that injury? He's looked like himself. He's look like he's a more energized version, man. He until the Dorian.

1:43:41 Dorian is one of my favorite players to cover on this team simply because he's always got a smile. I'll on his face. He's always joking around. Maybe a little bit too much, but he's a very energetic guy, awesome guy. And we talked to him a couple weeks ago, and he kind of told us that It was tougher to my time the end of lean on on some of his family, just mentally. It was tough, right? He's season. He essentially knew his season was over, but he didn't think that first, right? He thought he was going to be able to come back and play and the doctors told him, he had to have surgery and he was like, he went from kind of kind of being like, okay, I can't wait to get back to man.

1:44:22 I'm not gonna be able to get back and he spent a lot of time watching film on himself of what he could do better and he He looks like a I don't want to say, he looks like himself but but he, he looks brand-new. I mean, he is energized. He's ready to go and he's look really good. I will say still kind of trying, I think get back to 100%. Like I think he's, I think he's, I think he's looking pretty well so far, but I think he's, I wouldn't say 100%. He's done some one-on-one stuff alone off to the side a couple, you know, one or two practices that I've seen. But I think he's come a long way and months or delaying a him and during strong, the other man and Derek canteen, somebody that the coaching staff has raved about this year.

1:45:10 That is a really good starting, DV room and I'm really excited to see what Dorian does think. He's got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, right? Yeah, you know, he had a you gotta have a chip 144 man. Can we kill? We get him into a single digit. I'll take it. Number. I'll take 20 1944. Keep going. And you mentioned David.

1:45:58 Across the board. And guys, you feel comfortable, probably put in multiple situation but who's becoming 4 and 5, because football is a game of attrition rotation. I mean, I look at the roster here. You see Devin Alvarez, the big body. Got a Florida cam Johnson, got some run last year, who do you like? Who do you see going in there? Because obviously during practice, they're rotating them, who are you seeing more of you know, with the Cheetahs out there? The the the twos and threes the other day it's a it's cam Johnson. Antonio Cotman jr. Who's reported early enrollee? He, I don't believe he was in practice the other day but he was a couple weeks ago when I saw him he was rapping with the twos so and Elijah Howard. I think those are some of the guys that are coming along in that room.

1:46:54 Room again, I'm curious again. Here's what you got to remember right there are all even cheetahs. There are a whole lot of cheetahs coming in over the summer right around Johnson earlier there are a ton of freshmen coming. I think I think that room is only going to get more competitive. As is your goes on. I agree I agree again going back to what we're talking about earlier when we talked about just recruiting and going out and getting people. This this staff has brought in some people that are when you talk about a freshmen enrolling early and getting any kind of run with one's tools, threes, it is tough to come from high school to college because anybody who's played If you want from P weed, a middle school to Middle School to high school, you always run into a speed difference.

1:47:50 The speed of the game is so fast when you go to different levels. And when you pull in somebody, like a cotton that, you know, a lot of people said, oh well, he's in, he's not this or he's that if you look at him, he looks like he can go play his body, his body, looks like he can go play on the college field and what what Cunningham is telling us, I mean, he's picking up the speed of the game. I'm pretty good. So again, we know it's Spring ball but it's definitely good to hear. When we have young guys that are able to step in and make a difference because we need it, you know, we definitely need that. Yeah, it definitely seeing that room kind of level up from guys that were experienced, but maybe not quite as talented as you like to see. And now you're seeing the level of play, get ratcheted up a little bit so that's nice to see you as well. Let's talk about the safety's a little bit. We got a lot of Auntie at the starting spot with the Seer peoples and Jalen strowman not a ton of proven depth behind them though will the two deep consists of some heretofore run, you underutilized veterans, or will there be a youth movement in that rotation?

1:49:01 We're talking about safeties. Yeah, behind behind the people and Jones and most Phillips. I think they're picking up stuff really quickly. Okay. Most Phillips, first of all, it's heat-seeking missile, who was it? Who was it? That we chatted with the other day, that that admitted that to us? There was one of the safeties we chatted with and I wrote it down. I asked And I was like, is he like a heat-seeking missile out there? Who's like, oh yeah. Let me talk to Pearson Prelude. The other day too. Oh, it's a genuine strowman and strowman was like, yeah.

1:49:41 Yeah. Most of those like heat-seeking missile. I didn't he and Jalen Jones and picked up on stuff really, really well. Two guys who are kind of both knew to that position in terms of one transfer from moved over from wide receiver. The other is in his first semester but I think those are two guys that have a lot of potential. And like you mentioned tally, they are attuned to the speed of the game, right? Big picked up an adjusted to the speed of the game. It's not really that slow for her. It's not really that fast form, right? They can keep up and they understand I'm curious to see how those guys kind of Get better and improve and become even more of a reliable. You know, guys that can rely on, when we get closer to 2 August because I think they both got really good potential.

1:50:30 I think most Phillips. You know, the fact that most Phillips is already on campus and he's essentially rapping with the tunes. That's amazing. Let's go. He and those DBS that those guys are recruiting. They're they're smart, they're talented. Did they handle themselves very, very well. So I think Jones and Philips are two guys that it would not Shock Me for them to be in the 2D coming fall. And when you yeah, when you talk about, you know, these young players and somebody like a most Phillips and you say, he's a heat-seeking missile for guys who don't know a lot about football, or don't, you know, just talk to just tune into Saturday's games, you got to build dealt, you know, you got to have That I have special teams players, so who doesn't want to seeks to heat-seeking, heat-seeking missile, going down on kickoff, team and going and tracking the ball. So this maybe sometimes you don't see these guys get a lot of playing time in the one or two deep, but if they're able to contribute in that special teams room and keep some of the ones off the field.

1:51:41 So we're not getting hurt on special teams. That's a big deal. So, That's, that's definitely good to hear. Yeah, that on Jones to, you know, we look when I, when I looked at him steadily, you said I was and they say it, what you've always talked about Jalen Jones and the way he plays man Jones reminds me of a lot of not necessarily ability wise but the way he ran with the ball playing wide receiver Anquan Boldin, he ran physical, he ran hard and I feel like that's going to translate to special teams like tally was just talking about and obviously Backing up. You know, one of those safeties on the other side, where you can use that physicality in that size to his Advantage.

1:52:22 I think the coaches should have a video segment of divine Diablo and show Jalen Jones, they were chance. They get. I said that the same exact player but maybe kind of the same path. Hey, he's in the league so you can say whatever you want about him. I don't think nobody don't say anything bad but that's who I'd be showing that's why I be showing Jalen Jones videos up. Yeah, 100% And it's good to hear that they're out there. And they're pushing our agents, the speed of the game. You know for Jaylyn that makes sense right Jalen's plate, Jason's been in jail has been involved on the field for so long but to hear someone like most Phillips come in immediately and start you know picking up and is likely going to be that to deep guy.

1:53:08 It goes to what Thomas is saying here. You're starting to build rooms where they're so deep where it's, you know, Phillips, You've got strowman, he's a young guy. Phillips. And Jones are younger, guys, where it's going to take awhile. But when you have a while, when it takes a while, you're developing them, they're ready to go physically and speed wise when they get there. Now, you mentioned coaches and we do have some things to ask you about the coaches. You've had a chance to see Tyler bonus to hold in their new roles. I mean, it's to hold, it's not really a new role. He's coached itins, half his career but Tyler bone. It's really the first time in that Quarterback room and I know you're set a distance, but how are they looking for so far?

1:53:50 Let's start with Tyler, because to me, that's 21. Everybody wants to know about and then they're both fine. I think, I think Bowen being closer to the quarterback has been a benefit, right? He's Hands-On with the quarterbacks all the time and of course that's the battle. Everybody wants to know more about drones and Wells, right? He's more Hands-On with those guys than anybody. From everything I can tell. It's playing out really well. So far. And you mentioned Holt. I think hold this hole has been fine. I think the tight end room is kind of a lot more known than unknown, right? I'm sure that transition wasn't too complicated for them and it seems like everything in that room is going well so far. But, but I think Bowen is the one that everybody's curious about from everything.

1:54:39 I can tell, he's transition really real well, and everybody in the room is taken to that transition. Well, which is very important. Don't ya. If you've got the buy-in from the players, I think that's the most important thing because if you don't have that, then you're kind of fighting a losing battle and it's hard to get back above water. Let's, let's start with this, this little more, little more fun. Question, kind of give you a chance to pull something out of left field here. Is there any coach who stands out to you for kind of how they operate during practice or anything like that? Derrick Jones is awesome, man. He's he's caught. I mean, he's constantly challenging these guys. I think it's tough to get some of the coaches work in certain areas where it's like certain areas of the field where it's hard to kind of hear everything you're saying or but but I enjoy listening to Sean Quinn but I also enjoy listening to Derrick Jones.

1:55:34 Derrick Jones is constantly challenging his guys constantly challenging these guys to get better and be better. That's what, that's what you expect from a coach. I'll say this. I think all the coaches are great people, and they're great, guys. And he's done a really good job. Brent, prize done, a really good job. I should say of hiring good people and guys who who have good Personalities in her fitting in. Well, I'm curious to see how the product of a football field turns out, but I think when you wander around and practice your listening to all these guys are fired up there, ready to go? There Jones is.

1:56:14 You could say, in a way, talking some talking, some shit to exalted wires, right? He's challenging him, right? He's saying, hey man don't be, don't be dumb, you know? Like get your act together, right? And that's how you continue to one build their character but continue to help them grow as both players and an actual, you know, humans and, you know, so I've Watching Derrick Jones. I think he's, I think he's won pretty funny. And to, he's, he's real right. He's real with his guys. I think a lot of the other coaches are two. I think fontelle Minds is, is a great guy.

1:56:56 Yeah, of course, I missed a week or two cover women's basketball, so I didn't get to be around practice, as much as I would like. But but I do think for the most part though, I've enjoyed being around all the staff because they're nice people and and they really challenge your guys to be the best. Himself. Yep. And then I guess you know talking kind of since you brought up just different Personnel groups and different cultures and different cultures in their groups. Talking Personnel. What groups do you think? Are the most fluid from like practice to practice in terms of either like starting Personnel or just personal groupings? Hang its wide receiver.

1:57:38 I mean I told you guys earlier fun time mind yes it's an action. Imagine right. I think I think God's now and all the way it but kind of taking responsibility of they're the guys who are reading the group but but I think it's kind of mixing and matching with some of the young guys. I'm curious. I'm very curious in this spring game when we see some of those young guys in in that though that uniform for the first time. How they look right there, can I get set? Can they get? Separation are playing against some pretty good DVDs for the most part on the other side. But I think wide receiver is one of those rooms where there are so many scholarship, guys. Right. Trying to to balance all the wraps and figure out what guys well guys are where each day. I think that's probably the group that's most fluid understand.

1:58:29 Yeah so you know some people probably going to lose their minds one way or the other. You know during the spring game I really did. It's going to be all right. I'm gonna be Davis. Bodyguard I'm gonna be hanging out with him. So y'all just let me Y'all got any questions? I'll come through me and then I love this but before before I ask my next question, I do need to make a quick thing here for tally and just just so y'all know where that game certainly I needed to be I knew it David II podcast with to Lakers fans here the chaps Um, our text sometimes, it's his Lakers talk. I'm just look down like lunch, who have you seen merge into the leadership role that maybe you weren't expecting this offseason?

1:59:32 I think the big one is Derek canteen. I think he's coming immediately and taking a leadership role. He's a guy who was a freshman All-American, pretty much. It meant Georgia Southern, right? And then dealt with some injuries and he has a map and down. He's coming. First of all, he's a phenomenal. He's phenomenally well spoken, he's a great guy to be around. We had a chance to speak with them and he, and he was awesome. He's a guy who the other guys really looked up to. And for guys, like Dorian strong and Monsour d'Alene, they've challenged feeling his presence has challenged them to be better. I think he's made that whole room a whole lot better. I think he's the Big Horn, he's come in and, and he's basically Yeah, he's a transfer gate. He's a new environment, but he's taking up a leadership role. And he's challenging everybody to be better versions of himself and that's important.

2:00:23 That's what you need in this program for to get to that next level. Yeah I think what, you know we had a whole episode where we talked about you know, who were the new leaders going to be. So it's nice to kind of get a leadership role from maybe that guy that you're not expecting. And I think canteen falls into that category because I don't think any of us necessarily, you know, drew a circle around Cantina said he's going to be a guy that's going to really kind of Drive the DB room or anything like that. So having a guy like that step up that just makes everybody else below him stronger. So that's important. Let's talk about this. Though because you know, we're looking at Spring practice, we're looking at depth. You specifically have talked about the wide receiver room.

2:01:06 We're kind of write it. What, about eight scholarships over the limit right now, what position groups do you think will have the most portal attrition posts praying in? Are there any groups where we can afford to add another player or two if things open up? I think you can always add, add offensive, lineman or defensive lineman, I think that you can never go wrong with adding more guys. I think the linebacker room is fine. I think the DB room is fine for the most part though. It wouldn't surprise me. If they met was one guy who left that room is Captain. They like keeping that room tight but I think that's a good number. I think most of the churches on the offensive side of the ball.

2:01:48 Six quarterbacks is too many it's just it just Just plain too many and wide receiver. You do not need 14, scholarship wide receivers I'm sorry. That's just the way it goes. So so you know everywhere else I think is all right. I think you would you would love to add some offensive linemen and defensive linemen if you can. But I think quarterback and wide receiver, really the to where I'm like, there are too many people in this room are 20 guys between quarterback and wide receiver. And there are what? Maybe three four guys on the field. One time between those two positions you don't need 20 guys between those two positions. So I think that's where all the tradition is really going to come from. I'm breathing.

2:02:35 Yep. And it'll be interesting to see who goes and who stays as we get in the fall and I think you know, having you gave it on with us tonight. You know with all the points you've been making even though you've been on the road for you know for close to almost two weeks and still having your Insight man. You know, we really appreciate it. We appreciate you joining us again. You know we're going to probably have you back as we get closer to the first game of the season. So mark your Derp even though we know you're going to be in Blacksburg really right there at it but you know, tally, Brian. Anything else y'all want to add anything breaking over the last two hours?

2:03:18 My Lakers Spirit. Other than that, I think. All right, boys, I guess the main thing for Cunningham. What you got anything planned for the spring game? Any fun festivities or tailgates? I need to attend. Working man, I am not tailgating who you think I am, man. Is actually my sister's birthday that weekend. She's a junior, at Tech someone who spend some time with her life to him. I got some family coming in town. I guess that's what happens when your brother and sister go to school here. But so I'm going to, I'm gonna spend some time with some family and I'll be, I'll be working a lot, but now I'm excited. I think it'll be a good weekend especially since I've been gone all All over the place, it'll be nice to have a lot of people. I don't know if it'd be nice to have a lot of people in Black formidable, it'll be cool to see. A lot of people, I'm sure I'll cross paths with you guys. Assuming you guys are there and a whole lot of other people. But yeah, I think I think this is a it's a big weekend, right? Big sport, big other sporting events at home You've got obviously a 3.2 432.

2:04:31 I'm curious to see how the spring game plays out. I don't know how much we're actually going to be able to take away from it. But but I do think this is an opportunity for a lot of these guys to to Showcase a little bit. What they have. I mean, we came away with from this bringing last year and said, man. Kayla Smith is good. Well, that was the only while your Subaru could do anything last year. What we came away from the off from last year saying, man, this offensive line is a mess. Now, to be fair, they did split. Up. But but how does that stuff look? Right. We're Will Come Away with probably a couple big takeaways and those will be our talking points going forward. So hope you guys get a chance to come in town and do it. I'm sure you guys are and can't wait to see you all. I'm sure we'll all across past sometime soon. Absolutely Again, David Cunningham from Tech sideline. If y'all do not know text cylons are on a great special right now, 120 for the entire year.

2:05:28 Year of all of their in-depth coverage, David. You always write great been, you always do what's right by coming on here. So, thank you for coming. That does wrap up this episode of The Boundary Corner podcast brought to you by Main Street. Pharmacy, in Blacksburg Wilson with our guest, David Cunningham on Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian Sigler, Jonathan Talent. This is our website. Boundary corner be t.com to listen to all of our episodes. Brian. You're going to need to stand up here in a moment and also visit our Newly launched, merchandise shop, show that show the logo sound recorder store. You got to get up and you got to turn around? I'm sorry, I'm late. You got to turn around, man. You gotta turn your back so where you can get. There you go.

2:06:11 Anything? Yeah, for all of the Virginia Tech fans, if you don't know what that means, you need to come over here. One night with me tally. Dave will join you and we will educate on you what we swarm baby means because if you don't know, you have not been a fan long enough and we will educate You all right. Why are there follow us, Twitter? Facebook? Instagram, subscribe on our YouTube channel where a lot of people were watching tonight. We really appreciate you guys out there and chatting with us podcasts or Spotify. Amazon, Apple podcasts, all of them. As always, we let our buddy. Jason long players in place out and Brian. He's got dates. He's got dates. He's out of. He's out.

2:06:51 He's out of hibernation, he's out, he's out of the dungeon recording. The new hits, the new hit. Yes, it will be going to be at the Grand and Village Farmers Market down in Roanoke, actually, on the spring game, going to be there from 8:00 to noon. And then in June, Harmony for hopa, supporting a lymphoma Research Foundation at mangoes, Bar and Grill. So, check em out of Jason long music.com where you can link to all his music Apple by Spotify and home because YouTube and Facebook pages for two hours and eight minutes and 30 seconds. We thank you all for listening and as always, let's go. Okay.