National CFB writer has a burning question surrounding Virginia Tech ahead of spring practices

As the Virginia Tech football team gets ready for spring practices, one area where they know they are just about all set and that's with their offense. They return almost all of their production from 2023, including quarterback Kyron Drones, running back Bhayshul Tuten, and four wide receivers.

Defensively the Hokies get some key pieces back including Antwaun Powell-Ryland along the defensive line. They did lose a couple of players, but coach Brent Pry was able to land some potential big additions in the transfer portal to fill out the defensive line. However, with spring practices ready to start, one national college football writer has a burning question about Virginia Tech and it revolves around the defensive line.

Chris Hummer of 247Sports has one burning question about each ACC team as spring practices and his for Virginia Tech's was in regard to the defensive line and asked, "Virginia Tech: How goes the DT reset?"

"There isn't a lot for Virginia Tech to replace given the fact that the Hokies return the most production in the FBS, according to ESPN. But there is a question mark along the defensive interior.

The Hokies rotate heavily up front, and their top three contributors from last year (Norell Pollard, Mario Kendricks, Pheldarius Payne) have all departed. Those are big blows.

PFF grades aren't everything, but those were three of the Hokies' seven highest-graded defenders and a big reason why they ranked 10th nationally in percentage of pressures per snap. That trio consistently managed to collapse the pocket.

There are some returning pieces for Virginia Tech. Upperclassmen Josh Fuga and Wilfried Pene both return after playing 200-plus snaps last year. The Hokies also added a potential all-conference candidate in Aeneas Peebles "

It would be surprising if the defensive line was not good for the Hokies in 2024. Powell-Ryland and Fuga returning are going to open things up for linebackers and other linemen to get pressure in the backfield. If there was one area that needed to be addressed in the transfer portal by Virginia Tech, it was with Peebles and the other transfers to solidify the first two levels.