11 Virginia Tech football players earn Phil Steele All-ACC preseason honors

The college football season is less than 80 days away and for the Virginia Tech Hokies, it will begin in Nashville, Tennessee against SEC foe Vanderbilt. The preseason accolades are starting to come in and it's safe to say that some members of the 2024 Hokies are already getting recognized.

College football expert Phil Steele released his annual College Football preview magazine for the upcoming season and 11 members of Virginia Tech were named All-ACC ahead of the 2024 season. Here is a breakdown of the 11 Hokies Steele named.

Bhayshul Tuten
First Team All-ACC Kick Returner

The only member of the Hokies to make the first team is running back Bhayshul Tuten. The North Carolina A&T transfer broke out last season for Tech after he racked up nearly 1,700 total yards and 14 touchdowns. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against Florida State and Virginia and he is poised for an even bigger 2024.

Kyron Drones
Second Team All-ACC QB

Quarterback Kyron Drones, headlining the list of second-teamers, announced in December that he was returning to Blacksburg, and big things are expected from the Baylor transfer. He had an impressive 17-3 touchdown to interception ratio after taking over in Week 3 and threw for over 2,000 yards. He also hurt teams with his legs, rushing for 818 yards and five touchdowns. If anyone is not familiar with him before the season, they will be early in the season.

Tucker Holloway
Second Team All-ACC Punt Returner

Virginia Tech had one of the better special teams units in the ACC last season and Tucker Holloway was a big reason why as a punt returner. He returned 22 punts for 258 yards and the wide receiver is hoping the find the field this season after suffering an injury during spring practices.

Peter Moore
Second All-ACC Punter

The third second-teamer is the Hokies punter Peter Moore. Last season, he averaged 44.5 yards a kick last season and is poised to be a key player this season with his strong leg.

Aeneas Peebles
Second Team All-ACC Defensive Tackle

One of the bigger pieces added this offseason in the transfer portal by head coach Brent Pry, Aeneas Peebles is just another defensive lineman that will cause headaches for opposing coaches. Last season at Duke, he had 44 tackles, five sacks, and a forced fumble and recovery. He is the third-ranked returning DT in the ACC according to Pro Football Focus.

Antwaun Powell-Ryland
Second Team All-ACC Defensive End

Last season, Antwaun Powell-Ryland had a strong first season in Blacksburg after transferring from Florida. He had 40 tackles, a team-leading 9.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss. Like Drones, he announced in December that he was returning for a second season at Virignia Tech.

John Love
Third-Team All-ACC Kicker

Like Moore, kicker John Love has an explosive leg and is one of the better kickers in the conference. He made 22 of his 24 attempts last season, giving Pry a confident option for key points late in a game.

Dorian Strong
Third-Team All-ACC Cornerback

Dorian Strong's numbers from last season are going to jump off the page at you, but there is a reason for that. He allowed nine receptions on 32 targets and a lot of teams ended up throwing away from him and for good reason. Like some of his other teammates, he too is returning instead of entering the NFL Draft, and expect him to raise his draft stock for next April.

Da'Quan Felton
Fourth-Team All-ACC Wide Receiver

Like Tuten, Da'Quan Felton is another player who transferred to Virginia Tech ahead of last season, coming from Norfolk State. He had 38 receptions for 667 yards and eight touchdowns last season and bigger things are expected this season. He headlines a group of receivers that are returning with Ali Jennings, Stephen Gosnell, and Jaylin Lane all returning for Drones and offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen.

Kelli Lawson
Fourth-Team All-ACC Linebacker

Virginia Tech added Middle Tennessee State transfer Sam Brumfield, but Keli Lawson returning is one of the bigger returners for Pry and defensive coordinator Chris Marve. He had 80 tackles last season and 2.5 sacks.

Kaden Moore
Fourth-Team All-ACC Center

A mainstay along the offensive line, Kaden Moore is the glue that holds it together. He has 37 games under his belt and look for him to have a strong year as the center for the second straight year.

It's not surprising to see 11 Hokies earning honors ahead of the 2024 season, but that's what happens when you have a ton of retainment and high expectations.