Practice Report: Defensive Progress for Virginia Tech

TyJuan Garbutt (45) is one of many young defensive players on this team. (Photo by Ivan Morozov)

Most of the talk this spring has revolved around the offense, particularly the quarterback spot and the offensive line.  This week’s practice report will revolve more around the defense, though we’ll include some offensive tidbits as well.

Defensive Line Taking Shape 

I think the two-deep on the defensive line is talking shape.  First, we must remember that Vinny Mihota is out right now, but I’m still going to factor him into my projected depth chart.  Second, Xavier Burke took the reps with the No. 1 defense yesterday, with Jarrod Hewitt with the No. 2 defense.  I’ll take that as a good sign, because overall Hewitt has had a good spring and if Burke is pushing him that much, it bodes well for depth.

Here are the top defensive ends…

1) Trevon Hill (r-Jr.)
2) Houshun Gaines (r-Jr.)
3) Emmanuel Belmar (r-So.)
4) Zion DeBose (r-Fr.) or TyJuan Garbutt (r-Fr.)

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