2012 Season Preview for the Virginia Tech Hokies

The Virginia Tech Hokies enter the 2012 season ranked No. 16 in the Associated Press Top 25. 

With just a week away from their first game—next Monday night against Georgia Tech—the Hokies face more reasonable expectations than in past seasons.

The Hokies return a potential future No. 1 pick in junior quarterback Logan Thomas. Head coach Frank Beamer will lean heavily on Thomas with this season with an offense that is replacing eight starters from a year ago.

Here are five things to look out for as the Hokies prepare to kick off another successful season. 

Is Logan Thomas Ready to Carry the Offense?

Logan Thomas progressed rapidly in 2011, especially after a rough outing vs. Clemson in October. Some even questioned if Thomas was a good fit at the quarterback position.

Then, the following week the Hokies played Miami, and Thomas was dominant as both a passer and a runner. No one was questioning Thomas' ability as a quarterback after that outing.

Those two games were important in Thomas' development. He struggled mightily against Clemson, but in just one week, he fixed many of the issues that plagued him throughout that game.

Thomas was helped in 2011 by a star running back in David Wilson, a veteran offensive line and two record-setting wide receivers. All of those players are gone now, and Beamer & Co. are expecting Thomas to pick up the slack.

No one will question Thomas' talent or his composure. 

All of the great quarterbacks have one thing in common: they make the players around them better.

Is Thomas ready to take that next step? If he is, the Hokies will be just fine. 

Can the Young Running Backs Replace David Wilson?

There are several in line to receive carries made available after David Wilson's departure to the NFL.

Two freshmen, Michael Holmes and J.C. Coleman, are expected to be the primary ballcarriers.

Each bring different skills to the position. Holmes is the more traditional runner, while Coleman is small and fast. 

Wilson was a record-setting running back for the Hokies and will be difficult to replace. The Hokies have shown the ability to replace record-setting running backs rather easily, though. Wilson replaced Ryan Williams and Darren Evans the year before.

Others, such as Martin Scales, Tony Gregory and true freshman Trey Edmunds, will be in the mix for carries, too.

Look for the combination of Holmes and Coleman to be just fine by the end of the season.

Marcus Davis Will Be a Big Factor

Davis had a good season in 2011 after finishing with 30 catches for 510 yards and five touchdowns.

Davis could have been an impact player much earlier in his career, but he was behind two very good receivers in Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale.

At 6'4" and 232 pounds, Davis possesses outstanding size. It is his speed and overall athletic ability combined with his size that make him truly unique.

Virginia Tech has had some very good wide receivers in the past, but none have the overall skills of Davis.

One issue that plagued Davis at times in 2011 was hi concentration. He often looked to run with the ball before he caught it. That is easily correctable, as many of the great ones have once had that problem.

If the Hokies struggle running the ball in the early going, look for Thomas to go to Davis often. Davis is an excellent vertical receiver while also showing the ability to take a short catch, break tackles and take it all the way.

Offensive Line Won't Be as Big of a Problem as Some May Think

Anytime a team replaces four starters along the offensive line there will be questions.

Offensive line play is about cohesion. The more a group plays together the more likely they will experience success.

Junior center Andrew Miller returns to lead this unit in 2012. Two-time All-ACC tackle Blake DeChristopher graduated but will be replaced by senior Vinston Painter. Painter is a large young man, but surprisingly athletic. 

At left tackle, senior Nick Becton returns. Becton split time at the position in 2011 with the departed Andrew Lanier. 

David Wang, slated to start at left guard in 2011 before an injury ended his season after just two games, returns this season. At 6'2" and 288 pounds, Wang is one of the strongest players on the team.

Sophomore Brent Benedict, a transfer from Georgia, is the starter at right guard replacing three-year starter Jaymes Brooks. Benedict doesn't possess Brooks' athleticism but is a much stronger player. 

Young offensive lines will struggle, but this unit is not all that young. Benedict, a sophomore, is actually entering his fourth season out of high school. 

The tackles have experience, and as a group, this unit is more athletic than the 2011 version. 

By the end of the 2012 season, this group will be considered a strength. 

Defense Could Be One of the Best in School History

Saying this group could be one of the best in school history is a compliment. Undoubtedly, the Hokies' defense, led by longtime coordinator Bud Foster, will be one of the best in the country. 

The Hokies finished No. 10 overall in total defense in 2011 and that was with several first-year starters.

The Hokies have a defensive line that could go 10-deep this year. It is a talented group led by junior defensive ends James Gayle and J.R. Collins. Gayle looks like the next great Hokie pass rusher. 

At linebacker, the Hokies will be seven- or eight-deep with experience. Many younger players were forced to play last year during the spring when starters Bruce Taylor, Tariq Edwards and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow missed time due to injuries.

The secondary is led by cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Antone Exum. The secondary doesn't have the experienced depth like the front seven, however, there are several talented, young players in this group. 

This unit is so deep that it could sustain a couple of key injuries. But, if this group stays healthy, they could be mentioned as one of the best in Hokie history. 

Beamer will be counting heavily on Foster's group early in the season, especially against Georgia Tech, a team they've struggled with in recent seasons.