Published: May 14, 2008 10:38 pm            

Holdovers confident in Virginia Tech defense

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Questions about the middle of the Virginia Tech football defense will continue until the first game this fall is history.

Those questions have already been answered in the minds of the players who are expected to line up there on Sept. 6, when Furman University visits Blacksburg.

Victor “Macho” Harris, who has started in the defensive backfield since his first year at Tech, said, “Losing those seven (defensive) starters from last fall does hurt a little bit.

“But, you know, it’s D-I football. We’ve got great players here.”

At the conclusion of spring practice, Harris said, “I feel good about the team, offense and defense. We’ve got a lot of young guys who’re just hungry, getting after it. Doing the right things, doing what the coaches (tell them). I love it, right now.”

Harris will be a senior this fall, and has moved from field corner to boundary-side cornerback. He even got a chance to play receiver on offense during the spring.

Wherever he’s put, he has confidence in the alignment constructed by defensive coordinator Bud Foster. Harris said, “Coach Foster does a great job. He’s got a great scheme. Just do what the coaches (say) and we’re basically going to be all right.”

“I don’t think we really lose much,” said safety Kam Chancellor. “I think we have to dominate up front and in the middle. I think that’s real important, that we stop the run.”

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who faced the first-team secondary during last month’s spring game, said, “They were very fast. A lot of those guys, had experience in the game and knew what they were doing out there.”

Chancellor chalked up the Hokies’ big interception that day, picking off Taylor and running 55 yards with the ball before he was stopped a yard short of the goal line.

“I feel like, for me, that’s my plays to make,” Chancellor said. “Anybody throws a pass like that, I plan on making that play. I don’t let (anybody) get passes like that on me. I expect a lot out of myself.”

The Hokies defenders in front of him put “great effort” into their spring practices, Chancellor reported. “They’re kind of making the tackles up front before I get there — which makes me kind of mad, but it’s good for them.”

Design an NFL safety for the year 2011 and he’ll probably look a lot like Chancellor — 6-foot-3, 220 pounds of defined muscle and lethal energy.

The rising junior moved from cornerback in 2006 to rover for last fall, and will be the free safety and expects to call the defensive plays on-field in the 2008 season.

“I wanted to move over to safety, and take that spot,” he said, “because I always knew I was a hitter, too. I played safety in high school.”

He said that when Harris was playing receiver during spring ball, “It was real competitive that whole week, going against Macho. ... Macho is an athlete. He can play both ways. He’s a shifty guy. He can change direction real good. He’s just very athletic.”

Four-year starter Harris was asked about his locker-room role going into his senior year.

He said, “The role is definitely different, because you’ve got to (go) from a kid’s mindset to a grown man’s mindset, and lead by example.

“That’s what I’m doing. I feel like the coaches feel like I’m a good leader.”

He contemplated entering last month’s NFL draft but took himself out of the running. “I could’ve left,” he said. “I’m glad that I came back. I don’t feel (any) regrets. I love Virginia Tech.”

— Contact Tom Bone tbone@bdtonline.com

        

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