Aug 13 min read

Hokies Preparing for Successful Season as Fall Camp Begins

As media days fade into the past for Atlantic Coast Conference teams, the Virginia Tech Hokies can finally get the season officially started with fall camp beginning this week in Blacksburg, Va.

After a strong finish in 2023 which resulted in their first bowl victory since 2016, head coach Brent Pry and company are preparing to build off that success. Pry, entering his third year, is finally seeing his vision come to life for the Hokie football team: Culture. The team returns 84 percent of total production in 2024, which ranks fourth overall in college football. With quarterback Kyron Drones leading the team, the Hokies have a chance to be a dark horse to make the College Football Playoff.

Returning Production

The Transfer Portal and NIL has been a rocky road to navigate for college football coaches. Pry has successfully navigated that road in the 2023 offseason with 94 percent of the offense and 77 percent of the defense returning in 2024.

The offense returns 11 starters on offense, including Drones at quarterback. Drones is the ultimate dual-threat quarterback, passing for 2,084 yards and rushing for 818 yards last season. The offensive line returns all five starters led by Parker Clements and Kaden Moore. The running back room will be returning both Bhayshul Tuten and Malachi Thomas. Tuten had a breakout season in 2023, rushing for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns. Both Drones and Tuten were named to the Maxwell Award Watch List for the 2024 season.

Da’Quan Felton, Stephen Gosnell and Jaylin Lane return for the Hokies at wide receiver with Ali Jennings joining the corps via the Transfer Portal. This offense has all the tools necessary to put up substantial numbers in 2024.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Hokies have momentum to improve last season’s impressive numbers. The defensive line features Antwaun Powell-Ryland, who recorded 9.5 sacks last season. Transfers Aeneas Peebles, Kelvin Gilliam Jr. and Khurtiss Perry will contribute immediately to a defense that finished third nationally in sack percentage in 2023. Cole Nelson continues to frustrate offenses coming off the edge, as he supplied 25 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season.

The secondary will be a major factor in the Hokie defense. Returning starter Dorian Strong gives the defense a lockdown corner that no quarterback should attempt to throw at. Mansoor Delane, Braylon Johnson and Jalen Stroman round out the impressive secondary. Linebacker Keonta Jenkins, who recorded 10 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles, gives the defense a veteran presence at the position.

Hokies Schedule

The Hokies feature a favorable schedule in 2024, with six home games and six away games. The season begins Aug. 31 at Vanderbilt, Sept. 7 vs. Marshall, Sept. 14 at Old Dominion and Sept. 21 vs. Rutgers to round out the nonconference part of their schedule. The first three games should give Virginia Tech the ability to mesh on offense and defense before facing Rutgers at home. The Scarlet Knights boast an impressive team this season, with analysts projecting them to compete in the Big Ten Conference.

Tech begins ACC play with a Friday night showdown Sept. 27 at Miami. This will be a key test for the Hokie defense playing against Heisman Trophy hopeful Cam Ward and his weapons on offense.

The following week is at Stanford, followed by home games against Boston College and Georgia Tech. Following a trip to Syracuse on Nov. 2, the Hokies will play their most important game of the season when the Clemson Tigers visit Blacksburg on Nov. 9. The winner of this matchup will punch their ticket to the ACC Championship the same night.

They end the season with a trip to Duke on Nov. 23 and round out the season in a home matchup on Nov. 30 with Virginia for the Commonwealth Cup.

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