BLACKSBURG – With fall camp for Virginia Tech football well underway, let's take a look at the playmakers on the outside under the direction of receivers coach Fontel Mines.
Gallery: (8-4-2022) FB: Wide receivers (fall camp)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
With the departure of the offense's top two targets from a season ago, the receiving room will certainly look a bit different with redshirt junior Kaleb Smith assuming the leadership role as the elder statesman. He represented the Hokies at ACC Kickoff last month, following a successful winter and spring for Smith that Pry described as him being 'one of the team's best workers'. The Bumpass, Virginia product totaled 20 receptions for 260 yards and two touchdowns a season ago and will be poised for a big season after a couple of breakout outings during 2021. The former walk-on stole the show at Tech's 2022 Spring Game, presented by PMSi, grabbing two touchdowns to lead the Maroon Team to the 26-10 win.
Temple graduate transfer Jadan Blue figures to be a nice addition to the Hokies' receiving game. Blue, a native of Hightstown, New Jersey, caught 169 passes for 1,662 yards and 10 touchdowns in 35 games with the Owls.
Another potential playmaker is 5-foot-11 sophomore Da'Wain Lofton, who posted seven catches for 98 yards and a touchdown during his freshman season.
RELATED LINKS
- Soundbites: Practice No. 2 press conference
- Single-game tickets with locations now available for 2022 Virginia Tech Football season
- Hokies begin fall camp
OTHERS IN THE MIX
The trio of Jaylen Jones, Dallan Wright and Christian Moss could also figure well into offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen's offense. Jones caught a single pass in 2021 that went for 15 yards, while both Wright and Moss redshirted and continued to develop their game. North Carolina transfer Stephen Gosnell should also find himself in the mix now in Blacksburg, having played in 15 games the past two seasons with the Tar Heels.
NOTES
- Tech hauled in 3,041 yards in the air last year.
- In Blue's career, he's recorded five games with 10 or more receptions and posted six 100-yard receiving games.
- Smith has seen action in 32 games during his time at Virginia Tech, making 20 starts.
POSITION OUTLOOK
Smith and Blue will probably find themselves at the top of Tech's depth chart, but do not rule out a breakout year from some of the Hokies' younger athletes.