Brandon Nickle’s verbal commitment ensured Virginia Tech of having at least two punters on its roster in the 2016 season. Nickle, a senior at Oak Ridge (TN), will join red-shirt junior Mitchell Ludwig in competition for the job as starting punter.

“I’m excited because [Shibest] did say the position is wide open right now,” Nickle said. “A 4-year starter left after last year. Coach Shibest said to just keep working hard. He wants me to compete for the starting job.”

Nickle plans to enter preseason practice physically and mentally ready for the challenge.

“Obviously, I’m still going to work out,” Nickle replied when asked what he will work on before arriving in Blacksburg for good in just a few months time. “I’ll probably go to some camps and probably work with Jamie Kohl this summer some. I’m going to try to get in with a sports psychologist to get the mental part of the game. Oak Ridge is a good high school football program in Tennessee, but when I step into Lane Stadium and there are 66,000 fans it will be a big difference.”

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