National CFB writer lists Virginia Tech as a potential breakthrough team in 2024

The Virginia Tech football team will begin spring practices next month and then finish off with the Spring Game on April 13 at Lane Stadium. After struggling through a 1-3 start to the season under second-year head coach Brent Pry, the Hokies turned things around once ACC play began and won five of their eight games to become bowl-eligible. They capped the season off with a win over Tulane in the Military Bowl.

Between the final regular season game against Virginia and the bowl game against Tulane, Virginia Tech got several key players to commit to coming back for the 2024 season. Some of the key contributors coming back are quarterback Kyron Drones, running back Bhayshul Tuten, defensive lineman Antwaun Powell-Ryland, and Dorian Strong in the secondary. Pry also got commitments from transfers Kemari Copeland, Aeneas Peebles, and Sam Brumfield on defense and Montavious Cunningham along the offensive line.

It is easy to see why there is a lot of hype surrounding the program over the offseason in some time. National media members are starting to see what Pry and his staff are building in Blacksburg and one writer, Brad Crawford of 247Sports, listed the Hokies as a potential breakthrough team.

"There was initial skepticism early for Brent Pry at Virginia Tech when he lost 11 of his first 15 games with the Hokies, but the switch was flipped midway through the 2023 campaign in Blacksburg. It took longer than expected for Pry's culture-centric mentality to make its way through the locker room, but by the end of the season, the buy-in was there. Antwaun Powell-Ryland deciding to return for his senior season is a mega-boost for Virginia Tech's defense after he finished with a team-best 9.5 sacks last fall. Leading tackler Kelli Lawson is back in the middle along with most of the talent within a star-studded secondary. Offensively, dual-threat quarterback Kyron Drones is back for another year along with the Hokies' top running back, Bhayshul Tuten, who managed 863 yards and 10 scores as a junior."

- Brad Crawford

Virginia Tech is miles ahead of where they were this time last season, which should make for a fun spring practice and fall camp once it begins. A lot of the pieces are already in place and there are going to be some freshmen who are going to make some decisions difficult on the coaching staff in terms of playing time. Add in a very doable schedule both in the non-conference and ACC, it’s easy to see why the Hokies are on the verge of breaking through big time in 2024.