Joey Slye
Kicker – Senior
Virginia Tech
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Joey Slye: Height is 5’10 ½, 213 this morning and I haven’t run the forty since high school. It should be about a 4.8 at the pro day.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Joey Slye: I am in Stafford, Virginia. Lifting wise, I train myself. This is my major. I am using the same plan like they do at Tech. I am working on explosive hits and making sure that my muscles are loosened up.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from you at the Pro Day?
Joey Slye: It will be on March 14th. The biggest question that NFL scouts have on me is accuracy on FG’s. It will be a telling factor whether I can be an NFL kicker. I need to make sure that my ball is repeatable. I have the leg strength and power. I am planning on doing 15 field goals, even some long balls. I will do about six kickoffs.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Joey Slye: There was more interest in me as a LB. I was an all-state LB and kicker. James Madison wanted me to play LB at first. I ended up realizing that I can’t reach my full potential as a 5’10 or 5’11 LB who doesn’t run a 4.5. Tech showed interest in me as a kicker. Rutgers wanted to offer me as a punter. I did well during practice at the South Carolina camp. I didn’t do well during the competition phase. Tech offered a scholarship to another kicker. I took a preferred walk-on spot. They had four kickers when I came in. I performed well throughout camp. Coach Beamer pulled three kickers into his office the week before the first game. He told us that Mike Santamaria was going to be the kicker the first week. I would be the kicker from 45+ yards. We had a game warm-up. Santamaria missed a PAT during the warm-up. We had another competition on Tuesday, and I won it with a 58-yard field goal. On Wednesday before the game, I won the competition again with a long distance field goal. I came up to Coach Beamer and told him that I felt like I separated myself during camp. He told me that I am starting on Saturday. I went 2/2 on field goals during that first game. I even handled the kickoff duties. I was the starter throughout my career. I missed two games at the end of the season my senior year because of a muscle tear. My leg is back to normal health now.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Virginia Tech?
Joey Slye: I wanted to make sure that if football didn’t pan out, I got a good education. I wanted to do building construction. Virginia Tech was the top program in the country. It was a local school. It was four hours from my house. My parents can come to my games. I had friends at the school. Coach Beamer is known as a special teams guru. I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to write my own legacy.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
Joey Slye: I went 20/27 my freshman year. I had a good season. We won the bowl game. I went 4/4 in the bowl game. I went 23/30 my sophomore year and tied the record for FG’s made on the season at VA Tech. I had a solid season from 40+ yards. We went 7-6 and beat Tulsa in the bowl game. Coach Fuente came in and changed the program. We had a 10-win season. I had an okay year. I was 20/28 during my junior year. I struggled from 40+yards. We won the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, NC against Arkansas. I missed my first FG in a bowl game. I had a bad start in the beginning of my senior season. I missed two kicks inside the 40 against West Virginia. I have never missed a FG inside the 40. I only had two field goals blocked my freshman year. I got my technique and confidence back after the third game of the season. I got hurt halfway through the season. I still wanted to help our team. I didn’t want my coaches to know that I was hurt. I pulled my muscle in my leg. I missed a couple of games. It was upsetting to not play against Pitt on my senior day. I didn’t play against UVA. I kicked well in the bowl game. My FG accuracy percentage my senior year was the worst during my career. My accuracy was getting better towards the end of the season. My kickoffs have never been an issue during my career.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Joey Slye: I am a gym rat. I have a lot of strength. I have a strong work ethic. My max on the bench is 365 pounds and my squat is 455. I was one of the top guys in the weight room. My strengths are kickoffs and accuracy inside the 40.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Joey Slye: I have been working diligently with live holds and different types of holds. I am trying to hit a good ball even of a bad hold. I had trust issues with different holders my junior and senior years. Building trust with them was tough. My holder during my freshman and sophomore years was so consistent with holding.
Alex Khvatov: What was it like to play for Coach Beamer?
Joey Slye: It was awesome. He spent a lot of time with the coverage units on special teams. We had fun with him. He would joke around with us. He had such legendary status. He was the most down to earth guy. He had confidence in special team players.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Joey Slye: We played UVA my sophomore year. We were 5-6 going into it. We needed a win, so we can get into the bowl game for the 26th year in a row. We have beaten UVA 11 straight years. It was Coach Beamer’s last regular season game. I went 3/3 during that game. I hit them accurately. I hit a 41-yarder with one minute and 30 seconds left in the game. It put us up 23-20. Our defense picked them off on the last drive.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Joey Slye: I am a Steelers fan. I lived an hour outside of Pittsburgh. My entire childhood was all about the Steelers.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Joey Slye: Hines Ward.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a kicker?
Joey Slye: Confidence. There are a lot of high-pressure situations that you are put into. You have to have the confidence in yourself to do it every single day.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Joey Slye: #8 DL Rick Walker is undersized, quick and has good hands. He is a great leader, DL. He is the #1 leader on our team. He is the backbone of our team. He is a good kid. Damon Hazelton was a transfer from Ball State. He is a freak. If RB Deshawn McClease can stay healthy, the sky is the limit. The best all-around player is #69 Yosuah Nijman. He is our LT. He is a freak of nature. He is a first round pick next year. Watch out for Dylan Rivers at LB. He is smart and fast. It will be fun to watch next year. We have a lot of young guys. Divine Deablo is moving back to safety. He is 6’3 and 225. Caleb Farley is back at corner. He is one of the freakish athletes. Caleb is a 4.3 guy at 6’3.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your teammate LB Tremaine Edmunds?
Joey Slye: His whole family is flat out amazing people. He was a leader. His brother Terrell is a fun loving guy. Terrell is coming back from shoulder injury. He left with Tremaine. Tremaine is a silent workhorse. His ability, play on the field and his work ethic stand out. He will work hard. He is a quiet leader. I can’t watch to see him play at the next level. He is a big bully.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Joey Slye: Definitely camaraderie and family aspect of it. I like to be with people of the same mindset.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Joey Slye: I lift a lot. I work out every day. I like to go fishing and play golf.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Joey Slye: I want to become a strength and conditioning coach at a college program. I want to work with college athletes.
Alex Khvatov: Finish the sentence, Joey Slye is….
Joey Slye: Pretty motivated. My brother passed away in 2014. I want to do it for him. I am smart. I understand football. I played LB. I graduated with a 3.0 GPA. I like to joke around, but I know when to get serious.
