The 2024 season was supposed to be the one in which the Virginia Tech football program took the next big step in its rebuild under third-year coach Brent Pry. Instead, a stunning season-opening loss on Labor Day Weekend at Vanderbilt marked the beginning of what would become a frustrating season.
There were several factors that went into the reasoning as to why a season that was filled with so much hype ended up going south. Injuries played a major role, along with other reasons, as to why a season that was thought to have eight or nine wins, maybe more, finished 6-6. However, an NFL offensive coordinator had some comments that will inflict even more pain on fans from last fall.
Washington Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury has a take that will frustrate Virginia Tech fans even more in 2024
One position that the Hokies were loaded with going into the 2024 season was at wide receiver. Their top four receivers from the 2023 season all announced they were returning, giving former offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen four big-play receivers: Jaylin Lane, Da'Quan Felton, Ali Jennings, and Stephen Gosnell.
When the dust settled on the season, it felt like a huge swing and a miss of a season, and one thing that frustrated fans at times was the play-calling. It felt like some of Virginia Tech's wide receivers were underused, and a comment from Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury on Lane would suggest that take was correct.
"He's been very impressive, he's a coach's kid, been around the game his entire life," said Kingsbury. "You tell him how to do it one time, he usually nails it, and if he makes a mistake, he'll come back and correct it. But super, super talented, very fast. I've been really impressed. I don't think I could see some of those things at Virginia Tech, watching the film, and getting him here in person, and watching him run around and watching the coachability and the route tree that he can run, it's been really impressive."
Selected in the fourth round on Day 3 of the NFL Draft back in April by Washington, Lane has been impressive so far in training camp this summer. When he was called on last season, he was able to make some big plays, but not getting the ball in his hands more was frustrating to fans. Kingsbury's quote on not being able to find those things on film at Virginia Tech for Lane is not surprising for Hokies' fans.
Bowen was not part of the three coaches let go following the win over Virginia in the Commonwealth Cup, but he left in February to take the offensive line coach position at Ohio State, which opened the door for Philip Montgomery to take over as the Hokies' OC. The 2024 season was a frustrating one, but one that fans thought some players were not used enough, and Lane is clearly one of them. Kingsbury just added more salt to the wounds of Virginia Tech fans.