BLACKSBURG – With the season almost here for Virginia Tech football, let's take a look at the offensive line under the direction of offensive line coach Joe Rudolph.
Gallery: (8-23-2022) FB: Offensive line (fall camp)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Though the Hokies lost a ton of talent with three NFL departures in Luke Tenuta (Buffalo Bills), Lecitus Smith (Arizona Cardinals) and Brock Hoffman (Cleveland Browns), plenty of talented pieces remain up front for Rudolph. Two veterans – redshirt seniors Silas Dzansi and Johnny Jordan – will set the tone for a unit that also returns sophomore Kaden Moore.
Dzansi, a Tech representative at ACC Kickoff, made starts at right tackle, left guard and left tackle in 2021. The 6-foot-5, 335-pound lineman has plenty of experience, playing in 38 games for the Hokies. Jordan was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List, presented annually to the nation's top center, and made three starts at that position in 2021. As a senior at Maryland during the 2020 campaign, Jordan earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors. Moore, who started all 13 games as a freshman last season, was named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic for his body of work.
OTHERS IN THE MIX
In addition to bringing back Dzansi, Jordan and Moore, Tech also welcomes the return of sophomore Parker Clements, who saw action in 11 games while making seven starts at right tackle in 2021. The South Carolina native was deemed a member of the All-ACC third team by Pro Football Focus, quietly coming onto the scene after not seeing the field in 2020. Tech's offensive line also boasts the likes of former Lord Botetourt High School standout Jesse Hanson. The 6-foot-5, 307-pounder saw action in 12 contests a year ago and should be a nice piece to have in Rudolph's bunch.
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NOTES
- Moore is the only returning member of the offensive line to start in all 13 games in 2021.
- Dzansi has started 23 games during his time at Virginia Tech.
POSITION OUTLOOK
Complement Rudolph's stellar track record with the return of Dzansi, Jordan, Moore, Clements and Hanson, and the Hokies' line looks to be in solid shape. Though there are big shoes to fill with some important departures, Tech has a wealth of capable successors poised to fill those roles.