Offense
For a team known for its defense, this may be one of the strongest units ever under Frank Beamer. The Hokies return electric QB Tyrod Taylor and may have the best stable in running backs in all of college football.
Despite never having a season where he has completed at least 60% of his passes, Taylor is very efficient for OC Bryan Stinespring’s offense. Last season Taylor had stretches of 105 and 84 attempts without an Int. Taylor is also electric with his feet, and will give Virginia Tech plenty of options. Taylor was the 2nd leading rusher in 09 and enabled Stinespring to implement of form of a “Wild Turkey” offense at the end of last season. Taylor will also have an experienced receiving corps at his disposal led by All-ACC candidate Jarrett Boykin.
Despite all of Taylor’s exploits, the ground game of Ryan Williams and Darren Evans will make this offense click. RB coach Billy Hite called the duo of Williams and Evans his strongest backfield in 32 years of coaching. Williams burst onto the scene last season rushing for 1655 yards while earning Freshman All-American honors. With return of Darren Evans from an ACL injury and an experienced O-line this is without question Virginia Tech’s best offense since the Michael Vick era.
Defense
Bud Foster may be the best DC in America, and he may have to work some extra magic this season because this unit is the major question mark on the Hokies football team. This group loses their #1 tackler in LB Cody Grimm and well as secondary staples Kam Chancellor and Stephan Virgil. Despite the losses, Foster tends to always field a respectable unit. Look for DT John Graves, LB Barquelle Rivers, and CB Jayron Hosley to step up and have big seasons. This group may struggle early, but by the time Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Miami show up on the schedule in November, Bud Foster will have the unit carrying their “lunch pale” on the sidelines.
Overall
Frank Beamer does as good of a job every year than any coach in America. In my opinion, he should always be in consideration for ACC Coach of the Year. His teams never finish high in the recruiting rankings, but he does an excellent job getting players to fit his scheme.
Despite the return of only 12 starters, I expect a big year for Virginia Tech. Tyrod Taylor and the duo of Williams and Evans will lead the Hokies to big things this season. There are questions on defense, but Foster will have them fixed by the time the meat of the schedule hits in November. I believe the Hokies will win the ACC.
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