:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/1439909/GYI0062453150.jpg)
Virginia Tech wrapped up spring drills Saturday and the spring game saw two guys continue to come up big who had been performing well throughout the spring. Meanwhile on special teams, the Hokies finally have a kicker who might be able to start next season as well.
Offensive MVP: WR Marcus Davis
It would be easy to go with the quarterback here, but to me Davis had the best spring of anyone on offense.
Marcus Davis played well enough during spring practice to be named the co-No. 1 flanker along with Danny Coale. After a two touchdown performance in the spring game, he may have the starting job all to himself. In Tech's six spring scrimmages, Davis had 23 catches for 297 yards and four touchdowns.
That's not putting down what Coale brings to the team. He's been clutch, he's made big catches over the middle and he's probably the most sure-handed receiver the Hokies have. He'll still get plenty of playing time this year. But in his third full year as a receiver, Davis has put on an impressive display and brings height and athleticism the Hokies can't afford to keep off the field.
Plus, if Coale winds up winning the punting job, we may not want him on the field as much. If he gets injured suddenly we down a starting punter and have to go to one of two full-time punters who some how managed to lose out on the job to a receiver. Not a situation I want to see.
Defensive MVP: DE J.R. Collins
Collins got some looks at defensive tackle and despite being undersized, was able to use his quickness to cause problems for Tech's interior linemen. On the edge, he was a disruptor and had two sacks in the spring game.
It was important for the Hokies to find defensive ends who could put pressure on the quarterback and that's what they did this spring. In addition to Collins, who had two sacks and four tackles for loss in Tech's second full scrimmage, James Gayle also emerged as a playmaker on defense and had a pair of sacks in the last two full scrimmages.
While those two could wind up being a very formidable defensive duo for the Hokies, Collins was the more consistent of the two.
Special Teams MVP: K Cody Journell
The Hokies finally have a kicker who isn't a fifth year senior as Journell, who's already on scholarship, won the job prior to the spring game. He's the first sophomore to be given the Hokies' kicking duties since Brandon Pace in 2004.
Journell made a 26-yard field goal in the spring game and had made three more during the second full scrimmage. With kickoff specialist Justin Myer unable to combine his booming leg with accuracy and consistency, the job is Journell's. We'll see if he can uphold the tradition of reliable field goal kicking the Hokies have had in recent years.
Ive had my say. Your turn in the comments.