BLACKSBURG, Va –– September is upon us, and we’re right on the doorstep of another college football season. This season is unprecedented in numerous ways due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
One of the ways their upcoming season was immediately impacted was the release of a wholly revamped schedule. The marquee matchup with Penn State, initially scheduled for early September, has been replaced with a matchup with 2019 national runners-up Clemson during the last week of play. Additionally, other non-conference games with North Alabama, at Middle Tennessee State, and Old Dominion were removed entirely from the schedule. A traditional matchup with Coastal Division rival Georgia Tech was also removed. Virginia Tech’s new schedule will feature ten conference games and one non-conference game in November against in-state foe Liberty.
The first change to the Hokies’ re-released schedule came in the form of a postponement. The contest with NC State, originally scheduled for September 12th, has been rescheduled to September 26th due to a COVID-19 outbreak on campus.
Another significant change is the introduction of Notre Dame into the conference as a 15th member for football, which could impact the matchup in December’s conference championship game in Charlotte (December 12th or 19th). With Clemson being the prohibitive favorite to reach the championship game for the sixth consecutive season, only one spot is realistically obtainable barring significant injuries or worse, a COVID-19 outbreak within the program.
One of the biggest storylines of the offseason for the Hokies was head coach Justin Fuente’s involvement in Baylor’s head coaching vacancy. Fuente ultimately returned to Blacksburg to finish the post-Frank Beamer era rebuild. Another significant development was defensive back Caleb Farley opting out of the 2020 season to prepare for the NFL Draft and to avoid the uncertainty of a potentially COVID-impacted college football landscape. After losing his mother a few years ago, no one can (or should) blame him for his decision to forego his junior season in Blacksburg.
The Hokies were fortunate enough to add quality pieces to a team that returned the vast majority of starters from last year’s team. Rutgers transfer Raheem Blackshear was eventually granted immediate eligibility following an initially denied waiver request. Fuente has spoken glowingly of Blackshear’s talent, and he figures to be a significant part of the Hokies offense in 2020 both as a rusher and pass-catcher. Fuente also brought in Justus Reed from Youngstown State, Changa Hodge from Villanova, Evan Fairs from Kansas, and Devin Taylor from Illinois State, all of which should contribute immediately.
Roster Outlook
Hendon Hooker, a redshirt junior from Greensboro, NC, is the presumed starter at quarterback for the season opener against Virginia. However, Oregon transfer Braxton Burmeister has impressed during fall camp and will likely see snaps this season. Quincy Patterson remains in the fold and will look to continue his development during a season that won’t count towards eligibility moving forward. Hooker and Burmeister should continue to push each other as the season rapidly approaches.
The running back slot has been a contentious point amongst Hokie Nation during Fuente’s tenure in Blacksburg. Once again, numerous backs will be getting a considerable workload in the rushing game. Kansas transfer Khalil Herbert will get some burn along with returning sophomore Keshawn King. Jalen Holsten is also set up be a factor, as well as junior college transfer Marco Lee. Despite not having a clear-cut every-down back, the backfield should be significantly improved from last season’s contingent.
Tré Turner and Tayvion Robinson will once again anchor the receiving corps. However, Fuente has been known to spread the ball around in the passing game. Transfers Changa Hodge and Evan Fairs should contribute along with Jaden Payoute. Payoute, who played in four games in 2019 to preserve redshirt status, will look to have a strong first year and be a consistent contributor. Kaleb Smith, Darryle Simmons, and Elijah Bowick will look to produce whenever they’re on the field. James Mitchell returns as starting tight end and brings excellent versatility along with Nick Gallo. There’s a lot to be excited about in the Virginia Tech passing game heading into the season.
The offensive line will once again be anchored by Christian Darrisaw and Lecitius Smith on the left side of the line. Lauded transfer Brock Hoffman will finally see game action after being egregiously denied a waiver by the NCAA last year and will likely split time with Bryan Hudson at center. The team has rallied around Hoffman, and he has become a noted locker room leader. Doug Nester will probably be the team’s starting right guard, and Luke Tenuta and Silas Dzansi should see time at right tackle. The offensive line is a strong unit for the Hokies and should be instrumental in the Hokies’ success this year.
The defensive end starters will likely be Emmanuel Belmar and graduate transfer, Justus Reed. TyJuan Garbutt’s status for the 2020 season is up in the air at the time of publication. Amare Barno has gotten work at DE during camp and has been reported to be impressive. True freshman Robert Wooten will likely see playing time. The interior defensive line will be anchored by Jarrod Hewitt and DaShawn Crawford, with Norrell Pollard, Josh Fuga, Mario Kendricks, among others seeing significant snaps. The defensive line is a bit of a question mark heading into the season, but there’s considerable talent within the group.
At linebacker, Rayshard Ashby and Dax Hollifield provide talent and experience. Alan Tisdale and Keshon Artis should see meaningful snaps as well. Despite Bud Foster’s departure, new defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton will likely still employ the whip linebacker position (nickel corner in other defensive schemes). Chamarri Conner is presumed to be the starting whip.
Defensive back is where things get a little uncertain for the Hokies. Preseason All-American cornerback Caleb Farley opted out due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID and will prepare for the NFL Draft. Jermaine Waller is talented and should be a difference-maker, along with newcomer Devin Taylor, who could be drafted. Armani Chatman, Brion Murray, among others, should see the field at times. Safety is also a precarious group for the team. Divine Deablo, Devon Hunter, and JR Walker should see significant time for the Hokies. Nasir Peoples was announced as out for the season by Justin Fuente following an injury. The defensive backfield has talent, but it remains to be seen if it will be a strong spot for the team this year.
Specialists include seniors Brian Johnson (kicker) and Oscar Bradburn (punter). John Parker Romo will once again be the kickoff specialist following earning a scholarship. Tayvion Robinson and Raheem Blackshear will likely be returners for the Hokies this year. Of course, other players will probably sneak enter the conversation before the seasons’ end, but these should be the ones to watch for now.
Predictions
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) ranks the Hokies as the 19th best team in the nation heading into the season and are preliminarily favored in every game except for Louisville and Clemson. It’s easy to see why they’re favored in so many games considering the amount of talent returning and the potentially impactful newcomers on the roster. 9-2 would be an excellent season for the team and would certainly be a step in the right direction.
Right now, the most critical game for the Hokies is the opener. Not only does it give the program a chance to start on the right foot, but they have a chance to regain the Commonwealth Cup that was lost to Virginia for the first time in 16 years late last year.
Although Justin Fuente speaks of going “1-0” each week, it’s hard not to dissect the schedule for opportunities throughout the season. The game in Chapel Hill on October 10th could be a pivotal matchup in the race for the ACC Championship game. The games at Louisville and home against Clemson in the season finale are crucial to the Hokies title game aspirations. While the Hokies may fall short of their goal in what could be a potentially tumultuous season across the college football landscape, there are winnable games that could boost the program’s trajectory in the future.
Personally, my gut feeling (if everything stays as scheduled) is that Tech’s ceiling is ten wins, and their floor is 8. All things being equal, a loss to Clemson is probable considering the talent disparity between the programs. What about the other one or two losses? Are nine wins enough to play in Charlotte for a conference title? Truthfully, I couldn’t tell you. With such fluidity surrounding the sport currently, it’s hard to say how things will turn out. Ultimately, the most important thing is that we navigate this season with as few health impacts as possible.
2020 Virginia Tech Football Schedule
September 19th: vs Virginia Cavaliers
September 26th: vs NC State Wolfpack (originally scheduled for September 12th)
October 3rd: at Duke Blue Devils
October 10th: at North Carolina Tar Heels
October 17th: vs Boston College Eagles
October 24th: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons
October 31st: at Louisville Cardinals
November 7th: vs Liberty Flames
November 14th: vs Miami Hurricanes
November 21st: at Pittsburgh Panthers
December 5th: vs Clemson Tigers
Note: Game times will be confirmed after publication.
