MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It seems a lifetime ago when West Virginia defensive coordinator Tony Gibson watched Josh Jackson dominate junior high games in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The life-comes-full-circle storyline will dominate Sunday night when Jackson makes his college debut as Virginia Tech’s freshman quarterback, facing Gibson’s defense.
“He’s a born football player,” Gibson said. “He’s been around football his whole life and he’s studied a lot of him, but hopefully he’ll be a little nervous.”
Jackson’s father Fred, a longtime Michigan assistant, coached alongside Gibson for three seasons with the Wolverines. Current West Virginia defensive line coach Bruce Tall also was a part of that Michigan staff and developed close ties with the Jackson family.
“Freddie J is a great guy — one of the best coaches I’ve ever been around — and Josh is the classic coach’s son,” Tall said. (Jackson now wears No. 17 in tribute to his dad.) “He’s real sharp, real athletic, carries himself extremely well.”
Come game time, those friendships will be suspended as West Virginia’s equally inexperienced defensive front tries to rattle Jackson.
“I’ve got high respect for him,” Tall said, “but we’re getting after him.”
Hokies standout recalls WVU visit that wasn’t
Virginia Tech’s top receiver Cam Phillips, a four-star prospect coming out of DeMatha in 2014, said he seriously considered West Virginia until the coaching staff cancelled his recruiting visit and never rescheduled.
“They came up with some excuse,” Phillips told told The Roanoke Times. “You know, the coach had something. It’s whatever. … I didn’t call back or any of that.”
While Phillips was attracted by how the Mountaineers’ offense “gave their athletes space to work,” he said the mixup essentially eliminated WVU.
“I remember all that stuff,” Phillips said. “But that’s sort of in the rear view. I’m here now, I’m excited about where I am, I’m blessed to be where I am and I’m glad I get a chance to go out and play those guys.”
After making 76 catches for 983 yards last season, Phillips stands within 905 yards of eclipsing the school record for career yardage.
Preston a starter … finally
Having played in 32 career games, West Virginia outside linebacker Xavier Preston is in line to make his first start Sunday.
“It’s a big step and I respect that,” he said. “It took a while but I’m prepared now. I have to be a complete player. In the past I wasn’t, but now I am and I have to make that evident to everyone else.”
Carrier: WRs will play physical
The Hokies are expected to ramp up their press coverage with WVU missing two deep threats on the outside. Mountaineers assistant Tyron Carrier said his receivers haven’t lacked for intensity during the preseaon.
“The part that I love through the roof is that those guys are physical,” he said. “It ain’t nothing to get the guys tuned up and get them going.”
Not Down Under
A year ago Jake Spavital spent opening week calling plays in Australia as Cal faced Hawaii in Sydney. That matchup felt like a novelty act compared to the flaming environment that will greet the Mountaineers and Hokies in Landover.
“That’s just a different deal, not much passion for the American football,” Spavital said. “This is a 180 in terms of atmosphere.”