2010 Record: 11-3 (8-0), 1st ACC Coastal, Won ACC Championship2010 Bowl Game: Orange Bowl, Lost to Stanford 40-12
2010 Schedule/Results
Boise State, L 33-30
James Madison, L 21-16
East Carolina, W 49-27
@ Boston College, W 19-0
@ NC State, W 41-30
Central Michigan, W 45-21
Wake Forest, W 52-21
Duke, W 44-7
Georgia Tech, W 28-21
@ North Carolina, W 26-10
@ Miami, W 31-17
Virginia, W 37-7
Florida State, W 44-33
Stanford, L 40-12
OFFENSE
411.1 yards per game
Tyrod Taylor finally found himself at the QB spot this season and became the guy that everyone thought that he could be. He started thinking with his head instead of with his feet, and the Hokies flourished under him after the heinous two game start to the season that had everyone leaving the Hokies for dead. Taylor passed for 2743 yards, 24 TDs and just 5 picks on the season. He still ran some, and had 659 yards and 5 more scores on the ground. That being said, the Hokies now must start over, as Taylor is done at Tech. Welcome Logan Thomas, who as a freshman, was the only other Hokie to see time at QB this season. Tech had a very small class in recruiting, and it did not include any new QBs, so Frank BEamer seems to be content with who is on his roster, but experience is minimal.
The RB corps will be a bit thin in 2011 as well. David Wilson is the only back amongst the top 3 rushers to return next fall, as Darren Evans (850 yards and 11 TDs) and Ryan Williams (481 yards and 9 TDs) both bail for the NFL. Williams was a complete letdown after a fantastic 2009 season. All 3 backs had injury issues, which always seems to be the case with Hokie RBs. Wilson will be back, however, after rushing for 619 yards and 5 scores. Depth after that is very thin, and again, this area was not addressed through recruiting.
Whomever does land the QB job will have the benefit of having his top 4 wideouts coming back. Jarrett Boykin was rock solid after a 53 catch 847 yard season. Boykin hauled in 6 TD grabs as well. Danny Coale was a big play guy, as he only had 39 grabs, but made them work for 732 yards on the season. Dyrell Roberts and Marcus Wilson will also be back for the Hokes to make this one of the deepest spots on the team. Tech will lose starting TE Andre Smith (20 catches, 5 TDs). Randall Duncan looks to be the guy that will step in, but again, experience is thin.
The line is fairly deep as well, wih just Center Beau Ryan moving on after his senior season. The line improved a great deal in 2010, allowing Taylor to stay more pocket based to increase his passing numbers. The run game was solid as well, and behind this line, the offense was as balanced as it has ever been since Jim Druckenmiller was the QB. 4 starter should return, and every reserve returns as well. Andrew Miller and Bo Gentry will compete to replace Ryan at Center in the spring.
DEFENSE
348.2 yards per game allowed
The Hokies line was very active at attacking the backfield this season. As is principal with Bud Foster defenses, the Hokies are on attack mode on every down, and the D line has to get penetration. This group was no different. 6 different linemen had 5 TFLs or more in 2010, led by Steven Friday with 14. Friday and DT John Grimes will be moving on, so there will be two holes to fill, which on defense, is rarely a problem. There will be as many as 5 different players stepping in to compete to replace Friday at DE, all of which will be sophomores in 2011. Derrick Hopkins and Dwight Tucker look to replace Grimes this spring. 3 new DEs come into play, as does one new DT. DE Corey Marshall looks to be the star of the new group, and will add himself to the growing number of players looking to replace Friday.
Bruce Taylor led all LBs, and the team, in tackles in 2010 with 91. Again, the backers attack on every down in the Foster system. Taylor also led the team with 15.5 TFLs. He will be a junior next season, but another year of productivity like this, and you can bet on an early departure. Davon Morgan will be departing after this season, as he was a senior. Morgan was 2nd in tackles with 82, 53 of them solo jobs. Lyndell Gibson had 66 tackles this season, and like Taylor, will be a junior in 2011. Jeron Gouveia-Winslow, Jack Tyler, Tariq Edwards, and Alonzo Tweedy will be the primary guys competing to replace Morgan.
Jayron Hosely was one of the best DBs in the nation in 2010. He finished the year with a total of 9 picks. He will find it difficult to match that total in 2011, as his partner in crime at the corner spot, Rashad Carmichael will be moving on, making it a bit easier for teams to go away from Hosely. as many as 7 different players are available to compete to replace Carmichael. Antone Exum had a solid first season at safety for the Hokies, collecting 45 tackles. Eddie Whitley will return at the other safety spot.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Chris Hazey was one of the best kickers in the nation, having booted 21 of 22 FG attempts. The bad news is that he is moving on, leaving a huge special teams void. Justin Meyer and Connor Goulding will battle it out in the spring.
Brian Saunders will be taking his 43.98 average away this year as well. He has wrapped up his solid career. Goulding will compete here as well, and his main rival will be Ethan Keyserling.
FINAL NOTES
After consecutive losses to Boise State and James Madison, we all left them for dead. I was as bad as we had ever seen it, and people were starting to wonder if now was not the time to move Bud Foster into the HC role. That worry was proven faulty after the Hokies picked themselves up and went on an 11 game winning rampage before the ceiling caved in against Stanford in Fort Lauderdale. The Hokies look decent coming into next season, but they have to worry about depth issues at QB, RB, and in the kicking game. I am sure that things will sort out in the spring, as Beamer isn't ready to call it in just yet.
2011 NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
9/3 Appalachian State, 9/10 @ East Carolina, 9/17 Arkansas State, 9/24 @ Marshall
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