Tech linebacker, Quillie Odom, explodes into a tackling dummy in practice on Wednesday.
After several years of veteran play, the Tech linebacker corps must undergo a bit of a youth movement for the upcoming season.
Redshirt seniors-to-be Cody Grimm and Cam Martin return for the 2009 campaign to man the whip linebacker position, but less experienced individuals will be tasked with filling the void left in the middle by graduating seniors Brett Warren and Purnell Sturdivant.
Redshirt sophomore Barquell Rivers possesses the inside track for the mike linebacker position vacated by Warren.
Rivers started for the Hokies in the Orange Bowl victory after Warren tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. The Wadesboro, N.C., native came up big with a key goal line stop in the fourth quarter against Cincinnati.
Despite the start and his current status as the starting mike linebacker on the spring practice roster, Rivers realizes he needs to work hard or he may lose his spot to backup and redshirt freshman Bruce Taylor.
"I still have to prove myself a lot because one start (in the Orange Bowl) doesn't mean anything," Rivers said. "I have to go out and study more film, come out and work hard at practice in the spring and summer. (I need to) do the extra things that will help me get better."
Defensive coordinator Bud Foster understands that Rivers is taking over for a guy that recorded 71 tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss and 7.5 sacks.
"He played well in the Orange Bowl, but he's got to replace a pretty good football player," Foster said. "We went back and did all of our self-scouting and looked at ourselves and saw that Brett Warren was a tackling machine. We didn't do him justice. The guy was all over the place...
"But Barquell is a good football player. I'd like to see him do things a little bit faster, but that just comes with more reps."
Alongside Rivers, a fierce competition for the starting backer position will continue through the spring.
Future sophomores Jake Johnson and Quillie Odom are battling for that starting spot, but Johnson currently sits atop the depth chart.
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