College Football Preview – Virginia Tech Hokies

While Florida State and Miami have been up and down in the Virginia Tech Hokies have continued to be consistent under Frank Beamer. The Hokies again won the ACC more in part to a weak division and a strong performance in the Championship game.



The Hokies have to replace a lot of players but in the weak Coastal division, they are still easily the best team.

Offense

The Hokies offense has been held back by inconsistency at the quarterbacking position and to this point, it doesn’t look like it is going to get any better.

Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor present different skill sets but neither can grab a hold of the starting job. Gllennon is the pocket passer while Taylor is a runner. They combine to provide some versatility but the team would rather one player emerge.

The Hokies are strong on the offensive line, returning four of five starters, but the backfield is a question mark since Brandon Ore was dismissed. The running back role is open and so is virtually the entire wide receiving corps.

But the Hokies are a sneaky team. They always seem to find a way to put up points and supplement the offense, be it on defense or special teams. This offense has to develop but should be ok by midseason.

Defense

The Hokies have some shoes to fill on defense as well. They’ll have to replace linebackers Xavier Adibi and Vince Hall, and starting cornerback Brandon Flowers. Two new tackles will be starting as well.

The foundation of the defense has to be the defensive ends Orion Martin and Jason Worilds. These two have All-Conference potential and should lead a rebuilding defense.

Tech is replacing last year’s starters all over the place but few teams in the country make that transition more seamlessly than they do. They might not finish as high as their ranking last year (fourth overall in the country) but under Bud Foster, they have been fairly consistent.

Outlook

The Hokies have a tough test to start the year against East Carolina, who is fiending for an upset over a big school. Across the board, the Hokies schedule is far from a layup.

The Hokies have a five-game stretch with four road games at North Carolina, Nebraska, Boston College and Florida State. They also have to travel to Miami a couple weeks later.

The Hokies better gel quickly or they might open the door for a team like North Carolina to move up in the Coastal Division of the ACC.

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