FUTURE APPEARS BRIGHT FOR DEFENSE
Struggling unit features a pair of breakout freshman linebackers in Kearney, Hollifield
BLACKSBURG – Reviewing video this week of Virginia Tech’s 20-14 win last year against Pittsburgh, Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster was struck by how much simpler his life was with experienced linebackers Andrew Motuapuaka and Tremaine Edmunds at his disposal.
Redshirt freshman Rico Kearney and true freshman Dax Hollifield impressed Foster last weekend while starting for the first time in Tech’s 31-21 loss to Boston College, but they’re still learning the ins and outs of playing linebacker in the ACC on the fly in a season full of growing pains. Foster didn’t have the kinds of conversations he’s having this season with Kearney and Hollifield he had last season with Motuapuaka and Edmunds.
All of the minutiae of technique and positioning, the finer points of recognizing formations and plays before the snap, knowing how to communicate with teammates on the field — those characteristics came easy last season to Motuapuaka and Edmunds.
“You almost have to go over every little detail, every minor thing, and I think that’s with a young group,” said Foster, who will lead his defense Saturday afternoon at Pittsburgh (5-4, 4-1 ACC) in a game Tech must win to
continue controlling its own destiny in the Coastal Division, or be eliminated from the division race with a loss.
“We were just talking about it (Tuesday) as a staff — some of the simple things that maybe you took for granted with a group that’s experienced, that all of a sudden, this group, you’ve got to go over every little detail.”
For what it’s worth, Kearney and Hollifield both appear to be fast learners on a defense itching for positive results.
Kearney, who filled in at starting middle linebacker against BC for the injured Rayshard Ashby, logged 18 tackles. It matched the most tackles by a Tech player in a game since Sept. 18, 2003, when safety Michael Crawford also had 18 in the Hokies’ 35-19 win against Texas A&M.
Ashby appeared to be making progress in practice early this week, according to Foster, and could be back on the field at Pitt, which means Kearney may once again play primarily on special teams. At least he feels like he lived up to Foster’s standards against BC.
“When Coach emphasizes you can’t just go out there and play, he always tells us ‘my 2-year-old (granddaughter) can go out there and play, but you have to be your best,’ ” said Kearney, a 6-foot, 230-pound native of Jacksonville, Fla., who committed to Miami in June 2015, before reneging on his pledge eight months later after Mark Richt replaced Al Golden as the Hurricanes’ coach. “That’s what I try to do every day when I’m on the field.”
As good as Kearney was finishing tackles against BC, Tech (4-4, 3-2) still surrendered 219 rushing yards. It was the third consecutive game Tech had given up at least that many rushing yards — something it had never done before in Foster’s 24 seasons as the Hokies’ defensive coordinator, or at any point in former coach Frank Beamer’s tenure (1987-2015).
Tech may not be catching Pitt at the right time. Pitt, which has won three of its last four games and leads the Coastal Division, is coming in on the heels of running back Darrin Hall carrying the ball 19 times for 229 yards and three touchdowns in last Friday night’s 23-13 win at then-No. 25 Virginia.
With injuries and youth combining to put Tech in position to have its least dependable defense in decades — the Hokies are also 83rd-best in the nation in pass defense (giving up 243.9 passing yards per game) out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision programs — developing young players with precocious leadership skills has been essential.
Hollifield, who hasn’t been made available to media for interviews despite requests throughout the season, falls in that category.
Jumping into the starting defensive group last weekend to replace injured left outside linebacker Dylan Rivers, Hollifield generated a career-high 10 tackles. It remains to be seen what his role will entail at Pitt, since Rivers was day-to-day early in the week.
Considering he came out of high school in Shelby, N.C., as one of the nation’s top 10 inside linebacker recruits in the ’18 class according to analysts, Hollifield’s production isn’t terribly stunning. His ability to sustain a frenetic tempo on and off the field so early in his career is more surprising.
After the loss to BC, Foster compared Hollifield’s attitude, approach and willingness to put in the extra work to that of former Tech fullback Sam Rogers, who immediately gained a reputation for being a workaholic from the moment he set foot on campus.
“I would say that’s a good comparison,” Tech coach Justin Fuente said of Foster making the Hollifield-Rogers connection. “You’re talking about a kid that his enthusiasm is genuine. His passion for playing the game is real and it’s every day and it’s consistent.
“We’ve all come across people like that in our lives — not necessarily with football — maybe it’s in your own profession or in school work or whatever it is, that just have this ability to do their absolute best every single day with every detail, continuing to push forward. Those people are remarkable, and he’s one of them. …It’s just a very genuine person that pours his heart and soul into everything he does. He pours his heart and soul into the classroom. His grade checks are fantastic. He just has some really consistent, high energy and effort qualities that are unique.”