Position-by-Position Preview of Virginia Tech's 2015 Roster
Spring practice is long gone, and the Virginia Tech Hokies are getting much closer to the official beginning of the 2015 football season. In fact, the Hokies host defending national champion Ohio State in less than three months on Sept. 7.
After a run of eight consecutive 10-win seasons, Tech has battled mediocrity for the past three years. The good news, though, is the Hokies were able to continue their bowl streak, which is now at 22 consecutive seasons—the second-longest active streak.
Full participation this spring was tough for the Hokies. Several defensive stalwarts such as Kendall Fuller, Dadi Nicolas, Luther Maddy and Corey Marshall sat out all spring. The absences of some of VT's top stars gave the offense a bit of a lift. Tech's offense—specifically quarterback Michael Brewer—enjoyed a terrific spring.
Now, the biggest question facing the Hokies when fall camp begins later this summer is: Was the offensive performance this spring a harbinger of things to come or a result of so many defensive players missing?
The answer probably leans closer to the latter; however, the offense does return every player who scored a point last season. Brewer is also back and spent the entire offseason in the same offense after just learning it for the first time last summer.
How many positions are up for grabs when practice resumes later this summer? Here is a position-by-position analysis of Virginia Tech's 2015 roster.
Quarterbacks
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Quarterbacks: Michael Brewer, Brenden Motley, Chris Durkin and Dwayne Lawson
Brewer returns, but the quarterback depth took a bit of a hit last week when redshirt Andrew Ford requested his release so he could transfer, per Norm Wood of the Daily Press.
Ford was an early enrollee as a true freshman and almost played in 2014 when Brewer and Motley were both injured in the Virginia game. However, Brewer returned to the game, and the team kept Ford's redshirt intact.
To be honest, it wasn't like he was going to play in 2015. That isn't to say he couldn't have been a good quarterback in the future for Tech. Brewer has the starting spot locked down, and Motley is the most experienced option behind him. Motley is a good chance-of-pace option for VT under center but is not advanced in the passing game.
Dwayne Lawson, a 6'6", 207-pound true freshman, is Tech's most exciting quarterback prospect since Tyrod Taylor stepped on campus back in 2007. Lawson has a strong arm and looks like a running back with the ball in his hands. He has a chance to be special, and that time could come in 2015 if Brewer struggles.
The Hokies would like to bring Lawson along slowly, but they will play him if he's the best option. Don't be surprised if he surpasses Motley on the depth chart at some point this season.
Running Backs
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Running Backs: J.C. Coleman, Trey Edmunds, Marshawn Williams, Travon McMillian, Sam Rogers (Fullback), Jerome Wright (Fullback) and Steven Peoples (Fullback)
Since David Wilson departed for the NFL after the 2011 season, the Hokies have struggled to find his replacement. Coleman had his moments, while Edmunds couldn't stay healthy last year.
A pair of true freshmen from 2014 (Williams and Shai McKenzie) looked to be well on their way to becoming Tech's next star tailbacks. However, both suffered a torn ACL last season. Williams' status for the 2015 season will be determined in August, and McKenzie remains suspended pending court proceedings for an off-field incident over the winter.
Coleman is the leader in the clubhouse after a strong finish to the 2014 season. After struggling to find consistency over his first two-and-a-half seasons on campus, Coleman ran for almost 500 yards over VT's final four games last season. He deserves the opportunity to start in 2015.
Edmunds could be a good running back. He's big (6'1", 225 lbs), strong and surprisingly fast and is a solid inside runner. His problem is his health. In each of the last two seasons, Edmunds broke a leg and fractured his clavicle. He led the team in rushing two seasons ago.
McMillian could be a game-breaker for the Hokies. A former high-school quarterback, he is learning the running back position and is a big play waiting to happen. He could help Virginia Tech in a variety of ways in 2015 if offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler chooses to get creative.
Rogers is one of VT's best players and a team leader. He's the unquestioned man at fullback and will get opportunities to touch the football too.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
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Wide Receivers: Isaiah Ford, Cam Phillips, Kevin Asante, Demitri Knowles, Jaylen Bradshaw, David Prince, Deon Newsome, Joel Caleb
Tight Ends: Bucky Hodges, Ryan Malleck, Dakota Jackson, Kalvin Cline, Xavier Burke
Ford and Hodges developed into stars last season, and Phillips is well on his way. Malleck is a solid tight end too. Outside of those four players, Tech has some questions to answer at these two positions.
Knowles and Asante are seniors. Knowles had his share of moments during his first two years on campus. He's one of the faster players on the team and also a dangerous kick returner. He has struggled to develop as a receiver, though. His routes were sloppy, and he dropped too many passes.
Newsome helped the Hokies at times last season and should figure into the mix this season. Loeffler often used him to run the jet sweep, which led to success.
Bradshaw is the player to watch. If he can run solid routes, he could step right into Willie Byrn's former spot in the slot. He's quick and fast.
Cline started some at tight end two years ago and should find himself third on the depth chart in 2015. He has some ability but lacked experience coming out of high school. Redshirting last year should help him this fall.
The Hokies could be in trouble if Ford, Phillips or Hodges goes down. Hodges is a potential All-American.
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Offensive Line
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Offensive Line: Jonathan McLaughlin, Augie Conte, Wade Hansen, Wyatt Teller, Eric Gallo, Billy Ray Mitchell, Parker Osterloh, Austin Clark, Braxton Pfaff, Colt Pettit, Kyle Chung, Tyrell Smith, Yosuah Nijman, Darius Redman
The Hokies' starting five should be about set. McLaughlin will man left tackle, while Hansen is set at right tackle. Teller and Conte are the guards, and Gallo is Tech's top option at center. Things could change, though, but this appears to be VT's group for now.
McLaughlin is a two-year starter at tackle. He played left tackle as a freshman before moving to the right side last season. He played well on both sides and should do a solid job of protecting Brewer's blind side.
Hansen looked overmatched in his action last season. However, he practiced with the first team at right tackle in spring practice and acquitted himself nicely.
Teller has the ability to be an All-American guard. He came to Virginia Tech as a defensive lineman but quickly moved over to the offensive line during his first year on campus. Midway through last season, he entered the starting lineup and never left. It's no coincidence that the running game was much improved upon his insertion into the starting lineup.
Conte can play some tackle as well but is best suited at guard. He was solid in 2014.
The Hokies have several incoming freshmen as well. The two to watch are Clark and Nijman. Clark enrolled early and participated in spring practice. Nijman has immense potential. He moved to offensive tackle this spring and has the athleticism of a tight end and a ridiculous reach. He could be special.
Offensive line coach Stacy Searels appears high on Nijman, per Andy Bitter of the Roanoke Times. "You want your most talented player at left tackle to block the blind side,” Searels said. “Everybody’s seen the movie. So that’s what we want to train him to do. And I think he’ll be a good one one day.”
Defensive Line
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Defensive Line: Dadi Nicolas (DE), Ken Ekanem (DE), Corey Marshall (DT), Luther Maddy (DT), Woody Baron (DT), Nigel Williams (DT), Ricky Walker (DT), Vinny Mihota (DT), Seth Dooley (DE), Steve Sobczak (DT), Melvin Keihn (DE)
The Hokies have a ridiculous amount of depth at defensive tackle. Maddy returns after missing most of last season and is a former All-ACC player. He is strong against the run and is also a good pass-rusher from the inside. Marshall can play both tackle and end and will likely see time on the outside too, because of Tech's lack of depth at that position.
Nicolas should have been an All-ACC first-team player one year ago. He is a relentless pass-rusher, and offensive tackles struggle to keep him out of backfield. For as good as he is at getting to the quarterback, he often helps stymie the opposition's running game as well. Ekanem often doesn't get the attention he deserves because of how good Nicolas is.
Ekanem, too, could be an All-ACC player.
Baron and Williams are both experienced players and figure into the mix. Dooley is Tech's top backup option at defensive end and had a strong spring. Below him, though, Tech's depth is a bit tenuous. That is why Marshall and Mihota—best suited to play defensive tackle—will spend some time at end. Mihota is a talented player who will make an impact for the Hokies at some point.
Tech has some freshmen entering the program this fall too. Chief among them is highly ranked defensive tackle Tim Settle.
Linebackers
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Linebackers: Andrew Motuapuaka, Deon Clarke, Ronny Vandyke, Holland Fisher, Carson Lydon, Jamieon Moss, Raymon Minor
Motuapuaka and Clarke are surefire starters in the middle and on the outside, respectively. Clarke quietly put together a strong season in 2014. He had 74 tackles and five sacks as a first-year starter. He can get to the quarterback but is still a work in progress in coverage, despite outstanding athleticism.
Motuapuaka filled in at middle linebacker as a freshman when Chase Williams went down. It's tough to say he thrived, but he continued to get better each week. He was also around the football and is an intelligent player—a must in defensive coordinator Bud Foster's defense. He finished with 45 tackles in the four games he started.
The coaches have been high on Vandyke for years. It's now or never for him. He's viewed as the ideal whip linebacker, but he cannot stay healthy. He finally stayed healthy last season but didn't make too much of an impact. However, Vandyke did have a strong spring and could finally live up to his potential in 2015.
Behind the three projected starters are several inexperienced, young players. Lydon is a true freshman who enrolled early. Foster hopes he doesn't have to see the field in 2015. He's one of Tech's more underrated signees from the class of 2015.
Fisher is an intriguing prospect as a former top recruit at safety. The coaches moved him to whip linebacker with hopes he'd be ready to over the position in 2016. He is a ferocious hitter with a nose for the football but needs to trust his instincts more.
Moss and Minor both could push Vandyke. Moss is a year ahead of Minor and did have the better spring. Minor could make a move in fall camp, though.
Defensive Backs
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Defensive Backs: Kendall Fuller (CB), Chuck Clark (CB/S), Brandon Facyson (CB), Mook Reynolds (CB), Donovan Riley (CB/S), C.J. Reavis (S), Desmond Frye (S), Greg Stroman (CB), Adonis Alexander (CB/S), Shawn Payne (CB), Der'Woun Greene (S), Anthony Shegog (S)
This much is known: Fuller is a star. The junior cornerback is perhaps the nation's top cover corner and is poised for another strong season.
Who will start opposite of him, though?
Facyson should. Much like Fuller, Facyson had an outstanding freshman year in 2013. However, a leg injury wiped out his 2014 season, and coaches hope he's ready for fall camp. Facyson and Fuller could give Tech the country's top pair of starting cornerbacks.
Clark played cornerback in Facyson's absence last season and did well. He is in line for the starting free safety position. He will also play some slot cornerback too. His versatility will keep him in the starting lineup somewhere.
Reynolds could be VT's next great cornerback. An early enrollee, he had his moments in the spring. Getting beaten by Ford and Phillips was good for Reynolds as he adjusts to the speed of the college game.
Riley is an experienced player who can play a few positions.
Payne is a long corner with good athleticism. He is a future starter, although coaches would like to bring him along slowly. Stroman is a playmaker and could become Tech's slot corner if Clark stays at free safety.
Reavis appears to be a lock at rover. He had a good spring and impressed coaches with his knowledge of the defense. He was also a stalwart on special teams. He always finds his way to the football and is a heavy hitter.
"He's got a chance to be really good," said head coach Frank Beamer of Reavis, courtesy of Wood. "I think you see it. I think in every aspect, he's a guy that I want to continue to mature and be an all-the-time guy. I think he will."
That's high praise from the legendary coach.
All recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports.
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