Virginia Tech Football: Ranking 10 Best Hokies from 2014 Regular Season
Another college football season has come and gone. For the Virginia Tech Hokies, it was another disappointing season.
Sure, the Hokies are going bowling for the 22nd consecutive season, but it's not a trip to the College Football Playoff. Instead, Tech will head a few hours north to Annapolis to play the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Military Bowl on Saturday, December 27.
Injuries played a big part in VT's downfall in 2014. Two of the team's top offensive linemen had to give up football altogether just before the season began due to injuries. And the Hokies lost their top three tailbacks for the season.
On defense, standout defensive tackle Luther Maddy and cornerback Brandon Facyson missed most of the season.
While it was a tough season overall for the Hokies, it wasn't without several players having solid to outstanding individual performances.
Here is a look at Virginia Tech's top 10 players from the 2014 season.
10. Kyshoen Jarrett
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Senior rover Kyshoen Jarrett entered the 2014 season with high expectations. He was a big reason why many felt the Hokies had the best secondary in the country entering the year.
Things started off well for Jarrett, too. In the win over Ohio State, Jarrett picked off two passes, which he returned for 35 yards, had five tackles and broke up another pass. His performance led to him earning the Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week.
While Jarrett didn't have quite as strong of a 2014 campaign as he did in 2013, he still led the Hokies with 86 tackles and three interceptions.
Jarrett was a three-year starter at rover for the Hokies.
9. JC Coleman
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It was a tough, roller-coaster year for junior running back JC Coleman. Named the starter before the season opener, Coleman struggled early and fell behind a pair of true freshmen.
As Shai McKenzie and Marshawn Williams went down with knee injuries, and Trey Edmunds returned only to go out again with an injured clavicle, Coleman returned to his starting role and thrived.
While Coleman gained just 376 yards on the ground, he posted rushing totals of 95, 98 and 118 yards in Tech's final three games. His 118 yards against Virginia came against one of the best rushing defenses in the nation.
It's always a pleasure seeing someone like Coleman succeed. He works hard, does anything asked of him and delivers when called upon. The Hokies aren't going bowling without Coleman's performance down the stretch.
8. Wyatt Teller
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Redshirt freshman Wyatt Teller came to Virginia Tech as a defensive lineman. However, in his redshirt year knowing the Hokies were thin on the offensive line, Teller switched sides.
And it couldn't have gone any better for Teller or offensive line coach Stacy Searels.
The 6'6", 300-pounder started the season's final five games and despite a rough start, became, arguably, Tech's top offensive lineman.
Teller could eventually move outside to tackle, but right now he projects as a dominant guard. It's no coincidence Tech's running game improved so much in the final three games. Teller settled in at guard and the line got much better.
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7. Chase Williams
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Senior linebacker Chase Williams came to Blacksburg with high expectations. Unfortunately for Williams, injuries always seemed to follow him. Those injuries allowed former walk-on Jack Tyler to pass him on the depth chart in recent years.
As a senior, though, Williams was the man in the middle and got off to a great start. Williams, however, injured his knee against Pittsburgh and missed the next four games. It's no coincidence Tech's run defense struggled mightily without Williams. Both Pitt and Miami had record-setting days against the Hokies on the ground.
Williams returned for the Virginia game and led Tech with 12 tackles. For the season, Williams finished with 66 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits and a forced fumble.
It's really too bad Williams got hurt or he would've made a run at the All-ACC team.
6. Corey Marshall
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Junior defensive tackle Corey Marshall almost left Virginia Tech. Personal reasons led Marshall to miss the 2013 season and he subsequently redshirted.
Fortunately for defensive coordinator Bud Foster, Marshall returned in 2014 and was outstanding. Expected to be paired with Luther Maddy, Marshall moved back inside to defensive tackle. Maddy's injury depleted an already thin group of defensive tackles, forcing Marshall to take on an even bigger role.
He thrived.
Marshall had 39 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception and 23 hits on the quarterback. Marshall's unselfishness and versatility make him one of Virginia Tech's most important players.
ACC coaches took note and placed Marshall on the All-ACC second team.
5. Isaiah Ford
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Freshman wide receiver Isaiah Ford had one of the greatest freshman seasons in Virginia Tech history. Sadly, the offense was so feeble at times that Ford's accomplishments went largely unnoticed in the ACC.
Ford caught 53 passes for 665 yards and led the team in both categories. Ford was second on the team with six touchdown receptions.
As Ford continues to grow into his body, he's currently 6'1" and a slight 174 pounds, he will develop into one of the best receivers in school history. Ford possesses the talent to be the first Hokie receiver to ever top 1,000 yards in a season.
If he can get solid, consistent quarterback play next year, watch out.
4. Bucky Hodges
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Bucky Hodges was recruited to Virginia Tech as a quarterback. And a pretty good one at that. A former 4-star prospect, per 247Sports (subscription required), Hodges played on the scout team his freshman season, emulating North Carolina star Eric Ebron when he and coaches realized a full time move to tight end may what's best for Hodges and the Hokies.
Hodges, a redshirt freshman, was second on the depth chart at tight end when the season began. Hodges, though, became a factor early in the season. At 6'6", 245 pounds with wide receiver speed, Hodges proved to be an impossible matchup for defenders.
On the season, Hodges caught 42 passes for 517 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a terrific red-zone threat for quarterback Michael Brewer. Against Pittsburgh, Hodges showed his ability to get deep when he stretched out and made a terrific diving 50-yard catch. He caught the winning touchdown against Virginia.
Hodges was named third-team All-ACC and a freshman All-American after the season.
3. Ken Ekanem
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The Hokies lost a lot of talent at defensive end after the 2013 season. James Gayle and JR Collins were gone. On one side, Bud Foster knew he had Dadi Nicolas. However, Foster was counting heavily on a 6'3", 250-pound sophomore to step up opposite of Nicolas.
Ken Ekanem did that and more.
Ekanem started all 12 games, finishing with 46 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hits. And Ekanem didn't put up all of his stats in one game. He was consistent and got better as the season wore on. He was strong in run support, too.
Ekanem has two more years left in Blacksburg and the sky is the limit.
2. Dadi Nicolas
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To call Dadi Nicolas an athletic freak probably doesn't do him justice. At 6'4", 231 pounds, Nicolas runs like a receiver and is one of the stronger players on the team. It all came together for him on the field in 2014, his first year as a full-time starter.
Nicolas started all 12 games, finished with 63 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 34 quarterback hits. Nicolas spent a lot of time in the opposition's backfield and was strong from start to finish.
If you don't believe how valuable Nicolas is, go back and watch the Virginia game. Nicolas was everywhere. He made nine tackles, including a big sack late in the game that cost the Cavaliers valuable field position.
Nicolas was robbed from first-team All-ACC honors. Instead, he was named to the all-conference second team. It is a shame, because Nicolas was much better than Florida State's Mario Edwards.
1. Kendall Fuller
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As good as Nicolas was, no player was better for Virginia Tech than sophomore cornerback Kendall Fuller. And unlike Nicolas, he was given the proper respect, as he was named first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American by several organizations.
Tech's secondary wasn't as good this season as in 2014. But don't blame Fuller. The Hokies lost fellow sophomore Brandon Facyson early in the season and Fuller was often locked on the opponent's top receiver. And more often than not, Fuller won those battles.
You won't find many cornerbacks in the country who played man coverage as often as Fuller did in 2014. Foster often gambled with his blitzes because he knew he could trust Fuller. When the Hokies were beat deep, it was rarely Fuller who was beaten.
Fuller's older brothers, especially Kyle, were terrific football players. Kendall is the best one and will continue to get better. Fuller is a student of the game and is strong in all areas. Watch him in run support. There is few weaknesses in his game.
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