2009 Record – 10-3, 6-2 ACC
Bowl Game – Chick-fil-A Bowl – Beat Tennessee 37-14
Letterman Returning: 38
Stadium – Lane Stadium (65,115)
College Location – Blacksburg, VA
Coach – Frank Beamer, 187-92-2 (24th year)
OFFENSE: (8)
Key Returnees – QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Ryan Williams (below), RB Darren Evans, WR Jarrett Boykin, WR Danny Coale
Key Losses – TE Greg Boone, G Sergio Render, T Ed Wang
- In 2008 redshirt freshman running back Darren Evans busted onto the scene going from a highly regarded high school running back that had sat a year, to one of college football’s elite rushers, setting an ACC freshman record with 1,265 
yards. The following year, in August camp, Evans sophomore season came to a halt due to a torn ACL. In came yet another redshirt freshman and the running back position went from a strength, to perhaps the teams biggest question mark; or so the Hokies thought. Ryan Williams turned out to be better out of the backfield than his counterpart Evans, rushing for a new ACC freshman record 1,655 yards with 21 touchdowns. A better scenario couldn’t have been printed for the Hokies if the Writers Guild had done it themselves. This season, both are healthy and ready to tear through opposing rush defenses like Lindsay Lohan through a rehab center. The only problem the Hokie offense may face in 2010 is finding enough carries to go around. The offense also returns senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who will be entering his third season as the starter in Blacksburg. Taylor has looked brilliant at times but has also looked as ugly as a Mel Gibson breakup, but one you get to watch happen. Before last season the senior had just a 7-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio to his account. Last season, it looked as if Taylor had pieced things tougher throwing for 2,311 yards with 13 scores and just five interceptions, relying on his legs to do far less work. Helping Taylor move along in his process will be the return of the Hokies top two pass catchers in juniors, Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale. Boykin, who led the team with 835 yards last season, has perhaps the most upside; however, both came away with 20+ yard averages last season. The offensive line loses just two starters but they happen to be the team’s two best road pavers in guard Sergio Render and tackle Ed Wang. Filling in for the departed should be converted tight end, Greg Nosal at guard, and sophomore Nick Becton at tackle.
DEFENSE: (4)
Key Returnees – MLB Barquell Rivers, CB Rashad Carmichael (below), DT John Graves
Key Losses – OLB Cody Grimm, S Kam Chancellor, DE Jason Worilds, DE Nekos Brown
- For the first time in quite a while in Blacksburg, it is the defense surrounded by questions heading into a season. The Hokies defensive depth chart reads about as easy as a Whistling Pines rules card, only this one’s not posted in the changing room. The entire defensive team heading into 2010 seems to be grounded in a questionable sand trap. Luckily for the Hokies they will still be rocking out to Metallica’s Enter the Sand Man, however, and new stars will emerge. The first step for the D-line will be finding a pass rush. Departed ends, Jason Worilds and 
Nekos Brown, brought a lot of pressure from the outside and with them departs 11 sacks from last season and 12.5 the year previous. Entering starting duty at end are senior Steven Friday and junior converted tight end Chris Drager. Both have little experience and will have to create pressure to keep their jobs. Senior tackle, John Graves, has 22 starts in his career and could have a breakout season in 2010 following a season last year in which he registered just 15 tackles. Junior Inside linebacker Barquell Rivers could be the defenses next bright star for a team that has not failed to deliver linebackers to the NFL as of late. Rivers returns as the team’s leading tackler with 96 stops last season, along with 6.5 for a loss. The other two linebacker positions are about as questionable as Lane Kiffin giving his word. Jeron Gouveia-Winslow will compete for one of the vacated positions along with undersized sophomore Lyndell Gibson at the other inside spot. The secondary returns its top cornerback from last season in senior, Rashad Carmichael. As a junior last season, Carmichael led all Hokie defensive backs with 12 passes defended and six interceptions last season – tied for second in the ACC. The supporting cast surrounding Carmichael is made up of senior rover Davon Morgan and junior free safety, Eddie Whitley. Sophomore, Jayron Hosley should earn the other corner position. A lot of the success of the 2010 Hokies comes down to how well the inexperienced defense does early. Pressure of six straight seasons of not allowing more than an average of 16 points a game and a seven year trend of at least 30+ sacks, comes down on the D.
SCHEDULE:
- The Hokies rarely shy away from a challenge. The last three seasons Va. Tech has placed an intimidating non-conference opponent on the board in LSU in 2007, Nebraska in 2008 and Alabama last season. Unfortunately they are just 1-2 in those games. That didn’t keep the Hokies from adding America’s favorite underdog and non-BCS power, Boise State, to the schedule this season. When it comes down to wining as of late, however, the Hokies are plain and simple impressive. The boys of Blacksburg have not had below a 10 win season since 2003 (8-5). The last five years they have put together a 29-4 record at Lane Stadium as well, not losing more than one home game in a season since 2002. The season opener this year for the Hokies is the early test of Boise State set for a Monday night set at Fed Ex Field in Landover, MD. The Hokies are just 3-2 at neutral sites the last two seasons and 6-4 away. The Broncos don’t mind, however, better than getting the 11-1 home record in ’08-’09 for the Hokies. After a walk-through against James Madison the Hokies welcome thorn in the side, East Carolina, Sept. 18, who the Hokies lost to in 2008 to start the season. At Boston College and at NC State in consecutive weeks open ACC play. Four consecutive home meetings stretching from Oct. 9 to Nov. 4 give the Hokies a comfortable stretch of games which include Central Michigan, Wake Forest, Duke and Georgia Tech – a Thursday night matchup. The home stretch may prove costly with two away trips in a row at North Carolina, Nov. 13 and at Miami Nov. 20. Rival, Virginia, ends the season in a home meeting Nov. 27.
Schedule rating: B+
Red = Toughest Game. Blue = Pivotal to conference.
Top Incoming Freshman:
1.) Zach McCray (left), *#24 DE, 6-3 230, Lynchburg, VA
McCray, who had numerous BCS offers, will step into the defensive end position if the current replacements can’t get the job done.
2.) Laurence Gibson, *PG OG, 6-5 295, Chatham, VA
One of the top prep linemen, Gibson spent a year at Hargrave Military Academy
3.) Nick Dew, #39 S, 6-2 180, Virginia Beach, VA
Dew was an Under Armor All American who brings great size and speed to the safety position.
4.) Nick Acree, #40 OT, 6-6 300, Fork Union, VA
Acree has the ability to play both offensive and defensive line at the next level. The Hokies may start the Fork Union product out at defensive tackle.
5.) Ricardo Young, #48 QB, 6-0 160, Washington, DC
Looked over mostly because of his size, Young is a talented quarterback and will compete for a starting position once Taylor moves on.
*Rankings according to scout.com
*PG – Post Graduate
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