TECH'S RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (42)
OFFENSE (15) DEFENSE (23) SPECIALISTS (4)
RETURNING STARTERS (16)
OFFENSE (5) - T Christian Darrisaw (12), WR Damon Hazelton (9), C Zachariah Hoyt (9), TE Dalton Keene (13), QB Ryan Willis (10).
DEFENSE (11) - LB Rayshard Ashby (11), DE Emmanuel Belmar (10), S Divine Deablo (11), CB Caleb Farley (12), S Reggie Floyd (13), DE Houshun Gaines (9), DT Jarrod Hewitt (10), LB Dax Hollifield (6), DB Kahlil Ladler (11), LB Dylan Rivers (7), CB Bryce Watts (12).
• 2018 starts in parentheses - minimum six starts
RETURNING SPECIALISTS (4) - P Oscar Bradburn, K Brian Johnson, LS Oscar Shadley, KO Jordan Stout
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR THE #LPD
• Despite boasting one of the youngest defensive units ever fielded by Bud Foster at Virginia Tech in 2018, that experience should pay dividends for Tech in 2019.
• Tech's five leading tacklers from 2018 all return in 2019. Those five players accounted for 46.2% of the team's tackles last season (376 of 814).
• DT Ricky Walker is the only primary starter from 2018 not anticipated to return in 2019. LBs Dax Hollifield and Dylan Rivers both are back after splitting starts a year ago.
• S Reggie Floyd returns for his senior season after captaining the defense with Walker in 2018. He ranked second on the squad with 88 total tackles (56 solo) and 9.5 TFL.
• LB Rayshard Ashby led all ACC underclassmen with 105 total tackles (57 solo), a mark that ties as the best total by a returning player in the league. Ashby tied for second on Tech with 9.5 TFL.
SEASON FOUR UNDER JUSTIN FUENTE SET FOR 2019
• Head coach Justin Fuente enters his fourth season at the helm of the Hokies in 2019. He owns a 25-15 record at Virginia Tech.
• Only two ACC programs have registered more overall wins over the past three seasons since Fuente's arrival in Blacksburg.
ACC VICTORY LEADERS, 2016-PRESENT
Team Record ACC Champ. Games
Clemson 41-3 3
Miami 26-13 1
Virginia Tech 25-15 1
NC State 25-14 0
Florida State 22-16 0
Wake Forest 22-17 0
• Fuente's 25 wins are the most accumulated by any Tech head coach in his initial three seasons with the Hokies.
• No other active ACC head coach can top Fuente's 25 wins in his first three seasons at an ACC school.
ACTIVE ACC COACHES, MOST WINS, FIRST THREE SEASONS
Coach Team Record
Justin Fuente Virginia Tech 25-15
Pat Narduzzi Pittsburgh 21-17
Dino Babers Syracuse 18-19
Dave Doeren NC State 18-20
