Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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128 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY BRYAN DRISKELL Frank Beamer roamed the sidelines at Vir- ginia Tech for 29 years before retiring after the 2015 season, which ended with the Hok- ies playing in their 23rd straight bowl game. Virginia Tech had fallen on hard times — going just 29-23 in the previous four seasons — but Beamer remains a popular figure. That has not kept Hokie fans from embracing his replacement Justin Fuente, who led Memphis to a 19-6 record over the last two years. "Fuente was one of the best hires made during the coaching carousel," said Andy Bitter, the Virginia Tech beat writer for The Roanoke Times. "He's a proven offensive mind … and he enters a situation at Tech with some really good offensive pieces. This offense has the talent to give teams trouble this year." Virginia Tech is led by big-play junior wide receiver Isaiah Ford, a 2015 first-team All-ACC pick. The Hokies also return junior tight end Bucky Hodges (40 receptions for 530 yards) and senior wideout Cam Phillips (49 catches for 582 yards). In addition, the offensive line brings back four players with a combined 89 career starts. That unit will pave the way for sopho- more running back Travon McMillian, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry and rushed for 1,043 yards last fall. Virginia Tech made its bones under Beamer by playing great defense, but defen- sive coordinator Bud Foster's unit struggled in 2015. Tech gave up 26.3 points per contest and registered the fewest sacks (26) of Fos- ter's tenure. If Fuente is to have a fast build in Blacksburg, Foster's unit must improve. Questions persist in the back seven, but the Hokie defensive line — which is led by senior end Ken Ekanem (14 career sacks) and senior tackle Nigel Williams (18.0 ca- reer tackles for loss) — is deep. "The defensive line has always been a strong spot for Tech, and with the players it has returning, there's a good chance that will once again be the strength of this year's team," Ritter noted. "Ekanem returns and has the potential for double-digit sacks. [Se- nior] Woody Baron has emerged at one of the tackle spots." Consistent production from the front will protect a building secondary. "The Hokies are fairly young on the back end, but they're not as young as last year," Bitter said, pointing out that three freshmen started in 2015. "Things should be better this year." If Fuente can work the same offensive magic he did at Memphis and Foster can get his vaunted defense back on track, the Hok- ies could turn into a contender for the ACC Coastal Division crown. ✦ 2016 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2015 Result Sept. 3 Liberty — Sept. 10 at Tennessee — Sept. 17 Boston College W, 26-10 Sept. 24 East Carolina L, 35-28 Oct. 8 at North Carolina L, 30-27 Oct. 15 at Syracuse — Oct. 20 Miami L, 30-20 Oct. 27 at Pittsburgh L, 17-13 Nov. 5 at Duke L, 45-43 Nov. 12 Georgia Tech W, 23-21 Nov. 19 at Notre Dame — Nov. 26 Virginia W, 23-20 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: First meeting Head Coach: Justin Fuente, 0-0 (1st year) and 26-23 overall (5th year) 2015 Results: 7-6 overall, 4-4 ACC (T-4th Coastal); defeated Tulsa 55-52 in the Camping World Inde- pendence Bowl Returning Starters: 14 (8 offense, 6 defense) 2016 Preseason Rankings: No. 29 by Athlon, No. 42 by CollegeFootballNews.com, and No. 43 by Lindy's, Phil Steele's and ESPN's Football Power Index Did You Know?: New head coach Justin Fuente led Memphis to a share of the AAC championship in 2015, the program's first league title in 43 years … The Hokies have been to a bowl game in 23 straight seasons … Virginia Tech has an all-time record of 9-49 against top-10 opponents. Prediction: Notre Dame 29, Virginia Tech 20 STRENGTH: Defensive Line An argument could be made for Virginia Tech's deep group of pass catchers and for its veteran — and physical — offensive line. However, no group has as much proven production, depth and young talent as the defensive line. But in order to live up to expectations, several veteran players must return to pre-2015 form. Senior end Ken Ekanem disappointed last fall, register- ing just 4.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries. Virginia Tech needs him to produce like he did in 2014, when he posted a team-leading 14.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks while adding 19 quarterback hurries. Redshirt sophomore Vinny Mihota and little-used ju- nior Seth Dooley will battle with talented redshirt fresh- man Darius Fullwood — a former Rivals four-star recruit — and redshirt freshman Trevon Hill for the other end spot. On the inside, the Hokies are especially strong, despite the loss of starters Luther Maddy and Corey Marshall. Much like the end spot, senior Woody Baron started five games a season ago, finishing the year with 43 total stops and nine tackles for loss. Senior Nigel Williams, a veteran that registered 9.5 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hurries in 2014, will join him inside. Filling out the rotation is redshirt sophomore Ricky Walker and redshirt freshman Tim Settle, who ranked as Rivals' No. 174 player in the country in the class of 2015. WEAKNESS: Quarterback It is not that Virginia Tech lacks bodies or talent at the quarterback position. However, the uncertainty about who starts and the lack of experience in Fuente's system makes it a question mark. When departed starting quarterback Michael Brewer was injured in the 2015 season opener, he was replaced by then-sophomore Brenden Motley, who made the next six starts until Brewer returned to the lineup. Virginia Tech went 3-3 in his six starts, with Motley putting up admirable numbers. He finished the season with 1,155 passing yards and 14 total touchdowns while completing 56.1 percent of his passes. Fuente recruited junior college standout Jerod Evans to ultimately become the starting quarterback. Evans passed for 3,164 yards and 38 touchdowns in just eight games last season at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas. Evans is a dual-threat quarterback that has the arm and mobility to thrive in Fuente's up-tempo offense. According to Roanoke Times Virginia Tech beat writer Andy Ritter, neither quarterback impressed during the spring, raising concerns about the production the team will receive from the position in the fall. Virginia Tech is loaded at the skill positions and returns a veteran line, but the offense sputtered during the spring as the quarterbacks were slow to adjust. VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES NOV. 19 • NOTRE DAME STADIUM • SOUTH BEND RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB Travon McMillian (1,043 yards, 7 TD) Passing: QB Brandon Motley (1,155 yards, 11 TD) Receiving: WR Isaiah Ford (1,164 yards, 11 TD) Tackles: S Chuck Clark (107) Sacks: DE Ken Ekanem (4.5) Interceptions: CB Adonis Alexander (4) X-FACTOR: Virginia Tech junior wide receiver Isaiah Ford rewrote the Hokie record books last season, setting single-season records with 75 receptions, 1,164 receiving yards and 11 touchdown catches. PHOTO COURTESY VIRGINIA TECH