Virginia Tech Football 2012: Breaking Down Spring Practice

Virginia Tech won double-digit games for the eighth season in a row, but ended the year with a disappointing bowl loss to the Michigan Wolverines. This season, the Hokies are looking to get back into the ACC Championship Game and take care of unfinished business. 

That journey will start with spring practice—which begins on March 28—but it won't be easy. This is a program that has a lot of question marks as they only return 12 total starters. Only three on the offensive side of the ball are returning.

As the Hokies prepare to answer a few of these questions, here's your Virginia Tech spring football preview.

Schedule

Virginia Tech kicks off their spring practice on March 28 and will play their spring game on April 21.

Offensive Depth Chart

Quarterback: Logan Thomas, Mark Neal

Running Back: Michael Holmes, J.C. Coleman

Wide Receiver: Marcus Davis, Dyrell Roberts

Wide Receiver: D.J. Coles, Corey Fuller

Tight End: Eric Martin, Randall Dunn

Offensive Tackle: Nick Becton, Mark Shuman

Offensive Guard: Dale Davis, David Wang

Center: Andrew Miller, Caleb Farris

Offensive Guard: Michael Via, Laurence Gibson

Offensive Tackle: Brent Benedict, Vinston Painter

Defensive and Speical Teams Depth Chart

Defensive End: J.R. Collins, Zack McCray

Nose Tackle: Derrick Hopkins, Luther Maddy

Defensive Tackle: Antoine Hopkins, Corey Marshall

Defensive End: James Gayle, Tyrel Wilson

Linebacker: Alonzo Tweedy, Jeron Gouveia-Winslow

Linebacker: Bruce Taylor, Jack Tyler

Linebacker: Tariq Edwards, Telvion Clark

Cornerback: Kyle Fuller, Chris Caver

Cornerback: James Farrow, Detrick Bonner

Rover: Ronny Vandyke, Boye Aromire

Free Safety: Theron Norman, Antone Exum

Kicker: Cody Journell

Punter: Scott Demler

Best Position Battle

Virginia Tech was one of the best teams in the ACC at protecting the quarterback last season. Only allowing 17 sacks on the year was third in the conference, and tied for 24th in the country.

Now there are serious questions with this unit, as only one player returns. That of course means the Hokies have to find four replacements during the offseason on the offensive line.

There is experience in senior Nick Becton, who played quite a bit last season. David Wang broke his foot last season, but the Hokies should expect him to be ready for the beginning of the regular season. Players like Brent Benedict and Vinston Painter have the physical tools to be great if they just fulfill some of that potential. 

Nearly every position on this line is up for grabs. The talent is there; it should be fun to see who steps up and earns a starting position.

Big Man on Campus

It wouldn't be Virginia Tech if it didn't include great defense, and junior cornerback Kyle Fuller is just that for the Hokies. He really made an impact last season, as he finished the year with 65 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and sacked the quarterback 4.5 times. He also intercepted two passes and returned a punt for a touchdown. 

Fuller is a great corner and a playmaker with the ball in his hands. With a defense that returns nine starters, he's the leader and the top player on that side of the ball.

He's a difference maker. That's why he's the big man on campus.

Biggest Shoes to Fill

Virginia Tech only has three starters returning on the offensive side of the ball, and that includes trying to find a replacement for running back David Wilson. There is a lot of inexperience at this position, but talent is something they all have.

Michael Holmes is a redshirt freshman who has solid hands and good size a 6'0". He could very well become the starter considering he's been here for a year already.

True freshman J.C. Coleman is the main guy to watch, as he was a 3-star recruit in this year's class. He's a smaller back at 5'7", but has fantastic speed and home-run ability. He could provide a spark at the running back position and really open things up for this offense.

Other players who could earn carries are Tony Gregory, Maurice Taylor and Dominique Patterson. Anyone can get their touches; they just have to have a great spring practice.

Other Key Questions

Besides running back and the offensive line, the secondary needs help. This is a unit that lost Eddie Whitley and Jayron Hosley. Sophomore corner Detrick Bonner helped replace Hosley when he was banged up last season, but did show his youth at times and struggled.

Replacing Whitley may be junior Kyle Fuller, who is a solid player and a great tackler. 

It's really anyone's guess as to who will help shape up the secondary, but for a unit that only allowed 200 yards in the air last season, finding an answer is critical.