Linebacker depth has been a problem for Virginia Tech in recent seasons. For
the first time in a long time, Bud Foster will have a lot of options this
spring. There will still be plenty of youth in the linebacking corps, but there
will be plenty of talent as well.

Bruce Taylor and Lyndell Gibson got most of the reps at mike and backer this
season, and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow was the only whip linebacker the Hokies used.
Towards the end of the season, Tech started developing some depth with Tariq
Edwards playing better at backer, and Jack Tyler played very well at mike during
the ACC Championship Game.

Though Gibson will miss spring practice, it will give Bud Foster an
opportunity for some other talented young players to get reps with the starting
defense. He also has a few linebackers who have the ability to play either
inside linebacker position, which will give him more options.

Except for the quarterback position, where all eyes will be on the
development of Logan Thomas and Tech’s other signal callers, linebacker could be
the most interesting position to follow during the spring.

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