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8<br />
OUTLOOK<br />
offensiVe line<br />
headlineS<br />
Key Losses: tackle Blake DeChristopher;<br />
tackle Andrew Lanier; guard Jaymes Brooks;<br />
guard Greg Nosal<br />
Key Returnees: center Andrew Miller<br />
Tech lost four players who started every game<br />
over the past two seasons. Redshirt junior<br />
Andrew Miller started 14 games at center last<br />
fall and began taking over a leadership role<br />
up front during spring practice.<br />
Point of Interest: Brent Benedict came out of<br />
spring practice on top at right guard but the<br />
job is not quite locked up yet. Caleb Farris<br />
and Laurence Gibson will still have a say in<br />
the matter <strong>com</strong>e August.<br />
Player to Watch: If redshirt senior Michael<br />
Via can bounce back from his ACL surgery of<br />
last winter, he could give the offensive line a<br />
tremendous boost. Via has the ability to help<br />
provide the depth the Hokies are in need of<br />
at the tackle positions.<br />
Andrew<br />
Miller<br />
2012 Virginia Tech fooTball<br />
left tackle<br />
Nick Becton (r-Sr.) – Be<strong>com</strong>es an anchor guy<br />
after splitting time the past two seasons … Has<br />
all the tools to play at that level … Gives you the<br />
protection aspect with his size and long arms …<br />
Coaches want him to be a leader for the offensive<br />
line.<br />
Mark Shuman (r-So.) – Was the best backup at<br />
tackle during the spring … Possesses the size and<br />
athletic ability for the position, but has been slowed<br />
by injuries … Must continue working to improve<br />
… Getting him healthy and ready is a focal point.<br />
left GuarD<br />
David Wang (r-Jr.) – Moved into the starting<br />
position during the spring and was named the<br />
offensive player who had an exceptional spring … A<br />
physical player who is ready to play after missing the<br />
past two seasons due to injuries … Coaches feel his<br />
technique is the best they have had at the position.<br />
Matt Arkema (r-So.) – Was much improved during<br />
the spring … Will be a top backup and perhaps a<br />
spare starter at guard … Could also fill in at center<br />
if needed … Has good skills and athletic ability …<br />
Will have an important role along the line.<br />
ceNter<br />
Andrew Miller (r-Jr.) – Is now the Hokies’ most<br />
experienced lineman after starting all 14 games<br />
last fall … Helped bring the line together during<br />
spring practice … A tough, hard-nosed player with<br />
excellent ability … Must continue to be a leader<br />
during the summer … Will be a big factor in how<br />
the line does when the season rolls around.<br />
Caleb Farris (So.) – Will be the top backup at<br />
center this fall but will also get a shot at the<br />
starting right guard duties when practice resumes<br />
… Has shown maturity and toughness … Combines<br />
good footwork with solid technique … Gives the<br />
Hokies some versatility.<br />
Michael Via (r-Sr.) – A talented and valuable<br />
player who has been plagued by injuries … Joins<br />
Andrew Miller as the only current Tech offensive<br />
linemen with a collegiate start … Played most<br />
of last season with a torn ACL … Missed spring<br />
workouts … Can play any of the line positions …<br />
Coaches will see where he can best help the team.<br />
rIGht GuarD<br />
Brent Benedict (r-So.) – Heads into August as<br />
the leading candidate for the starting spot …<br />
Has great work habits … Is ready to go in the<br />
run game but still needs to improve in the pass<br />
protection phase … A highly regarded transfer<br />
from the University of Georgia.<br />
Laurence Gibson (r-So.) – Was in the <strong>com</strong>petition<br />
for the starting job during the spring … Brings a lot<br />
of length to the position … Has the physical tools<br />
but hasn’t quite been able to get over the hump …<br />
Will get another shot in August.<br />
rIGht tackle<br />
Vinston Painter (r-Sr.) – Took over as the starter<br />
in the spring … Has not been on the field in many<br />
live, first-team situations, but his hard work off<br />
the field has helped put him in a leadership role<br />
… Got a lot of reps and direction during the<br />
spring … Really improved in his run blocking …<br />
Is motivated to have a good season.<br />
Jake Goins (r-Fr.) – Has natural ability but is<br />
not playing as fast as he needs to … That should<br />
improve as he continues to get a better feel for<br />
the offense … Needs to use the summer to get<br />
bigger, faster and stronger … Will battle for a<br />
backup role in August.<br />
coach NeWsome<br />
oN the offeNsIve lINe:<br />
“It was a new group out there in the spring. We<br />
had some guys <strong>com</strong>ing off injuries and we had some<br />
guys who hadn’t been out there, but we always<br />
played to the whistle. We created a tempo getting<br />
to the line of scrimmage and sped that tempo up.<br />
I think we played harder throughout the spring.<br />
Our blitz pick-up was better, our protection of the<br />
quarterback was better and we were able to run the<br />
football some. I knew it would take a little time,<br />
but they gelled as a unit.”<br />
returnerS<br />
No. Name Cl. Pos.<br />
64 Matt Arkema r-So. OG<br />
Tyler Barfield r-Jr. OG<br />
54 Nick Becton r-Sr. OT<br />
55 Brent Benedict r-So. OG<br />
79 Caleb Farris So. C/OG<br />
61 Darian Fisher r-Jr. OT<br />
63 Laurence Gibson r-So. OG<br />
70 Jake Goins r-Fr. OT<br />
Marcus Mapp r-Fr. OT<br />
74 Andrew Miller r-Jr. C<br />
71 Vinston Painter r-Sr. OT<br />
69 Mark Shuman r-So. OT<br />
67 Michael Via r-Sr. C/OT<br />
76 David Wang r-Jr. OG<br />
new<strong>com</strong>erS<br />
Name Cl. Pos.<br />
Augie Conte Fr. OT<br />
Adam Taraschke Fr. OT<br />
Jack Willenbrock Fr. OG/C
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