Editor’s note: On Thursday, Hanson announced his decision to medically retire.
— Jesse Hanson (@jessehanson72) July 27, 2023
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Virginia Tech likely will be down an offensive lineman this season — and possibly for good.
Jesse Hanson, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound redshirt senior who started 11 games at right guard for the Hokies last year, will likely not be available this season as he deals with a medical issue, Tech coach Brent Pry said at the ACC Kickoff on Wednesday.
“Jesse’s more than likely not going to be with us this fall,” Pry said at the league’s media days. “He’s got some medical things going on that could end his career prematurely. We’re supporting him and he’s over there with us every day right now working through some things. So we’ll see how that shakes out. It’s not quite finalized. I don’t anticipate Jesse being with us this fall, not as a player.”
Hanson, a local product from just up the road in Botetourt County, graded out at 62.2 by Pro Football Focus in 2022, tied with Silas Dzansi for the highest mark among Hokies starting linemen.
His starting spot this fall was not guaranteed, however. He spent the spring splitting reps with Bob Schick at right guard, a position Pry mentioned several times was up for grabs.
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The Hokies got some help on that front in the transfer portal, grabbing Gardner-Webb’s Clayton Frady, an FCS All-American who has played tackle and guard. Pry expects him to be a factor at guard when preseason camp opens.
Xavier Chaplin (left tackle), Kaden and Braelin Moore (left guard and center) and Parker Clements (right tackle) solidified their spots in the spring. Schick has some positional versatility and could be in contention at the right guard spot. Jack Hollifield could also factor in at one of the interior spots, including center, with second-year players like Johnny Garrett and Brody Meadows continuing to develop.
They’ll need to in order to shore up what Pry perceived to be the weakest part of the Hokies’ offense last year, the run game. Tech averaged just 3.14 yards per carry, which ranked 123rd nationally and was the program’s worst mark since 1988.
“To me, it really starts with our run game,” Pry said. “We couldn’t run the ball last year, and that hurts the ability to throw the ball, hurts the ability to protect. … It hurts your defense.”
He’s seen progress so far under first-year offensive line coach Ron Crook, who took over after Joe Rudolph left for Notre Dame.
“I think what we’ve done under Coach Crook and some adjustments to how we’re blocking some things that coach [Tyler] Bowen’s made, I feel much better about the run game and the direction it’s headed,” Pry said.
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Already a thin OL does anyone move over from the DL? Thinking Givens
Well at least we have known this for a while which helps with replacements – sorry for Jesse though
Jesse has been in the program for a long time. Disappointed for him to miss what should have been his career best year.
Yep, High expectations ND apparently loaded on OL and RB offense in general according to Phil Steele.
I’ll be interested to see how ND’s O-Line performs under Rudolph.
True dat