Collegiate Times

MF: David Wilson by far. He's a triple jump champion at state, and he could probably attempt to qualify for the Olympics in track. He's very powerful, low to the ground, and has fantastic speed. He's going to be a guy that will be heard from in the future.

CT: How can we expect running back David Wilson to be used?

MF: I don't know if he will be right away; it depends on (current redshirt freshman running back) Ryan Williams, really. They're pretty happy at what they have right now. I do think that physically he is better than Oglesby right now, but there is a lot more to it than going out there and running the ball. There's going to be a learning curve for Wilson just like everyone else. He is a more powerful than Williams, but if Williams can develop as expected they may not need Wilson right away. He'll need to develop the mental aspects of the game and get develop the intangibles.

CT: Can D.J. Coles help out a wide receiving corps that struggled last year?

MF: Yes, he's had that extra year in prep school to play against older kids. So, physically he's ready; it's up to if his mentality is right. I think the young wide receivers like Boykin and Roberts will develop and step up more next season. Coles is not as specialized as Thomas, but he can be a big physical possession receiver.

CT: What was the smartest move Tech made?

MF: I think it goes back to recruiting Jerrod Williams early on. He's from a program that generally sends kids to Clemson or one of the Carolinas, but Virginia Tech got on him first. They were one of his first offers, and getting him on him early was a smart move to getting him get locked up. He wasn't a four-star prospect when they got him; (at that point) he was an unknown, but he developed into a really talented player.

CT: As usual, Tech went for players at the defensive back and running back positions. How has this helped them in the past seasons?

MF: Some of these guys wind up at different position. They recruited Dyrell Roberts at running back, now he's at receiver. Most of these guys aren't just flat running backs; the best all-around athletes typically come from the running back, defensive back and wide receiver positions. These guys can be used on special teams. It's just Tech's style to load up on athletes; it gives them a lot of speed and a lot of flexibility. Jerrod Williams could be a corner, a rover, or a safety and play well at either position. They like to get guys that can play on either side of the football. It's what makes Tech so good: their overall athleticism.

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