2012-13 Football Previews – (ACC) – Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech has simply been one of the most consistent programs of the past decade and a half of college football. The Hokies are all about coaching continuity; head coach Frank Beamer has been at the helm for over 25 years (the 2012 campaign marks his 26th season holding the clipboard in Blacksburg); offensive co-ordinator Bryan Stinespring is in his 20th year on the staff and “D”
co-ordinator Bud Foster has held that position since 1995.
Virginia Tech Hokies
ACC 2012-13 Football Previews: Virginia Tech Hokies
Head Coach: Frank Beamer
2011 Record: 11-3
Virginia Tech 2012 Odds from Sportsbook.com to win BCS: 28-1
Virginia Tech Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2012 Schedule –>
Needless to say, players know what they are getting into when they become a Hokie. This year, V-Tech has a lot of attrition on offense. It returns the most important piece in junior QB Logan Thomas, but there will be a lot of new faces otherwise.
Tech must win games with its trademark strong defense and special teams; in 2012 perhaps more than ever. It’ll be interesting to see if Beamer can churn out yet another
double-digit win season, after conference titles three of the past five seasons.
Under center, Thomas has “NFL Quarterback” written all over him. Going at 6”6, 262-lbs, Thomas has a Daunte Culpepper-esque build; he was initially recruited to Blacksburg as a tight end. Thomas will be using his strong arm to chuck to a pair of seniors in WRs Marcus Davis and D.J. Coles, who both finished with approximately 500 receiving yards last year and should see those numbers improve with the departure of Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin.
Tech usually has great RBs, this season the running duties will probably be handled by redshirt freshman Michael Holmes. There are a couple of highly-touted frosh on the depth chart, but the running backs should be pretty green.
Ditto for the offensive line; the O-line is probably the biggest area of concern for the Hokies in ’12. The unit will be anchored by junior C Andrew Miller, but he is the only returning starter.
Thomas may have to make some things happen with his feet to avoid being under siege. Defensively, Tech should be characteristically strong. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Hokies return all their starters from last year, save two bodies in the secondary. Of those two, one of the newcomers is sophomore Kyshoen Jarrett, who should be electric.
Defensive back Antone Exum is a tackling machine, DE J.R. Collins can be disruptive in the backfield and LB Bruce Taylor is an absolute beauty. Watch out for fellow LB Tariq Edwards, also – he brings a lethal combo of size, speed and a non-stop motor.
Last year’s special teams were unusually weak, but with K Cody Journell and P Michael Branthover returning, not to mention all that athleticism on the ST units, the area of the game should be back up to snuff under Beamer in 2012.
2012 Virginia Tech Football Prediction: 10-4
Expect another strong football team out of Blacksburg this season, but Virginia Tech has a brutal schedule to contend with. The Hokies have road games at Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Clemson and Miami this season, and they also face Florida State and Georgia Tech in a Monday-night contest to open the season.
Tech’s defense can keep it in any game, but with all those daunting contests, expect a few of them to get away from VT, especially with all the departures on offense.
It will be another consistent season for Beamer and his grizzled coaching staff, but National Title aspirations are probably out of the question.
2012 VATech Schedule
9/3/12 8:00 PM ET GATCH
9/8/12 1:30 PM ET AUSPY
9/15/12 12:00 PM ET @PITT
9/22/12 TBD BGREN
9/29/12 TBD @CIN
10/6/12 TBD @NCAR
10/13/12 TBD DUKE
10/20/12 TBD @CLEM
11/1/12 7:30 PM ET @MIAMI
11/8/12 7:30 PM ET FSU
11/17/12 TBD @BCOLL
11/24/12 TBD VIRG
