(Photo courtesy Virginia Tech)
From the Washington, D.C., area, new Washington Redskins cornerback Greg Stroman could make an immediate impact in the NFL as a punt returner, something he had success with while at Virginia Tech.
While Greg Stroman is new to the NFL after being selected to the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, he already has some strong connections within the organization and in the area.
Stroman is originally from the Washington, D.C., area having attended Stonewall Jackson (Va.) High School before playing his college ball at Virginia Tech.
At Stonewall Jackson, he played alongside Tim Settle. At Virginia Tech, he played alongside Settle.
Now with the Redskins, he will once again be teammates with Settle, who was selected by the Redskins just one round prior to Stroman.
"Man, it just feels like going to school and going to Virginia Tech again," Stroman said via conference call. "Tim Settle actually played with me in high school and we went to Virginia Tech together and now once again we meet again. It's going to be fun."
During Stroman's first two seasons at Virginia Tech, he worked under current Redskins defensive backs coach Torrian Gray, who was the Hokies' secondary coach and passing game coordinator.
"He's intense," Stroman said. "He wants to win and puts a lot into the game – watching film and things like that. Those are some things I've learned from him. Definitely ready to get back to that and learn some more."
Although Stroman already has these bonds with Settle and Gray, he's hoping to make an impact on the field for Washington.
In four seasons at Virginia Tech, Stroman appeared in 50 games with 29 starts, recording 60 tackles (39 solo) along with 36 passes defensed and nine interceptions.
As a senior last year, the 5-foot-11, 182 pounder was named a first-team All-ACC selection. IN 13 starts, Stroman totaled 15 passes defensed and four interceptions.
But where Stroman was perhaps most impactful was as a punt returner, as he returned 35 punts for 397 yards (11.3 yards per return) along with two touchdowns.
For his career at Virginia Tech, Stroman returned 127 punts for 1,108 yards (8.7 yards per return) and four touchdowns.
Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said his success as a punt returner was an attribute that was attractive to Washington.
"Yeah, I think last year we did not have anybody that could back up Jamison [Crowder], really," Gruden said. "DeAngelo Hall took some there at the very end and right now on our roster we really don't have anybody that can catch a punt other than Jamison, so it was very important for us to address that. So with Greg and with Trey [Quinn], the last pick here, both of them have punt return experience, so that was good."
