Virginia Tech Football: 6 players who need to play huge roles after bye

Stephen Gosnell

Lane has made some big plays this season for Drones, including a 75-yard touchdown reception against Wake Forest in the second quarter and then a 12-yard touchdown on a tunnel screen. He can’t do it all himself and that’s where Stephen Gosnell comes in.

Drones and Gosnell have been forming more confidence with each other recently and the Pilot Mountain, North Carolina native had 16 catches for 223 yards this season. In three ACC games, he has seven receptions for 91 yards with a lot of that coming against Wake Forest. In four games, he has 11 receptions for 173 yards. The athletic wide receiver is someone who given the opportunity, can break a big play for Tech.

Keli Lawson

Powell-Ryland has turned into a defensive lineman which has caused a lot of problems for the opposing quarterback this season. One area in which the Hokies had some questions entering the season was at linebacker and Keli Lawson has turned into a game-changer.

He leads Virginia Tech with 59 tackles, 20 solo, and had an interception against Rutgers in Week 3. He has 1.5 sacks, but he has been very good against the run of late, and aside from Powell-Ryland is the biggest key player on defense. Tech needs the sophomore to be a difference-maker down the stretch.

Alan Tisdale

Another linebacker that has been getting better and better is Alan Tisdale. The senior had 41 tackles, 14 solo and one sack. Like Lawson, Tisdale has been stout against the run, which has allowed the defensive line to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, which creates situations that are tough for them.

Some of these players have been playing well all season and will need to continue, but some of them are going to need to step it up and make some plays. Offensively, that would require Bowen to use his tight ends more, along with Thomas and Stephen Gosnell.