Melvin Keihn can make an instant-impact at Virginia Tech
By Tim Thomas
Jan 2, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Team Nitro linebacker Melvin Keihn (18) during the second half at Tropicana Field. Team Highlight defeated the Team Nitro 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Melvin Keihn is one of the top Class of 2014 players that the Virginia Tech Hokies are going to be welcoming into the fold over the summer and while most freshman usually are redshirted or play on special teams, Keihn has the potential do more than just that. Melvin Keihn may have been a borderline 3 or 4-star by the top recruiting sites but there are players that have been seen as a 3-star like Myles Jack who was a 3-star by ESPN but has already looked like a 5-star for UCLA. Melvin Keihn might be the only Hokie recruit that was in the Under Armour All-American Game this year and while that doesn’t guarantee anything, that just proves that Keihn has a lot of talent.
The Hokies lost both Jack Tyler and Tariq Edwards due to their upcoming graduation and Virginia Tech will have a fairly open battle to see who will replace Tyler and Edwards. Melvin Keihn has some great instincts which are hard to teach and something that can give him a great chance to get a lot of early playing time. Keihn has the ability to be a very good run stopper as he knows to take out the holes that running backs think they have which is proven by his highlight tape.
If Keihn doesn’t start at linebacker, Keihn also has the potential to take the role that Dadi Nicolas had last year for the Hokies as a pass rushing specialist. Nicolas will be one of the starting defensive ends for the Hokies this upcoming season and Keihn has the pass rush skills to take Nicolas’s role as a pass rushing specialist. Keihn knows how to cut inside and make that quick move to get to the quarterback while Keihn can also be a very dangerous edge rusher with his above-average speed. Melvin Keihn will be able to make an impact for the Hokies this upcoming season but that will just be the beginning for a guy who has huge potential to be a star for the Hokies.