Virginia Tech Football: Depth-Chart Analysis, Complete 2015 Preview Predictions

Expectations are high for the Virginia Tech Hokies in 2015. Tech, coming off three consecutive lackluster years, opens the season on Labor Day night in Blacksburg against defending national champion Ohio State. If the Hokies can upset the Buckeyes for the second year in a row, the sky's the limit for this year's team.

The Hokies return 16 starters and get two former starters back from injury in defensive tackle Luther Maddy and cornerback Brandon Facyson. VT's defensive line is arguably the best in the country, as the Hokies can easily go two-deep at each position and face only a slight drop in production. Facyson will team with Kendall Fuller to provide one of the better cornerback tandems in the nation.

Can Virginia Tech return to the ACC Championship Game for the first time since 2011, or better yet, make its first appearance in the College Football Playoff?

Bleacher Report offers a comprehensive 2015 preview for Virginia Tech, including a prediction for the Hokies' season at the end. 

Coaching Staff

Name	Position	Years at VT
Frank Beamer	Head Coach	29
Bud Foster	Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers	29
Scot Loeffler	Offensive Coordinator	3
Shane Beamer	Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Coach	5
Bryan Stinespring	Tight Ends Coach/Recruiting Coordinator	26
Torrian Gray	Defensive Backs Coach/Passing Game Coordinator	10
Stacy Searels	Offensive Line Coach	2
Charley Wiles	Defensive Line Coach/Running Game Coordinator	20
Cornell Brown	Outside Linebackers Coach/ Assistant Defensive Line Coach	5
Zohn Burden	Wide Receivers Coach	1
John Ballein	Associate Athletics Director for Football Operations	29
Chuck Cantor	Director of Player Personnel	2
Thomas Guerry	Director of High School Relations	2

Frank Beamer returns for his 29th season in charge of his alma mater. Results haven't been that great over the past three seasons for the legendary Beamer. After a run of eight consecutive 10-win seasons from 2004-2011, Tech is just 22-17 since.

The good news for Hokies fans is that's been just enough to extend Tech's bowl streak to 22 consecutive appearances, good for the second-longest active streak behind only Florida State.

There's a lot of talk around Blacksburg about how much longer Beamer will coach. He had a throat procedure in December that kept him on the sideline for Tech's bowl win, and the recovery cost him 40 pounds. But Beamer said he's never felt better, according to ESPN's Mark Schlabach.

"My job has never been better," Beamer said. "My health is good, I feel good and I'm looking forward to getting it going again. Right now, my job is the best it's ever been at Virginia Tech. Hopefully, we can have some great wins and great years."

Fortunately for Beamer, longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster is back, too. That almost didn't happen, as Foster mulled an offer from Texas A&M to be its defensive coordinator.

Over the years, Foster has received numerous lucrative overtures, but this one was different.

"The rumors were there, but they were real," said Foster per Andy Bitter of the Roanoke Times. "It was probably as close as I’ve ever been to leaving this place."

With Foster back in Blacksburg, there was only one other move on Tech's coaching staff. 

Aaron Moorehead left VT after two years as the wide receivers coach for the same position at Texas A&M. Replacing Moorehead is Virginia native Zohn Burden.

Burden comes to Tech with good results. He spent the past three seasons coaching wide receivers and was the passing-game coordinator at Old Dominion. The Monarchs featured an explosive passing offense and were one of the top-scoring offenses in college football during Burden's time there. 

Credit: 247Sports

Burden is a Virginia Beach native, a graduate of VMI and is just 31 years old. The Hokies hope Burden gives them a leg up, recruiting-wise, in the talent-rich "757" where the Hokies used to dominate.

What to Watch Out for on Offense

Position	First-String	Second-String
Quarterback	Michael Brewer	Brenden Motley
Tailback	J.C. Coleman	Trey Edmunds
Fullback	Sam Rogers	Steven Peoples
Split End	Isaiah Ford	Kevin Asante
Flanker	Cam Phillips	Demitri Knowles
Tight End	Ryan Malleck/Bucky Hodges	Matt Hill
Left Tackle	Jonathan McLaughlin	Yosuah Nijman
Left Guard	Wyatt Teller	Parker Osterloh
Center	Eric Gallo	Kyle Chung
Right Guard	Augie Conte	Braxton Pfaff
Right Tackle	Wade Hansen	Darius Redman

Michael Brewer is back at quarterback for the Hokies. Brewer had an up-and-down season in 2014. The best part of last season was his performance in the win over Ohio State. However, that was largely forgotten by the time the Hokies lost to Wake Forest, 6-3, in overtime in November.

Offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler hopes Brewer's knowledge of the offense and comfort level in his receivers results in a better 2015 season. Last fall, Brewer had just transferred to the Hokies from Texas Tech and didn't really have time to learn the complete playbook before winning the job. 

Brewer will certainly have a lot of young talent around him. Isaiah Ford, Cam Phillips and Bucky Hodges all return. All three are sophomores and combined for 141 receptions, 1,733 yards and 16 touchdowns as freshmen last season. 

Ford and Phillips will start at receiver, while Hodges—a tight end—will also see plenty of time in the slot. Senior tight end Ryan Malleck is also a talented pass-catcher.

At running back, Tech has a plethora of options.

J.C. Coleman returns as the starter after breaking out in a big way over the last four games of the 2014 season. Coleman ran for 468 yards in VT's final four games last fall. He and former starter Trey Edmunds give the Hokies two good—and different—options at tailback.

Edmunds has battled injuries in his career, but he is a big, physical runner who excels between the tackles.

Behind them are a pair of rising sophomores in Shai McKenzie and Marshawn Williams. Both players were coming on last year before each player tore an ACL, therefore ending two promising debut campaigns. 

With the options the Hokies have, coaches may decide to redshirt McKenzie and/or Williams, especially with the emergence of redshirt freshman Travon McMillian. 

McMillian, a former high school quarterback, is a big play waiting to happen every time he touches the football, according to running backs coach Shane Beamer, per Bitter.

Credit: 247Sports

“He’s got a home run ability,” Beamer said. “Not that Trey Edmunds and J.C. and those other guys don’t, but Travon’s got an ability to make people miss.”

The offensive line returns three starters in 2015. Jonathan McLaughlin, a two-year starter at tackle, is back on the left side after playing on the right side last year. He's big and athletic and continues to improve in pass protection.

Left guard Wyatt Teller is the best player of this group. He's big (6'5", 304 lbs), agile and has a nasty streak. He's still acclimating himself to the position, as he was recruited to Virginia Tech as a defensive end. The running game really took off last season once he was inserted into the starting lineup.

Augie Conte is the starter at right guard, while Wade Hansen—also a former defensive lineman—starts at right tackle.

Sophomore Eric Gallo is the line's most inexperienced player, and he is the Hokies' new starting center. 

What to Watch Out for on Defense

Position	First-String	Second-String
Defensive End	Dadi Nicolas	Vinny Mihota
Defensive Tackle	Luther Maddy	Nigel Williams/Steve Sobczak
Nose Tackle	Corey Marshall	Woody Baron
Defensive End	Ken Ekanem	Seth Dooley
Outside Linebacker	Ronny Vandyke	Anthony Shegog
Middle Linebacker	Andrew Motuapuaka	Sean Huelskamp
Outside Linebacker	Deon Clarke	Dahman McKinnon
Cornerback	Kendall Fuller	Terrell Edmunds
Cornerback	Brandon Facyson	Donovan Riley
Nickel	Greg Stroman	Mook Reynolds
Free Safety	Chuck Clark	Der'Woun Greene
Rover	Desmond Frye	Adonis Alexander

The two biggest keys to a strong defense are a formidable pass rush and cornerbacks who can cover. Virginia Tech has each of those things.

The Hokies have arguably the top defensive line in the country. Defensive ends Dadi Nicolas and Ken Ekanem return this season. The pair combined for 33 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks in 2014. 

It's almost an embarrassment of riches for VT at defensive tackle. 

Corey Marshall and Luther Maddy return as the starters. Marshall had an outstanding 2014 season and can play defensive end in a pinch, too. He's undersized, but his quickness is often too much to handle for opposing offensive linemen.

Maddy returns after missing most of last season due to a knee injury. He was slated for a big year, but his knee never felt right, and coaches decided to keep him out and attempt to get a medical redshirt for him. 

A former All-ACC player, Maddy is equally adept at rushing the passer as he is as stopping the run. If healthy, he could be the best player on the talented defensive line.

Junior Woody Baron is Tech's third defensive tackle. He's experienced and is a playmaker according to defensive line coach Charley Wiles, per Joey Coogan of The Key Play.

"It's about making plays. It's about turning plays. It's a production-based business," said Wiles. "Woody's made a lot of plays for us."

Nigel Williams, another experienced backup, returns, too. He will battle redshirt freshman Steve Sobczak—a fall-camp standout—for the fourth spot among Tech's defensive tackles.

Credit: 247Sports

The depth is so good that incoming freshman Tim Settle will likely redshirt.

At linebacker, Andrew Motuapuaka gets his chance to man the middle. When Chase Williams went down last season, Motuapuaka had his moments. He was a strong tackler—finishing with 10 or more tackles in four straight games—and had a strong grasp of Foster's defense.

However, he sometimes played too fast and got himself out of position. That was more than likely a result of just being a young player seeing extended action for the first time.

Deon Clarke is Tech's top playmaker at linebacker. The senior had a good year in 2014 and made plays throughout Tech's spring- and fall-camp sessions.

All-American Kendall Fuller is back for what is likely his last season in Blacksburg. The junior will likely be a high pick in next year's NFL draft.

A starter since arriving on campus in 2013, Fuller doesn't just shadow opposing wide receivers around the field, he's also an outstanding tackler. The Hokies hope his running-mate, Brandon Facyson, is back at full health this fall.

After watching him over the summer, Foster seems to think he is, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.

“I saw the Brandon Facyson I saw two years ago,” Foster said.

Facyson returning to the player he was as a true freshman in 2013 could give Tech the top cornerback duo in the nation.

The safety position is a little unsettled at the moment.

Chuck Clark, starter at cornerback last fall, has the free safety position locked down. A Swiss Army knife for the Hokies' secondary the last two seasons, Clark can play all over the secondary. He is good in coverage and strong in run support as well.

At rover, junior Desmond Frye is the starter. While Frye possesses good size and speed, he is currently the starter by default.

C.J. Reavis won the starting position after a strong spring. Unfortunately for Reavis and the Hokies, the student-conduct committee dismissed Reavis back in July, leaving Foster in a tough position. 

Keep an eye on true freshman Adonis Alexander at rover. At 6'3", 192 pounds, Alexander has outstanding size and enjoys contact—a must for this position. He also enrolled in January and is up to speed on Foster's defensive schemes. 

Injury News

Unlike the last two seasons, Virginia Tech is in good shape on the injury front. Some guys have missed practice time with various ailments, but nothing that will keep anyone out long-term.

Sophomore tight end Kalvin Cline, expected to be Tech's No. 3 tight end this fall, is nursing a knee injury. The severity of that isn't known, but it's worth noting that he isn't listed third on the depth chart at his position. 

Nicolas (hand), Hansen (foot) and Marshall (shoulder) all missed some time this summer. However, none of the injuries are serious; expect all three players to suit up on Labor Day against the Buckeyes.

As mentioned earlier, McKenzie and Williams are still recovering from ACL tears. McKenzie is ready for action, but Williams is a litter further behind. Don't be surprised if one or both redshirt, although it's more likely for Williams. 

X-Factor

Hodges is a 6'7", 242-pound wide receiver/tight end who can run. The former quarterback made a seamless transition to tight end last fall, catching 45 passes and seven touchdowns.

He is a matchup nightmare for any defensive coordinator.

Hodges caught game-winning touchdowns—or the go-ahead score—on more than one occasion last fall. And he didn't just do it based on sheer size and athletic ability.

Hodges showed a keen understanding of how to use his size to his advantage. Like a power forward in basketball, Hodges would box out opposing defensive backs in the end zone to make touchdown grabs. 

His blocking is still a work in progress, but he will rarely leave the field this fall. He's too valuable in the passing game.

Hodges is sure to see more double-teams this season, leading to more opportunities for Ford, Phillips and Malleck. 

While Hodges is listed as a tight end, expect coaches to move him around a lot in 2015. He could spend a good portion of the season playing in the slot. Also, there's a good chance he'll be the Hokies' No. 3 wide receiver on occasion, allowing Malleck to come in and play tight end. It's a creative way to get more talented pass-catchers on the field together. 

If Hodges were to sustain an injury that would cause him to miss any time, it would be a significant blow to Virginia Tech's offense. He has the kind of talent that forces opposing teams to change everything about their defense just to account for him. 

A healthy Hodges is one reason Hokies fans are expecting a bounce-back season in 2015.

2015 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location
September 7	Ohio State	Blacksburg, VA
September 12	Furman	Blacksburg, VA
September 19	Purdue	West Lafayette, IN
September 26	East Carolina	Greenville, NC
October 3	Pittsburgh	Blacksburg, VA
October 9	NC State	Blacksburg, VA
October 17	Miami	Miami, FL
October 24	Duke	Blacksburg, VA
October 31	Boston College	Chestnut Hill, MA
November 12	Georgia Tech	Atlanta, GA
November 21	North Carolina	Blacksburg, VA
November 28	Virginia	Charlottesville, VA

It begins with a home date against defending national champion Ohio State. In a rematch from 2014, the Hokies should expect the Buckeyes to come to Blacksburg full of rage with redemption on their minds.

OSU's loss to Virginia Tech last fall was its only defeat of the season. It was also J.T. Barrett's second career start.

Barrett is back, as is Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller. Miller switched to wide receiver, but the Hokies could see a lot of both Barrett and Jones. Jones has the bigger arm, and Barrett is the better overall runner. Both do outstanding jobs of running head coach Urban Meyer's spread offense.

The Hokies head to Purdue in Week 3. It's the first-ever matchup between the two schools. The Boilermakers have been cellar-dwellers recently, but third-year coach Darrell Hazell is looking to get Purdue back on track.

The following week, Tech looks for revenge as it heads south to face East Carolina. The Pirates, of course, upset the Hokies last fall. While ECU is always a tough opponent, things should be a bit easier this time around, as the Pirates had to replace several key starters from a year ago.

Pittsburgh, another team that defeated the Hokies in 2014, heads to Blacksburg in Week 5. James Conner and Tyler Boyd both return for the Panthers, and new head coach Pat Narduzzi will have a much-improved defense.

NC State is on the schedule in 2015 for the first time since 2010. The Hokies won the past three meetings between the schools and three of four since Tech entered the ACC back in 2004.

An October 17 contest against Miami should have huge Coastal Division implications. The 'Canes and Hokies have been bitter rivals since their days in the Big East.

Since the inception of the ACC Championship Game back in 2005, either the Hokies or the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have represented the Coastal in the title game with the exception of one season. Expect their Thursday, November 12 clash to have similar repercussions. 

In the season finale, VT heads to Charlottesville to face in-state rival Virginia. The Hokies have won the past 11 meetings and 15 of the last 16.

Is this the year UVA finally takes possession of the Commonwealth Cup?

Prediction

Outside of the season opener against OSU, the 2015 schedule isn't a particularly daunting one for the Hokies. There are games against Miami, Pitt and Georgia Tech that will be tough battles, but the Hokies can win all of those games.

Don't expect Tech to pull off the shocker next week. Defeating the Buckeyes in two consecutive seasons just doesn't seem possible. However, look for VT to make it much closer than many think.

The Hokies have strong depth at several key positions this fall. So, in theory, they're better prepared to withstand injuries than in the past few seasons. Unfortunately, Tech does lack depth at defensive end, the offensive line and wide receiver. One injury at any of these positions could create chaos for the Hokies' season.

Virginia Tech will lose the season opener against Ohio State but go on a run winning eight straight games before falling to Georgia Tech in November. The Hokies will bounce back, winning their final two games to finish 10-2 (7-1) on the season. With the loss to Georgia Tech, though, the Hokies won't be competing in the ACC title game.

Instead, Tech keeps its bowl streak alive and begins another string of 10-win seasons.