Collegiate Times

There may be a relief for Hokie followers everywhere.

Amidst all the controversy and debate surrounding the Virginia Tech football team this past off-season, the highly-publicized Marcus Vick ordeal, the heated position battle at quarterback to lead what many consider to be an inexperienced offense, Tech fans know one thing has remained constant.

When it comes to this year?s pair of playmaking leaders who rank amongst the best in the nation, Virginia Tech fans can rest assured, that in any type of defensive emergency, they can always dial ?911?.

This is the popularly growing term referring to the Hokies? talented linebacker duo comprised of redshirt-juniors Vince Hall (No. 9), and Xavier Adibi (No. 11).

Heading into the new season, college football media outlets everywhere have been busy recognizing the two defensive standouts, with several football publication sources, such as The Sporting News, Athlon, as well as the infamous recruiting website rivals.com, going as far as to distribute amongst the duo a distinguished list of All-American and All-Conference preseason honors and accolades.

Both players, now returning for their fourth year under defensive coordinator Bud Foster, step back into their established roles at linebacker looking to pick up right where they left off from last season? prime contributors anchoring a Virginia Tech defense expected to dominate week-in and week-out.

Having worked specifically with both Adibi and Hall throughout the entire off-season, Foster gave no sign indicating any reason for a decline in production from the duo likely to occur come September, instead, speaking highly of their progress during the team?s off-season training sessions.

?Both of those guys had a heck of an off-season,? Foster said. ?The intensity, leadership, and work ethic that they both brought to practice everyday was phenomenal. Overall, I?ve been really impressed with how they?ve both come along, and I expect them to make up the best linebacker corps in the country.?

Hall claims he and Adibi relish the opportunity to live up to their coach?s expectations, while at the same time stresses the importance of remaining humble in their overall demeanor as the season progresses.

?Every now and then, coach Foster will tell us that we can be part of the best linebacker corps in the nation,? Hall said. ?Me and Xavier see it as a goal, a huge motivation for us to improve everyday. But in the end, he knows better than to tell us that all the time, because he knows once it gets to your head that?s when things start to fall, so that?s just the goal for us on the pedestal right now? for us to be the best.?

Hall, the team?s leading tackler from a year ago with 112 total stops, is a self-described ?heavy hitter,? and prides himself on his overall awareness to make a play, as well as his natural killer instincts on the gridiron, which surprisingly come as a deep contrast to his off-the-field personality.

?It?s funny. The way I am on the field is totally different than the way I am off the field,? said Hall. ?When I step out there between the lines, I?m a monster. I go out there and try to be the meanest player on the field and get the job done. But off the field, I?m laid back and easy going. I?m just an overall humble, friendly guy.?

When it comes to friendships on the football field for Hall, perhaps no one serves as a better companion for Hall than fellow linebacker Xavier Adibi, who said he understands Hall?s style and has adapted his game to help account for Hall?s weaknesses.

Hall, in his response, was quick to agree with Adibi, explaining how the pair have accustomed their styles to accommodate each other on the field.

Having had the time to play side-by-side for several years now, each player has arrived to the point of having learned how to thrive off one another?s individual method of play.

?We?ve gotten used to playing with one another, (and) it helps both of our games,? Hall said. ?When we first started out, we were saying how we need to come into Blacksburg and make an impact and set up a tradition in here, and now we both have a knack for each other. For instance, Xavier?s strength is his speed, and my strength is my power, so when we?re out there on the field, I know if anyone tries to run outside that Xavier?s not going to let that happen, and he trusts me that once he turns a guy inside that I?m going to make the tackle. That?s how we feed off of each other.?

Last year, feeding off each other?s performances didn?t seem to be too much of a problem for either Hall or Adibi. The duo started each and every one of Tech?s 13 games, putting up solid individual numbers, as well as emerging as reliable playmakers amongst a Hokie defense that ended the season ranked as the top overall defensive unit in the nation.

?Obviously, Xavier and Vince had very good individual seasons last year,? Foster said. ?But they don?t let that get to their heads, and you can see that in how they conduct themselves and work so hard to improve their games. Ultimately, I?m just really pleased with the amount of progress they?ve made and quite frankly, I?m excited to see them play.?

With the new season for Hokie Football approaching, it appeared as if Foster wasn?t the only one displaying his apparent anxiousness for the season opener against Northeastern.

?It?s been crazy lately, all of us want to get the season started, especially me,? Adibi said. ?I?ve been losing sleep at night just thinking about it. Playing (the Huskies) right now is the only thing on my mind, and I can?t wait to step out onto the field at Lane Stadium in front all of our fans and take care of business.?

It is Adibi and Hall?s goal-oriented attitude that helps keep them mentally and physically prepared for success every Saturday. However, Foster looks for the pair to set the bar high this season.

?I just want them to be leaders for this defense, as well as overall role models,? Foster said. ?As linebackers, they?re in front of the huddle before every snap ? they?re the quarterbacks of the defense. They set the tone and demeanor of our defense with each oncoming play.?

In the end, Foster has been keen on stressing the concept to the duo that if they consistently perform at their best effort and play to their full potential, the success and recognition for the two will inevitably follow.

?All we talk about is being the best we can be, and getting to the point where I see them as the best linebacker corps in the country,? Foster said. ?But in order to do that, Xavier and Vince have to go out there and play the way I expect them to play ? as consistent playmakers who do their job to the best of their ability and play 100 miles an hour. To get to where they want to be ? to get that recognition as the best, both of them have to continue to work harder than ever before, and in the end I know that they will be able to do it. You can bet that when those Northeastern Bobcats come to town, my guys will be ready.?