Remington Hinshaw: The Replacement for Cody Journell?

Oct 26, 2013; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Duke Blue Devils cornerback Breon Borders (31) tries to block the kick of Virginia Tech Hokies kicker Cody Journell (89) during the fourth quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

One of the stapleholds of the Virginia Tech Hokies under Frank Beamer has been special teams and the Hokies have traditionally been known for having very good kickers. Cody Journell had a solid career for the Hokies but some early struggles in his senior season along with off the field issues led to him being kicked off the team. The Hokies would have some kicking struggles after that and entered Spring Practice with a wide open kicking depth chart.

In Spring Practice, the Hokies’ kickers proved that they had the talent to take Cody Journell’s job in the long run. Ethan Keyserling was solid and his past experience on the field in 2013 was definitely an advantage for him. Michael Branthover was used sometimes on kickoffs and showed a big leg in the Sun Bowl despite having very little experience as a kicker. Branthover proved this spring that he had the potential to be the Hokies’ answer in 2014 at kicker but one player stood out just a little more and is currently at the top of the depth chart.

That man is Remington Hinshaw.

Remington Hinshaw’s collegiate career started at the University of Richmond as the native of Roanoke, Virginia and he showed plenty of improvement. Hinshaw took over the starting kicking job full time during the 2012 season and made 15 of 22 field goal attemps and 36 of 42 PATs. Hinshaw proved himself at Richmond and decided to take a jump up to a higher level of competition by transferring to the Hokies.

Now, Remington Hinshaw will get the chance to be the Hokies’ next starting kicking and he is currently at the top of the kicking depth chart largely due to a strong spring where he proved he could compete at the FBS level. However, Hinshaw will have a tough challenge as Branthover and Keyserling will both push hard for the job while two walk-ons will join the competition. Hinshaw has proven that he could be the long-term replacement for Cody Journell but the battle for the starting kicking job is far from over.