Head Coach: Justin Fuente
2017 Record: 9 - 4
Conference: ACC
On September 30th of 2017, the Hokies were 4-0 and ranked 12th in the country. Their next game at home against #2 Clemson and on a Saturday night. By midway through the third quarter though, it was clear that a major gap still exists between the top teams and Viriginia Tech. Still, Hokie fans had hope of a rematch in the ACC Championship. Fuente's squad responded by winning three straight, heading into their first true road test, at Miami, with a 7-1 record and back in the top 15. Again though, the Hokies lost control midway through the quarter after surrendering a 21-10 lead and then tossing an interception. That loss slashed any hopes of a rematch with Clemson. A week later, the Hokies suffered an unexpected loss to Georgia Tech, and went on to finish the regular season with a 9-3 record.
There has been undeniable progress in Blacksburg during Justin Fuente's 2 year tenure. However, he will ultimately be judged by his ability (or inability) to make Virginia Tech into a title contender. Whether or not these expectations are fair is up for debate, but ever since the magical season in 1999, Hokie fans have been dreaming of a return to the title game. In order to get there, they will have to win meaningful games. Fuente has compiled a record of 19-7 in his two years with Tech, but is just 2-5 against ranked opponents. No one is calling for his job, but if he wants to prevent potential frustration, he needs to win meaningful games.
Key Losses From 2017:
Cam Phillips - WR
Quarterback Josh Jackson struggled mightily last year against Clemson and Miami, but his one reliable weapon was Cam Phillips. He was the only player with over 60 yards of offense, and had seven receptions in each contest. Hezekiah Grimsley, Phil Patterson and Eric Kumah Jr., are expected to be the starting receivers this fall. In 2017, their combined yardage barely equaled half that of Cam Phillips. His production last year made him the easily the most explosive player on this offense, and his loss is a huge blow to a team that needs vast improvement offensively.
Tremaine Edmunds - LB
Defensive Coordinator, Bud Foster, is well known for his ability to develop players but Edmunds is possibly the most talented defensive player to step foot on Tech's campus since Bruce Smith. Tremaine led the team in three separate categories last year, with 109 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 8.5 tackles for a loss. At the conclusion of the season, he declared for the NFL draft and was taken in the first round at pick 16 by the Buffalo Bills. He's already impressed enough during the preseason, that many believe he's a favorite for defensive rookie of the year.
Mook Reynolds - LB/DB
When the 2017 season ended, Bud Foster knew he was losing a number of key players but Mook Reynolds was not one of them. However, on July 27th, Mook was dismissed from the team due to a violation of athletic department policies. Mook's role was essentially "playmaker". He played linebacker and defensive back, tallying 70 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for a loss, and 4 hurries last year. The biggest problem with this loss is that it occurred so close to the beginning of the first game. Bud Foster was essentially given six weeks to find a replacement. That will not be an easy task.
Key Returnees from 2017:
Josh Jackson - QB
In the season opener against West Virginia, Josh flashed moments of brilliance and incredible athletic ability. His performance was reminiscent of Hokie legend, Michael Vick. Then came Clemson and Jackson's play fell off a cliff. Virginia Tech only scored 17 points and one of their touchdowns came, with just a minute and half remaining, after the game had already been decided. A few weeks later, he was given a second chance on the road at Miami. Yet again, he struggled to engineer a successful drive and the Hokies were held to just 10 points. If Justin Fuente has any dreams of a return trip to the ACC Championship, Josh Jackson's play will be the difference between that simply being a dream or becoming a reality.
Deshawn McClease - RB
Yes, many have discussed the mid-season struggles of Josh Jackson, but he could also use some help in the form of a run game. Josh led the team in rushing carries with 124 attempts, while McClease had the second most attempts at 108. For any read-option style offense to work, the team must have a consistent running back. Mcclease averaged nearly 5 yards per carry in 2017 and had 3 TD's. For this offense to improve, he must continue to grow and provide a stable running game.
Reggie Floyd - Safety
With 8 starters graduating, and Mook Reynolds and Adonis Alexander both off the team, Bud Foster needs experience. A junior, Floyd is the only returning starter in this secondary and is utilized as much against the run as he is the pass. During 2017, he racked up 72 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss and 3 picks. We know Foster has an uncanny ability to develop his players, but he typically keeps his squads experienced. With so many new faces on this side, Floyd will need to emerge as the leader of this defense.
2018 Schedule:
September 3, @ Florida State
September 8, vs William & Mary
September 15, vs ECU
September 22, @ ODU
September 29, @ Duke
October 6, vs Notre Dame
October 13, @ UNC
October 25, vs Georgia Tech
November 3rd, vs Boston College
November 10th, @ Pitt
November 17th, vs Miami (FL)
November 23rd, vs UVA
Scheduling Notes:
This is one of the more difficult schedules the Hokies have played in a long time. While FSU had a down year in 2017, they are still a top 5 team based on true talent. If head coach Willie Taggart lives up to the hype, the Seminoles could be a dark horse for the College Football Playoff (CFP). September 8th through September 22nd seem like guaranteed wins, but Virginia Tech is no stranger to a hangover game (see Georgia Tech last year). Also, keep in mind that a group of 5 team (ODU) hosting a power 5 team (VT) is extremely rare. If Fuente can steer this team to a win over FSU, and a 4-0 start, they'll still have Notre Dame at home and six really tough Coastal division opponents. Circle the match on November 17th against Miami. When these two squads met last year in Coral Gables, the Hokies were embarrassed on national TV by a tune of 28-10. Virginia Tech is likely out for revenge and could be rolling into the game with momentum after a four game win steak. On the other hand, if they lose, we mentioned this team having hangover games in the past? UVA looms on the 23rd and would love nothing more than to break the Hokies 17 game streak in the Commonwealth Cup.
Offensive Outlook:
Through the first four games of the 2017 season, Virginia Tech possessed one of the top offenses in the country, averaging 40 points per game. Everything was exposed in week 5 though, when Virginia Tech failed to move the ball for three quarters, losing 31-17 against Clemson. The Hokies offense failed to produce against Clemson, Miami and Georgia Tech, arguably their three biggest games of last year. Improvement starts with QB Josh Jackson. His talent is obvious, but can he create big plays? Can he find consistency? Can he be the answer when everything else fails? Hokie greats, Tyrod Taylor and Michael Vick could. If Josh Jackson wants to be in that echelon, he'll have to start answering those questions. Lastly, can Justin Fuente find a running game? Only one player carried the ball for more than 500 yards last year. Both Jalen Holston and DeShawn McClease have impressed during this off-season, but does that translate on the field?
Defensive Outlook:
Bud Foster knew that he would have to replace a number of players during the off-season, but Mook Reynolds and Adonis Alexander were surprises. Considering how vital they were to this team's success last season, it will be difficult to find capable replacements. Additionally, there's no time to experiment as their first game is at Florida State, who returns one of the most explosive offenses featuring QB Deondre Francois and RB Cam Akers. Per usual, there's plenty of talent on this side of the ball, but the lack of experience is incredibly concerning. This defense ranked 5th in the country last year, and while you should expect them to be competitive, a considerable step back is likely.
Prediction:
You're going to see many spectacular moments, there's too much talent for Tech to not be competitive. But the chance that they make a return trip to the ACC Championship is slim. Along with FSU and Miami, the ACC Coastal is as tough as it's ever been. The difference between a 7-5 season and a 10-2 season will fall on the arm of Josh Jackson. Defensively, this team won't be the same, especially early on. Jackson has to take control and do so in game one at Florida State. A loss on Labor Day means this will be an up and down year, best case scenario. If Jackson can lead this team to an upset though, it could lead to a 5-0 start and a special season.
Schedule Breakdown:
September 3, @ Florida State - Loss
September 8, vs William & Mary - Win
September 15, vs ECU - Win
September 22, @ ODU - Win
September 29, @ Duke - Win
October 6, vs Notre Dame - Loss
October 13, @ UNC - Win
October 25, vs Georgia Tech - Win
November 3rd, vs Boston College - Win
November 10th, @ Pitt - Loss
November 17th, vs Miami (FL) - Loss
November 23rd, vs UVA - Win
Record: 8-4
