1) Do you get the feeling J-Ham’s defense could take a huge step forward?  Everything starts up front, and the number of snaps/experience on the defensive line is high. With the addition of Jordan Williams and the emergence of Barno, VT has an impact guy up front.  LBs have talented guys in Connor and Tisdale, and now Dax can move over to his natural position. There should be no surprise if he improves at LB as he settles into the Mike spot. Corners return a much healthier Waller, a future star in Strong (plus Chatman back). Safeties have who I think is VT’s next NFL safety in Keonta Jenkins. Plus an experienced Devin Taylor and the appearance of JR Walker. Fuente assembled a reasonably impressive defensive staff that now has a full offseason to develop his guys and install his system. Improvement coming for that group? – VTizzle

Chris Coleman: Yes, I pretty much agree with that statement, and I’ll throw in Tae Daley from Vanderbilt as a player who should factor in at one of the safety spots as well. 

Let’s go through VT’s projected starting lineup and the number of snaps each player has played during the course of his college career…

DE Amare Barno: 428
DT Jordan Williams: 678
DT Norell Pollard: 883
DE Emmanuel Belmar: 1,540
LB Dax Hollifield: 1,650
LB Alan Tisdale: 753
WH Chamarri Conner: 1,551
CB Dorian Strong: 462
CB Jermaine Waller: 974
S Keonta Jenkins: 168
S Tae Daley: 1,118
Total Snaps: 10,295

...