Posted: Monday, September 28, 2015 3:07 pm
BY MIKE BARBER, Richmond Times-Dispatch
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer said he doesn't expect junior cornerback Kendall Fuller to play Saturday when the Hokies open ACC play at home against Pittsburgh.
“I would think it would be very doubtful that he’s back,” Beamer said Monday during his weekly press conference.
Tech (2-2) announced earlier that Fuller, who sat out Saturday's loss to East Carolina because of a sprained right knee, would be re-evaluated later in the day Monday.
Pittsburgh (2-1) has one of the conference's top receiver in Tyler Boyd. Last year, in the Panthers’ 21-16 win over Tech, Boyd caught six passes for 86 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown.
Last week, Fuller had a pain-killing injection in his right knee and was expected to start against ECU. But he had issues with the knee in pregame warm-ups and ended up not playing. Tech started sophomore Greg Stroman, who had practiced mostly at nickel back during the week, and Stroman struggled in the Hokies’ 35-28 loss to the Pirates.
Late in the game, Tech put senior Donovan Riley in at corner in place of Stroman.
After the game, defensive coordinator Bud Foster said the team had practiced freshman Terrell Edmunds at corner in case Fuller could not play, but that defensive backs coach Torrian Gray opted to go with Stroman over Edmunds on Saturday.
Edmunds is listed as the starter on this week’s depth chart, with Riley as the backup.
“Coach’s gonna play who they feel is comfortable and who they feel is ready to play in the game,” Riley said Monday. “For me in my role and the rest of the defensive backs we just have to be ready at all times. … I trust and I know Coach Foster and Coach Gray are going to put in who they want to put in. They’re going to put in who they feel is the best player at the time to put in. I just prepare myself and prepare myself for if the opportunity comes along.”
The good news for the Hokies’ defense is Beamer said he’s “hopeful” that sophomore middle linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka, who missed the Purdue and ECU games with a knee injury he suffered against Furman, will be back Saturday against Pittsburgh.
That’s extra important considering his replacement, sophomore Sean Huelskamp, will have to sit out the first half of the game after being ejected in the fourth quarter at ECU for targeting.
Monday, Beamer said he was “not going to get into the officiating” during the ECU game, when a number of questionable calls by the AAC crew hurt the Hokies.
AAC assistant commissioner for communications Chuck Sullivan said the league reviews “every play of every game, but as a general rule we do not make public comments on anything that would be considered a judgment call.”
Huelskamp was ejected after diving into ECU quarterback James Summers as Summers began to slide.
“As soon as we seen the flag, the whole defense was mad,” said senior linebacker Deon Clarke, a former L.C. Byrd standout. “Sean did what he had to do. Quarterback was running to him. Sean, he just leaned in a little bit. He didn’t even really hit him on the head.”
The play was reviewed during the game and replay official confirmed Huelskamp’s ejection.
“With regard to the targeting call, under NCAA playing rules, the replay official is the final arbiter in that instance, so it would not be appropriate for us to comment further,” Sullivan said.
Tech’s other option at inside linebacker is true freshman Carson Lydon, who has played just 21 snaps on defense in his college career.
Also Monday, Virginia Tech announced it is shutting down sophomore tailback Shai McKenzie for the season. McKenzie, who is coming off a right knee injury that ended his year last season, will seek a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA.
McKenzie was suspended for the season opener against Ohio State, following an offseason misdemeanor conviction. He got 13 carries for 50 yards in wins over Furman and Purdue, then didn't make the trip to East Carolina on Saturday.
Hokies assistant coach Shane Beamer said the team did the right thing testing out McKenzie in those games.
“It wasn’t a mistake,” Shane Beamer said. “He’s been practicing well. He was cleared. Don’t know if he’s quite 100 percent.”
The Hokies have used a rotation of senior J.C. Coleman, junior Trey Edmunds and redshirt freshman Travon McMillian at tailback.
Shane Beamer said, even if the position was hit by injuries, McKenzie wouldn't be used this season. He said sophomore tailback Marshawn Williams, also coming off a knee injury, could be an option.
BY MIKE BARBER, Richmond Times-Dispatch
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer said he doesn't expect junior cornerback Kendall Fuller to play Saturday when the Hokies open ACC play at home against Pittsburgh.
“I would think it would be very doubtful that he’s back,” Beamer said Monday during his weekly press conference.
Tech (2-2) announced earlier that Fuller, who sat out Saturday's loss to East Carolina because of a sprained right knee, would be re-evaluated later in the day Monday.
Pittsburgh (2-1) has one of the conference's top receiver in Tyler Boyd. Last year, in the Panthers’ 21-16 win over Tech, Boyd caught six passes for 86 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown.
Last week, Fuller had a pain-killing injection in his right knee and was expected to start against ECU. But he had issues with the knee in pregame warm-ups and ended up not playing. Tech started sophomore Greg Stroman, who had practiced mostly at nickel back during the week, and Stroman struggled in the Hokies’ 35-28 loss to the Pirates.
Late in the game, Tech put senior Donovan Riley in at corner in place of Stroman.
After the game, defensive coordinator Bud Foster said the team had practiced freshman Terrell Edmunds at corner in case Fuller could not play, but that defensive backs coach Torrian Gray opted to go with Stroman over Edmunds on Saturday.
Edmunds is listed as the starter on this week’s depth chart, with Riley as the backup.
“Coach’s gonna play who they feel is comfortable and who they feel is ready to play in the game,” Riley said Monday. “For me in my role and the rest of the defensive backs we just have to be ready at all times. … I trust and I know Coach Foster and Coach Gray are going to put in who they want to put in. They’re going to put in who they feel is the best player at the time to put in. I just prepare myself and prepare myself for if the opportunity comes along.”
The good news for the Hokies’ defense is Beamer said he’s “hopeful” that sophomore middle linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka, who missed the Purdue and ECU games with a knee injury he suffered against Furman, will be back Saturday against Pittsburgh.
That’s extra important considering his replacement, sophomore Sean Huelskamp, will have to sit out the first half of the game after being ejected in the fourth quarter at ECU for targeting.
Monday, Beamer said he was “not going to get into the officiating” during the ECU game, when a number of questionable calls by the AAC crew hurt the Hokies.
AAC assistant commissioner for communications Chuck Sullivan said the league reviews “every play of every game, but as a general rule we do not make public comments on anything that would be considered a judgment call.”
Huelskamp was ejected after diving into ECU quarterback James Summers as Summers began to slide.
“As soon as we seen the flag, the whole defense was mad,” said senior linebacker Deon Clarke, a former L.C. Byrd standout. “Sean did what he had to do. Quarterback was running to him. Sean, he just leaned in a little bit. He didn’t even really hit him on the head.”
The play was reviewed during the game and replay official confirmed Huelskamp’s ejection.
“With regard to the targeting call, under NCAA playing rules, the replay official is the final arbiter in that instance, so it would not be appropriate for us to comment further,” Sullivan said.
Tech’s other option at inside linebacker is true freshman Carson Lydon, who has played just 21 snaps on defense in his college career.
Also Monday, Virginia Tech announced it is shutting down sophomore tailback Shai McKenzie for the season. McKenzie, who is coming off a right knee injury that ended his year last season, will seek a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA.
McKenzie was suspended for the season opener against Ohio State, following an offseason misdemeanor conviction. He got 13 carries for 50 yards in wins over Furman and Purdue, then didn't make the trip to East Carolina on Saturday.
Hokies assistant coach Shane Beamer said the team did the right thing testing out McKenzie in those games.
“It wasn’t a mistake,” Shane Beamer said. “He’s been practicing well. He was cleared. Don’t know if he’s quite 100 percent.”
The Hokies have used a rotation of senior J.C. Coleman, junior Trey Edmunds and redshirt freshman Travon McMillian at tailback.
Shane Beamer said, even if the position was hit by injuries, McKenzie wouldn't be used this season. He said sophomore tailback Marshawn Williams, also coming off a knee injury, could be an option.
