Virginia Tech football 2018: Projected Hokies depth chart

Following legends like former Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer isn’t supposed to be easy. Justin Fuente has made it look like a cakewalk so far in his two years leading the Hokies.

The offensive czar who cut his coaching teeth at Memphis led Virginia Tech to a 10-4 record and a berth in the ACC Championship in his first season in Blacksburg. Last year, Fuente’s team again finished the regular season with a 9-3 record.

This year, Fuente will earn a promotion to wizard if he can pull off another nine wins. Virginia Tech lost 101 starts from last season’s team — 79 on the defensive end. That number also doesn’t include the loss of two starting offensive linemen from a team that mustered only 3.86 yards per carry.

While quarterback Josh Jackson returns after a successful redshirt freshman season, the Hokies must replace both their leading receiver and second-leading running back. On defense, the secondary and linebacker units are thin and inexperienced.

2019 will be the biggest test yet for Fuente and Virginia Tech. Around the third season is when a new coach’s recruits start to make up the bulk of the roster. Fans will see just how well Fuente has recruited as he leans on the pipeline to sustain success in 2019.

Offense

Notable losses: Leading rusher Travon McMillian transferred to Colorado while leading receiver Cam Phillips signed as a UDFA with the Buffalo Bills. Former guard Wyatt Teller also ended up with the Bills after they used a fifth-round selection on him. Starting center Eric Gallo got a camp tryout in Philadelphia

QB: Josh Jackson, sophomore (RS)

Bursting onto the scene as the starter in 2017, Jackson threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns. An effective dual-threat quarterback, Jackson’s six rushing touchdowns also paced the team. His 7.6 YPA and 59.6 completion percentage were all stellar for a freshman. As he develops, he’ll be expected to cut down on the nine interceptions he had last season. But the future looks bright for Jackson and the Hokies.

RB: Deshawn McClease, sophomore (RS)

RB: Steven Peoples, junior

With McMillian gone, there’s an opportunity for either McClease or Peoples to claim the starting role. However, Fuente is known for utilizing a full stable of runners to power his offense, so both will get plenty of touches. McClease led the team in rushing last season with 530 yards and a healthy 4.9 YPC. Peoples, who runs with more of a grinding style, will try to improve on his 3.8 YPC. There’s also room for sophomore Jalen Holston to carve out a role.

WR: Sean Savoy, sophomore

WR: Eric Kumah, junior

Savoy will try to build on an electric rookie season, where he was Jackson’s second-favorite target. He finished the year with 39 catches for 454 yards and four scores while also rushing for two more. He’s not the biggest at only 5-foot-9, but he packs explosiveness into his small frame. Fellow returner Kumah is bigger at 6’2″ and could occupy more of the possession role this season.

TE: Dalton Keene, sophomore

Keene only caught ten passes last season, but he started 12 of 13 games for Virginia Tech. He and fellow tight end Chris Cunningham were used mostly as blockers, but also as surprise weapons.  He averaged 16.7 YPC and Cunningham averaged almost 20 yards on his nine catches. They’ll both try to be more involved in the red zone this season, as Cunningham had the only touchdown between them.

LT: Yosuah Nijman, senior

LG: Kyle Chung, senior (RS)

C: Zachariah Holt, sophomore (RS)

RG: Braxton Pfaff, senior (RS)

RT: Tyrell Smith, junior (RS)

Despite losing two experienced starters, the Hokies’ line won’t lack for experience. Pfaff, Nijman and Chung all have previous starting experience as seniors, though Pfaff was the only one healthy last season.  Smith also missed much of last year after an injury cut short his strong bid for a starting tackle spot. Holt is the youngest and perhaps the biggest question mark, but the unit as a whole needs to make good on its experience. Virginia Tech averaged only 3.8 yards per carry last season, though they did protect the quarterback well.