Road to the Draft

0:46 Welcome back to the boundary Corner podcast, I am Curtis Wilson, I'm Brian Siegel buddy. We live on a Wednesday night how you feeling back on hump day things had to be moved around a couple weeks ago for David Cunningham. We went to a Thursday but we are back in our regular slot and we got a big lineup tonight, Brian. Yeah, we're talking spring game later. Giving it a little preview of that. But before we get there, We got a big guest on tonight. Defensive tackle for the Hokies we got none other than Jordan Williams. I'm gonna go ahead and bring him on here. Jordan, how you doing tonight? Doing good.

1:27 Are you guys doing doing real good? Doing real good tonight, man? It's Wednesday back after the week is here, spring game week. Bryan's head down. We know you're back in the Burgh. Already management all over the country to last few days. But you know, Jordan, let's start here, man. You went to cots High School down in Virginia Beach. Tell us a little about your about a bit about your background there and kind of lets go back to 2016. It was some talk about your initial recruitment because I mean you are four-star, top 150 player, I mean what 30-plus offers this oh man so give us But on that.

2:16 Yeah, I mean recruitment was definitely wild for me. I didn't really have like early you like as early as recruiting as a lot of the other bigger name players in the state of Virginia. But for me, I just kind of just kept working and kept producing kept going to cams kept doing stuff like that for me after a while. It kind of just all, they all started piling up and I had a lot of Great Schools, a lot of in-state school that wanted me to stay home. A lot of big, big time conference school, a lot of big-time programs offered me a scholarship. So for me, It was just, it was pretty hectic, you know, I was talking a lot over with my family and it for me, ultimately, it came down for schools which were Clemson, Virginia, Tech UVA and Tennessee. And for me, I just, just after all, a lot of thinking, and a lot of prayer and talk to my family and things like that as if we just felt as, if Clemson was the best all-around choice for me.

3:10 So I decided to go to Clemson for 4 years. Had a great career there had Verbal career. They're made a lot of made, a lot of great, Long Live Brothers, all types of stuff, man. And then, transferred to Virginia Tech from my last year. And now I'm still, I'm living the rest of the story. Now, there we go. There we go. Sounds like that's a, that was a, it was a big process for you. Who was the first like, first school to kind of reach out to you and really show you some love. My first, my first offer was Marilyn and I remember I wanted to Marilyn camps and I got offered at the second one because I know like a lot of guys that but got recruited in high school. There's like the camps that everybody goes to and then there's the in my cams that they yeah they do. So I was there with a lot of other big time recruiting guys and for me it was just kind of like I kind of just encounter was a moment for me where I was like I'm one of these guys now. You know what I mean?

4:05 Like I went from wanting to be a highly recruited guy to be in a highly recruited guy. So for me, I got Maryland. And then ironically coach Pride. Franklin. No guys. At Penn State all from me, second. Okay. And it's okay that my recruitment kind of just blew up. It was just, it was phone calls every week letters, visits all types of stuff. So it kind of kind of happen fast for me. So, there's the Camp's you pay for and then there's the even like a, we we talked about that last year. I know. I kind of mentioned it. How many total offers? Do you remember getting like oh I want to say I might have had close to 50 like High 40s.

4:45 Maybe and I right in assuming everywhere west coast East Coast north-south. Yeah, Westco. I had a couple West Coast offers. I didn't think I was really gonna get any because, you know. Yeah, it's hard for a guy to pack up from the east coast and move all the way out west, you know what I mean? So, but I still had a handful of West Coast offers and things like that. But yeah, it was bunch of conferences, bunch of different programs. It was hectic. I bet, I mean, it's kind of crazy that you got schools east to west that was kind of just sending sending you stuff and trying to get you to come out to the cans and right, see what it's all about. So you get all these offers the I know you touched on a little bit but what really set Clemson apart from the rest of that group. For me they were just real people like Clemson like dry recruiting a lot of programs that they'll tell you, you're going to come in and be a starter day one or you're going to come in you're going to be the man and things like that and really Basically when you're when you're hearing those things it's like yeah that's what you want to hear. But just being a realist with yourself like a college coaches, telling you as a 16 17 year old kid that you're going to come in and take a potentially a 23 24 year, olds players position, you know what I mean?

5:59 But for me, Clemson never really, they never promised me anything and they told me that I was gonna have to work for everything, they were genuine people, we had a genuine relationship and for me, it kind of just it felt real. So for me, that's Kind of what set them apart from everybody else. Um I'm going to ask because you mentioned your final four was VT your number 2. BT was my number two, so Virginia Tech, definitely was my second option. It was one that I kind of It kind of made things harder, you know, being being home in Virginia and then going to South Carolina, it kind of made things tough. But for me, like going into recruiting staying home, wasn't ever really a big part of recruiting. Like it definitely played a role but it wasn't like my deciding factor but it was definitely tough. Going to go.

6:45 What six and a half hours from Virginia Beach to Clemson. Yeah. Yeah. Oh definitely. For sure. And like you said, getting recruited by so many people you know, you gotta you gotta kind of find that fit for it for you. I mean you know. Okay, so you get enrolled were you in early enrollee or I wasn't how enrolled in the summer camp, became wrong summer. So all right, get enrolled. You get there in the summer. What was the culture of the team in the field of community down there, in Western South Carolina? Because I think you wouldn't 16, they were just off the national championship, right? I got this pain that just came off a national championship and for me like, I got there and the older guys just kind of took me in and, and then maybe one of their own, you know, they accepted me.

7:32 They invited me places. Invited me to come work out. Invited me to watch film with him and then just get a part of like, the actual team because like, there's As a commission period, of course, I freshmen come in and they're working out with each other and then we first get into like our real full team like workout setting, it just made it real clear that like why Clemson was the type of program. They are like it's a team that that that's really player lay like the players, like they're the ones that are then telling guys to come in and watch them, they're the ones that are having extra work out. As they're the ones that are setting up, all these things for guys to get better and gain more knowledge, that for me, Like being a Freshman being excited, being eager to just learn everything, is something that you kind of just, you just get on board with, you know what I mean? Yes, I got to get you kind of like a sponge and soak it all in and try and definitely definitely for right. Yeah.

8:26 And when you hear about like the player led stuff, I mean that's culture because that really instills, you know, the Juniors and seniors are telling you guys as freshmen and sophomores. Take tape. Let's go get a workout in. Let's let's hang out. And then as you get older it's probably trigger. Like now I'm going to tell these guys, and exactly, that's something that's That's something that's hard to get in programs, man. It's hard to build, you got to instill it from the top down, everybody's got to be on board and Rowing in the same direction, right? Most definitely. So when you re Clemson, your position coach was tied Bates, right? Mmm.

9:08 Correct. So we'll see your favorite coach down in Clemson. Was it Brent venables, or was it somebody else on that staff? Um, I wouldn't necessarily say, I had a favorite, you know, I feel like every coach offered me individually like Like different things, like a different type of like each coach has something different that they try to instill in me. And it kind of just like, like I said, there was just a real group of guys like real group of people, even the support staff. Like some of the ladies over in like the student academic center and things like that. Like, everybody just trying and still something different into me and it kind of a lot. A lot of things stuck with me. Some things I might have to hear again, but they definitely try to pour into me a lot. And I mean, it's definitely hard to pick a favorite. You know what I mean?

9:54 Yeah, I can appreciate that. I get that. I want to ask this because we watch, you know, we're tech fans but we love college football. We watch all the games. Brent venables seems like he's one of the most animated guys. Does he have a voice like when you're at practice like when you hear his voice change tone you're like, oh somebody's about to get it. Yeah, and I mean, it's kind of like he's always like, Youkai you guys kind of call him animated but that's just how he always is. Like that's the only way we see him, you know what I mean? So when when you hear them like coaching you up, it might sound like he's like, he's like you getting on you or something like that. But it's really like, it's just him just being a coach is being called his type of coaching style that he has. It's just it's just something that you kind of get used to, but there's definitely a difference like, you know, when you're being coached and when you're being yelled at, you know what I mean, it's definitely a big difference and it's something that like Like as one of his players is something that you kind of like you catch onto very quickly. I got you, I got you.

10:57 So let's let's talk about some another personality for that Clemson staff, all a personality. So this is just a question. I wanted to know about is the is the Davos winning that we see in the media interviews, as he's the same guy that you as a player, get in the locker room, 100%, I mean coach loony. Like, and I tell everybody that, but like that's kind of the one of the most common questions when coach when he comes up and like my experience that said the same Guy that's in front of the cameras is the same guy that is behind the camera. You know what I mean? Like he's just he's a cuz he's another guy that just always is at the same level of course when there's a time to be serious, he knows when the lockdown and get everybody get everybody checked in and know that it's something else like this is some serious moment. But besides that, he's a goofy guy. Always dancing, always smiling, always talking, creating conversations, just wanted to have fun. Just just a guy that he's like when he's out there on the field, it looks like he enjoys being out there. You know what I mean?

11:54 It's not like He's just walking around. Observing all the time. Like he's making. He's out there just making guys better just off of this energy alone. Yeah, you definitely see him. Especially their, you. They showing pregame he's talking around, you see him. Slapping guy wasn't laughing and joking. And like you said dancing and yeah, so it's interesting or interesting to hear to snow Dabo. Whoever we see, Dabo does Dabo exactly, it's not for the camera. You know, you were there, been there for years, got a national championship ring, you went to numerous playoff games, you played in some of the biggest games we saw every year, but you decided to enter the portal. You know what, what combination of things was it that made you decide, okay.

12:52 I've had a great run here, I love this place but I've got it I've got to move on. Right? So for me, my education was something that kind of played a huge part in transferring. I graduated from Clemson. So for me, it kind of was like a combination of me wanted to finish school. There's a part of it where like football is something I plan on doing long-term. And for me, I feel like I was going into my fifth year as loaded. I finished my fourth year. Wanted to my fifth year wine at the transport portal and for me like the NFL is something that I want to do. And what the great I was getting back from from coach Sweeney in the scallops and stuff like that with my years, where I was draft eligible, I just knew there was so much left out there for me to put on tape so much lot, more out there for me to improve on.

13:41 And for me, like, I just wanted to go somewhere where I had a different type of role in a different type of different type of snap count. I wanted to be able to get more plays and continue to produce and put a lot more on tape. So for me, you know we watch Virginia Tech on film a lot and because we play some of our opponents, you know, being an ACC and even like our culture sad was just impressed with how their defensive line play. Just how disrupted they are. How how I let it goes. Guys are how they just cause a lot of disruption in the middle and make a lot of plays. So for me, when I went into the transfer portal, basically, everything I said about high school recruiting, it was that like times to just because I had a shorter time frame to commit to a school and things like that.

14:21 And More schools, reaching out. But for me, those were the Virginia Tech Darryl. Tapp was one of the first coaches to reach out to me. So build early relationship with him and maintain that relationship. And then obviously, you know, he went to the NFL to coach at San Francisco. Yeah. But if he did, Curtis is a Niners fan, so he is he as well. Listen, I'm Darryl. Tapp we're all here, I'm straight up. We had the opportunity to we interviewed Darrell last year. And dude, I was the most greediest guy you've ever seen. It's like, it's right that, you know, he's our age. We got to meet him back at the spring game. A few years ago, he was nice enough with his kid, on his back, to Take 5 minutes to talk to us and when we reached out to him to interview, he said, can you give me may like it wasn't like oh I'll check.

15:09 It's like dude you could tell us like mixed bring like we will say, yes. But you know obviously you kind of I've already mentioned it. No, Darryl left for the NFL and then they bring in JC price from Marshall. We're JC and built eerily similar in their approach to practice. Or do they did they kind of bring different styles as you definitely brought different styles and they definitely brought different styles. We always used to joke around in our room and call. We would call a link to brains and Coach Price the muscle, you know, because Crisis, coming out there, he's gonna, if you mess up, he's gonna tell you right then.

15:51 And there that you messed up. Mmm, coach lingo tell you, but he might just tell you in film or after practicing anything. That goes prize, he's going to let you have it right then and there, you know what I mean? He's a guy that notices all the little things. He's a guy that emphasizes just having energy hustling, moving moving quickly, everywhere. You're going to, and you kind of need that being out here kind of explains the type of Kochi as in the type of impact he had when he when he took over towards the end of the season. That's awesome. That's awesome. Yeah, I mean, you can definitely see like, just some of the anytime you see Coach Price out there. It looks like you can feel that energy, right, right?

16:31 You know, whether it whether its media, whether it's just like quick steps that you catch on all social media, you see that energy and you feel that that passion, and it sounds like he brings that to the to the practice field to deafening silence. Oh, that's cool. So let's talk a little bit about about Coach am, was there a big transition for you coming from Brent venables system and then fitting into what coach an was doing at Virginia Tech. I mean, for me at Clemson, we ran so many so many blitzes, so many covered. It was just so much install that you had to know that you had to learn each and every week, but like I said, that, that player German culture, you know, like guys are already learning it, guys are learning the next day's install the day before, and it was just things like that going on. But for me, going into the transporter, I knew that if I could learn a system like Brent venables, and I'll be able to go anywhere in the country and learn to similar similar. System.

17:28 You know what I mean? Or any other type of system, just because of how complex, and how much things we ran as a defense at Clemson. What about hams personality in, you know, energy level, because you mentioned grunts intense, we know that and I don't know, can can be intense, but they're sometimes, it looks like you was a little more. He keeps his cool a lot more definitely. You definitely speaks up a lot to US during practice. He definitely has a big voice for the whole defense. He gets all of us in line because I wasn't order game days. Are kind of where he's a little bit more mellow. You know, I mean, he's a little bit more chill. Chill it out unless we make a big play or less, we're messing up or blow a big carpet or anything like that, but he's a lot more mellow.

18:15 But he definitely, you definitely has a strong voice for our defense and our team. Also yes, so you had mentioned earlier have I think I read it. I can't remember who put it out there but you know the familiarity you had with with Coach Fuente from your previous recruitment kind of played a role in your room to Blacksburg as well. What was that relation like for you and Coach winter? Um, for me, you know, coach Fuente. I'll never have a bad thing to say about him. I know that there's a bunch of people out there, a lot of fans, A lot of a lot of whatever you want to call it, but a lot of people bash them and a lot of people can say and say what they have to say about them. But for me, you know, I was, I was probably at one of my lowest points moving Clemson, you know, going into the transwarp portal, not really knowing what what was next for me and Coach Fuente was just so eager to call me and give me a shot and give me a chance.

19:12 And it for me, like, I felt like I was talking to the same guy I met when I was 17 years old. So, he kept that same relationship. He wasn't, he wasn't spiteful against me because I didn't choose to go to Virginia Tech the first time around. He wasn't, he wasn't upset with me. He wasn't angry with me. And for me, we just had a great relationship because I came. I came in and I was just all about the right thing, and he knew that he knew that I came there to be a guy to be a leader to make an impact for that, for that team for the defense for the defensive line for everybody. And for me he just kind of he's a, he's a man that I always respected. He's And that I always recognize that gave me gave me a chance that that ultimately could have changed that ultimately can change my life.

19:54 You know what I mean? Yeah, for sure. You know you said getting that opportunity and I mean I love you being candid talking about when you had enter the portal. It was a low point because when you came here you know we were as fans were excited because a lot of us knew the name from recruiting and stuff and you know you played your butt off last year man. You play this in a very again another unusual. Well year, you played your butt off. And let me ask this kind of get away from that because I could go down Road, man. But I'm going to try everyone Force. But, you talked about some of the cultural stuff in Clemson. What we're kind of the difference is, especially looking at the game to game prayer in when you Tech versus Clemson game to game prep, I know, we kind of had just four one, one of the main, Things I notice about as far as game prep, that was the difference as that Clemson we practice in like the later half of the afternoon and at Virginia Tech we practice in the morning, okay? Now you can ask who you want but after being in four years of afternoon practices, leaving the facility, at 8:00, 9:00 some nights, I'm fully onboard with morning practice. You know what I mean?

21:10 Like, it's coming in going through practice just waking up and and, and just putting that time and for that little bit of time you're out there and then just going Home and being done with your dad around like noon. You know what I mean? It was just something that that I wasn't really used to but it was something that I definitely benefited me because I was able to have more time to get treatment more time to do things like that, but as far as prep those I mean every program across the country, you can go anywhere to any school, any level of college football, everybody's going to run their program differently and for me like coach coach funds. I know coach wants a mention in the interview like asking somebody and ask him something. I was, was I coming in there and like just did I notice a difference or that I like try and critique anything and for me like this, this is the program coach Fuente has been running for four years now, you know what I mean? Like I don't expect him me to come in and start changing how things go.

22:03 You know what I mean? Because ultimately I can tell them how I want program is running, but Clemson is not the only program that's running by. He's they're not running a similar program. Everybody else like everybody's running a different program, a different preparation type and for me, It was definitely different but it definitely had its similarities as well. You know, like like I mentioned that we had a lot of player lead player. Led does a player like team from us for real? And I feel like a Virginia Tech. We were all kind of like really close. Like, for me, that was the one of the group's where I know like what the history of Virginia Tech a lot of guys transfer. A lot of guys transfer in a lot of guys, leave a lot of things, just a lot of things happening over the course of the season, over the course of a couple years, but this is like one of the most tight.

22:47 Groups I've been around and is very player led and one thing I noticed is that the players respect each other. You know what I mean? Like, for me when I came in, brought Hoffman was not. I've said in an interview before brought Hoffman was one of the players that I immediately respected just because of the way he were just because of the way he, he was with the, with the offense of line. And the younger guys, just the way that the younger guys looked up to him. It was something that was really cool to see. So for me like that, that, that plays a huge part in, to a lot of a lot of teams Access. If you got guys that are like you only a couple of guys are out there and I everybody's out there and then only those guys are really like getting that that Advantage. You know what I mean? That's as opposed to a whole group being able to get some extra work and get some extra knowledge and watch a little bit extra film and things like that.

23:34 So for me I would say like that's something that kind of surprised me you know just coming into a I'm a I'm a grad transfer coming into a brand new locker room. I'm wondering Our guys are going to view me like how guys are gonna look at me. I got sent me, are they gonna welcome me and bring me in? Am I going to be a part of the culture, the Brotherhood and things like that? For me just seeing how fast all that happened for me. Kind of just made me feel a whole lot better about my decision. Yeah, that's also, because I will say this, I noticed, like in Fall, when things were starting to ramp up like the camaraderie, you were having with, like, like James Mitchell and trade turning, like, cutting up during like interviews and stuff like that.

24:17 Like, Like it definitely seemed like y'all really had like a that family atmosphere going on, pretty quick. Most definitely, it's all from the here. Alright, so it is the Friday before Labor Day, 20, 21. And you guys are sitting there in the locker room and it's about 550 and you start the walk. Just give us your thoughts and your experiences of that first one become those. For that was the first time Lane had been filled since the Last time we were there in 2019 and for a lot of people that was like the semblance of college football was back, y'all are already used out.

24:57 The crowd was onge is give us your feelings walking down through the tunnel. Just for me, that was actually my first game ever and laying. I haven't been to Blacksburg on a visit even in high school for a game. I came for like a couple cams. Just some Doing business by never been in Lane Stadium, ever for a game. And I was going to be my first time and it just so happens. That is my first game at Virginia Tech as against a ranked opponent, the game sold out, like you said, we got the orange on, like it was just, it was just chill. Just something that I'll definitely never forget.

25:38 And like, there's so much more about it that like, I wish I could say, I remember but it just kind of just happened like, being in the Don't like that. Everybody was asking like, what's it like what's it like running out to enter the sandman? It was so loud for me. Like I didn't even hear anything. I didn't hear the music. It just sounded like one big just noise as you ran out the tunnel and for me, like I was so I was just so eager, I was so hyped up. I didn't even know that. That the players jumped into the stands with the Court's order, I went and did it anyway. You know, I'm not first time out there, like, I'm gonna do everything I can do everything, right? And then we went out there and And there was also the game just spoke for themselves as far as the the hike going up into that into that moment. Absolutely, absolutely.

26:28 That's awesome to hear and like you know, people make claims but I mean I still say there's no atmosphere like laying, especially when it's packed when it's a nice. When it's a big game, it's a great game like big game. Anytime it's a big game that plays just rocks like, None other. So let's turn into a little bit of you know a little more somber, note here. So you know it's been November. The team is five and five get the news coach Fuente has been removed as head coach Jacy. Price has been named interim, was this move a shot to y'all in the locker room or was this something where you kind of saw the writing on the wall as things were going into November?

27:09 Um, For me, it was definitely something that we saw like happening in the near future. Definitely not on a Tuesday, practice going into a game that could make us Bowl eligible. You know what I mean? And every you can ask any college athlete and Tuesday, such a pivotal part of preparation, like, Tuesday's like a full padded practice full speed and sure like one day of the week, where you guys are really like, hitting each other and really like, getting actual game reps in and for us to be told this news before we go, Out on the field. It just it shocked everybody. And I mean for for Coach Price to Cusco we all of us heard the news at the same time, you know what I mean?

27:52 So for Coach prize to get Heat coach prize came in when I did. So for him to get in and what was that like mid-January we both got in and mid-January for him to hear this news that he's going to be not only like he's not working with the defensive line along, but he's going to be the head coach. It was just something that kind of Just I know shocking for him as well, but as like for us as a coach, you not even just for us, but I as a coach like that, that heard the exact same news that you heard at the same moment, it's kind of like, what can you like? It's going to be hard to keep a team locked in when we just like, you know what I mean? When such a big changes happen in our in our locker room. So for us, we kind of just like I said, the leaders on the team, the seniors, the older guys, just trying to keep everybody locked in and keep them. Keep them focused on the task at hand, which was trying to be polite eligible by the end of the season. Yeah, and I can't imagine, you know, like you said, it was on a Tuesday when that happened.

28:50 I can't imagine, you know, how I felt for you guys, because, you know, if it's, and I'm not trying to say what's right, what's right? Like, if it's done on a Sunday Drive of, y'all have a couple days to deep breath. This is our new coach. This is how we're doing things but to get it, like you said, like one of the biggest practice days. I mean, in, right before, Not after you know, that, that's definitely I give you guys credit because you're going out and you all played y'all's asses off against Miami. He'll be a real played your asses off against Miami. And, you know, came up short in that game, not for a lack of effort, but then the next week, it's, you know, the game for the Commonwealth cup.

29:38 You guys going to Carlinville. What did it mean to you? Because they They had a you know you know what did it mean to you to go in there? In bring the cup back to Blacksburg for me. It was you, you know, I kind of, I kind of knew a lot about the Rivalry, but I didn't really like, just like going leading up into the week. I didn't really like, have that same hate life for me for four years. All, I know was the Gamecocks, you know what I mean? Like, just, I hate them, but I knew I had it on, like, I played there.

30:18 I've, I've been able to experience their faith. Is and things like that. So for me like my first trip to Charlottesville playing them, of course. It was, it was crazy. You know, like getting there, just being in the hotel, not even on the field, you're just being a home. Like I hate these guys, you know what I mean? Like I had that same similar hate to him and like just seeing how other guys went about the Rivalry as well, like the height that goes into it, the real the real hatred Backyard Brawl type of type of game. It is, you know what I mean? I mean it's something that I kind of just bought it so you know I've never do my first time ever playing UVA. It was a moment where it made us Bowl eligible. We kept the cop, we allowed my first time ever being on a field that like, on an opponent's field that got storm by our fans that never happened to me.

31:09 That's why. Yeah. So for me it was just a all overall experience. My first time ever. My first time ever? No, never mind. My first time ever. I was gonna say my first time ever smoked Cigar after the game but I did after UNC game. I got to drink out of the cup life for me. I'll told you I came to Virginia tag, learn a lot about the Traditions about the things like that. I had, I just felt like I had to experience all of it. You know what I mean? It sounds like you were just soaking everything in Old Time, right. Definitely. You know, during the game, it's kind of like it was, it was that type of game where how it ended and things like that, but after the game that's that's when you just kind of got a so-called of it in. Like I wanted to be one of the last ones off the field. And things like that.

31:51 Just that's just a moment. That's that's huge for you. A moment that you'll always be able to remember and tell your kids about what was what was Coach Price in the locker room after that game because we got to see him on national TV, right? Almost bring most of us fans to tears, but what was it like in the locker room? After obviously, the own field celebration was Wild and Woolly. I'm sure they heard you guys. Lane Stadium, North Lake. Naco surprised. He was just he really just just made it a point to express how proud he was of us. You know. I don't think there was any team in college and all the college football last year that had a had to deal with what we had to deal with, you know what I mean?

32:34 We had so much things going on in our program that that would like a lot was out of our control, but it was it was something that we just had to deal with and something that we had to take on and accept and work through every day. So for us to pull out a big game like that again. Against those that one team down the street, it kind of was just huge for us, you know, like there was something that like it was a moment where, like I said, all of that, that tight bond that I told you guys about it, kind of just, it made it all, like, seeing real. You know what I mean? Guys were hugging on guys, taking pictures with the cup in the locker room guys on the phone with their parents on the phone with all their friends and things like that. Like it was just a it was really a cool moment to be a part of and then I feel like just how it ended was just it made me even more better. You I mean like it was a little stressful it during the time but how I just how it ended.

33:25 Definitely just made everything it just made the moment complete. Yeah, I mean, you guys had so many close calls in the first part of the season and then you had all the turmoil that happened in November with, with Coach Fuente stuff getting relieved there. I'm sure that was just like, all right, well, we got one, we turn it around. We finish the way we wanted to finish and we did it at our route. Owls field. And I just can't imagine how good the feeling that was after after the kind of the Way That season that went down, right was such a good feeling. So let's turn it this, I know after the season, you've declared for the draft during this process, where have you been working out and who have you been preparing with I want.

34:12 So after I opted out of the ball game, I went back home. Spent Christmas with my family. Probably my first, I think it was my first Christmas ever being at home, you know, being in being at Clemson. We were always playing on. Like, we really didn't even get to be home for Christmas. We're always traveling and practicing during Christmas time. So I Have been spend Christmas at home my family, and then I shortly after that, I flew out to Fort Lauderdale and I was training at the gym called perform and Davey. So I trained there for three months. Got a lot of good work, met a lot of good people and after that came back here for pro day and since then I kind of just been, you know, just working out on your own just just work coming up with workout plans.

34:56 A lot of guys like to go back to the facility. They trained a lot of guys just do. Different things. But for me, you know, I just been putting in work on my own. I've been in Florida. I've been, I've been here in Blacksburg doing some work and after I leave here for after the spring, am I plan on going back to back to Virginia Beach and doing putting in some more work just until the dry. If, you know, you just kind of want to just, just always say ready, just staying in shape because you just never know where your journey is going to end up at. How did you feel about your pro day down in Blacksburg? I know it was a ton of folks. There, how do you feel about No, it was exciting. You know, I definitely had the nerves, like, it's kind of like going into a game, almost, you know what I mean?

35:38 Like it is and it isn't except like the guys that are the Scouts in. The guys are watching you there, right in front of your face at pro day. You know what I mean? So it just makes that market or a lot smaller but after you kind of go through, you're going through your first couple of drills and kind of just is really just you and you out there. You know what I mean, is you against yourself, you know, you know, this type of caliber player you are, you know, Show your abilities. You know, you know what you can do. And now all that's left to do is just go out there and do it regardless of who's around you regardless of who's watching. So, for me, it was definitely, it was definitely exciting. I feel like I was able to go out and display everything that I needed to display. A lot of the questions that Scouts had on me.

36:18 I was able to go out there and really just display those things and show them that I can. I am who I say, I am, you know what I mean? Yeah, and the nerves thing that I think that's anything you care. Out of want it. If you're not nervous, then you know, it's like he's there any passion in you, right? That's, that's that's what, you know, that's what I've known. That's what I've always felt throughout my life because if you're you're nervous about something you care and when you care, it definitely shows up. We got a question here from coach Robbie Compton. Can you see that Jordan? Yeah, I can see it and if you could pick his team drive wherever you want to go, I mean I've always growing up.

37:00 Always been a Redskins fan the Commander's now, but always been arrested as fan for me now though, you know, just being being older knowing what's going on. Like NFL. I want to go somewhere where it's nice and nice weather. Great weather year-round. You know what I mean? I'll be fortunate enough for whoever whoever pick me up. What would you ask me? Wherever signs, me. But if I had to choose, I'm definitely gonna go towards the Sun and towards the warm weather. You know what I mean? All those books. Traded down in Florida, you write one of those floor disease have minor in Florida. Since January, I knew you didn't like you went from the coal to Blacksburg and I know you guys were up in New York City to what, 75 and Sunny every day, right?

37:46 All the time it was it was crazy man. So have you had a chance to talk to any teams directly throughout this process so far? Yeah, I mean, I've talked to a lot of Teams on pro day. I've had some interviews with a few teams after the process. I know that tie-ins the Chargers. The the 49ers are few of the teams but yeah, I mean this is always on the phone. Always talking to talking to different Scout always filling out, filling out questionnaires doing assessments and things like that. Like it's real process and its really getting down to towards the end where now we're going to figure out where we're guys are going to wind up at.

38:33 So throughout the president you talked about filling out questionnaires. What's the weirdest question that you've encountered throughout those interviews? And those questionnaires there's a lot. I mean I feel like you're not really supposed to think too hard about them, but I mean there's some places where it kind of like I wouldn't say they're weird but the kind of questions that make you wanna like, second-guess, you know what that's like. Is this a trick question? Kind of question. Like, they'll just ask you just things that was but I was like one of the hardest things you've gone through and it's like you're about to tell a scout that you that that you never met that doesn't really know you like something that really like challenge you throughout your whole life. You know what I mean, by there's different questions. Like I know.

39:21 One Scout asked me, who if there was anybody in the law? Anybody in the world, I could eat a meal with, like, you dinner with who Dead or Alive. Who would it be? And it's like, that's not a, that's not a weird question, but it's a question. Whereas like why I would never expect you to ask me that? Like, were your NFL scout ya to sign me to drive me? And you're asked me, who's one person? I would want to, like, have a meal with you dead or alive? Like that's just something that kind of for me, like it makes you think a different type of way. Yeah, you don't want to under think you but you don't want to overthink it either. Yeah, exactly. You don't want too much about it. You just kind of want to just just happen to have a name ready and just throw it out there and just be able to stand on its and fired by.

40:02 It's true. Those are those are the old. Those are the old who's talking. It is my lungs. I couldn't broaden know if your dog has slipped in the room. I saw the cat a few minutes ago, but those questions.

41:07 So Jordan, you know, we're wrapping up here and if you guys who are watching us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, We Don't Instagram tonight. Brian twitch twitch or figuring out everywhere. Bottom of your screen is all of Jordans info. Check out his ni L apparel line. Right there, Jordan Williams. A pair of Jordan Dash Williams. That's your peril. . My Shopify.com you parlament underscore blessed underscore 23 on Twitter or J Will 12 underscore on Instagram? You know, our buddy who asked you that question. He also said, if you get drafted by the Commander's, he will buy your jersey.

41:57 And you know, I only got one. 49ers jersey. If you get drafted by the 49ers, I got you. Taken care of. Yeah. But, you know, it was also in your Insight Man the best of luck to you, you know what the NFL stuff.

42:39 But beyond that I think the type of person you are and it shows here tonight. Whatever you do next. I believe you're going to be successful in it man. Sir, I appreciate you guys so much and thank you guys for having me and just being able to tell a little bit about myself and about my journey. Absolutely, yeah, and I know Hokie Nation, appreciates everything that you did for 21 coming in and being a leader on that team. And just, you know, the man Now that you are in the way you carry yourself. So we appreciate that and I know they do as well. Yes absolutely Jordan, you have yourself a good rest of your weekend but those who are going to the spring game Jordans in Blacksburg. Look for him he'll be all around, I'm sure most definitely. All right.

43:23 All right guys, as we wrap up here with Jordan, we are going to take a quick pause for a message from our digital Partners. Before we jump into preview in the spring game. 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, in Vegas and we do had graphic what you think? I told you yesterday. Man Brian Brian doing a little handy work there with his graphic design, good job babe. The live read was pre-taped at the old house. I was like, well, if I'm going to do this let's go ahead and and dress it up a little bit more to have fun before we move on by other topics again.

44:22 We can't think Jordan Williams from joining us enough tonight. Night, great human being, great individual Braun. I hope you can connect with him over the weekend up in the Burgh, if you see. And, but, and that I tell you that, that story about that Tuesday, that's laying up. Yeah, I can't imagine that. Yeah, I mean, that's a whole lot of process while you're trying to, you know, prepare for against a rival opponent on the road. Huge huge. All right, so before we get into spring game, there are three things we are going to cover here tonight. Guys and first run. We finally got one in the boat. We got one in the boat. Yes sir. And of course it had to be an interior offensive, lineman Lance Williams 64 306 out of Alcoa Tennessee, a three-star with additional authors from appstate, Cincinnati and Georgia Tech Brian.

45:22 What do you think of Lance preliminary tape review? I mean it looks like he's got a nasty G which I like to see and I think that's going to bode well for what coach Rudolph is trying to do with this offensive line. And I think he kind of fits right into that mold of that that style of Lyman that Rudolph is typically recruited. You know time will tell if he's going to be able to make the transition into a rotation. A little too deep layer or starter, but I think this is a good start for the 23 class especially at a position where we need some depth. Yeah, you know, we've got to replenish the lines, I mean with without a doubt, you know, and you feel like with Rudolph.

46:08 It's one of those the way he's developed not only High Caliber, you know, or high rated offensive lineman, the last guy he had been turned into an All-American, it was constant, As a two-star guy that legitimately had. He was their offer. No. You feel like the hope you feel like Joe Rudolph probably has a knack for finding the guys he wants and like you said, you can't teach nasty, you can teach you other stuff. Alright, next note announced today Braun As you've been saying over and over, we ain't Mom and Pops anymore. When Sheraton donate five million dollars to update the locker rooms five large and that's going to be big.

46:58 We said it we said it earlier today that that might be what what do we say? We said that might be some some slide money. Yes. Some pool slide money, it's not going to quite be E, Florida, Cabana money. I think a band of money. I saw some people say, get a good barber shop in there. I'm sure how about sleep pause. Like they have at LSU, although I would just like to know the cost of one sleep pod for my house. Yeah, I would like one of those. I can just put that in my desk here, the home office, take a nap midday. You know, that that would definitely be the ideal setup here for me, you know, bigger pieces and we and we've seen some of the pictures In the locker room is some significantly dated?

47:45 Oh yeah. It's I mean it was it was dated eight years. Yeah it probably it probably should have been updated in like 2010 but we digress on that but seeing this sword again, the money keeps rolling in, you know, along with everything else we've seen in the last, you know, really six months to a year, the money's coming and it's time to get the facilities where they should be. You know I can't wait in me and Brian. We were talking today. I think this is something we see revealed what we say Brian neck about a year from now. Yeah, I would think so. I think they if you know, depending on where they're at in the planning stages of this, I don't know if they already had, you know, planes ready to go, just waiting on the funding to come in or what the situation is. But if that's the case, getting this turned around, before you start getting some of the big Junior days next year, at least before the spring game next year, that would be the probably ideal scenario when you get a lot of those big recruits on campus, you know, they're not just looking. At a poster.

48:53 They're not just looking at promotional material. They're looking at the real deal. Absolutely. And you have to be able to have them walk in there and see it Live In Living Color huge but also, you know, huge for the guys. They're currently right. Like know. They, you're fighting to be one of the guys that gets here so, it's awesome. Other thing there is definitely going to be something in il related. Getting announced tomorrow at Virginia Tech. Some of the, some of the known Virginia Tech in il Twitter's are there basically they're sending out the signals that something's coming up? Yeah, something bigs happening.

49:36 Keep keep your eyes peeled. Keep your eyes peeled. I know one was performance, I saw two tweets. One was at like 5:00 today and one was it like six? That we will just kind of like something's happening and I love the timing of it too. I really like the timing of it because you're talking about announcing this and probably what Friday all the kids are going to be coming in for the visit for the official spring game. So you're announcing you making this announcement as they walk in you have something immediately to talk about not only the locker room but the N IL deals.

50:17 Yeah you got a selling point right out the gate 4. And you've got a large number of kids coming in. So you're not just, you don't, you don't just have something new to sell, but you got a lot of eyes that are ready to listen. That's not a lot of ears and eyes that are ready to listen. I was ready to look ears. Ready to listen. Yeah, well, let's flip it now. Brian, let's take a look. And start doing a little preview of the spring game, things were looking for and a lot of other things as well. But let's start with the format which coach Pride announced today in his press conference There are going to be two rosters into staffs and essentially coach prai is working on splitting that up.

50:58 So Brian mean, you've been talking about it. We're probably going to get pretty even teams and we're not going to probably see some guys play together that we were expecting to. Yeah. I mean there's there's positives and negatives to this format. You know, the positives, are you get to see a lot of guys working with various Into. So you get a good mix of how everybody that's going to be in the rotation for significant snaps. Come fall. How they're going to work? They're going to get a good amount of snaps. What you don't get to seize. You don't get to see how the the first line or the second line or gelling, or how this player, you know, works with that player because they may be on separate squads.

51:45 So you might not see, you know, Wells, throwing to Blue, you know, you might It, you don't see that starting five on the offensive line altogether. You're probably going to have Silas Dancy and Johnny Jordan probably on separate lines because they're probably going to be the leaders of their respective units. So there's going to be things like that that you don't get to see. But what you do get to see is probably a better more entertaining game and we're talking about for 12 minute quarters. The first half is going to have a normal clock. Second half is going to have a running clock, but when you have those Mostly evenly matched teams. You're going to get a better product and that's going to that's going to think benefit them from a more casual or typical fan perspective.

52:31 Versus guys like us that like really like to dig into the minutiae of the roster the depth chart. Yeah and you know breaking down what's happening on the field. I think for those, for those casual fans and for those fans that just, you know, are showing up to have a good time. And enjoy the game. I think that's they're going to probably get the best product this way. You definitely get the best product. But I even think for guys like us and, you know, followers with our account and other folks who are deeper into it, you're going to start seeing more names, right? Like my thought is backs hollifield now and Tuesday will not be at Mike and we'll together.

53:13 It's probably going to be Dax and probably Jaden Keller that will and you know, you've heard prize speak a couple times. He's making some, you know, inroads, you know, in the same thing with corner, you might see Jaden blue, go against Elijah Howard, who was mentioned today at having a pretty good camp to be a younger guy. So so if we see if you see a guy, you don't know, and he's starting to make strides immediately. He's on your radar. Why can't we get to fall camp? And that's what is really cool about this format. But you know, Sometimes you just want to see one ones and see who can run it the best.

53:53 But let's get into it, Brian. Let's start with the quarterback room and From the sounds of it. It feels like well, Grant. Well, might have a little bit of an advantage going into the spring game. Do you feel that way from here in Fred talked? Last week? Tyler talk, and then Coach cry talked a few times. Yeah, I mean, it sounds like, I mean, he's won the spring baller award for the offense, so he's got that under his belt. He's been the name that Even when both Wells and brown have been mentioned Wells, as name has been brought up first consistently and I don't know whether that's just by default or whether that's something there's something to that but it seems like Wells has the advantage.

54:47 It was mentioned that you know looks like he's throwing a pretty good deep ball has good command of the offense. The coaches had mentioned that both Wells and brown have only thrown one Pig during scrimmages as of our last Last talk there, so that's a good sign and especially for Wells who did have some concerns with interceptions during his time at Marshall. Yeah, so that's good to hear both above 65 percent completion percentage during those scrimmages, the question is going to be is, you know, are these going to Wells and brown? Are they going to be the one guys for their respective squads?

55:27 It sounds like they are. Yeah. And that's going That's going to give us a pretty good. Look at what they're able to bring to the table. You're not, you're not worried about splitting snaps or whether you know, Browns working with mostly twos and Wells is working with mostly ones. You get a good mix for both. So you really can kind of see how these quarterbacks handle those situations. Yeah, and the whole thing now about the snap count is us as you know, kind of paint. You know, in the minutiae fans we're not going to worry about that anymore because they're probably going to get the same number of snap counts with the ones with the Their respective ones, right? Yeah, exactly. So exactly know that was something we thought about looking in. If they're going to play it another way. Where's more defense offense?

56:10 What we might be? Seeing is all right. Well Wells got, you know, he got 50, you know, he got 20 more snaps, he's clearly leaving but we're not going to be able to see that. So maybe we get a decision, maybe we don't now what I'm going to be more interested in brine is who what? Ins they give to each quarterback. We keep hearing. You said it already Grant well deep ball accuracy. Well what if their decision on him is the best deep ball guy? They're going to put over with Jason Brown. Yeah, that's going to be interesting to see how those matchups are set up. You know, whether you know, you get blue on one side Loft and on the other, whether whether blue and Lofton, they're going to be together, I feel like those are probably the two most potent weapons at the wide receiver position that we're going to have come fall.

57:05 Bloomer question is, are ya blumrich? Where is he going to be? I mean we know he's not a quarterback anymore but is he going to be you know, that your third or fourth tight, Dorsey just going to be a guy that they, you know, drop on one Squad and see what he can do at multiple positions there. So that's going to be interesting to follow as well. And then, you know, we've obviously, I've even talked about Taj Bullock and Devon Farrell here who are rounding out the quarterback room. I think the big thing to watch for them is going to be mechanics, you know, which of those two is is bringing sound mechanics and and looks good with their release and It has a good command of where they want to go with the football.

57:48 Yeah. The other thing about it, you mentioned by the to essentially the, the two guys in the running for the starting over 65% coach also mentioned Todd and Devon both 65 percent plus completion percentage in their time as well. He did not mention interception but I expect them to younger guys to have a few more. But the other thing is, you know, who's out there barking the instruction because they're tick, they're essentially going to get a significant amount of snaps. Who commits if the Hubble who commands the team better, who gets a chance to go out there. For example, you know, let's say it's brown and Bullock and they've got Jaden blue. Do they get the opportunity to go out there and play with Jaden blue or you know, some of the other guys were perceiving to be you know contributors on the offense.

58:37 And yeah that's a big one in. I think the other thing when we look at who ideal Lee could emerge as that third quarterback for this fall and even looking long-term I think, You kind of want it to be ties, right? And I think the reason aside from his having one extra year in the system, but also my thing is, you know, pry and others have mentioned the position flexibility that Farrell has, you know, there might be, you know, some options with him moving to another position as need be or as is better for our roster.

59:20 So ties taking the lead. In that group may be the preferred outcome just because of that flexibility, it may be. But I think it's going to be in that case, whoever is the third best quarterback is going to be the third best quarterback and I think that valves going to go into fall Camp. I think it never wins. That job is going to be running Scout teams and then the other guy is essentially going to have to find, you know, a home to do something whomever it is. So it'll be really interesting. All right Brian, let's flip over. Let's look at the o-line next. Tell me what you're looking for because you're going to be there in person. You can be able to see it live. What are you looking for from these guys?

1:00:02 So, the big thing I'm looking for is nastiness, especially when I'm looking at the Gap scheme plays, along that offensive line, I'm looking for assignment soundness. I want to make sure they understand where they need to be, how they need to approach that block. They're taking the right steps, they're not taking false steps, I'm looking for pass Pro, that is at a level that's acceptable at this point. I think there's some guys in this, even in the first group that their past Pro is still coming along. They might get beat here and there, but if we can see Improvement, and we can see a pretty Steady Hand in past Pro, I think that's what we're looking for. And the last thing Looking to see who can be a part of that seven and eight man rotation.

1:00:54 We kind of know the first five is pretty locked in. So how are they pairing those? That second group with some of those starters in this matchup and who in those groups is kind of taken the next step to really show that they can be part of a seven or eight man rotation in the fall and you know I'll ask this question to see if Do you think? There's Johnny Jordan, do a good job of making those around him better because I feel like that is the key factor when we look at both spraying. And then what we're looking at long-term in the fall, I think we're going to find that out Saturday, honestly do. Because what I think is going to happen with I think we're going to look at something like, whoever's lined up with Johnny doesn't have Solace on their left, whether it be Bob shake or whether it be just Hanson.

1:01:50 How good do they play? And then I'm sure the coaches have notes to say, well, you know, let's say Bob gets me and Bottles playing great today with John, oh shit. When Jesse was there with Jonny, Jessie was playing great, maybe not so much on the right side, that's where I'm. That's what's going to be fascinating about. About Saturday's to see how the linemen go. You know, is it going to be again? I think you're 100%, right. I think Johnny and Silas are going to be on opposite sides. I really do think that. But then what do you do? You do you, do you, do you booked in tackles and then let you know, do you let multiple guards? Do you do you let do you let the guards? Like let all the interior play together and keep shit on the same side where you can rotate them in. I mean there's so many different ways you can go with this and you know brim process the day.

1:02:50 He felt like the offensive line has progressed has been. He's been pleasantly surprised with how they've progressed, which is a good sign. Is it also a good sign? A guy like Bryce, good nerd. Gets moved to defensive tackle. It's got to be right. I mean, the fact that you're less concerned about the second or third team offensive line compared to the second or third team, defensive line that says that you're in a better place than we thought we would be. And it also, you know, bodes well for the defensive tackle depth long-term and for good nor getting on the field faster which I think is something that was important to him.

1:03:31 Exactly. So I'm going to be I'm going to be probably getting here late. I'm going to probably miss the game. We've got a, you know, everybody knows I'm not going to be here Sports on Saturday. I mean, I'm Really Gonna pause the TV. Maybe they'll get some back angles. I know, Brian. I think you need to be what West stands right side. So you're facing kind of where we were in 06, where you get that kind of that perfect view of the backside of the home, puts in line, because the combos are going to be so interesting. Do they play with in? I mean does anybody jump out to you?

1:04:12 I think that's gonna be interesting. We talk next week and we talk probably I'm not going to call you Saturday because you're going to have your son with you. You're going to be all sorts of, but we talk Sunday. I'm expecting you to say a name, like this person is going to be in the 2D and I didn't see that coming. Yeah, that's what I'm gonna try to identify, see you, who is playing above their, their expected level, like like, because like we said, we know that, you know, maybe Jesse, Hanson aside the first five we can. Yeah, we're pretty solid on, we trust them.

1:04:52 We trust them to go out there and play and that's not to say we don't trust Jesse hands and we just haven't seen enough of him to know whether that's that's something we can trust or not. In. Well, I think what made us feel better last week with hearing Bob shakes name. Finally, finally. Seth other than the, the five we know about finally breaking through. Hopefully. Yeah. And if we can get two more guys, to go along with him, then you got an eight, man rotation, and you feel pretty decent again. I'm more concerned about Center than I am necessarily guard or tackle, just because I think Johnny Jordan is going to be somewhat Unreplaceable in that offensive line on a percent. I will flip next prime let's look at the skill positions, the wide receiver and the tight end, we've already mentioned his name.

1:05:44 Once let's mention it again. Connor blumrich. I mean we expected him to. I mean is he going to be no W? It's you just going to be all over the place or do we think you know they're going to stick him? It just tight end or just big slot. What are you forcing? I've seen mostly weighing in big slot but I think he's going to be you deployed a lot of different ways across once we get into the fall, once the Playbook is fully open, I think he's going to be deployed in a lot of different ways but in terms of what I think we see on Saturday in the spring game I think he's going to be deployed pretty much as a wing and a big slot and that's not to say that's a bad thing that's just you know, We're taking taking a building blocks approach, and that's step.

1:06:35 One is getting him where he's comfortable doing those things and then we can really stretch out, you know? Okay, well with his skillset, how can we get him even more involved in the offense whether that's in throwing him screens, whether that's in using him in the running game and using him in a in a trick play variety where he's throwing the football. I mean, there's so many different things that you can do with that type of player. But I don't think we see a whole lot of that Saturday. I think we see mostly lining up at the wing lining up at the, at the big slot. Yeah. So I think Saturday is just going to get him used to being in a game environment which it was mentioned last Saturday.

1:07:19 They did a full game Ox which they're not doing this Saturday because they're splitting everybody up full game is basically who was ever going to be up tops? Going to be up top. All the sideline folks were there the communications they Did a true game of how they're setting it up to be in the fall but I think for him is just get him comfortable. If I make some passes will be no running in the round with him just so they can see where they want to go with him on Saturday. All right. Brian will give you seven names. Distribute them amongst the maroon and the white teams ready? Yep. Jaden blue.

1:08:00 Even God's know, Caleb Smith, Dwayne Lofton, Jalen Jones, they done right? Christian Moss. We know there are more ride receivers. These are the names. We've heard more of than anyone. So, Brian, give me give me how you would mix them. I would probably go. Jalen blue. Right, and I'd probably go. Smith Lofton, guys. Know and then you can put moss on either side there.

1:08:44 All right, how about this? You give you give them off to the blue team and the other team gets gallo. Seems like a fair trade, that's a fair trade, you know, the most productive wide receiver. What are you looking for? As you put these guys on their team, is it the route? Is it? Where theyre playing? What's going to be more your eyeball test on Saturday? So there's big things like you know, we want to see how the route trees developing. I think that's important but I think what's more important is How each of those players is being deployed within the scheme of the offense.

1:09:26 That's what's intriguing me more like who's primarily lining up in the slot. I think it's probably going to be blue and Lofton but let's see what happens on Saturday. You know, who's at the excuse that the Z. What are they doing at those positions? What type of routes are they running? What are they? How are they getting involved in the offense? That's more important to me. But I do want to see that route tree and you know, more creative use of the route tree than we saw from the previous regime. Yeah, that that's definitely a big thing is to see the more creative youth we know it's going to be a vanilla game plan but even vanilla game plans, you can show your route tree.

1:10:09 I think you from looking at the Fordham tape and looking at the Penn State game, your we're already seeing the a significantly larger route, tree and pass development type. Game. So that that doesn't worry me. But I am with you in what stinks about not having offense versus defense is like, for example, let's say. Jaden blue is in the slot with Caleb and Gosnell. But when Duane Lofton comes in Jaden, doesn't even feel Jaden goes to the X. Caleb goes off the field, guys know, that's what we're not going to get to see because yeah, see those different Combos and from the way we've seen, you know, and we already talked about Tyler bones potential offense, there's going to be things like that.

1:10:58 Like, oh, he's at X, but this guy comes in who's a better, ex he's slipping down the slot, the why is going off the field? Because we're going double pipe here. yeah, that's the question and we probably won't see it because, you know, if we're talking about the difference between The guys that are going to be out there in the first run and then your best three players at the receiver position, that might be two different sets of three players, right? You know, you might have a first line that looks like, you know Smith blue and Gosnell just throwing three names out there. But, you know, you want to get lost in a lot of touches, but he's going to primary line up at slot Blues. The better slot, but your best three wide receivers Crews are potentially Smith blue and Lofton DVDs. If you bring Lofton in does blue slide over? Is that something where they're not necessarily going to be on the field at the same time?

1:11:55 I don't know. We haven't seen the Tendencies of that. How the coaching staffs going to handle that? You know, is it going to be the best? Three are going to are going to get the the first reps in the most reps? Or is it going to kind of be a mix and match, you know, depending on who needs a blow and the game Flow? And what we need from the passing offense versus, you know, if we're for managing the game from a rushing standpoint, it might be better to keep those first three that I mentioned out there and not necessarily have blue and Lofton on the field the same time so I don't think it could all be dictated by game Flow. Yep and that's things we're not going to see until September so you know book that down that first game the Friday before Labor Day.

1:12:38 Again we'll start finding out those things. Obviously, night in with Drake and with Gallo locking down the first two. You know, who's going to come out of that third option. I know a lot of people are saying that's gonna be blown Republic. I opinions blemish going to be everywhere, so, don't guarantee him as the third option, but you've got guys on, you got Saint-Germain already, you know, already with the team. Benji, guys are not Steven, and you've got Daquan right coming on. Do you think we're going to figure out? Who's the third tight end is? Because obviously this week if gospels playing, you're going to have drink on one side, you have Gala on the other likely, you're gonna have Saint-Germain and him owner.

1:13:26 Yeah, I mean, the question is going to be does Benji Gosnell is he had a point now where he can play an actual scrimmage and do significant things? I'm not sure if he's there yet, let me last. We heard from David Cunningham, two weeks ago, he was still more or less rehabbing wearing a blue jersey during these. So I don't know if he's come far enough since then we're that's something that we can actually get a look at or if that's something that's going to be safe for the fall. Now what I think is going to happen is this is this is me is that, you know, you're going to end up having Saint-Germain, kind of being that fourth tight in third not counting kind of blumrich for this spring game and unless he pops, I think this is going to be right.

1:14:13 It's job in the fall Ryan calls, it take one rides, gonna be the third tight in and the fall. I mean he's he's got the athleticism. The definitely make you that joker to bring a little bit of a change of pace to that position room. So we shall see. Now there is an upside to what we're doing here, brown with the split squats and all that. We're going to actually probably figure out with the running back room, who's in and who's out? Yeah, yeah that's going to be. We're going to get a good look at most of these running backs. You know. I think you're going to in this format, you're going to have the lead back, get somewhere around 10 touches, you're going to have probably one or two more guys, get more than five touches in on both sides of the of the squad's there.

1:15:06 Yeah so you're going to get probably The seven guys that are going to get at least five carries in these in these matchups. So that's going to be interesting to see who, what they do with those carries. You know we've heard Keyshawn King is called the coaches attention, the last few practices and you know last scrimmage you know is he climbing up the depth chart or is he still kind of more of a situational and special teams contributor we've heard Malachi Thomas has named a lot and they've said he's the most well-rounded and it's picked up the offense quickly so he's He's let's go ahead and put him in there as the as the lead option, right. He's been what he's he's kind of one a right now heading into the spring game by all accounts. Yeah I want to go back to Keshawn King real quick because with his explosiveness, with his value on special teams, I mean in, especially the last few weeks out, he has been getting talk more and more up.

1:16:04 He brings value. Yeah, he's going to have a role in the fall regardless. Of where he ends up on the running back depth chart because of his skill set and then and then there's chance black, who we know has value at kick returns 100%. Malachi's, the most consistent guy book him as your one but then they're talking about doing things with chance and 5 W sets. Yeah. And what your what I'm hearing is there's probably four guys with the three we've just mentioned in Jalen Holston. We're almost guaranteed rolls, you all. Did you have Bryce Dooku's a freshman? If he does anything great. So there's really like, is it for for one? Is that what we can say?

1:16:47 Or is it for 42? Between Hampton. Yeah, I think it's for for maybe two maybe two. Yeah. And I mean let's go back real quick before we talk about those other guys, but let's talk a little bit more about chance black. You mentioned, five wide receiver sets that gives you so much flexibility with the hurry up. No huddle, right? Yeah. Because you can because you can go 5 wide then you still got a running back on the on there that you can easily slide back into the backfield and keep it moving there. You don't really have a drop-off. Off. No, not at all. So that's the big thing. But yeah, you know, you know, the question we talked about who's going to mix in for those carries, but you know who are the guys that potentially, you know, could be looking at the poor lift, they don't have success on Saturday, you know. We mentioned, you know, a few names here. I think, you know we got Brunson we got Lee Hampton, Marco Li NG Chris Kenji Christian, I think Kenji based on where he is. Is in his time at Virginia, Tech. He's probably not as high on that list in terms of Trent portal potential just because I think he still has a year potentially to move up the depth chart and obviously, they'll be some natural attrition with with at least whole host of moving on after this season.

1:18:11 So, you know, I think he's still got a path to get some carries if not in the fall, you know, probably some time next season. And whereas some of these other guys, this is it, this is put up or shut up because you're getting passed by guys younger than you and there's another class with a new coach coming in starting next year and the biggest piece is flexibility the other. The other three guys that are a little older, which essentially, this would be their junior year. There are Juniors. Technically in the juniors are either retro, Juniors. Richard sophomores by their three. Not traditional. Oz. Yeah, it's there's no flexibility, there's no special teams.

1:18:54 You know, there's no return value again. You don't normally see running backs on punt. Block units, or, you know, own punt protection or kick protection units. Very very unheard of. We're chance and Keyshawn, we know, and we've seen them be successful on the kick returns when you don't have that added element or chance black. Who we know can catch passes it. You're one pony and you've got to do this. And when, you know, there's a guy like Holston who's kind of the leader of the room and then there's a guy that when the coaches are now saying, Malachi's just consistent, which means it sounds like it's something that you hold is already talked about. Now, like I said, if you want to be, you want to be known as good be consistent because if you're consistent, what are people going to say about you?

1:19:44 He'll give the coaches, the coaches, love things, that that are predictable and that they can account for. All right, Brian, let's flip over to the defensive side of the ball next. And let's start with the defensive line, much, like the offensive line now, who's mixed in with, who Yeah, that's the big question, right? That and especially with all the attrition and position changes. We've seen a lot of this is going to be brand new names. Oh yeah it's going to be like I know that person is it's almost going to be like this is Camille.

1:20:24 I know your name but I've never seen you take a defensive line snap ever what's coming you're gonna have like on the defensive - we like whole Nelson and jock food on the other side for me, Paula And it's going to be garment. And then in between, there are the guys that were going to be like know your name, never seen me play. Yeah, you'll probably have you'll have gun or mixed in there. You'll have been a mixed in there. Don't open a stretch Carol McRae that's going to be just just fascinating to watch to see how they blend that there. Cuz we do need a 2d. We've been hearing CJ McCray's name more In more?

1:21:05 Yeah, I mean is he pushing for kind of that second line now, you know, we haven't heard stretch Carol. Having heard his name any. Yeah. So you know, it's McRae passing him in terms of Too Deep. You know, who's to say, I mean, we know, you know we got Jalen Griffin hasn't really done a whole lot in the spring Eli and Eli Adams. You know, we know that they'll be there in the fall. But Is going to be that that reliable second end on that 2D, that's still up for grabs in the spring game. And then who's going to be that third line, which are, we're going to need a third line?

1:21:46 Yeah, going into this season. I mean, you know, I talk about it all the time, you know, your first and second line, give you about 80 to 90% of the steps but you need that third line to give you that 10 to 20%. Yep. To get you over the hump and we're going to Need that third line of that, that D line to show up. So we're going to need to see what these guys have in spring so we can kind of know what we're will be working with in the fall. Yeah. Going to be fascinating to watch that and going to be fascinating to see who's paired with who and who, you know, really, you know, who stands out on the defensive line on Saturday line back and group. I mean, I feel like brick pride and they just basically told Gionta Jenkins.

1:22:35 This is your job. If you go ball this weekend, he said, verbatim he answers our potential starter at Sam. And we haven't, we know he moved there. What? About two weeks ago? Yeah, and when I hear that say today to meaning, that sounds like a challenge. It sounds like he's doing the right things because I don't think Brent, prize, the type of guy that's going to say that s word. Unless he feels the guys ready, unless he's putting significant distance between everybody else. It's practicing their he's not going to say this guy has starting potential. Yeah. Because he hasn't said it about anybody else really that he has started games before at positions that they're still playing at.

1:23:20 So I think that that's going to be big, you know. And when we looked at what what Jenkins had done at safety previously, and even going back to some of the tape with the Hokies all-access where we saw coach am talking to him during that like it seems like sometimes he was overthinking things and you know proud was talking about Sam not being quite as much of a of a thinking position more of a read react and fast and physical. Yes. And we know that Jenkins can bring that and if he's picked that up quickly and he's doing well with that, I think that's probably going to be the best thing for us because Give that position is key to all the other blitzing stuff that this defense likes to do. So, it's 100% true.

1:24:10 And on Sean Quinn also said something about how that position you have to be a half Superman, which just tells me you have to be crazy athletic but it's also a position to me and Brian were discussing today. If you have a safety or a linebacker, that's a high recruit that seems like the way to go. Go after you want to talk about starting time, first years, that same position. So start thinking about adding a future, you see a stud athletic kid out there. You know, undersized linebacker at like 2:00 10:00, that might be where they get them. Say, this is where you can go and be to debase out because you're their athletic and work your way into will of Mike now.

1:24:52 Get Beacon of Will, and Mike, Bryan, we're split squads. So you've been, you've been, we're not, we're going to probably see Keller. With Dax probably ski, Sean Tisdale. Is this kind of a time for Keyshawn, artists to shine? Yeah, I think this is this is his opportunity because he wants to take the next step as a leader of the line backing unit. This is a great opportunity for him because he's not getting those like second team reps against second team offenses and things like that. He's getting to lead his unit as the mic one.

1:25:34 On that other Squad. And so that's going to give him an opportunity to see if he can be that vocal leader that prize talked about because I think tool wise he's as good or better than taxes right now and definitely has better instincts. So, you know, we'll see what, how that shakes out and that's no knock on Dax. I think Dax is a good player, but I think dax's role on this team. Obviously, I think, That vocal. And that, that being loud and understanding how to get everyone where they need to be, that's his biggest attribute coming into the fall, does artist, take enough of a step forward in that capacity where he's going to challenge Dax for that position, yet in the calendar, for the position if he doesn't challenge him.

1:26:23 But does he eat into it? Because remember, he was getting some rough last year. One of those words. It's not like 85/15. It's, you know, 70/30 like yes, it Situation. If you've got to run heavy team you probably want artists out there much much more. So all right, let's look at safeties next. I mean you know we thought people had locked up one of the safety position, but then Mike Hawkins gets talked about yesterday. So it seems like they're battling and they're battling for boundary safety because it seems like Jamari Connor has locked up field safety, which I think for some people, People, they might be a little bit like, oh no he's playing more of a free safety type position.

1:27:10 Not not down in the box. But you made a point earlier by you talked about the guys plate nickel. The guys has the guy has covered. Does he have some lapses? Yeah but he is a good player in that field safety position and we know he's a leader. We know he's a dog, we know he has the respect of just about everybody in that secondary so When you hear field safety, don't get scared, folks. No, it's the guy that has already had some of those responsibilities before. Yeah, I mean. Yeah, there is, there is some, some concerns with I know sometimes. There were lapses, in tackling technique, they were lapses in coverage, you know, he's going to be asked to probably do less in terms of man and locking someone up and more in that reading react. And I think the bigger thing is that he's still going to be coming down.

1:28:03 He'll a lot from this position and so you know, look for look for that to be something that he's able to do and do pretty well. So I'm looking forward to see what he can do. They're not necessarily concerned by this move but yeah it's something to keep an eye on for sure. Yeah and today we really only heard three names mentioned from the safety room. I'm going to bring something up in just a second as we look at Corners here because we also heard today Day. I mean it sounds like DJ Harvey has nickel, just locked down and there is a nickel package. Yeah, that's what it sounds like. It sounds like Harvey's really stepped up and is locked in at that nickel, which means it will have a true nickel package and based on his bill and stature and his skills. I mean, that really matches exactly what he what he does. Well, so I think that's going to be a good role for him and it also gives him a chance to get a good amount of live reps without being thrown into the fire of being, you know, a relied upon corner for For the full four quarters. Yeah.

1:29:13 And we kind of mentioned it with the safety, and we mentioned it here that we have a reliable forth. We heard Armani's name today, we heard prions, and we heard Dorian as coaches feeling good about them. He mentioned Elijah as making some strides, as well as cam Johnson. But then he kind of said, but we still need one more. We still need one more and the way he kind of phrased, it was in my opinion. We Could either go after a field safety, and or a corner. So I think we are going to go portal shopping after the spring or one of those and some people would say, well, why would it be one of the other? If we look at this system, Brian. You know, we dived probably do than to it a lot of field. Safety responsibility is in man-type coverage when they go with the blitz heavy stuff.

1:30:12 Yeah and I think that's the thing that we're looking at is that are they are they looking at bringing in a dog like essentially a 1-1 type type player that's in the portal or they looking to bring in more of a contributor and locker room type player to fill out the depth at either position. I don't know if we're looking to upgrade at corner or if we're looking to fill out depth I don't know if we're looking to upgrade at safety real looking to fill out. With at safety. I feel like it's more the latter. I think it corner. It could be the former, whether it's looking for that true leader of the of the secondary to step up or whether it's just to, you know, make sure that you've got four super reliable players that you can count on. I mean, we know we got, we got Marie, we got Chapman, we got Dorian strong, and, you know, you got DJ Harvey mixed in there at the nickel, but you Really want to have, you know, a solid too deep at the corner there.

1:31:17 So you got that five counting, the nickel. Yeah. Where you can really rely on to put them in coverage against any any of the best receivers on the other Squad, right? Yeah. And when you talk about leader and I've mentioned tomorrow, I think Temari for me, he is the guy that probably could emerge the leaving the secondary, just because of, you know, his personality being a dog. And I think we Will. We won't get a chance to see that Saturday, right? Because they're not all going to be on the same side but I know you'll probably get out there early Brian. But who is the guy that's, you know, pumping them up during the during the warmup, that's the things I'm looking for because, you know, we really feel like at every level you like Dax is the leader. You, we're getting this feeling a real college really in Garbodor stepping into the defensive line room. And the secondary because tomorrow, I went back, we're kind of missing that.

1:32:19 Yeah, that mean battle the council Armani Chapman has been both a vocal leader and he's got the skills. You know, we've seen inconsistency. Be the thing that has dogged him. Yeah. During his time at Virginia Tech has he cleaned some of that up? And is he able to, you know, be that player that leads, by example, but it is also the vocal leader for that, that group of cheetahs absent freaky And lutely. All right. Ron anything breaking additional quotes. Anybody tweet. Anything crazy. I think we're good to go man. We got, I will let you intro, but we got something special to close this thing out.

1:33:02 Yep. We do. So as we wrap up this episode of The Boundary Corner podcast, we do have a very special music Premier from our very own Jason long. Now before we press play on that, we do want to remind you to visit the website, boundary Corner, beat t.com and let them do all of our episodes. Follow us Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, subscribe on our YouTube account, as well as I Amazon, or your favorite podcast or Spotify. Amazon Apple podcast, before he plays this out. We are premiering tasting, Long's new song, This will be out on Spotify and apple music in the upcoming days. I want to make a joke to Jason.

1:33:45 I think Jason watches us, occasionally and feels like we're the inside. I don't know where the inspiration as the old men yelling at the TV on Saturdays, but I'll take it. If we are Jason will also be at Grandin farmers market in Roanoke 8 to 12. So, if your head to the spring game from Roanoke, drop by there, take a look at him but tonight World premiere, Jason, long old man yelling. Stevie,

1:35:40 Stevie, Stevie,