Darren Evans will be the starting running back for Virginia Tech, but Ryan Williams will want the ball, too. Wilfredo Lee/ASSOCIATED PRESS Visit the Photo Place

Hokies can't coast to a title

Five questions on Virginia Tech

Date published: 8/9/2009

By Steve DeShazo

Virginia Tech is ranked in most preseason top-10s and is overwhelmingly favored to win its third straight Atlantic Coast Conference football title. Sports editor Steve DeShazo looks at the Hokies' most pressing questions.

Much-maligned Sean Glennon graduated, so Taylor finally has the quarterback job to himself. He's dangerous in the open field, but has yet to distinguish himself as a consistent passer. In 2008, he threw seven interceptions and only two touchdown passes. Given Tech's athletic but unproven receiving corps, look for opponents to stack the line against the run and dare Taylor to beat them with his arm.

No Tech freshman ever gained more yards than Darren Evans' 1,265 last season. He's back for more, but he's being pushed by redshirt freshman Ryan Williams, a SuperPrep All-American at Manassas' Stonewall Jackson High School. You can't have too many tailbacks, and Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones co-existed fine. But since Taylor loves to run, too, it may be hard for Frank Beamer to keep everyone happy.

With DE Orion Martin and CB Macho Harris now in NFL camps, there's a void for a playmaker--a trademark of Bud Foster's pressure defenses. Preseason all-ACC S Kam Chancellor is the logical choice, but DE Jason Worilds (eight sacks in 2008) is another candidate. Freshman LB Jake Johnson (Stafford High) has impressed Foster, too.

Not since the national title game in 2000 has Tech played as pivotal a contest as its Sept. 5 opener against Alabama. A win against the Crimson Tide (ranked fifth in the coaches' preseason poll) could set the stage for another title pursuit. If the Hokies struggle there--and/or at home Sept. 19 against improved Nebraska--they'll have to regroup quickly against an improved ACC schedule.

Stellar special teams have been a trademark of Beamer's tenure. But last year, the Hokies allowed three punt-return touchdowns and two blocked punts. (They blocked just one punt and did not return a kick for a TD.) Punt returner Harris and kicker Dustin Keys (a Brooke Point graduate) have graduated and must be replaced. Punter Brent Bowden is merely adequate.

Follow us on

Date published: 8/9/2009