Midseason Offensive Spotlight: Bhayshul Tuten

BLACKSBURG – Standing at 5-foot-11 and 209 pounds, running back Bhayshul Tuten has emerged as one of the ACC’s most electric playmakers this season, extending his scoring streak to eight consecutive games with nine touchdowns and piling up 707 all-purpose yards in just five outings. The Paulsboro, New Jersey native is on pace to eclipse his production from 2023, surpassing the 100-yard rushing mark in four contests and quickly becoming a focal point of Virginia Tech’s offense. 

Tuten’s early-season dominance comes as no surprise. Entering 2024 as the fourth-highest ranked running back on Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” he’s long been on the radar of scouts and analysts nationwide. After amassing 1,652 all-purpose yards last season, the senior tailback cemented his status as one of the most dynamic backs in college football. 

This offseason, Tuten’s athleticism was on full display as he clocked a blazing 4.32 40-yard dash, reached a max velocity of 23.15 mph, bench pressed 400 pounds and recorded a 39-inch vertical jump. These impressive numbers backed up Feldman’s description of him as a “dynamic do-everything playmaker.” Now, with a Doak Walker Award watch list nod under his belt, Tuten is poised to break out on the national stage. 

What sets Tuten apart is his versatility and ability to impact the game in multiple ways. There aren’t many players who can seamlessly transition from grinding out tough yards between the tackles to becoming a reliable target out of the backfield—but Tuten does it all. Whether he’s breaking through tackles for extra yardage or catching passes to keep drives alive, Tuten's dynamic skill set is a driving force behind Virginia Tech's offensive success. 

“His toughness is evident...We need to get him touches. He’s hard to deal with when he’s on point, and he’s playing well,” remarked head coach Brent Pry after Tuten’s three-touchdown performance against Rutgers. 

That toughness carried over into the following matchup against No. 6 Miami, where Tuten notched his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance of the season with 141 yards. The tailback’s ability to find running lanes, maintain his balance through contact, and fight for those crucial extra yards was on full display, highlighted by a 55-yard rushing touchdown. 

Including his two seasons at North Carolina A&T, Tuten has now surpassed 3,000 career rushing yards, hitting 3,046 yards. This milestone came after a standout showing against Stanford, where he posted 73 rushing yards and a touchdown against the ACC’s top-ranked run defense. If his stats from North Carolina A&T were merged with his totals as a Hokie, Tuten would already be fourth on Virginia Tech’s all-time career rushing list, placing him in elite company and proving his ability to perform at a high level regardless of the competition. 

Much of this success can be traced back to the patience and vision that Tuten has developed over the years—two traits he’s focused on honing since his freshman season.  

“Since my freshman year playing football in college, I’ve tried to focus on patience as a running back, not just getting the ball and running full speed everywhere, but playing with tempo and slowing it down so the line can block how they're supposed to, and then I can read it,” Tuten explained at Virginia Tech’s media day before the season. “It’s kind of been my biggest improvement since my freshman year.”

Head coach Brent Pry echoed Tuten’s mindset postgame against Old Dominion: “I think we just had to commit to it. Sometimes you’ve got to have a little patience and keep handing it off to 33.” That patience has paid off, as Tuten’s ability to read defenses and find gaps has made him a central figure in the Hokies’ ground game. 

Tuten’s adaptability and all-around skill set make him a perfect fit for offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen’s scheme. In his time with the Hokies, Tuten has now notched eight 100-yard games and 18 total for his career. His impressive performance places him among Virginia Tech’s most reliable rushers in recent years, as he potentially works toward matching David Wilson’s remarkable feat of seven consecutive 100-yard rushing games achieved in 2011. 

With his combination of speed, power and reliability, Tuten is setting a new standard for the Hokies’ backfield. While Thursday’s matchup against Boston College is sold out, fans still seeking single-game ticket options are encouraged to visit SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace of Virginia Tech Athletics.