Hokies showcasing deeper offensive line in spring game (2024)

BLACKSBURG — Layth Ghannam’s playing experience in four seasons at George Washington High School in Charleston, West Virginia, and during his first season at Virginia Tech came at left tackle. It’s a position that suits the 6-foot-5, 302-pound Ghannam with his quick feet and ability to block in space.

There was a practice early this spring when the redshirt freshman didn’t line up at left tackle. He was at left guard. It was a chance to evaluate whether that was the position Ghannam could push for a starting role this upcoming season.

Ghannam isn’t the only offensive lineman who has shifted to guard this spring. Georgia State transfer Montavious Cunningham started 13 straight games at right tackle spanning the 2022 and ’23 seasons, and he’s been working at right guard in his first spring with the Hokies.

Those two will get ample reps at their new positions in Saturday’s 3 p.m. spring game at Lane Stadium. Ghannam could play both left tackle and guard on the Orange team, while Cunningham should get the majority of the work at right guard for the Maroon team.

“A lot of it is just how quick things happen at guard,” Ghannam said of the position change. “With tackle, you have a lot more open field, open space to work with. At guard, you have a three-technique right up on you, way closer, so you’ve got to get on him quick and your footwork has to be good.”

Hokies coach Brent Pry was able to divide the offensive line into two even teams for this spring game. Last season’s spring game featured one offensive line that was significantly better than the other.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re going to continue with the plan to make it competitive,” Pry said. “I don’t know that that was the right thing to do last year, for that reason. But I do think that we’re in a better place from that standpoint on both fronts and really across the team to play competitively for four quarters with the teams split. If we can go do that, that’s a good sign.”

The Orange team features three players who saw significant action last season — Brody Meadows, Bob Schick and Parker Clements — in addition to Ghannam and Lance Williams.

The Maroon team has four main contributors from last season — Xavier Chaplin, Braelin Moore, Kaden Moore and Johnny Garrett — with Cunningham.

Eyes on QBs Watson, Wittke

Pry said Tuesday he expects key starters like quarterback Kyron Drones, running back Bhayshul Tuten, defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland and cornerback Dorian Strong to play, but doesn’t “think they’ll play a whole lot.”

The main battle of note is for the backup quarterback role behind Drones, with Dylan Wittke being on the Maroon team and Pop Watson on the Orange team.

“We’re still evaluating those guys. Early it was probably tipped to Dylan his way, and right now I’d probably say it’s going Pop’s way,” Pry said. “It’s been a good battle. And those last two Friday scrimmages were about 100 snaps each. So they got some good work. We’ve pulled back on Kyron a little bit in some places to make sure those guys are getting enough snaps.”

Who’s out?

Tech is projected to not have at least eight players available for the spring game.

Six of those players (wide receiver Stephen Gosnell, tight ends Nick Gallo and Benji Gosnell, linebacker Keli Lawson, cornerback Krystian Williams and safety Jalen Stroman) have either worn a blue no-contact jersey or not been able to participate this spring.

Wide receiver Tucker Holloway and defensive tackle Andrew Hanchuk are being held out for precautionary reasons.

The format

Pry isn’t changing the format of the spring game this season.

The first half will feature a 15-minute first quarter and a 12-minute second quarter that will run with a “true clock,” according to Pry.

The third and fourth quarters will feature running clocks.

“Sometimes injuries and things can affect that, but that’s the plan right now,” Pry said.