Bowl Opt-Outs Create "Next Man Up" Opportunities

As we mentioned last week, Virginia Tech will enter its bowl game against Minnesota without a number of key contributors due to players opting out. While the final list of departures isn't completed, we already know the Hokies will be thinner at a number of key positions.

While this is less than ideal for a Tech team hoping to end the season with a winning record and some much-needed momentum heading into the offseason, it nevertheless creates an opportunity for younger players looking to make their mark.

Defense

After the announcements of CB Mansoor Delane, safeties Mose Phillips and Jalen Stroman, and LB Keli Lawson hitting the transfer portal, and understanding some other stars with eyes on the NFL will likely opt out as well, the Tech defense will be teeming with opportunity.

At Safety, the Hokies are clearly hitching their wagon to Quentin Reddish. The freshman played in 11 games, registered 18 tackles, and looked more confident as the season went along. Devin Alves, and perhaps Cameren Fleming, will also be fighting to grab a few more snaps. 

A possibly thinned-out defensive line may create some space for highly-touted freshman DL Emmett Laws, who is at no risk of losing his redshirt and saw action in the UVa game. There will likely be more snaps for redshirt freshmen Aycen Stevens and Jason Abbey, as well as redshirt junior James Jennette.

It Tech is without the services of starters Delane and Dorian Strong at cornerback, most of the playing time in Charlotte will go to Dante Lovett and Thomas Williams. Krystian Williams will also see time, and second-year player Braylon Johnson is available to play without losing his redshirt.

Offense

Of the 287 carries this year by non-QBs, at minimum 232 of them (81%) will not be available for the bowl game – Bhayshul Tuten is highly unlikely to play, Malachi Thomas is in the portal and PJ Prioleau is injured. That leaves redshirt freshman Jeremiah Coney (25 carries, 169 yards) as the only running back with meaningful playing time this season. Might we see Tyler Mason, the true freshman from Mt. Airy, NC, in the backfield? Might we also see more utilization of Ayden Greene or Takye Heath in the running game. Greene has been frequently featured back there this season. Heath appeared in six of the first seven games and none since.

With Jaylin Lane and Da’Quan Felton likely gone, there may be some Pop Watson darts heading Chance Fitzgerald's way. Exciting freshmen Chanz Wiggins and Keylen "Brodie" Adams may get a chance to shine and keep their redshirts in the process.

The Hokies rolled with a starting OL of Xavier Chaplin, Bob Schick, Braelin Moore, Kaden Moore, and Parker Clements for most of the year. They’ll go into the bowl game without the portal-bound Chaplin and Braelin Moore. Kaden Moore will slide over to center. Redshirt sophomores Brody Meadows and Johnny Garrett, and redshirt junior Montavious Cunningham have all played plenty this season and will see an increase in playing time.

Tech will have its hands full being less than full strength against Minnesota. But unlike the Pinstripe Bowl a few years ago, there is a lot of talent remaining eager to show what it can do.