As the Hokies continue to prepare for their season opener at the end of the month, an enticing player group has started to develop in the safety room.
Led by safeties coach and former Hokie Pierson Prioleau along with associate safeties coach Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, Tech’s safety unit looks to provide extra support to the cornerbacks this season while also being a disruptive force to opposing offenses. Every week of Fall Camp, the position preview series, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance, will break down the Virginia Tech football roster. In this position preview, let’s look at the Hokies’ safety corps that is poised to be special this season.
Providing veteran leadership and valuable game experience is senior Jalen Stroman. The brother of NFL defensive back Greg Stroman Jr. played in 11 games for the Hokies last season and made seven starts on the backend. The 6-foot-1, Bristow, Virginia native posted 55 tackles on the year, 24 of which were solo, and saw his strongest performance against Purdue with a 14-tackle affair. Stroman was a key figure in the Hokies defensive structure last year that allowed only 168.8 passing yards per game, which was fourth-best across college football. After dealing with some shoulder issues last fall, it’s safe to assume that a healthy Stroman is something defensive coordinator Chris Marve is excited about this upcoming season.
Jaylen Jones is another senior in the mix that can provide Tech with some defensive strength. The former wide receiver turned safety is entering his fourth year at Tech but only his second year at the safety position. In 2023, Jones played in 11 games at safety and started nine, posting 35 tackles (18 solo) with season highs (5 tackles) against Rutgers, Marshall and Wake Forest. His three pass breakups on the year ranked fourth best on defense, and his quick twitch in coverage allows him to attack in a scheme with Stroman. Expect Jones to adapt to a role that sees him play strong safety in Tech’s defense.
Looking past Stroman and Jones, Mose Phillips III looks to build on a solid freshman campaign. Phillips III, a true sophomore, played in 13 games last season and made two starts on defense. Fifteen of his 27 total tackles on the season were solo efforts, including a season-high seven tackles and a forced fumble against Tulane in the Military Bowl. Phillips came out of high school as a three-star recruit by Rivals, and the Nashville, Tennessee native looks to compete for a starting role.
A relatively young safety room has the chance to provide some depth at the position. Those players are Tyler Childress, Devin Alves, Cameren Fleming, and Quentin Reddish.
Childress, Fleming, and Alves are all returners from last season. Childress saw action in a special teams role, making seven tackles in 13 games. Now a redshirt junior, the 6-foot-2, 197-pounder looks to develop into a chess piece that Tech can utilize throughout the season. Alves found his game action in a lone appearance against Virginia, where he made and assisted on a tackle in the 55-17 win. Fleming, a three-star recruit out of high school, did not see the field last year and redshirted as a freshman.
A new addition to the safety room is the true freshman Reddish. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Reddish dominated in high school, recording 196 career total tackles (114 solo) and 14 career interceptions. The Charlotte, North Carolina native helped lead Independence High School to the NCHSAA 4A West Regional semifinal in 2023, the team’s first appearance since 2009. Rivals and On3 ranked Reddish as a four-star safety coming out of high school, further amplifying expectations for the safety to have a long-term impact.
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