It's hard to believe, but the NFL Draft begins Thursday night in Green Bay with the opening round. Last April in Detroit, it was a very quiet draft for Virginia Tech players, and the biggest reason for that was because of all the retention that head coach Brent Pry got for the 2024 season.
The season didn't go as planned for the Hokies as high expectations quickly turned south and into a 6-6 regular season and a 6-7 final record after a Duke's Mayo Bowl loss to Minnesota where Tech played with a depleted roster between players entering the portal and opting out for the NFL Draft. Over the next week, a handful of former Virginia Tech players are hoping to hear their named called in Green Bay.
Ahead of the draft and workouts, some of the former Hokies have impressed with their workouts and even team interviews. Two players have been getting a lot of pre-draft hype, and wide receiver Jaylin Lane and running back Bhayshul Tuten were tabbed a potential x-factors in this year's draft.
Former Virginia Tech WR Jaylin Lane and RB Bhayshul Tuten were tabbed as x-factors ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft
During workouts ahead of the draft, Lane and Tuten have moved up some teams' draft boards. Pro Football Focus listed some x-factors in this draft class, and Tuten and Lane were two of them. They were joined by wide receiver Jaylin Noel of Iowa State, TCU running back Savion Williams, and Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden.
The biggest X-factors in this year’s draft class ❌ pic.twitter.com/28wLE6gxpe
— PFF (@PFF) April 20, 2025
It's not surprising to see both players on the list, as Lane can affect a game at wide receiver and returning punts. He recently met with the New York Giants and discussed with the New York Post about being fearless on punt returns.
“I’m not afraid to make the tough catches,'' said Lane. "Of course, I want to get the ball back for my team, but if I can make a play that can change the game, I’m going to take advantage of that every time.’'
As for Tuten, he can affect the game in multiple ways, both as a running back and kick returner. He has explosive speed once he gets in the open field as a back, but also as a kick returner after he took back a pair of touchdowns against Florida State and Virginia in 2023.
It'll be interesting to see where both players get drafted, as you get the feeling that they might go higher than some expect.