Virginia Tech Football: 3 Redshirts with Best Chance to Start in 2015

In 2014, several freshmen made a tremendous impact on the Virginia Tech Hokies football team. Isaiah Ford, Cam Phillips, Marshawn Williams, Wyatt Teller and Bucky Hodges all had standout seasons on the gridiron for the Hokies.

Ford and Hodges, specifically, were stars for Tech.

The Hokies added another solid recruiting class in 2015, and some of the incoming players could help the team this fall. But it's the class of 2014 that has players ready to stake their claims to starting spots in 2015.

Last fall, Hodges and Teller were the only redshirt freshmen who broke into VT's starting lineup. That list could grow in 2015 after the graduation of some important starters, particularly at both safety spots and along the offensive line.

Here's a look at three redshirt freshmen who could start for the Hokies in 2015.

All recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports

Quarterback Andrew Ford

Credit: 247Sports

Andrew Ford

The quarterback position is virtually wide open for Virginia Tech next fall. Yes, senior Michael Brewer—last year's starter—returns, but it's not like Brewer set the world on fire in 2014. He had his moments but largely struggled throughout the second half of the season.

Fortunately for Tech, the program is stocked with young passers.

Andrew Ford and Chris Durkin both redshirted last season, while Dwayne Lawson is a part of the class of 2015.

Lawson is the name that gets fans excited. But it's Ford whom you need to keep an eye on. A smart player with a good understanding of the offense, Ford could earn his way onto the field with a strong performance this spring.

Brewer is still Tech's starting quarterback, but he won't have the leash he did last season. If Ford shows he can operate the offense at the same level as Brewer and not turn the ball over, he could take over the starting position at some point in 2015.

Offensive Guard Billy Ray Mitchell

Credit: 247Sports

Billy Ray Mitchell

Virginia Tech lost several seniors from last season's offensive line. Laurence Gibson, David Wang and Caleb Farris are all gone, and that means the Hokies' offensive line could look dramatically different in 2015.

Billy Ray Mitchell, a member of the class of 2014, is a player who could earn a starting spot at right guard with a strong spring. At 6'3", 280 pounds, Mitchell needs to put on some weight to battle with the big boys in the interior. However, he's had a full offseason in Tech's weight program and should be bigger and stronger for spring ball.

Mitchell's biggest asset is his ability to move in space. The Hokies lacked an athletic and powerful player on the interior in recent seasons until Teller stepped in last fall. Teller has left guard locked down for a few seasons, but Mitchell could join him in the starting lineup if he impresses coaches this spring.

Safety Holland Fisher

Virginia Tech graduated both of its safeties from 2014. Kyshoen Jarrett and Detrick Bonner—both three-year starters—will now look to add to Virginia Tech's legacy of putting defensive backs in the NFL.

While replacing Jarrett and Bonner will be tough initially, the Hokies have the talent to make both safety positions a strength again in 2015. Rising sophomore C.J. Reavis looks like the front-runner to replace Bonner at free safety.

Redshirt freshman Holland Fisher—Tech's top recruit in 2014—could be the team's next great defensive back.

Fisher initially struggled to pick up the defense last fall, which was a big reason why he was redshirted. But with a full offseason in the program, expect Fisher to be the talk of spring practice.

He's a hard hitter, he can run with wide receivers and he attacks the line of scrimmage like a linebacker. His aggression and skill set mesh nicely with defensive coordinator Bud Foster's attacking defense.

He'll have to hold off junior Der'Woun Greene at rover, but Fisher's talent should allow him to do just that. If he can show Foster that he has a strong understanding of VT's defense, the starting position should be Fisher's for the foreseeable future.