Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Virginia Tech’s defense was supposed to be good in 2013, but it may be even better than expected. Star cornerback Antone Exum has announced that he will be returning for his senior season.
In 2012, Exum played the boundary corner position in defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s 4-3 scheme. The boundary corner is the premiere defensive position at Virginia Tech, and while Exum had some growing pains early, he became better down the stretch.
Exum was named to the ACC’s all-second team in 2012 and the MVP of the Russell Athletic Bowl. As he improved, so did the defense. Early in the season, the Hokies’ defense gave up an inordinate amount of big plays to opponents, but later in the season, they became the vaunted defense that was expected in the preseason. A lot of that can be attributed to Exum’s abilities to lock down opposing wide receivers.
He was one of only two players from Virginia Tech’s defense that even considered leaving early for the NFL (defensive end James Gayle was the other). The entire secondary is returning for Foster and overall, it is one of the stronger groups on the defense.
The rising senior’s return is a big boost for a defense that is now returning nine of 11 starters from the 2012 season. Virginia Tech’s defense should be a force to be reckoned with in 2013. Foster has a talented and deep roster that is bringing in a highly-touted recruiting class on that side of the football.
2013 is already shaping up into a good year for Foster and his defense.
