Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 127 BY BRYAN DRISKELL Virginia Tech has won 19 games the last two seasons thanks in large part to one of the nation's top defenses. That has been a common theme the last two decades under the tutelage of longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster. Over the last two campaigns, the Hokies ranked 11th and 18th nationally in defensive efficiency per the Fremeau Efficiency Index. The 2017 unit also ranked fourth in scoring defense (14.8 points allowed per game). Continuing that into the 2018 season is go- ing to be difficult. Virginia Tech must replace six starters, including first-round NFL Draft picks Tremaine Edmunds at linebacker and Terrell Edmunds at safety. "The defense has been just about elite the past two years," HokieHaven.com editor Tim Sullivan said. "Returning nearly every starter going into last year certainly didn't hurt. The story is different entering 2018; one defen- sive lineman is gone, along with both starting linebackers and three of five starters in the secondary. "This will be a new-look defense. If it can live up to past units, it may be Bud Foster's finest work yet." The losses on defense puts more pressure on the offense to carry a greater load. Virginia Tech ranked 69th in scoring offense (28.2 points per game) and 53rd in total offense (412.8 yards per game) last season, numbers it must improve upon. A strong season from quarterback Josh Jack- son would help. After passing for 2,991 yards and 20 touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2017, Jackson is poised to become one of the top signal-callers in the ACC. "He was much better than fans want to give him credit for last year," Sullivan said. "He's the second-most efficient returning quarter- back in the conference, and there's reason to believe he takes another step forward with the year of experience." Jackson will need some help, which means junior wideout Eric Kumah and sophomore counterpart Sean Savoy must improve upon their 778 combined receiving yards in 2017. ✦ 2017 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2016 Result Sept. 3 at Florida State — Sept. 8 William & Mary — Sept. 15 East Carolina W, 64-17 Sept. 22 at Old Dominion W, 38-0 Sept. 29 at Duke W, 24-3 Oct. 6 Notre Dame — Oct. 13 at North Carolina W, 59-7 Oct. 25 Georgia Tech L, 28-22 Nov. 3 Boston College W, 23-10 Nov. 10 at Pittsburgh W, 20-14 Nov. 17 Miami L, 28-10 Nov. 23 Virginia W, 10-0 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Virginia Tech leads 1-0 Last Meeting: Virginia Tech 34, Notre Dame 31 (Nov. 19, 2016; South Bend) Head Coach: Justin Fuente, 19-8 at VT (3rd year) and 45-31 overall (7th year) 2017 Results: 9-4 overall, 5-3 ACC Coastal (2nd); lost to Oklahoma State 30-21 in the Camping World Bowl Returning Starters: 12 (7 offense, 5 defense) 2018 Preseason Rankings: No. 16 by Athlon and Street & Smith's, No. 17 by Lindy's, No. 22 by ESPN Football Power Index and No. 40 by Phil Steele's Did You Know?: Bud Foster is entering his 36th season at Virginia Tech and 27th as its defensive coordi- nator … The Hokies' defensive line was ranked as the nation's eighth-best unit by Lindy's Sports and 10th by Phil Steele's … Athlon Sports named defensive tackle Ricky Walker a third-team preseason All-American and a first-team All-ACC player … Quarterback Josh Jackson was named a second-team preseason All- ACC player by Athlon and Lindy's … Linebacker Mook Reynolds was a named a second-team preseason All-ACC pick by Athlon, while offensive lineman Brandon Pfaff and safety Reggie Floyd were second-team selections by Lindy's. Prediction: Notre Dame 28, Virginia Tech 24 STRENGTH: Defensive Line Departed defensive tackle Tim Settle earned second-team All-ACC honors last season, but an argument could be made that senior Ricky Walker was just as good, if not better. Walker will serve as the rock that coordinator Bud Foster builds the defense around in 2018. Walker was a disruptive force last season, reg- istering 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and six quarterback hurries. At 6-2 and 300 pounds, he is strong against the run, but his pass-rush produc- tion is what makes him a force. Former end Vinny Mihota is sliding inside after starting the last two seasons on the outside. If the Virginia Tech defensive line is going to reach its full potential, it needs junior Trevon Hill to continue developing his game and become an impact player. The end was solid in his first season as a starter last fall, registering 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries. Hill has the talent to become one of the better pass rushers in the ACC, and if he can make that leap he will combine with Walker to give the Hok- ies one of the best duos in the league. CONCERN: Cornerback It has been a brutal offseason for the Virginia Tech cornerback position. Starting cornerbacks Greg Stroman and Brandon Facyson exhausted their eligibility after combining for 76 starts and 14 interceptions. The expectation was that talented senior Adonis Alexander and junior college transfer Jer- emy Webb would slide into the starting lineup. In a matter of days those plans were blown up. Alexander was declared academically in- eligible and subsequently submitted his name for the NFL's supplemental draft, and Webb was lost for the season after tearing his Achilles tendon during a summer workout. Alexander was a playmaker with seven ca- reer interceptions and 17 passes broken up. Although not a starter, he had been a regular for the Hokies the last two seasons and a breakout season was expected in 2018. Redshirt freshman Caleb Farley is expected to slide into the rotation on one side after missing last season with a knee injury. Sophomore Bryce Watts is listed by Athlon Sports in the two-deep at cornerback. The rest of the cornerback depth chart is made up of players with no experience. Whip linebacker Mook Reynolds began his career at cornerback and he could slide outside, opening up a spot for former Rivals100 recruit Devon Hunter to take over his vacated spot. VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES OCT. 6 • LANE STADIUM • BLACKSBURG, VA RETURNING LEADERS Rushing: RB Deshawn McClease (530 yards, 3 TD) Passing: QB Josh Jackson (2,991 yards, 20 TD) Receiving: WR Sean Savoy (454 yards, 4 TD) Tackles: S Reggie Floyd (72) Sacks: DE Trevon Hill (5.5) Interceptions: S Reggie Floyd (3) X-FACTOR: Virginia Tech annually produces star defensive backs, but after losing two expected starters this offseason the Hokies will be quite young on the back end. Junior safety Reggie Floyd will have to carry the young secondary after rack- ing up 72 tackles and three picks last season. PHOTO BY DAVE KNACHEL/VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETICS