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12<br />
OUTLOOK<br />
linebaCkers<br />
mIke<br />
Bruce Taylor (r-Sr.) – As good a defensive<br />
player as there is in the ACC when he’s healthy<br />
… Missed the last six games of the 2011 season<br />
and spring practice with a foot injury … Can<br />
help the Hokies be really good if he returns and<br />
plays at the level he was playing before the injury<br />
… Is big, tough and athletic … Plays with great<br />
instincts and speed … A key player for the Hokies.<br />
Jack Tyler (r-Jr.) – Took over the starting duties<br />
for the final six games last season … Played<br />
extremely well … Has great vision and instincts<br />
… Performed at a high level while getting the<br />
bulk of the reps in the spring … A proven player<br />
at the position.<br />
Backer<br />
Tariq Edwards (r-Jr.) – Coaches think he is a<br />
star in the making … Was very productive while<br />
starting every game last fall … Had 71 tackles,<br />
including 11.5 for losses … Hokies need him back<br />
at full speed after missing spring practice … Is a<br />
perfect fit for the backer position.<br />
Chase Williams (r-So.) – Got all the first team<br />
snaps at backer during the spring … Stepped<br />
up and improved every day … Possesses playmaking<br />
abilities and a tremendous football IQ …<br />
Plays hard … Has the coaches’ trust … Gives the<br />
Hokies quality depth at the position.<br />
coach foster oN<br />
the INsIDe lINeBackers:<br />
“Linebacker-wise, there should be some great<br />
battles. Obviously, we’ve got to get Bruce (Taylor)<br />
back full speed and we’ve got to get Tariq (Edwards)<br />
back full speed. If those guys do that, I think<br />
they can both be as good of linebackers as there<br />
are in the ACC. I really like the the improvement<br />
and development of Jack Tyler and Chase Williams<br />
during the spring. I think those two guys really<br />
performed at a high level and will give us quality<br />
depth.”<br />
returnerS<br />
No. Name Class Pos.<br />
41 Derek DiNardo r-So. ILB<br />
24 Tariq Edwards r-Jr. ILB<br />
43 Jeron Gouveia-Winslow r-Sr. OLB<br />
47 Brian Laiti r-So. ILB<br />
51 Bruce Taylor r-Sr. ILB<br />
Josh Trimble r-Fr. ILB<br />
28 Alonzo Tweedy r-Sr. OLB<br />
58 Jack Tyler r-Jr. ILB<br />
37 Ronny Vandyke r-Fr. OLB<br />
D.J. Ward r-Fr. ILB<br />
36 Chase Williams r-So. ILB<br />
new<strong>com</strong>erS<br />
Name Class Pos.<br />
Deon Clarke Fr. ILB<br />
Trey Edmunds Fr. ILB<br />
Dahman McKinnon Fr. OLB<br />
Devin Vandyke Fr. ILB<br />
2012 Virginia Tech fooTball<br />
WhIP<br />
Jeron Gouveia-Winslow (r-Sr.) – Has opened the<br />
past two seasons as the starter at whip linebacker,<br />
posting 12 starts at the position … Will have to<br />
battle for the job this fall after missing the last<br />
half of the 2011 season and the majority of spring<br />
practice with a foot injury … His experience and<br />
football savvy make him a big plus for the Hokies.<br />
Alonzo Tweedy (r-Sr.) – Took over the first-team<br />
duties during in the spring and made the most of<br />
it … Showed his playmaking ability and made a<br />
big improvement in understanding the defense …<br />
Has all the intangibles you want at whip … Took<br />
ownership of the position and will try to keep it.<br />
Ronny Vandyke (r-Fr.) – A big, physical player<br />
who brings the total package to the position …<br />
Makes overall preparation for a game and gets<br />
involved in every part … Can create mismatches<br />
… Is expected to get reps throughout the season.<br />
coach BroWN oN<br />
the WhIP lINeBackers:<br />
“I’m excited about the position as a whole. We will<br />
have two experienced seniors <strong>com</strong>ing in ready to play<br />
and I think both of those guys – Alonzo Tweedy and<br />
Jeron Gouveia-Winslow – can help contribute and be<br />
factors at the position. I’m also excited about the<br />
headlineS<br />
Key Loss: mike linebacker Barquell Rivers<br />
Key Returnees: mike linebacker Bruce Taylor;<br />
mike linebacker Jack Tyler; backer Tariq<br />
Edwards; whip linebacker Jeron Gouveia-<br />
Winslow<br />
All three returning starters – Taylor, Edwards<br />
and Gouveia-Winslow – missed spring practice<br />
due to injuries, but the Hokies turned it into a<br />
positive by developing some much-needed depth<br />
at all three spots.<br />
Point of Interest: Starter Jeron Gouveia-<br />
Winslow returns at whip linebacker after missing<br />
spring practice, but with Alonzo Tweedy and<br />
Ronny Vandyke both <strong>com</strong>ing off outstanding<br />
spring performances, holding on to the top spot<br />
will be<strong>com</strong>e a lot harder.<br />
Player to Watch: The coaches feel Bruce Taylor<br />
is as good a defensive player as there is in the<br />
ACC, and if he can get back from his injury and<br />
perform at that level, he can help the Tech<br />
defense be really good.<br />
depth that Ronny Vandyke brings to the position.<br />
As a group, we want to help the defense get back<br />
to where it has been, being a play-making, exciting<br />
defense with the whip position being a major factor<br />
in the whole game plan.”<br />
Bruce<br />
Taylor
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