Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – College football is back, and Virginia Tech kicks off its season by traveling to Nashville, Tennessee, to face Vanderbilt for the tenth time in its series history. It's been 35 years since these teams last met, and they'll be live on ESPN at FirstBank Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31 at noon ET. Let's dive into this week's edition of Know the Foe, presented by AAA to see what Vanderbilt has in store.
The Hokies will be up against a Commodores team led by head coach Clark Lea that finished 2-10 last season, including a 0-8 record in SEC play. Heading into their season opener as a double-digit underdog, Vanderbilt is looking to start a new chapter with the addition of Jerry Kill. Kill, who was appointed as Chief Consultant to the head coach and Senior Offensive Advisor this January, brings a wealth of experience, having led New Mexico State to consecutive bowl games and a Conference USA championship berth over the past two seasons. Notably, he also spent time on the Virginia Tech football staff under Justin Fuente as a special assistant to the head coach.
Newly hired offensive coordinator Tim Beck, who also joins from New Mexico State, is expected to implement an RPO-driven, run-first offense aimed at putting pressure on the defense from multiple angles. The scheme starts with former New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia, who is coming off a standout season where he earned Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year honors. Pavia is a dual-threat quarterback with 39 career passing touchdowns and 13 rushing scores. Vanderbilt will also lean on returning running back Sedrick Alexander, who will look to challenge a tough Hokies defense on the ground. With the departure of Vanderbilt’s top three receivers from last season, new faces like Junior Sherrill, Quincy Skinner Jr., Richie Hoskins, and Loic Fouonji will have a chance to prove themselves in the opener.
Defensively, the Commodores struggled to contain both the pass and the run. Last season, the Commodores ranked 109th in yards per attempt allowed through the air and 104th in rushing defense, highlighting potential vulnerabilities offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen could exploit. Amid several staff changes, head coach Clark Lea will take on defensive playcalling duties himself. Key players to watch include safety CJ Taylor, a versatile defender who led the team in interceptions and forced fumbles while finishing second in tackles and sacks. Linebacker Langston Patterson is another returning standout, leading the team in tackles including 33 run stops.
Rounding out the coaching changes, Jeff LePak was promoted from analyst to special teams coordinator. LePak will inherit a strong special teams unit anchored by punter Matthew Hayball and long snapper Wesley Schelling, who was named First Team and Second Team All-SEC, respectively.
Pry and the Hokies will aim to set the tone for the season in Nashville. With Tech returning to Blacksburg in September, now is the perfect time to secure your tickets for the upcoming home games. Don't miss out on the excitement, especially the highly anticipated Thursday night matchup against Boston College on Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET.