(Photo Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Ryan Willis, RB DeShawn McClease, WR Hezekiah Grimsley, WR/PR Damon Hazelton, WR/PR Tavion Robinson, WR Tre Turner, TE James Mitchell, OG Brock Hoffman, OG Lecitus Smith, OT Luke Tenuta, DE Amare Barno, DT Norell Pollard, LB Dax Hollifield, LB Alan Tisdale, CB Armani Chatham, CB Brion Murray, CB Dorian Strong, and NB Chamarri Conner.
Key Players Departing:
QB Herdon Hooker, RB/KR Khalil Herbert, OT Christian Darrisaw, DE Justus Reed, DT Jarrod Hewitt, LB Rayshard Ashby, CB Caleb Farley, FS Divine Deablo, FS Devin Taylor, PK Brian Johnson, and PT Oscar Bradburn.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: CB D.J. Harvey (Chatsworth, California).
3 Star Recruits: LB Jack Hollifield (Shelby, North Carolina), RB Kenji Christian (Pinson, Alabama), ATH Jaden Keller (Bristol, Tennessee), RB Elijah Howard (Chattanooga, Tennessee), S Jalen Stroman (Nokesville, Virginia), ATH Keli Lawson (Stephens City, Virginia), WR Jaylen Jones (Richmond, Virginia), DT Jordan Williams (Clemson transfer), and DE Mattheus Carroll (Baltimore, Maryland).
2020 Results:
G01 NC STATE W 45-42
G02 at Duke W 38-31
G03 at #8 North Carolina L 45-56
G04 BOSTON COLLEGE W 40-14
G05 at Wake Forest L 16-23
G06 at Louisville W 42-35
G07 #25 LIBERTY L 35-38
G08 #9 MIAMI (FL) L 24-25
G09 at Pittsburgh L 14-47
G10 #4 CLEMSON L 10-45
G11 VIRGINIA W 33-15
Misc. Team Information:
2020 Record: 5-6 (8th in ACC)
Home: 3-3
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 5-5
Non-AAC: 0-1
Head Coach: Justin Fuente
Virginia Tech: 38-26
|Career: 64-49
Bowls: 2-3
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Braxton Burmeister (48-85, 687 yards, 56.5%, 8.1 avg., 2 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Raheem Blackshear (66 car., 243 yards, 3.7avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Tayvion Robinson (38 rec., 592 yards, 15.6 avg., 3 TD)
TDs Scored: James Mitchell/Tre Turner (5)
Sacks: Amare Barno (6.5)
Tackles: Chamarri Conner (81)
Tackles For Loss: Amare Barno (16)
Interceptions: Chamarri Conner/Brion Murray (2)
Pass Deflections: Armani Chatman (6)
Forced Fumbles: Amare Barno (2)
Kick Returns: Keshawn King (3 ret., 65 yards, 21.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Tayvion Robinson (10 ret., 21 yards, 2.1 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Peter Moore (3 punts, 99 yards, 33.0 avg., 1 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 3 Braxton Burmeister (RS JR/TR)
RB: 00 Jalen Holston (RS JR)
WR: 11 Tre Turner (JR)
WR: 80 Kaleb Smith (RS SO)
WR: 9 Tayvion Robinson (SO)
TE: 82 James Mitchell (JR)
LT: 69 Luke Tenuta (RS SO)
LG: 54 Lecitus Smith (RS JR)
OC: 55 Johnny Jordan (GR/TR)
RG: 76 Brock Hoffman (RS JR/TR)
RT: 70 Parker Clements (FR)
KR: 23 Keshawn King (SO)
PK: 96 John Parker Romo (SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 11 Amare Barno (RS JR/TR)
DT: 96 Norell Pollard (SO)
NT: 12 Jordan Williams (GR/TR)
DE: 45 TyJuan Garbutt (RJ JR)
LB: 34 Alan Tisdale (RS SO)
LB: 4 Dax Hollifield (JR)
NB: 1 Chamarri Conner (JR)
CB: 28 Jermaine Waller (JR)
CB: 44 Dorian Strong (FR)
FS: 19 J.R. Walker (RS FR)
BS: 17 Tae Daley (GR/TR)
PR: 9 Tayvion Robinson (SO)
PT: 85 Peter Moore (FR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
09/03 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS | Virginia Tech leads the series 24-13-6. The Hokies are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series win (43-41 OT) was in 2019.
09/11 MIDDLE TENNESSE BLUE RAIDERS | First meeting between schools.
09/18 at West Virginia Mountaineers | Virginia Tech trails the series 23-28-1. The Hokies won (31-24) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
09/25 RICHMOND SPIDERS | Virginia Tech leads the series 37-10-4. The Hokies won (17-10) the last meeting between teams in 1986.
10/09 NOTRE DAME FIGHING IRISH | Virginia Tech trails the series 1-2. The Hokies lost (20-21) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/16 PITTSBURGH PANTHERS | Virginia Tech leads the series 11-9. The Hokies are 4-4 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series win (28-0) was in 2019.
10/23 SYRACUSE ORANGE | Virginia Tech trails the series 8-10. The Hokies lost (17-31) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
10/30 at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | Virginia Tech leads the series 10-7. The Hokies are 5-4 since 2011, and they won (45-0) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/05 at Boston College Eagles | Virginia Tech leads the series 19-10. The Hokies are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series loss (28-35) was in 2019.
11/13 DUKE BLUE DEVILS | Virginia Tech leads the series 18-10. The Hokies are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (10-45) was in 2019.
11/20 at Miami (FL) Hurricanes | Virginia Tech trails the series 15-23. The Hokies are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series win (42-35) was in 2019.
11/27 at Virginia Cavaliers | Virginia Tech leads the series 59-38-5. The Hokies are 9-1 since 2011, and their last series loss (30-39) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 4-3
Road: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 3-5
Non-ACC: 2-2
Overall: 5-7 (5th in ACC Coastal)
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