Collegiate Times

Call it “DB U” or whatever you want, but the fact is Virginia Tech’s secondary has excelled this season, making plays at opportune times.

It shouldn’t be a surprise, though. When you look back at Tech’s history it is inundated with great defensive backs. Since former Hokie and current secondary coach Torrian Gray was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft, 15 other Tech defensive backs have been drafted into the NFL.

One of those is current Kansas City Chiefs starting cornerback Brandon Flowers, hailing from Atlantic High School — the same one as current starting cornerback Jayron Hosley, who recorded three interceptions Saturday against NC State.

“(The former Tech defensive backs) were obviously great,” Hosley said. “I take my game a little bit after them, I watch their film. I see everything they’re doing. I’m just continuing to do what I can to get better.”

Gray agreed, citing the revolving door of talent that continues to come through Tech. He said the current defensive backs help to ease the process with new younger players.

“I just know when you’re recruiting and you sign a great defensive back who has potential, you look: ‘Man, for the next four or five years, wow, we should be pretty good,’” Gray said. “Just like guys we have committed this year. You’re hoping they can come in and continue to help your group be strong for the next four or five years. With the guys we already had here, and getting a guy like Jayron back then, you feel real good about that.”

Hosley also added that he keeps in contact with Flowers on occasion. And Flowers isn’t a bad example to follow, considering his big-play potential during his career at Tech. In fact, he registered 10 interceptions, including two for touchdowns from 2004-07.

“I actually haven’t heard from (Flowers) yet,” Hosley said. “Last time I talked to him was before the Boise game, he told me to go out there and do your thing. Most of the stuff he told me was things towards teaching, just watching film because film can take you from being a good player to a great player. Staying in the film room definitely helps as a (defensive back) ... you know you anticipate routes.”

The young defensive backs like Hosley certainly haven’t had a difficult time stepping into their expanded roles. Backup free safety Antone Exum saw extended action on Saturday as starting free safety Eddie Whitley was still recovering from an injured foot, sore knee and a stinger in his left arm.

Exum, a redshirt freshman from Glen Allen, Va., noted he has had to adjust to several different positions and roles in the secondary. As free safety, Exum also has to call out the defensive assignments on the field, a role he embraced because of Whitley’s uncertainty last Saturday.

“I got moved to rover but I only spent a week there or maybe two weeks now I’m back at free safety running with the second-team,” Exum said. “Making the calls and stuff it’s not really that new I just got to get adjusted to the first-team guys, I’m used to running with the second-team.”

However, Gray praised the way his young defensive backs have been performing, a group that includes true freshman Kyle Fuller, who played extensively against East Carolina earlier this season.

“They’re talented guys,” Gray said. “Because of injuries and other circumstances, those guys had to play early. It’s only going to benefit us down the long haul, so I’m excited about it. They’re talented young guys. It’s hard to teach experience, but Exum and Fuller had to learn it the hard way, by getting in there and playing. Because they’re playing more and repping more, Exum’s been really unbelievable at the point of attack. You put him out there on a great quarterback and some great receivers, and he held his own for the most part. I’m proud of their progress.”

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A version of this article appeared in the Oct 7 issue of the Collegiate Times.