VIRGINIA TECH BREAKDOWN
Coach: Justin Fuente (33-20 in four seasons at Virginia Tech, 59-43 in eight seasons overall)
Last year: 8-5 overall, 5-3 ACC(lost 37-30 to Kentucky in the Belk Bowl)
Returning starters: 16 (eight offense, eight defense)
Storylines
Is the Hooker-Burmeister split legit? Fuente insists he’s going to use both Hendon Hooker and Braxton Burmeister at quarterback, but it begs the questions: Will they be in a timeshare? Or is Fuente maybe hinting at some moves necessitated by the coronavirus? While there’s no indication Tech has endured coronavirus issues at quarterback, it remains to be seen if all is well. In14 seasons as either an offensive coordinator or head coach, Fuente has never employed a quarterback rotation.
Someuncertainty in the secondary Whencornerback Caleb Farley decided to opt out, Tech lost its best player. Whensafety Devon Hunter, an Indian River High alum, was arrested two weeks ago and charged with a felony that led to his indefinite suspension, Tech lost its most promising newstarter. Catholic High grad Armani Chatman will step in at cornerback after emerging last season as a redshirt freshman, and Jermaine Waller was one of the ACC’s top cornerbacks in coverage last season (13 passes defended). The situation at safety isn’t as secure. Co-captain Divine Deablo is a starter at one spot, but the other will likely be manned by true freshman Keonta Jenkins, whowill be backed up by true freshmanLakeemRudolph from Green Run High. That’s the sort of inexperience offenses will test.
Transfer market produces newplaymakers Burmeister, whocameto Tech last year from Oregon, isn’t the only transfer who’ll have a chance to make an immediate impact. Running backs Khalil Herbert, whotransferred from Kansas, and Raheem Blackshear, who arrived from Rutgers, are Tech’s top two options out of the backfield. Wide receivers Evan Fairs, another Kansas transfer, and Changa Hodge, a Villanova transfer, have already ascended to No. 2 spots.
Is the offensive line Tech’s best position group?
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw and left guard Lecitus Smith are All-ACCcandidates (though linebacker Rayshard Ashby was Tech’s only player to make the preseason All-ACCteam). Center Brock Hoffman, whostarted 24 games for Coastal Carolina, is as motivated as anybody after sitting out last season per NCAA transfer rules. Right guard Bryan Hudson started10 games last season at center as a freshman. Right tackle Luke Tenuta started the final five games last season. Tech also has Doug Nester (10 starts last season as a freshmanright guard), Zachariah Hoyt (two starts last season), Silas Dzansi (eight starts last season) and Tyrell Smith (44 games played).