Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech football is set for its first home game of the season with a familiar foe, Marshall, marking the 15th meeting in their series history. Last season, the Hokies traveled to Huntington, West Virginia, where they came up short against the Thundering Herd. Now, the matchup shifts to Lane Stadium/Worsham Field, where Tech aims to bounce back from last year's road matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 7 at 4:30 p.m. ET, and fans can catch the action on CW Sports. Let's dive into this week's edition of Know the Foe, presented by AAA to see what Marshall has in store.
The Sun Belt Conference team will step into one of the toughest atmospheres in college football when they visit Blacksburg, following a 6-7 overall finish. In response to their inconsistent season, Marshall head coach Charles Huff made several strategic additions to his coaching staff for the 2024 season. Notable promotions include former analysts Aaron Dobson and Bob Shoop. Dobson, who previously served as an offensive analyst, is now coaching wide receivers alongside Cody Crill, who transitions from the XFL's D.C. Defenders as a tight ends coach to Marshall’s offensive line coach. Shoop has taken over as defensive coordinator, with added responsibility for the safeties.
Under new direction, Marshall dominated their season opener, defeating Stony Brook 45-3. The Thundering Herd racked up 549 yards of total offense, including 21 fourth-quarter points. Key players to watch include quarterback transfers Stone Earle and Braylon Braxton, who each threw for two touchdowns. Earle, who transferred from North Texas, started the game and played into the third quarter, while Braxton, a Tulsa transfer, took over early in the second half. Cole Pennington also contributed, throwing a touchdown pass. Together, the trio completed 21 of 32 passes for 290 yards.
Other offensive standouts include running back A.J. Turner, who rushed for 119 yards on just eight carries, highlighted by an 80-yard touchdown run. Wide receiver Christian Fitzpatrick, a recent transfer from Michigan State and Louisville, had four catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, making him a key player for the Hokies’ secondary to watch. Another threat is wide receiver Elijah Metcalf, a transfer from Middle Tennessee, who contributed two touchdowns and 50 receiving yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Marshall has retained key talent, including defensive lineman Mike Green, who is coming off a strong 2023 season with 43 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and six QB hurries. Green started the year strong in the season opener, recording a career-high nine tackles and 1.5 sacks. Florida transfer Chris Thomas also made an impact on the defensive line with a career-best six tackles and two pass breakups. In the secondary, cornerback Jordan Reagan added to the Herd's defensive prowess with an interception.
These defensive standouts, combined with their offensive weapons, make Marshall a formidable opponent for the Hokies as they head into their second matchup of the season. This contest is currently the first of four sold-out games and tickets are still available for purchase on SeatGeek, the Official Fan-to-Fan Ticket Marketplace of Virginia Tech Athletics. Lane Stadium’s seating was recently renumbered to improve fan navigation on gameday. The East & West sections and seat numbers will change to sequential order while the rows will stay the same. Fans attending the game can use the Lane Stadium seating map to help find their seats on game day.