With classes set to get back under way in Blacksburg tomorrow, we'll start to hear about the attrition from the roster for players who don't care to wait until after spring practice to look for a new home - that is, for the most part, either guys who are having off-field difficulties or those who are far enough down the depth chart that they don't think they can get where they want to be after the spring session. News should be filtering out within the next couple days if and when there's attrition.
I am expecting some players to look for greener pastures (aside from those we already know have been in the transfer portal: Sean Savoy, DeAndre Plantin, Trevon Hill, et al). Without naming specific guys - plans can always change and it's unfair to brand them as players on the way out in case they change their minds, or even if they don't - there are a handful of specific ones I'd expect to depart, or at least test the transfer waters. That includes the guys who walked on Senior Day already (Darius Fullwood the most notable name there, simply because DT is a position of need gong forward) but haven't explicitly stated their intention of playing elsewhere.
When the coaches have the chance to sit down and talk with players about their standing in the program, on the depth chart, etc. we should see some movement, and with the players returning to campus over the weekend into tomorrow's first day of class, that should happen soon.
I'm also anticipating that some coaches will look around at other options, in some cases because Justin Fuente encourages it, but in others simply because the individual is interested in a change of scenery. With the staff returning from a couple weeks on the road since the opening of the Contact Period Jan. 10, it's possible or even likely that there's some movement in the coaching ranks when the personnel meetings with Fuente are held. There are a couple guys in the former (Fuente will evaluate their performance and make a decision) category, and one in the latter, who has been considering testing the waters elsewhere. That is someone whose departure from an on-field perspective may be felt: receivers coach Holmon Wiggins. There are feelers out at other Power-5 programs, because he's interested in moving up the ranks with a coordinator title. It's not set in stone he leaves, but don't be surprised if he does.
That said, his recruiting acumen (which, from the offensive staff at least, has been more in question than the on-field performance, while you could say that the opposite has been true in the 2018-19 recruiting classes and the on-field 2018 product for the defense) has been a weakness so far in Blacksburg. I'd expect, with all the talent already on the roster, that if Wiggins leaves, Fuente might look to tilt the balance more toward talent acquisition than talent development at the position in the short-term.
I am expecting some players to look for greener pastures (aside from those we already know have been in the transfer portal: Sean Savoy, DeAndre Plantin, Trevon Hill, et al). Without naming specific guys - plans can always change and it's unfair to brand them as players on the way out in case they change their minds, or even if they don't - there are a handful of specific ones I'd expect to depart, or at least test the transfer waters. That includes the guys who walked on Senior Day already (Darius Fullwood the most notable name there, simply because DT is a position of need gong forward) but haven't explicitly stated their intention of playing elsewhere.
When the coaches have the chance to sit down and talk with players about their standing in the program, on the depth chart, etc. we should see some movement, and with the players returning to campus over the weekend into tomorrow's first day of class, that should happen soon.
I'm also anticipating that some coaches will look around at other options, in some cases because Justin Fuente encourages it, but in others simply because the individual is interested in a change of scenery. With the staff returning from a couple weeks on the road since the opening of the Contact Period Jan. 10, it's possible or even likely that there's some movement in the coaching ranks when the personnel meetings with Fuente are held. There are a couple guys in the former (Fuente will evaluate their performance and make a decision) category, and one in the latter, who has been considering testing the waters elsewhere. That is someone whose departure from an on-field perspective may be felt: receivers coach Holmon Wiggins. There are feelers out at other Power-5 programs, because he's interested in moving up the ranks with a coordinator title. It's not set in stone he leaves, but don't be surprised if he does.
That said, his recruiting acumen (which, from the offensive staff at least, has been more in question than the on-field performance, while you could say that the opposite has been true in the 2018-19 recruiting classes and the on-field 2018 product for the defense) has been a weakness so far in Blacksburg. I'd expect, with all the talent already on the roster, that if Wiggins leaves, Fuente might look to tilt the balance more toward talent acquisition than talent development at the position in the short-term.
