College Football Rankings 2018: Alabama, Clemson top way-too-early Top 25

The Virginia Tech Hokies posted a 9-4 record in 2017 despite fielding one of the least experienced teams in the ACC. Head coach Justin Fuente was patient with freshman quarterback Josh Jackson, and relied on a defense that ranked second in the ACC in scoring (14.8 points allowed per game) and total defense (319.3 yards allowed per game), and finished among the nation’s best in several advanced statistics.

With a favorable schedule and experienced core on both sides of the football back for 2018, the Hokies look like a dangerous team.

Strengths:

Jackson completed 59.6 percent of his passes for 2,991 yards and 20 touchdowns with nine interceptions in his first year as a starter and added 324 rushing yards and a team-high six rushing touchdowns. Like most sophomore quarterbacks with a year of experience under their belts, Jackson should take a big step forward with his decision making in Year 2.

Weaknesses:

Had the Hokies been able to convince their three early NFL Draft entrants – linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, safety Terrell Edmunds and defensive tackle Tim Settle – to return to school for their senior seasons, Virginia Tech would likely have found its way into the Top 10 of our Way-Too-Early Top 25. Terrell Edmunds, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound physical freak with production to match, was the leading tackler for Bud Foster’s unit last season and is a likely first round draft pick. Therefore, his departure was expected. His brother and Settle? Not so much.

As it stands, the Hokies must replace more than half their defensive production from last season, which is no small feat for a unit that ranked ninth nationally in success rate (34.3 percent), third in average field position (25.2) and fifth in points allowed per trip inside the 40-yard line (4.42). Virginia Tech led the nation in power success rate (67.7 percent) and also ranked third in stuff rate (27.2 percent), and sixth in adjusted line yards (124.1).