NORFOLK, Va. – After an unexpected off week, Virginia Tech resumes action Saturday afternoon in a territory that it wants to consider its own.
The Hokies are playing in the Tidewater area of the Commonwealth of Virginia for the first time since 1986, and the staff and support personnel expend a lot of time and energy on recruiting efforts in this area. So this game gives fans – and more importantly, local recruits – an opportunity to watch the Hokies in action.
Tech enters the game with a 2-0 mark, having essentially dominated its first two opponents, while ODU comes in with a disappointing 0-3 record. The Monarchs are 28-point underdogs and facing a Tech squad that whipped them 38-0 a year ago.
Tech fans want to see their team go 1-0 this week here in Norfolk. Here are some things to watch as they work toward that goal:
Tech's mentality – The Hokies enjoyed the rare off week in September last week when Hurricane Florence forced the cancelation of their game against East Carolina. Now, they face a team with an 0-3 record in a stadium that seats around 20,000. Hard to get fired up for that type of situation.
On the surface, that is.
One may wonder, but then one also has to factor in the location of the game. Fourteen players on Tech's roster hail from the Tidewater area, including 10 who made the trip. That latter bunch includes team leader Ricky Walker and starters Trevon Hill and Deshawn McClease. Rest assured, they want to show well in front of family and friends.
It would be a surprise if Tech didn't come out fired up given all that. And with that said …
Quick starts – Obviously, every team wants to get off to a quick start, and that is even more important when favored in a game. A coach never wants to see his team keep an underdog in the game, especially a team like ODU, which desperately wants to knock off its in-state big brother.
But the odds are overwhelmingly in the Hokies' favor when they have scored first under head coach Justin Fuente. How overwhelmingly? Well, Tech enters the ODU game with an 18-2 record under Fuente when it scores first. The only two losses came last season against Georgia Tech and in 2016 against Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway.
The Hokies need to set the tone early in this one – for the obvious reasons.
Cranking up the running game – Tech got it going in the running game against William & Mary two weeks ago, rushing for more than 300 yards, and that figures to be the primary method to victory against ODU.
The Monarchs currently rank 104th nationally against the run, allowing almost 200 yards rushing per game – currently the worst rushing defense of any team on the Hokies' schedule. Liberty rushed for 238 against ODU in the season opener, while FIU (189) and Charlotte (171) also pushed toward the 200-yard mark.
Most Tech fans know that the Hokies usually win when they run the ball. In fact, under Fuente, Tech is 10-1 when rushing for at least 200 yards in a game, and the Hokies are 17-3 under Fuente when rushing for at least 150.
All that said, expect a heavy dose of McClease, Steven Peoples and Terius Wheatley early and often.
Juggling on the offensive line – Against William & Mary, offensive line coach Vance Vice shuffled guys in and out relatively early in the game. Will he get the opportunity to do this against ODU?
He brought 11 offensive linemen on the trip, including true freshman John Harris, who continues to play well and try to work his way into the mix among a big, talented and deep group. Harris dressed for the Florida State game, but did not play, and he played in the Hokies' win over William & Mary.
It will be interesting to see how Vice rotates guys and where he plays them. One would guess that he wants to get positions firmed up before the Hokies start conference play next week.
Freshmen still vying for roles – Tech's staff brought 13 true freshmen on this trip, including two snappers – Oscar Shadley and Sam DeLuke. DeLuke figures to redshirt unless Shadley gets hurt in a game. While Fuente refused to get into specifics on his thinking as to who plays and who takes a redshirt this season, he is keeping close tabs on the situation.
Of note, Quincy Patterson and Caleb Steward made the trip. Patterson, a quarterback, dressed for the William & Mary game, but did not play. Steward, a tailback from Jacksonville, Florida, is making an appearance on the dress squad for the first time.
Bud Foster appears to be set on which freshmen can contribute on defense this season. That group includes five defensive backs, who expected to play in Tech's depth-shy secondary – Chamarri Conner, D.J. Crossen, Nadir Thompson, Jermaine Waller and Nasir Peoples. Dax Hollifield also is dressing for the third straight game, along with linebacker Keshon Artis.
The others dressing for the third straight game include tight end James Mitchell and offensive lineman John Harris.
The Hokies and ODU kick off at 3:30 p.m. The game can be seen on the CBS Sports Network.