Cornerback is an awfully demanding and oft-criticized position. That’s part of the appeal to Virginia Tech junior Antone Exum.
Exum, who spent his first two seasons at safety, made the move to cornerback during spring practice and played so well the Hokies are thinking they might keep him there this fall.
“I do feel very comfortable out there. I like it out there, and it feels natural just being out there by yourself covering receivers play in and play out,” Exum said. “I think it is a natural position for me.”
At 6-0, 219 pounds, Exum strikes an intimidating presence lining up opposite of receivers. He is Tech’s biggest cornerback since former All-American Jimmy Williams (6-3, 216) patrolled the secondary for the Hokies in 2002-05.
And alongside hard-hitting Kyle Fuller (6-0, 181), Virginia Tech could boast one of the most physical cornerback tandems in the country.
“I think Exum is out there where he’s got to cover guys and come up and be a strong tackler, and that’s right up his alley,” Hokies coach Frank Beamer said. “He’s got size, and he’s a gifted athlete, so I think that’s good.”
Exum, who played quarterback in high school, started 11 games at free safety and three at strong safety last season. He led the team with 89 tackles and added five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception en route to earning All-ACC honorable mention honors.
Exum said he likes the competitive nature of playing corner, lining up one-on-one against a receiver to see who can get the best of the matchup.
“It’s real competitive out there. You’ve got a guy lining up in front of you. He thinks he’s going to catch the ball. I’m telling him he’s not, and I’ve got to go out there and show it,” Exum said. “I like that aspect of corner. You get a little bit of that at safety, but not as much out there.”
Cornerbacks are open to more criticism than safeties, but that’s something that fuels Exum even more.
“I like that kind of pressure,” he said. “I don’t see it as pressure, but I like that demand of the position.”
Exum continued to work on different elements of his game during the offseason to prepare for playing a brand new position in 2012.
“I’m just focusing on sharpening every aspect of my game at that position, because being new to the position, nothing is going to be 100 percent right now,” Exum said. “There’s definitely room for improvement.”