Grading Virginia Tech Football's 25 Most Important Players at Midseason

The Virginia Tech football team just completed a nearly perfect half season of football by going 6-1, and it’s largely thanks to some key players who have stepped up in big ways. 

The Hokies might’ve suffered a beating in their season-opening game with the Alabama Crimson Tide, as well as a few close calls along the way, but the team has looked very impressive at times.

This success is largely thanks to some young players making a quick impact. There are plenty of important veterans on this team as well, but some big contributions from underclassmen has helped the team get where it is today.

Tech has the right combination of an easy schedule and a potent roster that could easily help the team reach the ACC Championship Game.

These 25 players represent the Hokies’ most important players to achieving that goal, and how they’ve performed so far this season. 

Honorable Mentions: J.C. Coleman and Antone Exum

J.C. Coleman

Running back J.C. Coleman is another player who’s struggled with injuries for the Hokies.

He sprained both ankles before the Alabama game, then aggravated the injury when a player fell on his foot during the team’s matchup with the Western Carolina Catamounts.

He’s slowly been working his way back into the offense, but he still hasn’t made a major impact. 

Coleman only has 89 yards for the season, but he’s had some success on sweeps, like the one against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the video clip.

The team’s running game has been virtually nonexistent, so it’ll be key for Coleman to continue to find a role in the offense.

He’s shown some improvement recently, but he still deserves a D for the year.

Antone Exum

When cornerback Antone Exum steps on the field, he’ll be one of the team’s most important players.

But since he was cleared to return to play on Oct. 1, he’s insisted that he hasn’t felt comfortable enough to return.

It would seem he finally intends to step on the field against Duke, but it’s impossible to judge his performance until he actually does so.

His grade remains incomplete for now, so all that’s left to do is see how he meshes with one of the nation’s best secondaries when he does finally come back.

Antone Exum

 

When cornerback Antone Exum steps on the field, he’ll be one of the team’s most important players.

 

But since he was cleared to return to play on Oct. 1, he’s insisted that he hasn’t felt comfortable enough to return.

 

It would seem he finally intends to step on the field against Duke, but it’s impossible to judge his performance until he actually does so.

 

His grade remains incomplete for now, so all that’s left to do is see how he meshes with one of the nation’s best secondaries when he does finally come back.

25. Detrick Bonner

Tech’s secondary is leading the nation in interceptions right now, but free safety Detrick Bonner may be the unit’s one weak link. 

He certainly hasn’t been terrible; he does have two interceptions and a touchdown to his name. 

But he is prone to the occasional lapse in coverage. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets’ Vad Lee picked on him frequently in their matchup with the Hokies, and as this video clip demonstrates, sometimes he had no option but to commit a costly penalty. 

He’s a solid defender in the run game, and the rest of the excellent secondary obscures most of his coverage mistakes.

But there’s certainly room for improvement here. Bonner gets a C- for the year so far, but if he steps up as the season progresses, the defense will be even more dominant.

24. A.J. Hughes

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A.J. Hughes has been a weapon on special teams for the Hokies.

As recently as two years ago, the Hokies had so few punting options that they had to turn to receiver Danny Coale on fourth downs.

Tech ranked 114th in punting yardage that year and was 88th a season ago.

This year, thanks to A.J. Hughes, the team is sitting at eighth.

It’s made a huge difference for the Hokies, allowing the defense to play aggressively thanks to the way Hughes can flip the field.

He even set some records against Pitt, as 52.8 yards per punt were the most in a game since 1997.

It’s easy to overlook the punting game, but Hughes’ stellar performance earns him an A on the year.

Although his efforts may not directly translate into points like those of the next name on this list, if he can keep this up, the special teams will thrive.

As recently as two years ago, the Hokies had so few punting options that they had to turn to receiver Danny Coale on fourth downs.

 

Tech ranked 114^th in punting yardage that year, and were 88^th a season ago.

 

This year, thanks to A.J. Hughes, they’re sitting at eighth.

 

It’s made a huge difference for the Hokies, allowing the defense to play aggressively thanks to the way Hughes can flip the field.

 

He even set some records against Pitt, as the Roanoke Times’ Andy Bitter noted.

 

It’s easy to overlook the punting game, but Hughes’ stellar performance earns him an A on the year.

 

Although his efforts may not directly translate into points like those of the next name on this list, if he can keep this up, the special teams will thrive.

23. Cody Journell

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Cody Journell has struggled with his consistency.

This season has been a strange one for kicker Cody Journell.

He made both of the field goals he attempted against Alabama and Western Carolina.

But against East Carolina, he missed both of his tries and made only one of his two extra-point attempts.

To make matters worse, he got suspended for the subsequent game against the Marshall Thundering Herd for a violation of team rules. 

He knocked in a 39-yard kick against Georgia Tech but managed to miss a 25-yarder.

But he was able to step up when the team needed him against Pitt, making four of his five attempts.

Despite the impressive performance, he still missed a relatively easy 33-yard attempt.

For the year, Journell earns a C due to this inconsistency, and his performance will be worth watching over coming weeks to see if he can get back to his 2012 standards.

22. Dadi Nicolas

Dadi Nicolas may be just a backup defensive end, but he’s still a big part of the defense.

He’s playing behind a pair of redshirt seniors at the position, but he showed what he can do when unleashed on opposing offenses when he sacked Pitt’s Tom Savage three times.

Just watch the video clip to understand exactly the kind of speed he possesses.

He didn’t see the field much prior to playing the Panthers, making just nine tackles before his big seven-tackle day against Pitt. 

But as the year progresses, he’ll undoubtedly start rotating into games more frequently. Bud Foster likely only used him at outside linebacker as a one-time measure against Pitt, so he probably won’t repeat those gaudy numbers.

Yet, he still deserves a B for his play so far, with the potential to make that grade much higher by the end of the year.

21. Caleb Farris

Left guard Caleb Farris might not be an exciting player like Nicolas, but his play has been crucial to the Hokies’ success. 

The offensive line, as a whole, has had both good and bad moments all year, but Farris has largely been consistent. 

He doesn’t have a huge role in pass blocking, although he has been relatively sturdy there, but he has been very good in run blocking at times.

He was especially good in the Georgia Tech game, as this video of his big block on the goal line demonstrates.

He hasn’t shown that kind of dominance as consistently throughout the season as the coaches might’ve liked, but he’s still been very good. 

Farris deserves a B+ for his performance at midseason.

But while he’s important, the player holding down an unsure position on the line is likely more significant.

20. Brent Benedict

Coming into 2013, almost everyone assumed that Laurence Gibson would start at right tackle.

He proceeded to start the team’s first two games at the position, but by the team’s game against East Carolina, Brent Benedict had seized the job. 

Benedict was largely working at guard at the time, but as offensive line coach Jeff Grimes told the Roanoke Times’ Andy Bitter, Benedict worked his way onto the starting lineup:                                      

"

Offensive line coach Jeff Grimes says normally when a player misses out on a starting job, his performance drops, the hangover of losing a tight battle usually manifesting itself somehow.

He saw the exact opposite from Brent Benedict.

“He was a guy who didn’t quit working when he didn’t win a starting job initially,” Grimes said.

"

He’s started every game since then and has been reasonably effective while doing so.

Gibson still occasionally rotates onto the line, but for the most part, Benedict has been very consistent.

He's also displayed the ability to block well down the field, like in this video clip against Pitt.

He deserves a B for his play so far, and his development should help the unit form even more cohesion as time goes by.

However, the man in the middle is even more important than he is.

19. David Wang

David Wang has played just about every position on the Hokies’ line over the course of his career.

It came as a bit of surprise when Grimes chose him over Farris and Andrew Miller to start at center, but he’s been solid in the middle.

He’s struggled with a few injury issues, but he’s been very consistent in the running game. 

Just watch this video clip of a running play against the North Carolina Tar Heels to see how he stands up the defensive tackle. Trey Edmunds can’t finish the run, but Wang does his job admirably. 

The center is always of paramount importance to the line, so Wang’s health will be key going forward.

He deserves a B+ for his efforts so far, but the next player on this list deserves even higher marks for his vocal leadership.

18. Andrew Miller

Redshirt senior Andrew Miller is the definition of consistency on the Hokies’ line.

He’s played in each of his four eligible years, appearing in 12 games as a freshman and starting all 14 games at center in 2011.

He struggled with injuries last season, as he was able to play just seven games, and the staff adapted to these issues by moving him to right guard before this season.

He’s thrived there so far, making all seven starts and playing very well in the run game. 

He showed no signs of intimidation against Alabama, as the video clip demonstrates with the way he completely stands up his man.

The running game may still be coming together, but coaches will never have to worry about Miller.

He’s a leader in the locker room, and combined with his consistent performance, he deserves an A- for the year. 

17. Kalvin Cline

When last year’s starter at tight end, Ryan Malleck, went out for the year before the season began, most people figured the Hokies wouldn’t get much production out of the position in 2013.

However, freshman Kalvin Cline has been a pleasant surprise so far.

The team was planning to redshirt Cline, but desperation forced him into the starting lineup.

He caught four passes for 46 yards in his debut against Western Carolina and broke out against Pitt, grabbing four balls for 65 yards and a touchdown.

Cline has been so impressive that when Malleck’s backup coming into the year, Duan Perez-Means, announced he was leaving the program, Hokie fans barely batted an eye.

He could still use some work blocking, but as this video of his score against Pitt demonstrates, he’s a nice threat in the passing game.

He deserves a B for his play so far, and if he can continue develop into a safety blanket for Logan Thomas, he’ll have real value.

16. Josh Stanford

Receiver Josh Stanford may only be a redshirt freshman, but he often plays like a seasoned veteran.

He’s started all seven games this year for the Hokies and has been a reliable possession receiver for the offense.

Stanford’s numbers aren’t eye popping, as he has 19 catches for 257 yards so far, but he has a knack for making big plays when it matters.

Just watch this video clip of his catch-and-run on fourth down against Marshall.

A younger receiver might’ve lost track of where the first-down marker was, but Stanford knows exactly how far he needs to go when he turns upfield. 

His big conversion prolonged a drive that ultimately led to the game-tying touchdown, and he deserves a lot of credit for his clutch performance.

However, he could still stand to work on his precision on short routes.

He deserves a solid B for his performance so far, yet he hasn’t been quite as significant as the position group’s lone senior.

15. D.J. Coles

Receiver D.J. Coles has evolved dynamically through the team’s first few games.

Most people expected him to be the team’s go-to receiver coming into the year.

Then, he played an abysmal game against Alabama, looking out of shape and causing one of Thomas’ interceptions with his poor route running.

The coaching staff largely attributed this to his lingering injury issues and benched him for the game against Western Carolina.

He started the next two games, but he’s been largely relegated to backup duty since then.

However, limiting Coles’ playing time serves two purposes; it initially sent a message to the whole offense that time on the field needed to be earned, while the extra rest has since helped Coles fresh.

In particular, the staff has started utilizing Coles’ imposing 6’4”, 234-pound frame in the red zone. 

He only has 11 catches this season, but five have gone for touchdowns.

There’s no doubt that Coles has talent around the goal line, as this video clip of his score against North Carolina shows.

But he’s also valuable for the way he’s started to mentor Stanford and the rest of the receivers. He deserves a lot of credit for the way he changed his attitude from where he was at the start of the year.

Coles’ play earns him a B- for the year, but he has serious value going forward as both a red-zone threat and leader for the young guys.

14. James Gayle

Defensive end James Gayle’s numbers show that he’s had a great season so far, but it’s still perhaps less than many were expecting.

He has 24 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss, as well as three sacks and a forced fumble.

Gayle has certainly looked dominant at times; just watch the way he forces a safety against ECU in this video clip for proof. 

But whether it’s been a factor of teams shifting protection his way or the shoulder separation he suffered against the Pirates, he hasn’t been as terrifying as many thought he could be. 

Make no mistake, he’s still a big part of why the defense is leading the nation in sacks, but there’s the potential for more. 

He gets a B+ for his play so far, with the caveat that if he takes his play to the level everyone knows he's capable of, he could turn into the most dominant player on the team.

13. Luther Maddy

It’s hard to pile up big numbers when playing on the interior of the defensive line, but that’s exactly what defensive tackle Luther Maddy has done. 

He has 30 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks and even a pass breakup.

Maddy is the most flexible player on Foster’s defense, and the coordinator has even experimented with dropping him into coverage.

He also has impressive strength on the inside, which this video clip of his sack against Marshall makes clear.

Maddy deserves an A at midseason, and he’s been a key lynchpin for this unit.

12. Kyshoen Jarrett

Rover Kyshoen Jarrett played well last year, but he’s taken his game to a new level this season. 

He has two interceptions in coverage, but his 40 tackles really stand out.

Foster has consistently played him close to the line to help out in run support, and he’s made a huge impact there.

He’s also the team’s most physical player in coverage. This video clip of his monstrous hit on Pittsburgh’s Devin Street perfectly illustrates what opposing receivers have to worry about when they face Jarrett.

He’s a vocal leader on defense, and it’s no mistake that he’s second place on the team in tackles.

Jarrett gets an A for his play this year, and if he stays healthy, this defense will stay dominant.

11. Jonathan McLaughlin

On most teams, starting a freshman at left tackle would be a recipe for disaster. 

Yet, the young Jonathan McLaughlin has been excellent to start the season.

The line has only allowed 12 sacks in the Hokies’ first seven games, and he’s a huge reason why.

He leaves a little to be desired in the run game, but he more than makes up for it in pass protection.

McLaughlin’s flexibility has also allowed the coaches to move him around to create effective matchups. This video clip of a play-action pass against Pittsburgh illustrates how good he’s been when he’s lined up as a tight end. 

He deserves an A- for holding up as well as he has so far, and it’ll be key for him to stay consistent and keep Thomas upright as the year goes on.

10. Demitri Knowles

Receiver Demitri Knowles has always had electrifying talent, but it’s taken him a while to utilize it.

He made a few big plays in 2012, but early in 2013, he still hadn’t quite found his stride. 

Knowles only caught four passes in the team’s first two games, but even more troubling was his propensity to cause interceptions on his deep patterns. 

On at least two different occasions, he fell down at the end of running a deep route, causing Logan Thomas’ pass to be intercepted. 

However, he seems to have finally gotten on the same page as his quarterback.

He’s piled up 203 yards and a touchdown in the past three games alone, and Thomas has started looking for him more consistently.

Knowles has also developed a knack for the big play, like this video clip of his 45-yard score against North Carolina demonstrates.

The redshirt sophomore deserves a B- for his play so far, but that grade could skyrocket if this progression continues. 

He has the potential to be a game changer on offense with his ability to stretch the field, and if he just gets a little more consistent, the passing game will be much more dangerous.

9. Willie Byrn

While Knowles might be explosive, receiver Willie Byrn is consistent. 

He’s earned comparisons to former Tech great Danny Coale, and the two are certainly similar. 

Much like Coale, Byrn excels at consistently making difficult catches, all while running precise routes over the middle of the field.

He’s been Thomas’ most consistent target so far this season, and he’s leading the Hokies in receiving yards with 349 on the year.

Bryn’s blend of quickness and precision even occasionally results in a big play, like this 83-yard catch-and-run against North Carolina shows.

It might come as a surprise, but it’s Byrn, not Knowles, leading the team in yards per catch, with a 14-yard average.

It’s a testament to his elusiveness, and he deserves an A for his performance.

Thomas has come to depend on him, and he might be the offense’s most valuable skill position player right now.

8. Jack Tyler

Linebacker Jack Tyler is the definition of a relentless defender.

He’s the heart and soul of Bud Foster’s defense and the team’s leading tackler once more with 57 stops so far. 

Tyler might not be the most athletic on the field, but he sees the field very well and refuses to quit on a play.

Just watch this video clip of one of his tackles for loss against UNC to get a sense of his effort.

He nearly gets taken out by a block, but he fights through it and reads the play accurately before he helps J.R. Collins make the stop behind the line.

Tyler holds the defense together, and he fully deserves an A for his play so far.

7. Kendall Fuller

Based on his stellar ratings coming out of high school, it’s no surprise that Kendall Fuller has become a key part of the defense. 

But what is surprising is how quickly he’s developed. 

Although he’s mostly played nickel corner so far, he’s been excellent all over the field, grabbing a pair of interceptions along the way.

He’s flashed electric speed, but he’s been even more impressive at reading opposing quarterbacks.

He perfectly read Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato’s eyes to earn his first pick, as the video clip shows, and he’s made a habit of it all season long.

Fuller’s true value stems from the depth he’s added to the secondary.

There’s no way coaches could’ve predicted that he’d become a weapon for the defense so quickly, and it’s allowed them to play in nickel packages far more often than they might’ve otherwise.

The freshman deserves an A- for his play so far, but he’s not even the most important Fuller on the team.

6. Kyle Fuller

Coming into his senior season, cornerback Kyle Fuller had already built a solid legacy at Virginia Tech.

However, if he can keep playing the consistently excellent football he’s demonstrated so far this season, he’ll go down as a legend at the school.

He’s made 24 tackles, intercepted two passes, broken up 10 other throws and forced a fumble in just the first seven games. 

Fuller’s versatility has also allowed Foster to deploy him with great effectiveness at “whip” linebacker against Georgia Tech over the years, and this season was no exception. He disrupted the Jackets’ offensive line relentlessly for all four quarters and was a huge part of holding the team to just 129 yards rushing on the night.

He was also excellent in coverage against Alabama, blanketing receiver Amari Cooper all game long, and even managed the difficult feat of intercepting A.J. McCarron, as the video shows. 

Fuller definitely deserves an A for the way he’s led the secondary. However, one last cornerback might be more important to the team’s continued success.

5. Brandon Facyson

While cornerback Brandon Facyson might’ve looked good in spring practice, no one really knew what exactly he’d bring to the defense.

But through just a few games, he’s morphed into a physical, ball-hawking nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

He’s tied for third in the country with four interceptions, in addition to his 17 tackles and forced fumble.

Facyson has shown some incredible athleticism as well, as this video clip of his diving interception against the Jackets demonstrates.

The freshman deserves an A for the year for his performance, but what makes him so important is how he adapts to Exum’s return. 

Exum has always said he expects to start when he comes back, which would relegate Facyson to a backup role, even if he does still play a significant number of snaps. 

If he handles that transition gracefully, this secondary will continue to be the most dominant the country and will have a very bright future. 

If he doesn’t, then that spells big trouble for the team’s locker room.

4. Trey Edmunds

Running back Trey Edmunds might be the most infuriating player on this list.

He clearly has incredible talent, as this video of the way he brutalized Alabama demonstrates. 

Yet he hasn’t put all the pieces together quite yet. He’s only averaging 3.7 yards per carry, and while the offensive line has certainly had its fair share of issues run blocking, he needs to work on his decisiveness and vision.

He flashed both of those qualities in spades against the Crimson Tide, but they tend to disappear for long stretches of time. 

Edmunds has the potential to be a great player, but until he can improve the way he finds holes and hits them, the running game will remain stagnant. 

Although he’s been hampered slightly by the line and the offense’s reliance on the pass, it’s not unfair to give Edmunds a D for the year so far.

But if he starts to put it all together, he could take so much pressure off Thomas and the passing game.

It’s no mistake that he’s so high on this list; if he becomes the player the coaches think he can be, he can almost single-handedly transform the offense from a passable unit into a dominant one.

3. J.R. Collins

After a disappointing season in 2012, many were starting to write off defensive end J.R. Collins. 

The coaches even handed his starting job to Nicolas in spring practice to motivate Collins, and it’s paid off in 2013. 

He’s been a beast in the pass rush, earning five sacks, 19 quarterback hits and a forced fumble.

This video clip of one of his sacks against Marshall perfectly demonstrates how he’s used his sublime speed to wreak havoc on quarterbacks. 

But he’s also been dominant in the run game. He has 33 tackles, 8.5 of which have gone for loss. 

He’s been the most dynamic player on Foster’s dominant defense, and opposing offensive coordinators have to game-plan to stop him.

Collins deserves an A+ at midseason, but there’s one player on defense who’s even more important than he is to holding the unit together.

2. Derrick Hopkins

Defensive tackle Derrick Hopkins might be just barely 6'0", but he makes a giant impact on the defense.

He anchors the whole unit with his consistently dominant play, and his numbers are slightly incredible for a defensive tackle. 

Hopkins already has 32 tackles, including 6.5 for loss, four sacks and a fumble recovery.

He plays with fantastic leverage, allowing him to expertly clog up the interior of the line, as this clip of a stop against Georgia Tech shows. 

Hopkins’ consistency on the inside has lifted the play of every other player on the defensive line, and the defense as a whole.

Foster can always count on Hopkins to pressure both opposing quarterbacks and running backs, allowing him to get creative with the alignment of every other player on the field. 

Hopkins also deserves an A+ for both his play and the way he affects the team.

However, for all Hopkins’ importance, only one player is significant enough to deserve the top stop.

1. Logan Thomas

When quarterback Logan Thomas completed just five of his 26 passes, most fans figured he was due for another depressing season.

Although he’s had his share of struggles at times, Thomas has had a comeback season, almost single-handedly carrying the offense at times. 

He threw six interceptions in the first four games of the season, but he hasn’t turned the ball over in the team’s past three games. 

He’s completing 55 percent of his passes, but he’s largely been efficient and accurate with the football.

Thomas has also made great strides with his ability to step up in the pocket, as this video clip of a big completion against Pitt illustrates. 

This newfound competence has allowed offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler to lean on Thomas while the run game has struggled, which has been a huge factor in the team’s success. 

The quarterback has also made plenty of contributions to the rushing attack itself; he’s second on the team with 157 yards and has scores to his name as well.

Without Thomas, there’s no doubt that this team would’ve lost more than one game so far this season.

He definitely has plenty to improve on, particularly when it comes to his accuracy in the second half.

However, he still deserves an A- for the season, and if he can keep improving, there’s no reason he can’t carry this squad to the ACC title game.