Name: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University(VPISU)
Mascot: Hokies
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Home Stadium: Lane Stadium(Capacity: 65,632)
Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference(ACC)
Athletic Director: Whit Babcock
Head Coach: Frank Beamer
Time Capsule:
Last season was a rough one for the Hokies, as they underachieved. Expected to be vastly improved from 2012, VT ended up only being one game better in the win column, going 8-5 in the regular season. Senior quarterback Logan Thomas was inconsistent, throwing 13 interceptions on the season. Tech was one of the worst scoring offenses in the country, only scoring 30 points or more twice. Bud Foster's defense continued to excel, holding seven teams below 20 points.
What To Expect:
Offense
Inconsistent quarterback Logan Thomas graduated, setting off a heated position battle. Michael Brewer won that competition, and has been somewhat inconsistent this season. Brewer, a transfer from Texas Tech, doesn't have Thomas' arm strength or size, but is a more polished passer, and has a better understanding of the offense. Where Brewer has struggled this season is with accuracy and decision making, throwing 11 interceptions so far. The Hokie rushing attack has been mediocre, with leading rusher Marshawn Williams only gaining 337 yards this season. Williams is recovering from an ankle injury suffered against North Carolina, and should be ready to play Thursday. The Hokies, when they've been dominant have leaned on their rushing game. From Lee Suggs, and Kevin Jones, to David Wilson, the Hokies are usually a tailback centered offense. That is no longer the case, with the Hokies now ranked 78th in rushing yards. With the lack of a running game, Tech now rely on their passing game, but the receivers are inexperienced. The best of the bunch is tight end Bucky Hodges, a difficult assignment. Hodges, who has been described as "The next Jimmy Graham" by analysts is a true terror, standing 6'6'' and weighing 240 pounds. This young man has exceptional speed, and can stretch the field vertically. He also has outstanding hands, as he's made some impressive catches this season. At the receiver position, the Hokies are relying on a rotation of players, led by Isiah Ford. Ford leads the team in receptions, yards, and is tied with Hodges with 4 touchdown receptions. Ford resembles former Hokie Eddie Royal in the fact that he's a quick receiver that is a nightmare in the open field.
The offensive line has been a disaster this season, with a lack of continuity, frequent penalties, and an inability to provide running lanes for the backs. This unit is led by center David Wang, a versatile player who has also started at guard during his career. Following a pathetic showing against Pittsburgh, offensive line coach Stacy Searles moved Caleb Farris out of the starting lineup and replaced him with Wyatt Teller. Teller, a former defensive player with little experience on the offensive line has been impressive in limited duty.
Defense
Bud Foster is one of the best defensive coordinators in the game, and his units rarely disappoint. The Hokies are only allowing 20 points per game, good for 19th in the country. This unit gets after opposing quarterbacks, accumulating 28 sacks this season, with Ken Ekanam leading the team with 5. Ekanam is a quick defensive end who will use his speed to collapse the passing pocket. Dadi Nicholas is another defensive lineman to watch for. Nicholas has improved from last season, and while he doesn't have the heft of a prototypical defensive end, he is a long, lean athlete who can create havoc. Coming into the season, this defensive front was expected to struggle, due to the loss of multiple starters. Instead, this group has stepped up, and put up some solid numbers. The Hokies have struggled to stop the run, especially against Pittsburgh. The Panthers ran at will against the Hokies, with quarterback Chad Voytik breaking free on multiple occasions. The linebackers have also been a surprise, with Chase Williams leading the team in tackles. Williams, a player that is frequently used in blitz packages, also has 15 quarterback hurries. Deon Clarke has also been a consistent contributor, with 6 tackles for loss. While the front seven has been solid, the Hokies hang their hats in the secondary. This unit is deep, fast and talented. Kendall Fuller will play on Sundays like his older brother, former Hokie Vincent Fuller. Kyshoen Jarrett is a run stopping rover, who also leads the team in interceptions. The secondary is one of the best in the ACC, and should be accounted for.
Special Teams
Once upon a time, the Hokies had the best special teams units in college football. They were so dominant, Virginia Tech coined the phrase "Beamerball" to describe their superlative play. That phrase hasn't applied to Tech much lately, with the kicking game being inconsistent, and explosive returns a rarity. Joey Slye is 12-17 on field goals this season, with all of his misses being on attempts of 40+ yards. A.J. Hughes handles the punting duties, and he's been outstanding. He's averaging over 40 yards per punt, and has pinned opposing teams inside the twenty yard line 13 times.
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