Hokies in the NFL: Checking in on Training Camp
Training camps are officially underway for both college and NFL teams across the country, and with NFL Preseason games getting into full swing this weekend, let’s take a look at how some former Hokies are doing in the league and what their teammates and coaches are saying about them!
Safety Chuck Clark is now suiting up for his third team in as many years after playing six seasons with the Baltimore Ravens to start his career. In 2024, Clark suited up for the New York Jets before playing a season with the Steelers a year ago. Now, Clark is on a small, one-year deal with the Detroit Lions, but is getting more snaps in practice than his contract might suggest. Clark is working with the Lions’ first-team defense right now due to starters Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph being unavailable.
When Lions Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard was asked about the safety position, he mentioned Clark, stating, "That's the thing that I think is the biggest difference this year is that, say we go into this season, we go into this thing with the room as it sits right now. Chuck Clark, Avonte Maddox, even Thomas Harper, these guys have time on task in the NFL with NFL snaps. They've seen these formations. They've done it.” Clark still carries a physical edge to his game, as Detroit Football Network reports he and WR Isaac TeSlaa got into it during practice, “With the post-whistle shoving match resulting in the two wrestling to the ground and needing to be separated by teammates."
From one former Hokies defensive back to another, Chamarri Conner is now entering a make-or-break season in his fourth year with the Kansas City Chiefs. With free agency pending next season, Conner will need to prove himself to the organization or catch the eye of another team to earn a lucrative second contract. Conner played 98% of the defensive snaps a year ago, leading the team. This signals that Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has confidence in Conner, but he has struggled at times when playing different positions. Conner appears to be at his best when playing safety, allowing him to roam down in the box and help in run support, one of his biggest strengths. However, due to free-agent departures and injuries, Conner has been forced to play cornerback, where he has struggled. When targeted in 2025, Conner allowed a 114.6 passer rating and 11.5 yards per reception.
Now, it seems like Conner is back playing his natural spot, telling reporters, “Oh, I'm very comfortable playing safety. "It's exciting to be in one spot…I'm always ready to do whatever the team needs, but I'm excited for this year." I'm excited for this season." As the Chiefs replace multiple pieces in the secondary and try to rebound from a disappointing 6-11 season a year ago, they will need Conner to step up in a big way to provide consistency on the back end. Conner will also team up with former Hokie and the first-round pick Mansoor Delane in the defensive backfield. Delane has been working through a shoulder injury, but should be ready for week one.
In 2024, Minnesota Vikings' tackle Christian Darrisaw played in just seven games because of an ACL/MCL injury. Last season, as Darrisaw worked his way back from that injury, he appeared in just 10 games and pulled himself out of half of them because he felt his surgically repaired knee was not strong enough. Darrisaw says the rehab process tested his love for the game, saying “If I didn’t truly love the game, I’d never have been able to do what it takes to get back on the field.”
Before the last two injury-plagued seasons, Darrisaw had established himself as one of the best young tackles in the NFL, even earning a four-year, $113 million contract extension. Even when he was on the field last season, Darrisaw’s play did not live up to that lofty pay raise. His 65.6 PFF grade was the lowest of his five-year career, as was his 69.8 run-blocking grade. Hopefully, another offseason of rehab and training will allow Darrisaw to return to his old self. Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell seems optimistic about that, saying, "He's had a healthy offseason, and he's really built up to a place where I know he's excited to get going."
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Divine Deablo is expected to take on a much bigger role this season as he enters his second year with the team. Following the departure of Kaden Elliss, the Falcons announced that Deablo will be the “green dot” player for the defense this season. That means Deablo will be responsible for relaying the play calls to the rest of the defense and getting everyone lined up correctly. Deablo is embracing his new role as a key leader of the defense, saying, “I've been trying to have casual conversations with everybody. I’ve just been trying to chat it up to show that I am comfortable talking to everybody…On the field, just yelling, being loud, I want everyone, even the coaches, to hear me and know I am confident.”
Right now, Deablo is missing some time with an apparent ankle injury he suffered during a scrimmage. After initial concern that it may be a long-term injury, Head Coach Kevin Stefanski says Deablo will be back “sooner than later.”
The Falcons coaching staff seems to have a great amount of trust in the sixth-year linebacker, with Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich praising his approach to the game, “I’ve been around guys that are really demonstrative leaders that can have that effect, where their voice just calms you down because they’re so demonstrative and so certain in everything they do and so even-keeled when it comes to whatever the situation may be…They’re that rock you can lean on. And he does that in a way I’ve never seen before. It’s so unique in his calmness and his demeanor and his consistency in all that he does.”
Quarterback Kyron Drones is entering his rookie season in the league with the Green Bay Packers, and gets to share a position room with Hokies legend Tyrod Taylor, who the Packers signed this offseason to fill the backup role that Malik Willis left vacant when he signed a big contract with the Miami Dolphins. Drones is battling for the QB3 spot behind Taylor, and his competition is former Ohio State and Syracuse signal-caller Kyle McCord. Drones’ athletic ability is reportedly standing out at training camp, but it remains to be seen if that will be enough to earn him a roster or practice squad spot.
Drones ended the team’s minicamp over the summer on a high note, looking solid in 7-on-7 drills. Following minicamp, Drones assessed his first taste of the NFL, “Some ups and downs, but that’s always learning the game and learning how the NFL really is. So, I’m excited for the opportunity that I had and that I’m going to have when we get back.”
One of the big pickups of the offseason for the New York Giants, and their new Head Coach John Harbaugh, was linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Edmunds signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the team this offseason, and is providing a veteran presence on a young defense. The Giants have paired Edmunds with their exciting first-round pick Arvell Reese in the linebacking corps. Edmunds’ experience at the position from his years in Buffalo and Chicago should help Reese settle into the position after spending his time at Ohio State moving around to multiple spots. The Giants have reportedly been utilizing Reese’s athleticism heavily in their blitz packages, hoping to keep offenses on their toes alongside talented edge rushers Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Meanwhile, Edmunds is left to handle the less glamorous work, using his years of experience to help get the defense lined up and using his size to help attack the run game. Reese has already spoken highly of playing next to Edmunds and the relationship they are building:
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"He's a great player, a great leader." -Arvell Reese on playing alongside Tremaine Edmunds
Wide receiver Jaylin Lane is entering his second training camp with the Washington Commanders after turning into a key contributor for the team a season ago, especially on special teams. Lane returned 23 punts for 314 yards and two touchdowns a year ago, and added 225 receiving yards on top of that. Now, Lane says he is already feeling more comfortable with the offense and is playing with more confidence. Lane also says that Head Coach Dan Quinn “has turned it up a notch” from last season as the Commanders try to get back on track and make another run as they did in 2024.
Lane finds himself competing with Luke McCaffrey, rookie Antonio Williams, and newly signed veteran Stefon Diggs for targets, so his role as a wide receiver could once again be limited. On Diggs, Lane says that he is “coming in with knowledge, and he's trying to give it to everybody. From day one he was coming to me talking, 'This is what I am seeing.' And he doesn't even know the playbook yet. He knows the routes, he understands concepts." Even if Lane is unable to make a big impact at receiver, his return ability makes him valuable and a dangerous weapon for Washington.
Tight end James Mitchell signed a one-year deal to return to the Carolina Panthers this offseason after making the team’s roster a season ago and contributing in a limited role. Now, Mitchell will have to fend off Feleipe Franks if he wants to remain on the team, as the Panthers already have three tight ends seemingly locked into roster spots. Mitchell did outperform Franks in the Hall of Fame Game, hauling in three catches for 15 yards compared to Franks’ two catches for eight yards. However, the Panthers seem high on Franks’ ability as a special teams player, so the road to a roster spot could be a tough one for Mitchell.
Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles is looking to carve out a bigger role for himself after playing just 71 snaps a year ago, but is currently missing some time with a minor injury. Peebles is attempting to impress his new coaching staff, led by new head man Jesse Minter and his new position coach Lou Esposito. Peebles does seem to be making a good impression and is earning the trust of his teammates. Over the summer, Peebles was selected multiple times to represent the defense during Minter’s new "at our best when our best is needed" drill. Peebles won his one-on-one competition both times he was selected:
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Defense wins the backwards medicine ball toss drill today, 2-1. Aeneas Peebles won for a second straight day, beating Corey Bullock. Trenton Simpson upset Derrick Henry. Xavier Guillory topped Keondre Jackson.
When asked about his approach to this season, Peebles leaned on advice from his dad, saying, "It's just about starting over and humbling myself and coming in every day with my head down to work. It's not letting the lack of reps or maybe not doing what I wanted to do last year discourage me and allow me to think that I'm not who I am. Just being confident in myself and my abilities."
Titans kicker Joey Slye seemingly has some work to do if he wants to lock down the starting kicker spot like he did last season. In 2025, Slye made 80% of his field goals, including 9/14 kicks from 50-plus yards. Slye has long been known for his strong but erratic leg and has seemingly struggled to find consistency this offseason. During a scrimmage, Slye missed three makeable field goals. This caused the team to work out three kickers the following day; however, none of them were signed. This leaves Slye as the lone kicker on the roster, meaning he still has a chance to prove himself as the Titans hold joint practices this week with the San Francisco 49ers. However, if Slye is unable to raise his stock, his time in Tennessee could be over soon.
After spending the last seven seasons in Cleveland, guard Wyatt Teller is making a big move down to Houston to join the Texans. Teller projects to be one of the team’s starting guards after signing a two-year, $23 million contract during free agency as the team tries to improve its protection of franchise QB CJ Stroud. It’s been an adjustment for Teller, who says, “This is the biggest city I’ve ever lived in, it’s not even close.” In addition to the new surroundings, Teller will also be flipping sides of the line, moving to left guard after several seasons playing on the right side.
In Cleveland, Teller blossomed into an elite player, making three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams during his time with the Browns. However, in the last two years, he has been hampered by injuries. Now, Teller is looking to get back to his old self, while also being a mentor to the Texans’ young players: "I played a long time in this league, so however I can help the young guys playing, but also learning my technique and fundamentals, kind of trying to stay young. I know the old saying, it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Kind of changing my position, moving all around, it's been kind of nice to kind of start afresh and start anew and kind of make a new name for myself."
"We're definitely expecting Tuten to have a big year for us."
Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen
The former Hokie with the biggest NFL breakout potential this season has to be Jacksonville Jaguars’ running back Bhayshul Tuten. Tuten was solid for the Jags as a rookie, racking up 307 rushing yards and five touchdowns on just 83 attempts. Now, with the departure of Travis Etienne to the Saints, more opportunities have opened up for Tuten, who also serves as the team’s kick returner.
In the offseason, the Jaguars only added one back to the team, veteran Chris Rodriguez, who has mostly served as a rotational piece during his career. This signals that Tuten could be in line for the bulk of the carries this season, and his Head Coach, Liam Coen, seems confident in the young back: “He does a great job of finding the end zone, and his yards after contact and rushing yards, man — when he can get going and get downhill, I mean, he was 4.28 coming out, so he can fly; now it’s more so, he was so conscientious about ball security last year and doing right. Okay, now Tuten, you got it. You understand it more. Now just go be you. Go do what got you here. Go be special; that’s who you are. We’re definitely expecting Tuten to have a big year for us.”
If you are itching for updates from Virginia Tech Fall Camp, check out the latest episode of Two Deep where I sit down with the boys to talk about everything we heard from the team at Media Day and how practice is going so far.
