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Eric Gallo is Ready to Become the Starting Center in 2015

By Tim Thomas

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Nov 30, 2013; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Cavaliers defensive players line up against Virginia Tech Hokies offensive players in the first quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Virginia Tech Hokies will see a lot of change on the offensive line ahead of next season with the loss of three senior offensive linemen: Laurence Gibson, David Wang, and Caleb Farris. Farris was in and out of the starting lineup for much of the season while Gibson and Wang were regular starters.

The battle to take the offensive tackle starting spots will be interesting, but there will likely not be the same issue at center. The Hokies have a center ready to replace Wang and that is Eric Gallo.

Gallo has been the backup center for much of the season on the depth chart though when Wang was injured in the Military Bowl, Farris was the one that moved to center. However, both Wang and Farris will be gone after next season, and Gallo is ready to take over at center.

Gallo only played in three games this season, but may have been redshirted still since those games were early in the season. Gallo was in uniform for every game in case the Hokies suffered injuries to Wang and Farris which just shows how Gallo is in line to be the next starting center.

One thing that happened during the Military Bowl was that Eric Gallo was taking a lot of practice snaps on the sideline with David Wang. Wang has proven to be a decent center in his college career, but seems to also be a very good mentor as well.

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The chance for Gallo to get more work with someone that has the experience that David Wang has can only be a benefit. Gallo is going to be the full-time starting center most likely next season, and Wang does not want to see a drop off in performance at center for the Hokies.

Gallo is ready to make sure there is no drop-off as he has done a great job of getting stronger, bulking up from 280 to 298 pounds over the last 12 to 16 months. Gallo also seemed to be fairly reliable on the sideline when he worked with Wang during the Military Bowl.

Gallo will benefit from going against some very talented defensive tackles this spring as he works to improve ahead of next season. Gallo will be tested right from beginning against Ohio State in 2015, but full contact practices and scrimmages against the Hokies’ talented defensive tackles will help a lot.

Eric Gallo is prepared to succeed, and Hokie fans should not worry at all about the future at center. Gallo will be a part of an offensive line that will continue to make improvements in Stacy Searels’s second season with the Hokies.

Next: Trey Edmunds Needs to Have An Excellent Spring

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