The Virginia Tech football team will see some turnover entering the 2017 season, but will it mean less success than 2016?
The Virginia Tech football program saw success in Justin Fuente’s first year as head coach. The Hokies went 10-4 in 2016 with a first-year starter at quarterback in Jerod Evans. Things went in a positive direction for the Hokies despite tough early season losses. By the end, the Hokies won 35-24 in the Belk Bowl after trailing 24-0 at halftime.
Evans looked good with weapons like wide receiver Isaiah Ford and tight end Bucky Hodges to throw to, but all three have since moved on to the NFL. Ford had 1,094 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns for Virginia Tech last season. Hodges caught seven receiving touchdowns as well along with 691 receiving yards in 2016.
Fuente enters 2017 with the same question as last season: who will start at quarterback? Evans threw for 3,552 passing yards, 29 passing yards and just eight interceptions while also rushing for 846 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in his lone season as starter. Entering this season, Fuente has some options to choose from in order to continue to establish his new offensive culture.
Behind head coach Fuente is defensive coordinator Bud Foster. The Foster-led defense allowed just 22.8 points per game last season, 28th in the FBS. The Virginia Tech Hokies return seven of those starters including an interesting move with a playmaker in the secondary.
The coaching staff will have some position battles to decide on this fall. Still, here’s a look at an early 2-deep depth chart for the Hokies.
Offensive Line
Starting tackles: Yosuah Nijman (LT), Tyrell Smith (RT)
Backups: Parker Osterloh/Kyle Chung, T.J. Jackson/D’Andre Plantin
Junior left tackle Yosuah Nijman headlines an offensive line that is still finding its depth. He started in all 14 games for the Hokies last season. Nijman is expected to protect whoever the new quarterback will be entering Sept. 3. Tyrell Smith should make the start at right tackle. He is a redshirt sophomore who made 14 appearances in 2016.
Redshirt senior Parker Osterloh could see time if Smith doesn’t work out at the right tackle spot. The 6-foot-8, 325-pound linemen has appeared in 26 games so far in his career. Redshirt freshman T.J. Jackson is the other potential backup tackle for 2017. The Hokies have the potential to also play senior Kyle Chung or D’Andre Plantin in some capacity.
Starting center: Eric Gallo
Backup: Zachariah Hoyt
Center Eric Gallo is the most experienced player on this developing offensive line group for the Hokies. He’s got 25 starts in 26 games, starting in 12 of 13 games last season. Behind him is Zachariah Hoyt who was a redshirt player a season ago. Hoyt was a member of the Hokies 2016 recruiting class as the 22nd ranked center nationally, according to 247Sports.
Starting guards: Wyatt Teller (LG), Braxton Pfaff (RG)
Backups: Kyle Chung, Parker Osterloh
Wyatt Teller has all but locked up the starting left guard position for 2017. Teller is a redshirt senior with 24 career starts in three seasons. At the right guard position, Braxton Pfaff looks to still be in control after spring camp. Pfaff is a redshirt junior who played in nine games last season.
Kyle Chung and yes, Parker Osterloh are listed twice as backups for both guard and tackle positions which speaks for to their versatility as offensive linemen. Chung and Osterloh are two experienced lineman who have shown they want to play. They should see time in the rotation at some point this season.
Defensive Line
Starting tackles: Ricky Walker, Tim Settle
Backups: Darius Fullwood, Jarrod Hewitt/Jimmie Taylor
Defensive tackles Ricky Walker and Tim Settle get their chance to lead the Hokies up front. Walker is a redshirt junior who appeared all 14 games for the Virginia Tech Hokies last season, starting in four of them. Walker recorded 28 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks a season ago.
Settle returns looking to be a bigger force on the defensive line in his redshirt sophomore season. He recorded 17 tackles, seven tackles for loss and blocked a kick in 2016. Both serve as potential breakout candidates in 2017.
Darius Fullwood and Jarrod Hewitt currently serve as the backups. The Hokies are a bit thin at the defensive tackle position so fans could also Jimmie Taylor get some time as well. Hewitt spent last season redshirting. Fullwood and Taylor combined to appear in five games last season.
Starting ends: Trevon Hill, Vinny Mihota
Backups: Houshun Gaines, Emmanual Belmar
The defensive end position is where the strength is for the Virginia Tech Hokies. Trevon Hill and Vinny Mihota are two players who push the pace off the edge and can give the quarterback problems.
Hill started in the Belk Bowl for the Hokies, one of two starts he made in 2016. He appeared in all 14 games last season. Mihota started in all 13 games he appeared in last season, recording 43 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.
Houshun Gaines is still working his way out of the doghouse this season and will serve as one backup at defensive end. He appeared in 12 games in 2016 for the Hokies. Emmanual Belmar is the other potential backup defensive end. He spent last season as a redshirt player.
Linebacker
Starting backers: Mook Reynolds, Tremaine Edmunds
Backups: Anthony Shegog, Sean Huelskamp
The whip and inside linebacker positions have returning starters in 2017. Junior defensive back Mook Reynolds is due for a breakout season after starting 13 games in 2016. He fared very well at the whip linebacker position a season ago, racking up 64 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds will man the inside linebacker position. He recorded 94 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery last season. Along with Reynolds, Edmunds is becoming a force to be reckoned with on this Virginia Tech Hokies defense.
Linebackers Anthony Shegog and Sean Huelskamp are expected to get reps when Reynolds and Edmunds need a breather. Shegog is a redshirt senior with 33 games of experience (seven starts) under his belt. Huelskamp is also a redshirt senior who appeared in 14 games last season.
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Starting Mike linebacker: Andrew Motuapuaka
Backup: Tavonte Beckett
Andrew Motuapuaka is the proverbial “Mike” linebacker even though the Hokies play a 4-2-5 type of defense. Motuapuaka manned the middle very well last season, leading the team with 114 tackles. He also had a career-high three interceptions. His coverage and tackling abilities were much-improved last season.
Behind Motuapuaka is sophomore Tavonte Beckett. Beckett is a 5-foot-10, 221-pound linebacker who appeared in all 14 games for the Hokies last season.
Defensive Back
Starting safeties: Terrell Edmunds, Reggie Floyd
Backups: Divine Deablo, Devon Hunter
One of the safety spots has a bit of a competition brewing. Terrell Edmunds will start at the free safety position. While he moves over from rover duties, his role takes on a bigger meaning in one-on-one coverage and as a leader.
Edmunds led all Virginia Tech defenders last season with 4 interceptions. His 101 tackles were second on the team as well.
At the other safety spot, Reggie Floyd held the position down in the spring. However, with highly-coveted recruit Devon Hunter on campus for the fall, Floyd is sure to have his work cut out for him. Floyd appeared in 12 games last season.
Hunter was a four-star safety recruit and the number two player in the state, according to 247Sports, this past recruiting cycle. He was a huge get for Bud Foster and company. He’s likely to see time next to Divine Deablo. Deablo is another up-and-coming defensive back who also got some work in at wide receiver this past spring.
Starting cornerbacks: Greg Stroman, Brandon Facyson
Backups: Adonis Alexander, Jovon Quillen
The cornerback group has some experience entering 2017 and that’s a good thing in the ACC. Greg Stroman made major strides in 2016 as a starter, starting in nine of 11 games. He had three interceptions and 10 pass breakups a season ago.
Brandon Facyson is another senior manning the other cornerback position. He led the team last season with 11 pass breakups. He also had 48 tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss.
The first backup cornerback is an intriguing prospect in Adonis Alexander. Alexander played in 13 games, making five starts but its unclear if he’s ready for a starting role this season. He’s shown flashes but with Stroman and Facyson in the mix, it’s hard to overlook the two.
The other backup cornerback will potentially be Jovonn Quillen. Quillen is a sophomore who appeared in 11 games in 2016.
Wide Receiver
Starting receivers: Cam Phillips, Caleb Farley, C.J. Carroll
Backups: Eric Kumah, Kalil Pimpleton, James Clark
The Virginia Tech Hokies are glad to have wide receiver Cam Phillips back. Its safe to say he’ll get a lot of the receptions in 2017. Phillips caught 76 passes for 983 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season.
After Phillips, there’s a huge dropoff in the production department. With the departures of wide receiver Isaiah Ford and Bucky Hodges, the wide receiver group takes a huge hit. C.J. Carroll is one receiver who could see time as a starter based on experience. Carroll caught 18 passes for 258 receiving yards in 2016.
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Caleb Farley is another player that has turned heads. He’s only a true freshman who started spring drills on defense, but the 6-foot-3 athlete found his niche at wide receiver. He should be starting in Week 1 against West Virginia.
Eric Kumah and Kalil Pimpleton are two players looking to work their way up the rotation as reserves. Kumah appeared in 13 games for Virginia Tech last season but did not catch a pass. Pimpleton is a 5-foot-8 speedster who coaches may find a hard time keeping off the field despite him being only a true freshman.
James Clark is a graduate transfer from the Ohio State Buckeyes who could see a lot snaps dependent on how quickly he can learn the playbook. With just one year of eligibility left, he’ll be one player with a high ceiling to watch.
Running Back
Starting running back: Travon McMillian
Backups: Steven Peoples/Deshawn McClease
The Virginia Tech Hokies running back group is still in a bit of rebuild. Former running back Shai McKenzie left the team this past offseason to join Hampton University. Marshawn Williams recently retired after three major knee injuries across three years. Travon McMillian is still manning the backfield as the team’s starter but he had a slow 2016.
McMillian is still looking for his role as a rusher. After rushing for 1,043 yards in 2015, he ran for just 671 yards in 2016. As the offensive line continues to develop, look for McMillian’s production to go up as well.
Behind McMillian is Steven Peoples, although redshirt sophomore Deshawn McClease is sure to be on his heels. Peoples made six starts in 14 appearances last season. McClease made just one appearance but is certainly looking to be a playmaker out of the backfield.
Quarterback
Starting quarterback: Hendon Hooker
Backup: A.J. Bush/Josh Jackson
It’s not much of a secret that there’s a three-man quarterback race happening. It’s been a hard one to predict but if we’re going off the spring game, one player that’s hard to overlook is Hendon Hooker.
Hooker is a dual-threat quarterback entering his freshman season of collegiate football. In the spring game, he completed 10-of-11 passes for 115 passing yards and a touchdown. He did throw an interception but it was against the Hokies defense, which is known for picking off opposing quarterbacks. For a true freshman, Hooker hasn’t shown much inexperience in the early going.
Behind Hooker, there’s A.J. Bush and Josh Jackson. Bush is a junior college transfer with two years of eligibility remaining. He was originally a member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers for two seasons before transferring to Iowa Community College.
Jackson was a redshirt player for the Virginia Tech Hokies last season. The competition could end up going all the way up until the final week of practice before the team faces West Virginia.
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With two freshman and a junior to choose from, the Hokies coaching staff doesn’t have much to fret about. They’re building something special at Virginia Tech and whoever they hand the starting job to should be prepared for a great season.