Hokies set to put on pads, D-Hall heaps praise on Foster

Another honor for Beamer, Coaches Clinic also highlight week

March 24, 2017

BLACKSBURG – The Hokies have two spring practices in the books and are ready to put the pads on for the first full contact of the spring Saturday morning. Head coach Justin Fuente and his staff will get their first glimpse of the newcomers in pads, while seeing the quarterbacks react to a controlled rush for the first time in 2017.

Approximately 200 high school coaches from across the region started arriving in Blacksburg on Thursday and will be on campus Friday for a coaching clinic conducted by Fuente and his staff. In addition to presentations from Fuente, James Shibest and Vance Vice, the coaches also will hear from Tech’s gurus in the areas of strength and conditioning (Ben Hilgart) and sports medicine (Mike Goforth). A number of championship prep coaches will share their knowledge before enjoying a BBQ cookout and breakout sessions this evening.

Here’s a look at the images from Thursday’s evening’s practice, which consisted of 24 periods.

Prior to Thursday’s practice, several student-athletes spoke to the media, including defensive tackles Tim Settle and Ricky Walker. Here’s a good read from Norm Wood of The Daily Press on how those two interior defensive linemen are ready to seize their opportunity this season.

bit.ly/DTsLPD

Student tickets on sale

Just a reminder that Virginia Tech students can purchase 2017 student season tickets now!

http://hokietickets.com/student

DeAngelo Hall heaps praise on Bud Foster

Former Virginia Tech and current Washington Redskins defensive back DeAngelo Hall recently talked about Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foser and what Foster meant to him during his playing days.

“As a player you know this guy has your back,” Hall said. “He has your best interest at heart. He’s fiery. He’s strict. He’s fun-loving. He’s that father figure that a lot of us never had. He can get on you as hard as you think is humanly possible when he needs to, but can love you up when you need that as well. And I think Bud does a great job of being able to relate to his players and understanding when to be tough and when to be easy and when to demand the most out of us. And he doesn’t do it with a lot of five-star kids at Virginia Tech. If we ever got five-star kids like some of these other programs, we would be dangerous. Bud is doing this with two and three-star kids, occasionally a four-star. Bud’s one of those coaches who makes you want to play for him. You want to do good, so he looks good.”

Here’s a link to the portion of the interview with Larry Michael where Hall discusses Foster (courtesy of the Washington Redskins):

THE REAL #DBU 🔥 - PT. 2 @DeAngeloHall23 provides great perspective on @CoachFosterVT

Much ❤️️ for The #LPD 💼

📽 via @Redskins #Hokeis pic.twitter.com/XKbWvWHTct

— VT Football (@VT_Football) March 22, 2017

Tapp re-signs with Saints

An 11-year NFL veteran, Tech alum Daryll Tapp signed a one-year deal with the Saints after playing in all 16 games, with two starts for New Orleans in 2016.

The Chesapeake, Virginia native has played in 162 career NFL games over 11 seasons, with 38 starts, and has recorded totals of 330 tackles (250 solo), 28 sacks, two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, 22 passes defensed, 11 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and 11 special teams tackles. He entered the NFL as a second-round pick of Seattle in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Another prestigious honor for Beamer

If you’re looking for Coach Beamer at the Orange-Maroon Spring Game on April 22, he won’t be at Lane Stadium. He’ll actually be in Knoxville, Tennessee accepting the prestigious Neyland Trophy for his contributions to college football. Previous winners of the award read like a Mt. Rushmore of college coaching, including Bear Bryant, Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Bobby Dodd and Bud Wilkinson just to name a few members of this prestigious coaching fraternity.

Read the full story here:

vthoki.es/BeamerNeyland

– VT –

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