Virginia Tech Football: Projecting the Hokies' 2013 Offensive Depth Chart

With the Russell Athletic Bowl just mere days away, the end of the worst season in Virginia Tech football in 20 years is nearing an end. Win or lose, it has been a difficult season for the Hokies, particularly on the offensive end.

As we begin to take a look at 2013, the Hokies could be in for almost as much turnover as 2012 when the Hokies replaced eight starters on offense. 

The offensive line replaced four starters this season with mixed success. Senior offensive tackles Vinston Painter and Nick Becton were solid. Unfortunately for the Hokies, they are seniors and the team will have to replace both.

If junior quarterback Logan Thomas declares early for the NFL draft, the offense could be in even more trouble. 

The Hokies' three top wide receivers will graduate. Will that play a part in Thomas' decision to return or not?

Here is a look at the 2013 offensive depth chart if the season were to begin next week.

Quarterback

Quarterback - SR - Logan Thomas (6'6", 255), JR - Mark Leal (6'1", 213)

This depth chart presumes that Thomas will return in 2013. Leal, a rising junior, has been efficient, however, in limited duty. 

Leal possesses a strong arm, although clearly not as strong as Thomas' arm, and he is in the same mold athletically as some of the quarterbacks in recent Virginia Tech history.

The Hokies did shore this position up with two incoming freshmen: Bucky Hodges and Carlis Parker. Both players are big, athletic types. Hodges is the better passer of the two, while Parker is the better overall athlete.

    

Running Back

Tailback - SO - J.C. Coleman (5'8", 192), SR - Tony Gregory (6'0", 185)

This position, usually a strength for the Hokies, struggled throughout 2012. Offensive line play had a lot to do with this as the Hokies' seemingly constant rotation of running backs.

Coleman, the rising sophomore, is an extremely talented player. He is extremely fast, but much stronger than people think for someone his size. Gregory is more of a speed back, too, but he showed better vision as a runner this season than in past opportunities.

Michael Holmes, also a rising sophomore, was the team's starter early in the season. Holmes had his moments, but was the most inconsistent of the bunch. He will be in the mix in 2013.

Incoming freshman Drew Harris and redshirt freshman Chris Mangus could also be in the mix, too. Harris was one of the top RB prospects in the country in 2012 before deciding to attend prep school this season. 

Fullback - JR - Riley Beiro (5'9", 228)

Beiro, a former walk-on, is another in the long line of Hokie fullbacks who is a strong blocker and little else. The Hokies generally don't involve fullbacks in the game plan. Beiro missed the second half of the 2012 season due to shoulder surgery. He will be the team's most experienced player at the position heading into 2013.  

Wide Receiver

Wide Receivers - SO - Demitri Knowles, (6'1", 177), SO - Kevin Asante (5'11", 181)

Knowles, coming off an impressive freshman season, will be the team's top receiver heading into 2013. A relatively inexperienced player, Knowles didn't begin playing football until high school. He is extremely fast and is still learning how to be a complete receiver. 

Asante, a fellow freshman in 2012, will look to start opposite of Knowles in 2013. Asante played sparingly this season and will be challenged by yet another rising sophomore in the talented Joshua Stanford. Stanford, at 6'1", 188 pounds, has impressive size and speed and will push Asante for a starting position alongside Knowles. 

Perhaps the most tantalizing player in 2013 will be redshirt freshman Joel Caleb. Caleb was the Hokies' top recruit in 2012 and redshirted while he adjusted to the college game. A former high school quarterback, Caleb is big (6'3", 214) and fast.

He is the type of player the Hokies love. Marcus Davis, also a former high school quarterback, is the player Caleb will be most compared to. Caleb doesn't quite possess Davis' overall athletic ability, but the Hokies hope he will be more of a polished football player earlier in his career. 

Rising sophomore Christian Reeves is also a player to watch in 2013. 

Tight End

Tight End - JR - Ryan Malleck (6'4", 244), JR - Duan Perez-Means (6'4", 237)

Malleck was the Hokies' leading receiver among tight ends in 2012 with 18 receptions. He is a solid athlete, but must improve as a blocker. 

Perez-Means, a former defensive end, is an intriguing prospect at tight end. He has tremendous size, but is also extremely athletic. If he can become a good blocker, he could push Malleck for playing time. 

With these two as the top tight ends, this could be a strength in 2013. Neither player will be a star, but they are both young, and spring practice will be a big opportunity for them to gain the trust of Thomas. 

Offensive Line

Left Tackle - JR - Mark Shuman (6'7", 307), FR - Augie Conte (6'5", 280)

Left Guard - SR - David Wang (6'2", 289), JR - Matt Arkema (6'3", 287)

Center - SR - Andrew Miller (6'4", 304), JR - Caleb Farris (6'3", 309)

Right Guard - JR - Brent Benedict (6'5", 304), JR - Caleb Farris (6'3", 309)

Right Tackle - JR - Laurence Gibson (6'6", 303), FR - Adam Taraschke (6'5", 295)

This group, at least on paper, appears as if it could be a solid unit. 

Shuman and Gibson, the projected starters at tackle, were both 4-star recruits out of high school and have continued to get stronger. Their development in spring practice will be something to keep an eye on.

Miller was expected to be one of the top interior linemen in the country in 2012, but an ankle injury ended his season prematurely. Even before his injury, the coaches inexplicably forced Miller to share time with Farris.

Don't be surprised if Farris ends up as a starter somewhere along the interior of the offensive line. He is a big, talented lineman who has plenty of experience. He can move well too. 

Benedict and Wang will return as the starters at guard. The Hokies hope a year of experience will help the two as they look to be the starters in 2013.

Kicker

Kicker - SR - Cody Journell (6'0", 195)

The Hokies are in good shape here. Journell rebounded from his off-field issue to go 18-for-22 on field-goal attempts in 2012. A former All-ACC kicker in 2011, Journell heads into 2013 as perhaps one of the top kickers in the country.

Rising sophomore Brooks Abbott will look to be the team's kickoff specialist next year.