Virginia Tech Football 2024 Positional Breakdown: Defensive Line

One area that Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry and his staff addressed in the transfer portal was along the defensive line. Along with some key additions, the Hokies got retainment and returned some talent from their 2023 roster.

Over the last two months, the Hokies improved along the defensive line and became "Sacksburg" with their ability to get after the quarterback and record sacks. No one got to the QB more than. Antwaun Powell-Ryland finished with a team-high 9.5 sacks and he was one of several Virginia Tech players to announce that he was coming back for 2024.

Between Powell-Ryland and other key pieces coming back with the transfer portal additions, the Hokies's defensive line has an opportunity to do some special things this season.

Virginia Tech defensive line has a chance to be special

The Hokies defensive line returns Josh Fuga and a talented Cole Nelson from last season who finished the season with 27 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Needing to fill tackle spots and add depth, Virginia Tech did that. First, they got Iowa Western Community College transfer Kemari Copeland who has a chance to be one of the sneakier good additions this offseason. Former Duke standout Aeneas Peebles along with Kelvin Gilliam from Oklahoma and Khurtiss Perry from Alabama are other key portal additions.

Peebles will start at one tackle spot and one issue that will be facing opposing teams is going to be which player to focus on in terms of blocking schemes. If they focus on Powell-Ryland, that could open things up for Peebles, Nelson and anyone else out there. Decisions that opposing teams are going to be faced with on a weekly basis.

A key to the season will be the Hokies' defense and they have a chance to be one of the top defensive lines in the conference and if they are, they just could end up being a dark horse team in 2024.