Editor’s note: This is the 11th of an 11-part series looking around ACC football this spring
Virginia Tech owns the ACC - four ACC Championships in seven years, but they want more.
The Hokies shook up their staff on both sides of the ball coming off a 40-12 loss in the Orange Bowl to Stanford.
Frank Beamer put current QB and former Clemson coach Mike O’Cain in charge of play-calling in February over offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring (going into 10th year on the job). The theory being that the QB coach calling the plays will ease the transition for a new QB this season.
Beamer also brought in his son Shane Beamer from South Carolina to coach running backs and Cornell Brown to coach linebackers – putting two of his 2010 staff into administration much like Brad Scott and Clemson.
Long-time defensive coordinator Bud Foster is still in place in Blacksburg and he has some shuffling to do on the defensive line, but has the nation's interception leader from 2010 back to anchor the secondary in Jayron Hosley.
More on the Hokies…
Virginia Tech
Returning Starters by Position
Offense (6)
QB: N/A
RB: N/A
TE: N/A
WR: 2 (72 career starts)
O-line: 4 (94 career starts)
Defense (7)
D-line: 2 (24 career starts)
LB: 3 (39 career starts)
DB: 2 (27 career starts)
Kicker/Punter (0)
PK: N/A
P: N/A.
Outgoing Starters: 11
Offensive Leader: RB David Wilson – Even in a rotation with two more talented backs, Wilson distinguished himself as a future star in ACC play. He was 3rd in the ACC in all-purpose yards with 1,437 and scored 11 touchdowns.
Defensive Leader: CB Jayron Hosley – The junior Hokies cornerback led the nation in INTs with 9 and 5th nationally in passes defended in 2010.
Key Issues This Spring: 1) Staff shakeup – Mike O’Cain’s taking over of play-call duties from Bryan Stinespring adds a different dimension to this spring in Blacksburg. For a staff that’s stayed pretty consistent over the years, working through the kinks with new coaches and coaches in different roles will be something to watch this spring.
2) Another new QB – Everyone of Clemson’s Coastal opponents this season has one – a new QB, and Virginia Tech’s heir apparent to Tyrod Taylor is Logan Thomas. He’s a big kid (6’6 242) who converted from tight end in high school. Thomas has 26 career pass attempts – completing 46.2 percent of them with no touchdowns or interceptions.
3) Replacing the kickers – The Hokies had one of the more consistent kickers in the country last year with Chris Hazley, and now, start from the ground level at kicker and punter.
Complete More Around ACC Spring Football Series
Atlantic
Coastal
Clemson Baseball Senior Day vs FSU
Clemson May 2012 Graduation
Final Home Game: Clemson 9, Furman 2
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
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