For the first time in a while, it is nice to have some hype surrounding the Virginia Tech football team entering a season. Third-year head coach Brent Pry has sped up the rebuild in Blacksburg and I’m not saying it’s fully completed, but who saw this much hype and expectations coming into Year 3?
This season kicks off Saturday with a non-conference game at Vanderbilt at noon in an interesting game where who knows what to expect? As we learned last weekend in Week 0, nothing is a given in college football, no matter how big of a favorite you are. Here are three keys to the Hokies winning on the road and getting the season off on the right foot.
Get ahead of Vanderbilt early
Yes, I know, this could be said about every game, but this one is one where the Commodores have a lot more questions than answers, and getting an early jump on them would be big. Vanderbilt is still fighting things out while the Hokies come in with a full offseason for everyone in the system and they should be much further ahead at this point than they were last season.
Contain Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia
Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea has not officially named Diego Pavia his starting quarterback, but all signs are pointing to it. The New Mexico State transfer threw for nearly 3,000 yards last season with nine interceptions and he also rushed for 851 yards.
Virginia Tech starting mike linebacker Sam Brumfield knows Pavia from his days at Middle Tennessee State and spoke about him Tuesday.
#Hokies LB Sam Brumfield has played Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia twice — with Middle Tennessee against New Mexico and at juco. "He's one hell of an athlete."
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) August 27, 2024
Like Kyron Drones with Virginia Tech, the offense for the Commodores will go as Pavia goes with his arm and legs.
Win the battle in the trenches
Both the offensive and defensive lines are going to be big in this game. Offensively, can the Hokies line protect enough for Drones to be able to throw the ball down the field, and will they open enough holes for Bhayshul Tuten and Drones to get the running game going?
Defensively, Virginia Tech added some good players along the defensive line to help contain the run better in 2024. They should also cause matchup nightmares for opposing lines in terms of getting to the quarterback. If the Hokies can win the battle in the trenches, they have too much talent all over the field for Vanderbilt to match up with.
College football is back and Virginia Tech’s opener is just two days away and here’s hoping they pick up where they left off last December in the Military Bowl against Tulane.
