2013 Outlook - Virginia Tech

For the last quarter century, Frank Beemer has roamed the sidelines of Virginia Tech football, and it feels like for each of those years, he has put forth a competitive team.  It seems like his 26th year will be no different.

JR QB Logan Thomas is a unique prospect, as he boasts a RG3 comparable skill set of passing and running.  This year he should be one of the top QBs in the country, and will earn strong consideration for an early day 1 selection come draft day.  He has the potential to be exceptionally productive, however, for Va Tech to score a lot of points this year, he may have to be.  Much of the rest of this offense is talented, but young and inexperienced, his receiving corp being the lone exception.  He will have a FR running the ball, and although athletic, it is hard to imagine him putting up similar numbers to last years starter, David Wilson.  Although his starting wide receivers are all SRs, they have not seen as many passes thrown their way.  The two guys who left the program after last season, Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin left as the two most prolific receivers in school history, not leaving a whole lot of looks for everyone else.  Even the o-line has been depleted of their starting experience.  The five projected starters this year have a total of 17 games started combined on their resume, and this could spell trouble for this group.

Those that follow Beemer Ball, know that the offense may be exciting, but it is the defense and special teams where the games are won.  This defense is stocked as usual with studs at every level.  The front will be relying on SR DT Antoine Hopkins to use his 318 lb frame to clog up running lanes, while super athlete JR DE James Gayle is set free to chance ball carriers and quarterbacks alike.  Gayle has the potential to be one of the most disruptive forces off the edge anywhere in the country.  If he can mature and develop more this year, watch out.  The linebackers will be led by SR MLB Bruce Taylor, who is consistently good quarterbacking this defense.  The secondary, which seems to always be a strength for the Hokies should be good yet again.  Although they have lost CB Jayron Hosley, JR CB Kyle Fuller seems ready to step into his place immediately.  They should also expect to get continued good output from his counterpart, JR Antone Exum as well.  Together, they make up one of the better CB tandems in the nation, and it will prove to be difficult for opponents to throw against this pair.

If the offensive line can put it together, and the Hokies get some production from some of their young guys on offense, I'd expect this team to be right in the mix for the ACC crown all season long.  The defense is certainly primed for the task.  If the younger guys cannot put it together, it will be fun to watch Logan Thomas make plays, but this team will be more to the middle of the ACC pack.