Jake Johnson to Move to Defensive End

Virginia Tech sophomore Jake Johnson began the 2009 season as a starting linebacker, but struggled to read offenses and blew several assignments that eventually led to diminished playing time in favor of redshirt freshman Lyndell Gibson. Gibson started five games last season including the last four. In lieu of Gibson’s performance, defensive coordinator Bud Foster recently met with Johnson to talk about moving to defensive end beginning with the spring 2010 practice schedule, which begins March 31. “I told Coach Foster that I’ll do whatever’s best for the team,” Johnson told BeamerBall.com. Johnson is 6-1 and 231 pounds, which is the perfect size for a Virginia Tech defensive end (see Corey Moore, Darryl Tapp and Jason Worilds). The rising junior Fredericksburg, Va., is a very physical player that loves contact and plays with a great deal of intensity, though he needs to learn to reign in that intensity and focus it a little better. We love Jake here at VTHF and think th...