Stanford defensive line offers massive challenge for Bhayshul Tuten & Virginia Tech

One big bright spot for the Virginia Tech football team this season has been the play of running back Bhayshul Tuten. After being limited to just 34 yards on nine carries in this season-opening loss in overtime at Vanderbilt, the North Carolina A&T transfer has racked up four consecutive 100-yard games.

For the season, he rushed for 532 yards on 86 carries and he’s already found the end zone eight times and is averaging 6.2 yards a carry. He has been proving his worth and making a very strong case to be playing on Sundays at the next level. This weekend, however, will pose his toughest test of the season, to date.

Bhayshul Tuten vs. Stanford defensive line

Last Friday night, he gashed Miami’s defense for 141 yards on 19 carries, which included a 55-yard touchdown run in the second quarter when he bounced off the first hit from a Hurricanes defender and outran the defense to the end zone. It was an impressive run.

This weekend, however, he’s going to face the No. 1 ranked run defense the ACC has to offer in Stanford. Through their first four games, the Cardinal are averaging just 76.25 rushing yards per game against TCU, Cal Poly, Syracuse, and Clemson. This is an athletic group that has a lot of talent on it.

Virginia Tech’s offensive line has not been a position if strength this season. They have fared well at times, but it’s a banged up group that has struggled opening holes for the run game, which makes Tuten’s stats to begin the season that much more impressive. Protecting quarterback Kyron Drones has been an issue at times, as well.

Against Miami, offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen got the ball into his playmakers hands in the first half with Tuten and Jaylin Lane, and it resulted in a pair of touchdowns. Testing the Stanford defensive line early with Tuten is a must and if the Hokies are able to get the ground game going, then that will open up the offense for Bowen.