Boundary corner is one of the glamor positions on the Virginia Tech defense and has produced NFL talent for the better part of a decade. DeAngelo Hall, Jimmy Williams, Brandon Flowers and Macho Harris all excelled at boundary corner for the Hokies ended up getting drafted.
Stephan Virgil took over the boundary position as a senior in 2009 but was moved to field corner after he was injured in the Alabama game, trading sides with Rashad Carmichael. Carmichael manned the boundary side until the Peach Bowl when Virgil was ruled academically ineligible and Cris Hill started at boundary. Both Hill and Carmichael return, but who will start at boundary cornerback for Virginia Tech in 2010?
Boundary Cornerback
Starter: Jayron Hosley, So.
Possible Starters: Rashad Carmichael, Sr. (returning starter)
Possible Backups: Cris Hill, Jr.
Hosley saw the field as a true freshman, returning punts and backing up Carmichael and then Hill at boundary corner. I think Hosley has the ability to be the next great cornerback at Virginia Tech and the sooner we give him the starting boundary job the better.
Hosley went to the same South Florida high school as Brandon Flowers and was recruited by the Hokies after being recommended to coaches by Flowers. With a full offseason under his belt I think Hosley will be able to win the starting job and keep it for the next three seasons.
If he can't do that, the question becomes whether the job goes back to Rashad Carmichael or if Cris Hill takes over. I thought Carmichael played very well at field corner in the Peach Bowl and if Hosley can win the boundary spot he should stay there. I like the combination of Hosley and Carmichael at the cornerback spots.
The biggest obstacle between Hosley and the starting job is his size. The boundary corner has to help with stopping the run and at 170 lbs he isn't quite big enough to be up to the challenge. Hopefully Mike Gentry can take care of that this offseason and Hosley will be ready to take over.
Up for Debate
- Who should start at boundary corner?