ESPN reveals obvious Virginia Tech football X-factor for 2024 season

Going into the 2024 season, the case could be made that there are several potential x-factors on the Virginia Tech football team. That's what happens when you have a ton of retainment from the previous season and some key transfers who are expected to be very impactful.

Earlier this month, one national college football writer named Duke transfer Aeneas Peebles as the Hokies' x-factor for the season and it is a good choice. Peebles is expected to step into an already deep defensive line unit and make it even better and quarterbacks' days frustrating.

Wednesday, ESPN released one X-factor for each of their preseason Top 25 teams, and Virginia Tech, which is ranked No. 21, had one of their biggest named players listed as their X-factor.

ESPN names Kyron Drones Virginia Tech's 2024 X-factor

ESPN reporter Andrea Adelson named the Hokies' 2024 X-factor and to little surprise, she named quarterback Kyron Drones their biggest potential difference-maker.

"It is hard to call Drones an X-factor since he is the most well-known player on the team. But there is no question what happens with Virginia Tech this year depends on how well Drones plays after a second-half surge in 2023 sent expectations for this season soaring. The Hokies return a whopping 90% of their offensive production from a year ago, and it all starts with Drones, who threw for 2,084 yards and ran for another 818 last year. There is plenty of room for improvement, starting with his completion percentage (58.2%) and efficiency. If he lives up to the hype, Virginia Tech should absolutely be an ACC contender this season."

- Andrea Adelson

It's safe to say that how Virginia Tech goes this season is how Drones goes. He is a legit duel-threat QB who burst onto the scene last season after taking over full-time for the injured Grant Wells in Week 3 at Rutgers and the rest they say, is history. He had 17 touchdowns through the air and just three interceptions, but this season, he will have Running back Bhayshul Tuten back along with four wide receivers and tight end Nick Gallo.

There should be no shortage of options in 2024 for offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen and a lot of the success the Hokies have will depend on Drones and how well he plays. The hype for the 2024 season began when Drones announced in December that he was returning to Blacksburg for another season under center.