2011 Season Preview: Virginia Tech players to watch, history and trends

Our analysis on the starters, top backups, history and trends for Clemson’s trip to Virginia Tech on October 1…

2010 Record: 11-3 (8-0 ACC, ACC Champs)

2011 Virginia Tech Schedule

Sept. 3 APPALACHIAN STATE

Sept. 10 at East Carolina

Sept. 17 ARKANSAS STATE

Sept. 24 at Marshall

Oct. 1 CLEMSON

Oct. 8 MIAMI

Oct. 15 at Wake Forest

Oct. 22 BOSTON COLLEGE

Oct. 29 at Duke

Nov. 10 at Georgia Tech

Nov. 17 NORTH CAROLINA

Nov. 26 at Virginia

Coach: Frank Beamer (198-95-2 career record, 49-11 in ACC play, 25th year at Virginia Tech).

Offense (2010 ranks): Pro-style (Total offense: 41th/Rush offense: 23rd/Pass offense: 72nd)

Defense (2010 ranks): 4-3 (Total defense: 52nd/Rush defense: 64th/Pass defense: 40th).

2010 Special Team Ranks: Net punting – 23rd/Kickoff returns – 38th/Punt returns – 20th/Punt return yardage defense – 12th/Kickoff return yardage defense – 107th.

2010 Misc. stats: Turnover margin – 1st/Fewest penalties – 15th/First downs – 45th/First downs allowed – 20th/Third down efficiency – 34th/Red zone efficiency – 5th/Red zone defense – 22nd/Time of possession – 18th.

Outgoing starters: 11.

2011 Starters (2010 stats)

Returning Offense (7)

FB: Joey Phillips (Junior, 5-11 214).

WR: Jarrett Boykin (Senior, 847 rec. yards/6 TD); Marcus Davis (Junior, 239 rec. yards/2 TD);

O-line: RG Jaymes Brooks (Senior, 6-2 307/28 starts); LG Greg Nosal (Senior, 6-6 281/15 starts); LT Andrew Lanier (Senior, 6-5 282/15 starts); RT Blake DeChristopher (Senior, 6-5 312/37 starts).

New Projected Starters (4)

QB: Logan Thomas (Sophomore, 12/26 for 107 passing yards);

RB: David Wilson (Junior, 619 rushing yards/1,437 all-purpose yards/11 total TD).

TE: Chris Drager (Senior, 6-3 256/converted defensive end).

O-line: C Andrew Miller (Sophomore, 6-4 290);

Senior Virginia Tech WR Jarrett Boykin was the Hokies' top target in 2010 as their leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Outlook: The QB job is all sophomore Logan Thomas’ after a strong spring, where he completed 55 percent of his passes for 743 yards, 6 TDs and 3 INTs over the course of the Hokies’ scrimmages. Thomas has yet to start a game and only attempted 26 passes in his career, but because of his 6-6 245 frame and successful spring, he's drawn comparisons to Auburn’s Cam Newton and even Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger this offseason.

Track star David Wilson has the running back job all to himself this season after being part of a talented, three-headed monster at the position last year. His skills at returning kicks earned him even more playing time in 2010 and Wilson finished third in the ACC with 1,437 all-purpose yards.

Virginia Tech is stacked at wide receiver with seniors Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale, as well as spring MVP, junior Marcus Davis.

On the o-line, the Hokies return 98 career starts with four of the five projected starters as seniors.

Returning Defense (5)

D-line: DT Antoine Hopkins (Junior, 1 sack/5.5 TFL/41 tackles);

LB: MLB Bruce Taylor (Junior, 91 tackles/15.5 TFL/6 sacks); OLB Jeron Gouveia-Winslow (Junior, 41 tackles/1 TFL/2 INT);

DB: CB Jayron Hosley (Junior, 9 INT/39 tackles/1 TFL); FS Eddie Whitley (Senior, 2 INT/80 tackles/4 TFL).

New Projected Starters (6)

D-line: DE Zack McCray (Redshirt freshman, 6-5 248)/J.R. Collins (Sophomore, 25 tackles/6.5 TFL); DT Nick Acree (Redshirt freshman, 6-5 276)/Derrick Hopkins (Sophomore, 6-0 298); DE James Gayle (Sophomore, 4 sacks/6.5 TFL/13 tackles).

LB: Tariq Edwards (Sophomore, 21 tackles/1 INT).

DB: CB Kyle Fuller (Sophomore, 32 tackles/4 TFL);

ROV: Antone Exum (Sophomore, 45 tackles/1.5 TFL).

Outlook: The Hokies have spots to fill at every unit, but the back-seven of the defense took the least hit by graduation. CB Jayron Hosley led the nation in interceptions last season with nine – free safety Eddie Whitley racked up 80 tackles and six pass breakups.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer enters his 25th year with the Hokies and defensive tackle Antoine Hopkins is his lone returning starter on the defensive line. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

At linebacker, MLB Bruce Taylor was one of the ACC’s leaders in tackles for loss in 2010 with 15.5. Beyond him, position battles abound for the outside linebackers.

Defensive line looks to be the weak spot with only one upperclassman projected to start in DT Antoine Hopkins, and a host of freshman and sophomores competing for the other three positions. By all accounts, DE J.R. Collins stated his case this spring with fellow DE James Gayle impressing as well.

Returning Kicker/Punter (0)

New Projected Starters (2)

PK: Cody Journell (Sophomore).

P: Danny Coale (Senior)/Scott Demler (Junior)/Ethan Keyserling (Redshirt freshman).

Outlook: The Hokies have no kicking experience, which made this spring an important exhibition for Frank Beamer's crew – and they settled the kicker position with sophomore Cody Journell…at punter – not so much. The punting competition went so poorly that senior WR Danny Coale tried his foot at it, and was pretty good – so good, in fact, that Beamer said he’s the leader in the clubhouse at punter this summer.

Notable Backups (2010 stats)

RB: Josh Oglesby (Senior, 49 rushing yards);

WR: Danny Coale (Senior, 732 rec. yards/3 TD);

Clemson/Virginia Tech recent history: It was a Thursday night(mare) matchup the last time Clemson made its way to Lane Stadium in 2006. Fresh off a 31-7 win over Georgia Tech and ranked 10th nationally, Clemson was outgained 332-166 and the Thunder & Lightning duo of C.J. Spiller and James Davis were held in check in the 24-7 loss.

Photo by Ken Ruinard

Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper rears back to throw during the October 6, 2007 game against Virginia Tech in Clemson.

Clemson didn’t fair any better at home in 2007 in a 41-23 defeat – Virginia Tech scored 29 of its 41 points on special teams and defense with punt and kickoff return TDs in addition to a pick-six and two field goals.

Trends: Virginia Tech has lost two home October games in the last five years – a 20-17 Thursday night loss to UNC in ’09 and a 14-10 loss to Boston College in '07. The Hokies are 29-4 at home in the last five seasons (the Tigers are 26-9 in that stretch). Clemson last played the Hokies at Lane Stadium in October back in 2006 and lost 24-7 coming off a 31-7 home win over Georgia Tech.

2010 Schedule/Results

Sept. 6 vs. Boise State – L 33-30

Sept. 11 JAMES MADISON – L 21-16

Sept. 18 EAST CAROLINA – W 49-27

Sept. 25 at Boston College – W 19-0

Oct. 2 at NC State – W 41-30

Oct. 9 CENTRAL MICHIGAN – W 45-21

Oct. 23 DUKE – W 44-7

Nov. 4 GEORGIA TECH – W 31-17

Nov. 13 at North Carolina – W 26-10

Nov. 20 at Miami – W 31-17

Nov. 27 VIRGINIA – W 37-7

Dec. 4 – FLORIDA STATE – W 44-33

Jan. 3 – STANFORD – L 40-12

O&W 2011 Season Preview

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