Riding a slew of momentum heading into the 2024 season, Virginia Tech football turns its attention to spring ball for the upcoming campaign.
The Hokies return the majority of their offensive production from a season ago, with plenty of firepower sprinkled across the board. Let's take a quick glance at what Tech could look like on that side of the ball.
Quarterbacks
It's hard to talk about the success that Tech had in 2023 without mentioning incumbent starting quarterback Kyron Drones.
The Baylor transfer took over as the Hokies' starting signal-caller three games into the 2023 campaign, with the redshirt junior changing the direction of Tech's season in a big-time way.
Drones threw for 2,085 yards with 17 touchdowns in his first year at the helm, also taking off for 818 yards and five scores on the ground.
At 6-foot-2, 234 pounds, Drones' dual-threat ability changes Tech's dynamic on the offensive side of the ball, with the Pearland, Texas, native having sights set on another big year in 2024.
Tech also brings back the duo of Pop Watson and Dylan Wittke to serve in an understudy role. Watson saw action in two games a season ago, while Wittke still awaits his turn in the quarterback room.
Running Backs
It's no secret that the Hokies were prepared to welcome back starting running back Bhayshul Tuten with open arms after making the decision to return in 2024.
The 2023 All-ACC Third Team running back rushed for a team-high 863 yards a season ago, finding the endzone 10 times, averaging an impressive five yards per carry.
Tuten also served as one of the top kick returners in the country last season, finishing the year as one of only five FBS players to return two-plus kicks for touchdowns. Tuten also tallied 1,633 all-purpose yards, helping showcase how dynamic he can be when handling the rock in a multitude of ways.
You can't forget about redshirt junior Malachi Thomas as well. The Hartwell, Georgia native complimented Tuten nicely, scampering for 381 yards on 81 attempts a year ago, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and scoring twice during his time on the field.
Beyond that, redshirt freshmen Jeremiah Coney and Tralon Mitchell are waiting their turn to get a crack. Coney carried the ball 11 times for 32 yards a season ago, while Mitchell eyes his collegiate debut.
Wide Receivers
Wide receivers coach Fontel Mines returns his most experienced and productive group yet heading into the 2024 campaign.
The Hokies have the luxury of returning their top four targets from a year ago, with Ali Jennings, Da'Quan Felton, Jaylin Lane and Stephen Gosnell all coming back for another go-around.
Jennings, a former standout receiver under Mines at Old Dominion, played in just two games before suffering a season-ending injury in his first year as a Hokie, hauling in two scores in his Tech debut. The former First Team All-Sun Belt selection caught 54 passess for 959 yards and nine touchdowns back in 2022, showing off his potential as he approaches his 6th collegiate season.
On the other end, Felton came into his own after coming over from Norfolk State. The 6-foot-5, 213-pounder brought in 38 catches for a team-high 667 yards in 2023, scoring eight times and displaying what a weapon he can be even after moving up to the Power Five ranks.
Lane also had a smooth transition to the Power Five level after transferring in from Middle Tennessee. The fifth-year senior caught a team-leading 41 passess for 538 yards and six touchdowns in his inaugural season in the maroon and orange.
Gosnell comes back for another year after catching 22 passes and three touchdowns a season ago, with the always dangerous Tucker Holloway, Xavion Turner-Bradshaw and Ayden Greene also returning to the fold.
The Hokies possess an additional quartet looking for a chance, with Takye Heath, Chance Fitzgerald, Keylen Adams and Chanz Wiggins hoping to play a role.
Gallery: (3-16-2024) FB: Spring Practice
Tight Ends
Sixth-year senior Nick Gallo returns to the tight ends room after being sidelined for the entire 2023 season with a knee injury. The Richboro, Pennsylvania native has been one of the staples of the group for quite some time, ranking second on the team in receptions in 2022, hauling in 30 catches for 256 yards as one of Tech's top weapons in the passing game.
The Hokies also bring back the likes of redshirt sophomores Benji Gosnell and Harrison St. Germain for 2024, with Gosnell having caught 12 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown season ago, while St. Germain finished with two catches and a score in a limited role.
Redshirt freshmen Zeke Wimbush and Ja'Ricous Hairston could also be a factor, as both seek to make their collegiate debuts.
Offensive Line
Offensive line coach Ron Crook is set to bring everyone back in his second year in town.
Brothers Kaden and Braelin Moore, Parker Clements, Xavier Chaplin, Bob Schick and Brody Meadows all return to the starting rotation, while Tech adds the likes of Georgia State transfer Montavious Cunningham to the mix after a successful stint in the Group of Five ranks at Georgia State.
Johnny Garrett returns as well and should provide depth up front, while the duo of Layth Ghannan and Hannes Hammer are expected to compete to get on the field.