2025 Fall Camp Notebook: New Look Wideouts Get Ready to Take Flight

We are inching ever closer to Virginia Tech's date with South Carolina down in Atlanta. The Hokies are certainly ready to start playing against other teams after a long camp of beating each other up. Both Fontel Mines and Isaiah Brown-Murray commented on how they're excited to hit someone in a different colored jersey. While we didn't get to watch practice on Friday, we did get some insight into the Hokies' wide receiver room. Fontel Mines' "Bad Boyz" lose a lot of production this year, but bring in an interesting blend of returning and new talent. 

Philip Montgomery's passing attack will rely heavily on a pair of Greenes. Ayden Greene returns as the leader of the room. Fontel Mines said he has stepped up as a leader, and Greene says he is now looked at as a "player-coach."

Wake Forest transfer Donavon Greene comes to Blacksburg with 6 years of college experience under his belt. His teammates refer to him as "Unc" because of how long he's been roaming the college ranks. Ayden Greene says it has been great having Donavon around and that he looks up to his approach to the game. He said Donavon is "very mellow" because of his experience, and Ayden is trying to learn from Donavon's mature approach. 

Virginia Tech's wide receiver room will not be top heavy however. Coach Mines said he trusts 7-8 guys to take the field. He also highlighted the versatility they have this year. He says that three different guys could take reps in the slot. Cam Seldon, Tayke Heath, and Isaiah Spencer have all worked their during the spring and bring different attributes to the role. 

On Seldon, Mines said it was tough sledding for the Tennessee transfer at first as he had to relearn the wide receiver position after featuring as a running back for the last two seasons. 

One of the spring standouts from the coaches has been redshirt junior Devin Alves. Alves switched over from defense and after taking some time to get used to the position, has shined during camp. Brent Pry said after one practice that Alves had one of the best days he has seen from a pass catcher. Coach Mines echoed that praise. 

This season will also feature the return of Tucker Holloway. Holloway was a third team All-ACC selection at punt returner in 2023, but missed all of last season after suffering an injury in the spring. Coach Mines is fired up to welcome Holloway back into the lineup. 

Flipping over to the other side of the ball, Isaiah Brown-Murray comes in from ECU. "IBM" was started all 12 games for the Pirates last season, racking up 41 tackles, 7 PBU's, and an interception. He'll bring some versatility to the back end of Sam Siefkes' defense with his ability to play outside and in the nickel. From the limited competitive reps we saw in practice, IBM plays much bigger than his 5'9 frame, matching up well with taller receivers like Donavon Greene. I asked Brown-Murray about his decision to transfer from ECU. He obviously said playing time was a factor, but Tech's traditions, and a little nostalgia, played a role as well. 

The expectations and pressure for this season are high for the Hokies as they enter the first game week of 2025. A lot is still unknown about what this year's squad will look like with two new coordinators and a host of new players. Despite the changes, Ayden Greene is optimistic about the squad, saying "the sky is the limit" for this team. He is also eager for Hokie Nation to see the new offense Virginia Tech will put on the field this season. 

And with that, this year's Fall Camp Notebook is officially closed. The Hokies have moved from install to game prep as they try to start the season 1-0 for just the second time in Brent Pry's tenure. Sons of Saturday will be at practice next week as the Hokies get ready for the Gamecocks, and some of the boys will be down in Atlanta when we finally get to see what this year's Virginia Tech team can do. Make sure to join the Sons for Saturday in the South to help you get ready for kickoff.