Virginia Tech football: Three offensive players who could have big seasons

This Virginia Tech football program is under a lot of pressure this season to get results and to improve in every part of the game. The offense last season, at times, looked like they were unstoppable. At other times, however, they could not get anything going.

The Hokies were tied for seventh in the ACC in touchdowns scored (40) in 11 games. In terms of total yards per game, they also ranked sixth in the conference (440.7).  They accumulated  2,641 rushing and 2,207 passing yards throughout the entire season.

Here are three players who could have a big season to propel some of the offensive numbers in 2021.

Tre Turner

The passing game has been a struggle for Virginia Tech football, especially last season, They were ranked 12th in the ACC averaging around 200 yards a game. Leaning on a dynamic running back like Khalil Herbert wasn’t a terrible game plan but Herbert is no longer there. While the Hokies have a good group of running backs, the receiving game will need to be better to get back to winning ways.

Only 13 of Tech’s 40 touchdowns were passing, that’s where Tre Turner steps in. He’s the #1 receiver and he has a nice counterpart in Tayvion Robinson at the #2 spot to take a little bit of the stress off of Turner.

In his three seasons, he hasn’t gone above 600 yards in a season, he also has not had more than five touchdowns in a single season. The 2019 season was his best statistically speaking with 553 yards and four touchdowns.

He has been a good wide receiver throughout his Virginia Tech football career but he will need to leap this season.

James Mitchell

Perhaps, some of the best news that Virginia Tech football fans got this offseason was that Mitchell was returning for the 2021 season. The tight end had the opportunity to enter the 2021 NFL Draft but decided to return for another year.

He’s a bit of a jack of all trades as he can be played at the tight end of the course but also as a receiver. Mitchell can be relied on anywhere on offense that he might be needed.

During the 2020 season, he started 9 out of the 10 games played earning 435 yards on 26 receptions. He averaged 16.7 yards per catch as well as four receiving touchdowns.

Mitchell will be a big factor in the passing game that will look to be much better this fall.

Jalen Holston

As we alluded to above, the running game really carried the offense last season. Much of that was on the impact of Herbert but  Jalen Holston was also a part of that. For the 2021 season, he will get a much bigger role as he will try to continue the success of the rushing game. Last season, he had 40 rushing attempts for 189 yards and two touchdowns.

Holston will likely split time in the backfield with Raheem Blackshear. I think with these two splitting time, both will be highly successful in the backfield and increase their rushing numbers tremendously. Neither has experience being the featured back, so we will have to see how they adapt. I think, however, it will end up working out well for the Hokies’ offense.