Gobblin’ all the way
Today’s ACC preview is brought to you by Section 103, home of the most unique and comfortable Georgia Tech apparel. Get 10 percent off your next order with coupon code FTRS to order items such as the Haynes King Jersey T-Shirt
I hope you all came to this Georgia Tech sports blog to hear about how the VPISU Hokies have a chance to win the ACC. This isn’t my favorite series of articles, but I do think it is important to gain some perspective on who some of the competitors to win the ACC will be.
Right now one of the teams getting the most pre-season hype is the Virgnia Tech Hokies. The Hokies have plenty of returning talent this year, as highlighted in our article from last week. They also have one of the easiest schedules in college football, I wish Georgia Tech could say that. It’s easy to see why Virginia Tech is a popular dark horse in the ACC, but let’s dive a bit deeper.
Brent Pry and Virginia Tech
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Brent Pry took over coaching duties for Virginia Tech in 2022, his first season ended in an inauspicious 3-8 record which included a memorable loss to Old Dominion. Brent showed significant improvement in his 2023 season, the Hokies ended the season with a 7-6 record despite some strange losses to teams such as Purdue, Rutgers, and Marshall. Inside the ACC though the Hokies only lost to Louisville, FSU, and NC State later in the season which seems to indicate VT figured things out later in the season.
It’s interesting to look at the similarities in coaching transition for Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. Both Brents got their head coaching starts in 2022, both have improved year after year, and both have been competitive but have had some unusual losses.
Prior to being a head coach, Brent Pry was a defensive coordinator Penn State. He clearly carries the experience as a defensive coordinator into his coaching strategy. Pry believes in an aggressive defense which can supplement the offense by controlling field position. expect a quick shifting defense with their eyes in the backfield to shutdown any running plays the opponents plan.
Players
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Hokies return 77% of their defensive production and 91% of their offensive production from last year. Kyron Drones, who had the 7th highest Passing Efficiency in the ACC, is back at starting QB. Drones will have plenty of weapons to work with as his top receiver in Da’Quan Felton will be back. Da’Quon ended the season with an average of 17.6 yards per catch and 8 receiving touchdowns at the end of the season. Third Team ACC Running Back Bhayshul Tuten also returns.
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
As scary as the offense will be the defense may be the more daunting challenge for opponents to deal with. Virginia Tech’s leader in sacks, Antuan Powell-Ryland, returns and is supplemented by new transfer Aeneas Peebles who was Duke’s leader in Sacks last year. Third Team ACC Corner Dorian Strong returns looking to make a big impact on the field. Opposing QBs are going to have a rough go of things when squaring up against the Hokies.
The Schedule
I get jealous just looking at the schedule the Hokies were gifted. The Hokies get road games against Vanderbilt, Old-Dominion, Miami, Stanford, Syracuse, and Duke. The home games for VT are Marshall, Rutgers, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Virginia. Assuming the talent they have returned produces on field results, I would expect all of these games to at least be winnable for Virginia Tech. Clemson and Miami loom as the largest challenges for the Hokies in the ACC. While I do think Georgia Tech and potentially Syracuse have good shots at upsets there is no reason the Hokies shouldn’t be predicted as favorites in those games going into the season.
2024 Outlook
I think most people can see why VT is such a popular pick right now to win the ACC. The Hokies return so much talent and have such an easy schedule it should be like playing NCAA 25 on Freshman mode. As long as the Hokies show up in all their games they should win. Of course that is the catch; while Virginia Tech has performed well against ranked opponents in recent years, the Hokies have also stumbled against some “weaker” opponents (another similarity to Georgia Tech).
It doesn’t help that the ACC is in a perpetual state of chaos, so anything we predict in the pre-season will inevitably be thrown out the window 2 weeks into the season. I will say VT should be in the top 3 teams in conversation to win the ACC this year, and if ACC chaos breaks their way with Clemson and FSU losing an extra game or two VT could just fall into the ACC Championship spot by sheer luck. Regardless, expect Virginia Tech to be in the running at the top of the ACC most of the season.