Virginia Tech Football: 3 Reasons to Be Excited for the Hokies offense in 2024

There is a lot to like about the Virginia Tech football team entering the 2024 season. Quarterback Kyron Drones headlines an offensive group that had a large amount of retainment and most of its production returning.

The Hokies kick off the 2024 campaign in 10 days when they travel to Nashville, Tennessee to play SEC opponent Vanderbilt in a non-conference game that is an interesting opener. Virginia Tech faces a doable schedule for the season and with an offense that can put up a lot of crooked numbers, here are three reasons to be excited for Tyler Bowen's offense this fall.

Backfield talent

Drones announced he was coming back and it gives Bowen a duel-threat QB who made a name for himself last season for his strong arm and his ability to run the ball. He rushed for 818 yards last season and five touchdowns averaging 12.8 yards an attempt. He formed a formidable tandem with running back Bhayshul Tuten.

Tuten, a North Carolina A&T transfer, finished with 863 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns and he also returned two kickoffs against Florida State and Virginia for touchdowns as well. Malachi Thomas is back for another season behind Tuten and younger ball carries Jeremiah Coney and P.J. Prioleau should also get some carries as the season goes along. This is an underrated backfield in the ACC.

Wide receiver depth

Shortly after Drones announced he was returning for another season in Blacksburg, so did four of his wide receivers. Da'Quan Felton, Ali Jennings, Stephen Gosnell, and Jaylin Lane all announced together that they were coming back and gave Drones several options. Lane became a downfield threat last season and Felton came up with some clutch catches. Gosnell made some big receptions late in the season against Boston College and Virginia for touchdowns and the biggest wild card is Jennings who is back after suffering an injury in Week 2 against Purdue that cost him the season. He could be a big difference-maker.

Not to be outdone is going to the Hokies tight ends. Nick Gallo suffered a season-ending injury at the end of camp last season and despite Dae'Quan Wright entering the transfer portal and transferring to Ole Miss, Benji Gosnell and Harrison Saint Germain return after each catching a touchdown pass in the Military Bowl win over Tulane. Expect the tight ends to play a big part in the offense this season.

Experienced offensive line

Last season the Hokies offensive line was a mess at times. They struggled early in the season, then played better once ACC play began, but in their three losses to Florida State, Louisville, and North Carolina State, they struggled. They were flagged for several presnap penalties at Louisville in what turned into a 34-3 blowout loss.

This season they return a majority of the line and Georgia State transfer Montavious Cunningham should make a big impact in protecting Drones and opening holes for the running game. If they can play anywhere near the way they did in their five ACC wins and a bowl win, the offense could be that much better.

Throwing the ball could become a big part of the offense this season with the receivers returning along with the tight ends, then factor in Tuten and Thomas being able to catch the ball out of the backfield, which opens the playbook wide open. There is plenty to like about Virginia Tech's offense in 2024.