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The Virginia Tech Hokies met with the media on Wednesday as the team is set to open fall camp. Head coach Justin Fuente, defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton, and offensive coordinator Brad Cornelsen spoke to assembled media.
Fuente opened it up and discussed Virginia Tech’s season opener against North Carolina via the school’s official website:
We’ve played in big opening games before. We haven’t really been a stranger to that, at least in our time here. So I don’t know that it changes a tremendous amount. And we have known for some time that with the advent of the ACC Network, that we were going to play conference games to open up the season. I’m just happy that we’ve got one at home, it seems like we’ve been everywhere except home. So we’re excited about that part of it. But we will go about our installation the way that we did, before we played West Virginia or any of the other teams we’ve opened up against. We’ve got to install the fundamentals and evaluate the young players. And then, with a week and a half or two weeks left to go, you have to turn your attention to your first opponent.
Fuente discussed several topics, including his starting quarterback, Braxton Burmeister.
Fuente on Braxton Burmeister’s top speed in summer workouts: “I’m not surprised he was there, I’m not surprised at all. He’s an elite athlete.” #Hokies
— Mike McDaniel (@MikeMcDanielSOS) August 4, 2021
The top speed Fuente referred to was Burmeister’s top speed in summer workouts, which led the team.
Speed Kings #Forever2 #ApeSzn pic.twitter.com/Irtt7BqCQh
— 7️⃣ Hunter (@devonhunter11) July 31, 2021
The top nugget from Hamilton’s presser was the safety position. Vanderbilt transfer Tae Daley is now at free safety. The return of Devon Hunter gave the boundary position plenty of depth.
Little news from Virginia Tech media day, Tae Daley moving over to free safety, according to defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton, with Devon Hunter back with team boundary safety was really crowded
— michaelniziolek (@michaelniziolek) August 4, 2021
Another noteworthy quote by Hamilton on preseason All-ACC defensive end Amare Barno.
#Hokies defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton is at the podium. Says that DE Amare Barno is “just scratching the surface” to his potential.
— Mike McDaniel (@MikeMcDanielSOS) August 4, 2021
Barno is a preseason All-ACC selection after one year at the defensive end position
When Cornelsen took the podium, he spoke of freshman wide receiver Da’Wain Lofton.
OC Brad Cornelsen identifies freshman WR Da'Wain Lofton as someone who's not a household name who has a shot at breaking out this year. #Hokies
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) August 4, 2021
This is in line with everything we’ve heard about Lofton. He has impressed and has a chance to make an impact as a true freshman.
Football is coming. The season-opener is 28 days away from Friday.