Virginia Tech Football: The Hokies' Top Position Battles Heading into Fall Camp

The Virginia Tech Hokies are mere weeks away from the unofficial beginning of the 2015 football season, when fall camp opens in early August. Tech returns 16 starters combined on both sides of the ball, so expectations are high this fall in Blacksburg.

Fortunately for the Hokies, they are set at quarterback. Senior Michael Brewer returns after a strong offseason. Brewer is firmly entrenched as the starter, but he'll have to perform well to hang on to the job. True freshman Dwayne Lawson will look to make things interesting next month when he arrives.

While Tech returns 16 starters, a number of former starters return from injury, too. Specifically, defensive tackle Luther Maddy, cornerback Brandon Facyson and running back Trey Edmunds should be healthy and ready to go. Maddy and Facyson are likely to return to the starting lineup, if 100 percent healthy, as both are former All-ACC performers.

But what about Edmunds?

The good news for Virginia Tech fans is that there are only a few starting positions up for grabs. But will that guarantee a return to the top of the ACC Coastal Division?

Here are Tech's top three position battles as the Hokies prepare for fall camp.

Starting Running Back

Steve Helber/Associated Press

Trey Edmunds

The Hokies have a number of talented running backs on the roster. The biggest question is how many of them will be ready to go on Labor Day, when Tech hosts defending national champion Ohio State.

J.C. Coleman was last season's top rusher, and he accomplished that mark with four straight strong performances to end the season. Coleman's 533 yards were good enough to pace the Hokies in 2014, and 468 of those yards came in VT's last four games.

But will he start the season for Tech?

Edmunds is back after serious injuries in each of his first two seasons. In 2013, a broken tibia that he suffered in the season finale against Virginia ended his freshman campaign. He did, however, lead the Hokies in rushing with 675 yards.

Last season, coaches worked Edmunds back into the rotation slowly as he continued to heal from the previous injury before breaking his clavicle against North Carolina. While Edmunds did return to the field, his action was limited.

Can the coaching staff count on Edmunds to stay on the field?

Also in the mix is sophomore Marshawn Williams, who was having a strong freshman season before tearing his ACL late in the year. Williams is a powerful, decisive runner who will be in the mix if healthy.

Shai McKenzie, another talented freshman from a season ago, also suffered a torn ACL last fall. While he appears to be medically cleared and ready for action, he's currently suspended from the team for an off-field incident. In March, McKenzie was cleared of any misconduct violations by the university, but he was convicted of a misdemeanor earlier this month, according to Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. McKenzie's future on the team is currently in the hands of head coach Frank Beamer, but as Barber notes, it is likely McKenzie will rejoin the squad.

No. 3 Wide Receiver

PAUL VERNON/Associated Press

Demitri Knowles

In this day and age, most teams start games with three—or even four—receivers on the field. In Tech's base offense, only two wide receivers will start: sophomores Isaiah Ford and Cam Phillips. However, the Hokies, like most teams, will run multiple offensive sets in which they'll need more than just Ford and Phillips on the field.

Who'll be that third guy?

For starters, how about tight end Bucky Hodges. Tech has a plethora of talented tight ends on the roster, beginning with the dynamic former quarterback. At 6'6", 249 pounds, Hodges has the size of a tight end with the speed and athleticism of a wide receiver. He will play on almost every snap.

Ryan Malleck and Kalvin Cline return, too. 

But the Hokies need a third wide receiver to step up if Ford or Phillips goes down. Senior Demitri Knowles is the most obvious candidate. Knowles looked to be heading for a breakthrough campaign last fall after finishing the 2013 season with 641 receiving yards as a sophomore.

Unfortunately for Knowles, Ford and Phillips impressed coaches, and he slid further down the depth chart and saw little action at receiver for much of the season. He has the talent, but does he run precise-enough routes for this offensive coaching staff?

Fellow senior Kevin Asante returns, too. However, he has done little in his Virginia Tech career to date.

Two names to keep an eye on are sophomore Deon Newsome and freshman Jaylen Bradshaw. Newsome was terrific at times last season, both running the football and in the return game. He needs a strong fall camp to show coaches he deserves to be on the field more at receiver. Newsome is an excellent mismatch for the Hokies on offense because of his speed and elusiveness.

Bradshaw redshirted last fall, and new receivers coach Zohn Burden seems impressed, per Alex Koma of the Key Play:

"

He's a young kid, but he has a lot of potential. He's been working his butt off this summer, so he's in better shape and with him being bigger, stronger, faster, there's gonna come a lot more confidence. So I think he gained some confidence this spring just playing football and learning the offense and things of that nature. But I also think that getting bigger, faster and strong this summer is going to boost his confidence, so he's got a bright future.

"

Rover

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

C.J. Reavis

The "Rover" position seemed to be settled until Cameron Austin and Andy Bitter of the Roanoke Times reported on July 10 that presumed starter C.J. Reavis was no longer enrolled at Virginia Tech following a student conduct hearing. While the team is still sorting out Reavis' situation, it's unlikely that he'll be on the field when fall camp begins.

This creates a major void for the Hokies. Reavis had an impressive spring and was poised for a breakthrough season. Now, Virginia Tech is scrambling to replace the player it thought was replacing three-year starter Kyshoen Jarrett.

Senior cornerback Donovan Riley, who has practiced at safety, will be in the mix, as will junior Desmond Frye, sophomore Anthony Shegog and a pair of freshmen, Terrell Edmunds and Adonis Alexander. Of that group, Alexander is the most intriguing, but will defensive coordinator Bud Foster trust such a young player at a vital position on his defense?

Reavis' absence, especially on such short notice, creates a big hole for Tech to fill. He's a physical player who seemed to have a strong knowledge of the defense.

This will likely shape up to be the biggest battle in fall camp, as several players will look to impress Foster and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray.