Several Hokies football players will graduate today (or are close enough that they may walk). Last year, Tech had 15 graduates on the roster, most in the nation. It’ll be in double digits again 2013.

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Here is a list of Virginia Tech football players who were on track to graduate this semester. Some have already walked in the fall ceremony, so it’s unclear if they’ll do so today. Their majors are from what was on their athletic department bios:

• WR Corey Fuller (Sociology)
• FB Joey Phillips (Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, previously earned Human Development undergraduate degree)
• WR D.J. Coles (Sociology)
• DE J.R. Collins (Human Development)
• LB Tariq Edwards (Psychology)
• RB Tony Gregory (Human Development)
• PK Cody Journell (Marketing Management)
• C Andrew Miller (Agribusiness)
• DE Tyrel Wilson (Sociology)

These three are former players who will graduate this semester too:

• OL Tyler Barfield (Finance)
• P Scott Demler (Finance)
• OL Darian Fisher (Marketing Management)

Three more are on track to graduate this summer:

• DE James Gayle (Sociology)
• WR E.L. Smiling (Apparel, Housing and Resource Management)
• OL David Wang (Master’s, previously earned Management undergraduate degree)

For those keeping track, cornerback Antone Exum has his degree in finance and quarterback Logan Thomas has his in human development.

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– ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is ranking his top five draft-eligible players at each position heading into 2014. He did so last year and Logan Thomas was his top quarterback, so take these lists for what they’re worth so early in the year.

Nevertheless, he has given Thomas and defensive end James Gayle a little love this year. They didn’t make the top five ranking at their respective positions, but they were listed in the next five.

Kiper’s top quarterbacks, in order, were Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and Alabama’s A.J. McCarron. Thomas was third in the next group of five.

“A disappointing junior season puts some pressure on Thomas, but it’s hard to look past his size, arm and — not mentioned enough — a very good work ethic. A must-watch prospect in 2013,” Kiper wrote.

Thomas, who went to work fixing his mechanics this offseason with new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler, threw for 2,976 yards, ran for 524 and accounted for 27 touchdowns last year but also threw 16 interceptions and watched his completion percentage drop from 59.8 to 51.3.

Gayle was the 10th defensive end Kiper listed.

“Looks the part, and has one very good season under his belt, but Gayle needs to find new ways to separate from defenders,” Kiper wrote.

Gayle had 43 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and five sacks as a junior, earning second-team All-ACC honors.

– Cornerback Antone Exum, meanwhile, was named to the watch list for  the Lott Award, given annually to the defensive player who has the biggest impact on his team on and off the field.

The award, named in honor of former USC and 49ers safety Ronnie Lott, gives “equal weight to personal character as well as athletic performance” according to the trophy’s website.

Seems like a good time to link back to this feel-good story about Exum around Christmas. The senior cornerback is currently rehabbing from an ACL injury suffered this offseason with his goal of being back for the Alabama opener.

Exum had 48 tackles, a team-high five interceptions and an ACC-high 16 pass breakups last season as a junior, earning second-team All-ACC honors.

UPDATE: Linebacker Jack Tyler was also named to the list. The senior from Oakton was a first-team All-ACC pick by the coaches and a second-team pick by the media after making a team-high 119 tackles.

Virginia Tech is one of seven schools nationally to have two players on the award’s watch list.

Virginia Tech wrapped up spring practice on April 20, although questions remain heading into the summer that won’t have more definitive answers until fall camp. Nevertheless, the spring cleared up some things. Over the next two weeks, I’ll be taking a look back at what the Hokies figured out and what remains a work in progress.

Today, we’ll cover the linebackers. If you missed a previous installment, you can get to it here: quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and tight ends, offensive line and defensive line.

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THE TWO-DEEP

– Mike: Jack Tyler, Sr. (starter), Chase Williams, Jr.

– Backer: Tariq Edwards, Sr. (starter), Deon Clarke, r-Fr.

– Whip: Ronny Vandyke, So. (starter), Josh Trimble, So.

THE GOOD

The group got one of its veterans back. Edwards, who had a lost junior campaign with knee and leg injuries, was back at full speed this spring, looking a lot like the old Tariq, according to coaches. Tyler was voted a team captain, continuing his rise from walk-on to respected team leader. The big progress was probably made by the backups, though. Clarke (pictured jumping) and Devin Vandyke, a pair of second-year inside linebackers, got plenty of good work in this spring. Vandyke, the younger brother of Ronny, had three tackles for a loss in the spring game. Clarke led all defenders with nine tackles. If they continued to progress, you might be looking at the starting pair come 2014. Other players like Trimble (a special teams standout the coaches see a lot of Alonzo Tweedy in), Dahman McKinnon (now an inside linebacker because coaches didn’t seem him move well enough in space) and walk-ons Drew Burns and Derek DiNardo also got plenty of work.

THE BAD

It was a quiet spring for a couple of linebackers, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just an unusual one for a couple of guys who got attention this time last year. Ronny Vandyke moved to the top of the whip depth chart, practically unopposed, but he didn’t have any standout scrimmages or moments that come to mind. Williams, a spring standout a year ago, was another player whose name you didn’t hear much.

HELP ON THE WAY

The Hokies signed two linebackers in February, Andrew Motua’puaka and Jamieon Moss, although both seem like longer-term prospects. Motua’puaka sounds like he’s more than just Bucky Hodges‘ high school teammate, but inside linebacker depth is too strong for him to play right away. Moss is a candidate for whip, although he’ll need some seasoning.

POTENTIAL BREAKOUT

It can’t be Tyler or Edwards by default, since they’ve already had breakout seasons. Doing it again would just be following up on a previously strong year. So that leaves Ronny Vandyke, who is still growing into the whip position. Defensive coordinator Bud Foster spoke highly of him prior to last year, calling him an ideal fit for the whip position. But Vandyke stalled last year. Foster thought he was too robotic and wants him to play more fluidly and instinctively. You’ve seen what Vandyke can do when unleashed (the would-be tacklers on Pitt’s punt return team certainly know). Now it’s getting him to play like that more often.

BATTLE TO WATCH

The real battles, like most of the defense, are on the second team. With Tyler and Edwards finishing up their careers this year, it’ll be wide open at the inside linebacker spots in 2014. Williams is the oldest of the group, but Clarke and Devin Vandyke made great strides this spring. McKinnon, who shifted inside from whip, is also in the mix now that he’s back on the team. Game reps might be limited, but practice performance should got a long way in helping coaches determine a pecking order for next season.

THEY SAID IT

“At the end of the year … he was so robotic. He didn’t want to make a mistake. It was more like he was playing to do the right thing rather than, let’s do the right thing, but let’s go out and be a football player. Know what I mean?” — Foster, assessing Ronny Vandyke’s play last year

LAST WORD

There should be some comfort with this group, provided everyone stays healthy. Tyler was an All-ACC player a year ago, seizing the opportunity presented by injuries. While the Hokies lost Bruce Taylor, Edwards is an experienced guy who was starting to come into his own at the end of 2011 before the surgeries to relieve pain from a stress fracture set him back. Vandyke has great potential (and remember, he’s only a sophomore still). It’s behind them that there are questions, something the coaches hope will get sorted out as those younger players get more and more game reps. Depth issues can become major if one or two guys get hurt, but ideally Tech can keep that starting trio on the field while bringing the younger guys along.

Steger, who has served since 2000 and will give Virginia Tech’s commencement speech this week, had an integral role in several big sports stories over the years for Virginia Tech. Here’s a look back:

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– 2003, Virginia Tech leaves the Big East to join the ACC. On June 28, not long after publicly saying Tech would not accept an invitation to the league, Steger sent out a letter detailing the reasons that the Hokies would leave the Big East, their home for the previous 12 years in football, to join the ACC.

In it, he outlined the many financial reasons for Virginia Tech to make the move, words that are extremely similar to the rhetoric in the most recent round of conference expansion.

“It is critical that Virginia Tech be a member of a financially viable conference,” he wrote. “What if athletic conference revenues were reduced by several million per year? Coach [Frank] Beamer advised me that simply the uncertainty of the future of the Big East is negatively affecting football recruiting. If we cannot attract good players, our talented coaching staff will be the target of other schools. Finding ourselves several million in the red each year, we could be forced to raise our student athletic fee or begin to eliminate several non-revenue intercollegiate sports to address the problem.”

– 2006, Marcus Vick dismissed from the football team. Steger announced the dismissal of the oft-troubled quarterback after the school and athletic department gave him multiple chances to turn things around.

Vick’s numerous legal problems coupled with his infamous stomp of Louisville’s Elvis Dumervil in the Gator Bowl eventually led to his dismissal. Steger had previously suspended Vick in 2004, although the quarterback was later given a chance to return to the team.

“The university provided one last opportunity for Vick to become a citizen of the university and readmitted him in January 2005, with the proviso that any future problems would result in automatic dismissal from the team,” Steger said at the time.

– 2012, Chairs BCS Presidential Oversight Committee. Although he repeatedly declined to comment on it, Steger had an active role in changes to college football’s postseason format last  year, sitting as the chair on the BCS Presidential Oversight Committee.

The 12-member group ultimately approved the new four-team playoff, even if it was the commissioners of the big conferences and the AD at Notre Dame who came up with all the details.

ACC commissioner John Swofford praised Steger’s leadership afterward to the Daily Press: “Charles Steger just did a tremendous job in chairing this group, He’s got a terrific way about him. He’s an outstanding consensus-builder, and he was very well-versed in running the meeting. I think he was prepared to lock everybody in the room until 10 o’clock and not feed them before letting anyone out without a decision.”

Virginia Tech wrapped up spring practice on April 20, although questions remain heading into the summer that won’t have more definitive answers until fall camp. Nevertheless, the spring cleared up some things. Over the next two weeks, I’ll be taking a look back at what the Hokies figured out and what remains a work in progress.

Today, we’ll cover the defensive line. If you missed a previous installment, you can get to it here: quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and tight ends and offensive line.

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THE TWO-DEEP

– DE: James Gayle, Sr. (starter), Tyrel Wilson, Sr.

– DT: Luther Maddy, Jr. (starter), Alston Smith, r-Fr.

– DT: Derrick Hopkins, Sr. (starter), Woody Baron, Fr.

– DE: J.R. Collins, Sr. or Dadi Nicolas, So.

THE GOOD

This group, particularly the first team, performed about as well as anybody could have expected this spring. With veterans across the front, the Hokies got work in for their established players while bringing the younger class along as well. Gayle was the defensive MVP this spring, abusing offensive tackles in scrimmages and setting himself up for a potentially huge senior season. Collins had a renewed focus and attitude, something that coaches said made him look like a new player. Maddy earned recognition for having an exceptional spring, pairing with Hopkins in a formidable tackle duo. A few young guys emerged, including redshirt freshman Ken Ekanem, who looked good in the spring game and is poised for a bright future, even if reps are scarce this year. But it was Nicolas who probably made the biggest strides, emerging as not only an impact player, but potentially as a starter at end, a luxury for what is the deepest group on the team.

THE BAD

There’s not a lot of tackle depth. Behind Hopkins and Maddy, it gets dicey. Kris Harley and Nigel Williams started the spring as the top backups but finished behind Baron and Smith, per defensive line coach Charley Wiles‘ post-spring comments on Frank Beamer‘s website (although the real gap is behind the starters and the backups). That’s especially disappointing about Harley, who showed flashes last year but still hasn’t quite put everything together and played with any kind of consistency. Wiles had hoped the redshirt sophomore would start to take off this spring. It was mostly a lost spring for Wilson, who was limited by a foot injury.

HELP ON THE WAY

Wyatt Teller is the only defensive linemen in the class, and he’s a good one. But even a top-notch recruit would have trouble cracking this defensive line rotation. It sounds like Teller will being as an end, where Tech has the most depth on the team. Gayle, Collins, Nicolas and Wilson are all potential starters, and that’s not even mentioning Corey Marshall or Ekanem. Teller might be a true talent, but unless he moves to tackle or another position, it’d be surprising to see him on the field this year in anything other than special teams.

POTENTIAL BREAKOUT

While a slimmed-down, refocused Collins has a chance to regain his 2011 form, I don’t think there’s any other answer here than Nicolas. Set back last year following his offseason arrest for stealing a bike, coaches didn’t have high expectations for him last year. But he made plays whenever he was in the game, getting more playing time as t he season went on. That continued in the spring, where he was in the backfield consistently during scrimmages. Wiles is a production guy, so if someone isn’t giving him any, he’s not afraid to turn elsewhere. Nicolas is hard to ignore in that sense. He won’t supplant Gayle, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him start (or co-start) at the other end spot with Collins come fall.

BATTLE TO WATCH

The battle that will be in the spotlight more will be at defensive end, where Nicolas, Collins and Wilson are vying for reps, but given the depth there, that’s not nearly as important as the backup tackle spots. Tech know Hopkins and Maddy can’t play 70 snaps a game (or at least be effective doing so). That’s why the Baron, Smith, Harley, Williams and Jarontay Jones need to step up their games. The Hokies have slid guys inside before (Collins and Marshall have done it), but it didn’t work very well. Wiles doesn’t sound like he wants to do that this year but he might be forced to if backups don’t emerge.

THEY SAID IT

“The good thing right now with Gayle, to me last year, obviously junior year, are you coming out? All that crap. We don’t have that crap this year. He’s very focused and determined. He made the decision to stay in school, so he’s very focused, and I think he realizes this is a special opportunity, so his mind is really tight right now.” — Wiles

LAST WORD

This is undoubtedly the strength of the team. The Hokies have play-makers and, save for tackle, pretty good depth. It’s no coincidence that Tech’s defense started to excel last year when the defensive line started pulling its weight. It lost Antoine Hopkins to graduation but otherwise returns everyone else, setting expectations high for this year. Gayle and Collins have been All-ACC performers in the past, while Hopkins, Maddy and Nicolas seem like they have that potential. Tackle depth will continue to be a concern until a) a younger player steps up or b) the Hokies shift one of their ends inside, but when your primary worry is about your backups, that’s generally a good sign. Alabama lost three All-Americans on its offensive line, and while the Crimson Tide simply reloads with highly-touted replacements, Tech’s best bet against the Crimson Tide is to get a monster game out of its d-line. The talent is there. Now it’s a matter of producing.

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First, here’s a story about Corey Fuller at Detroit Lions mini-camp, where he’s trying to prove he’s more than just a guy who can stretch the field. It sounds like he’s made some nice catches early on. From the story:

Saturday, he showed more of his repertoire on the short and intermediate routes. He made a number of terrific catches within 10 and 15 yards of the line of scrimmage, including one on a comeback route with cornerback Lionel Smith draped all over him that got a few ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from teammates.

Detroit drafted him as a developmental guy, because he only had one productive year in college, but Fuller insists his game is more than just a deep threat.

“It is true, I haven’t played much football, but then I don’t think that I’m that raw,” he told the Lions’ website. “I’m just trying to show them everything I can do, as well as learn as much as I possibly can.”

Fuller, a sixth-round pick in the NFL Draft, signed a four-year, $2.28 million contract last week that includes a $123,100 signing bonus. Fellow sixth-rounder and offensive lineman Vinston Painter signed a four-year, $2.27 million deal. That included a $117,932 bonus.

In other news, former Hokies receiver Marcus Davis was waived by the New York Giants after signing a free agent deal shortly after not being selected in April’s draft.

New York signed two veterans and three rookies Saturday but also made six cuts. Davis was one of the six.

He’ll still have a shot at latching on somewhere else. Jarrett Boykin did so last year. After failing to stick with the Jaguars following a tryout, he got a chance in Green Bay and made the team’s roster.

Virginia Tech wrapped up spring practice on April 20, although questions remain heading into the summer that won’t have more definitive answers until fall camp. Nevertheless, the spring cleared up some things. Over the next two weeks, I’ll be taking a look back at what the Hokies figured out and what remains a work in progress.

Today, we’ll cover the offensive line. If you missed a previous installment, you can get to it here: quarterbacks, running backs and receivers and tight ends.

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THE TWO-DEEP

– LT:  Jonathan McLaughlin, Fr. (starter), Adam Taraschke, Fr.

– LG: Brent Benedict, Jr. or Mark Shuman, Jr.

– C:  Caleb Farris, Jr.  or Andrew Miller, Sr. Matt Arkema, Jr.

– RG: Andrew Miller, Sr. or David Wang, Sr., Jake Goins, So.

– RT: Laurence Gibson, Jr. (starter), Augie Conte, Fr.

THE GOOD

New coach Jeff Grimes took the first steps toward finding out what he has by mixing and matching players all spring, trying different combinations to get a starting five he thinks can play well with each other. It’s still a process, but he certainly got plenty of film with which to evaluate. Grimes came in with no preconceived notions, trying to find which players fit the tough mentality he’s trying to instill up front. A couple stood out. Miller proved to be the veteran leader everyone thought he’d be, even if he was battling through the latter stages of his recovery from a leg injury. McLaughlin was probably the biggest spring surprise, enrolling early out of Fork Union and jumping to the top of the depth chart at left tackle, a difficult spot for a true freshman. Gibson seemed to move himself into a position where the Hokies can feel comfortable with him starting at one of the tackle spots. Plenty of players worked at center — Farris, Miller, Arkema, Wang — to at the very least give Tech some versatility.

THE BAD

Well, the group didn’t block particularly well (which is, you know, sort of the point up front). The spring game was a particularly galling experience for the fans, who watched the supposed first-team group fail to push second- and many times third-team defensive line off the line with any kind of success. It’s clear the tip of the spear still needs to be sharpened. A couple players had up and down springs. Wang had another injury setback, again injuring his ankle and being forced to sit out. Nick Acree, a physical marvel who seems like he could have been a contributor, is likely to be done with football because of nagging knee injuries. Benedict began the spring as the top left guard, a returning part-time starter who seemed destined to keep that spot. But Shuman, who got shifted inside after getting jumped on the depth chart at tackle, worked with the first group in the spring game at left guard, leaving many to wonder just who will end up at that spot.

HELP ON THE WAY

McLaughlin and Parker Osterloh are already here, although McLaughlin is the only one of the two that seems poised to play. Signee Braxton Pfaff was the highest-rated linemen in the class, although it’s a tough jump for true freshmen coming out of high school to make (remember, McLaughlin prepped for a semester). Kyle Chung was a tight end who began making the full-time transition to offensive line his senior year, so it’s likely he’ll need some work too. Bottom line: it doesn’t look like there’s too much that this year’s class will contribute this year, which isn’t atypical.

POTENTIAL BREAKOUT

From the start, McLaughlin impressed Grimes, both with his maturity and physical style of play. That’s surprising for a true freshman, even one who had a delayed enrollment in college. He’s big enough already to play (6-4, 306) and seems to have the attitude Grimes craves, which is a bigger asset than any of the physical traits he could bring to the field. Playing left tackle as a true freshman for a BCS conference team can be tough, and McLaughlin could be in for some lessons from opposing players this year if he keeps his spot, but if he can hold his own, it would set up nicely down the line to have an established left tackle for years to come.

BATTLE TO WATCH

Put on a blindfold and throw a dart at a board with all the positions. It might seem like some of the positions crystallized by the end of spring, but Grimes isn’t afraid of competition going up close to the start of the season (and beyond) and won’t be afraid to shuffle things up if he can find a better combination of players. He’d like a starting five that he can go ahead with and build some comfort, but the reality is that the talent level up front isn’t enough to make that clear. Nobody’s spot is safe right now.

THEY SAID IT

“I’ve learned over the years, especially early on with a group, let them do different things and kind of see where they fit best. And part of it is doing that on an individual basis. Part of it will end up being based on getting our best five on the field. So where one guy plays isn’t always based on his ability, it might be based on what other guys can do better. It’s a matter of getting the best five guys on the field and getting them in spots where they can help us best and play their best.” — Grimes

LAST WORD

The approach is new, but it might take a while to get results. This was a group with plenty of issues coming into the spring that don’t figure to get resolved overnight. Yes, there’s trying to instill a new mentality, a tough-minded one that’s in line with Grimes’ coaching style. But there’s also the fact that the Hokies have to replace Vinston Painter, Nick Becton and Michael Via, three veterans of the group. There were some intriguing things the group did this spring, but it was never with any consistency. Tech didn’t push people off the line in scrimmages or the spring game, which is what the goal is. Grimes has said building the right mentality in players comes through recruiting, identifying them before they even get to Tech. This is an inherited group for him, one that’s not devoid of talent, but still one that’s trying to adjust to a new coach, a new scheme and a new attitude. And that takes time, certainly more than 15 spring practices allow.

Virginia Tech wrapped up spring practice on April 20, although questions remain heading into the summer that won’t have more definitive answers until fall camp. Nevertheless, the spring cleared up some things. Over the next two weeks, I’ll be taking a look back at what the Hokies figured out and what remains a work in progress.

Today, we’ll cover the receivers and tight ends. If you missed a previous installment, you can get to it here: quarterbacks and running backs.

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THE TWO-DEEP

– WR: D.J. Coles, Sr. (starter), Josh Stanford, r-Fr.

– WR: Demitri Knowles, So. (starter), Kevin Asante, So.

– TE: Ryan Malleck, Jr. (starter), Duan Perez-Means, Jr.

THE GOOD

The group showed a renewed spirit under new coach Aaron Moorehead, whose energy was infectious. Sesveral players remarked about how practice was fun again. The two spring standouts at receiver were probably Knowles and Stanford. Knowles began to round out his game more, becoming more than just a deep threat and polishing up his routes. Stanford, who took a medical redshirt last year with a knee injury (something that’s still pending, by the way), made major strides all around, gaining Logan Thomas‘ trust in the process. He had three catches for 86 yards in the spring game and showed he’ll be a big contributor this year. Coles lined up all over the place, and it looks like Tech will use him some as an H-back to exploit mismatches. At tight end, Malleck seems like the well-rounded player who will be the starter. He had the only offensive touchdown in the spring game. Zack McCray might be new to the position, but as Thomas’ cousin, he clearly has a comfort with him. A four-catch, 65-yard spring game was a nice capper.

THE BAD

Drops and drops and drops. Oh, the drops. There were so many. By everyone, In every scrimmage, it seemed. They were so plentiful that Frank Beamer made it a point in his post-spring press conference to note that pretty much every receiver and tight end on the team needs to catch about 100 balls a day on the JUGS machine. Think that might be a concern? The other downside was the inconsistency of the groups. The receivers are still extremely inexperienced. That’s most evident with guys down the depth chart like Joel Caleb and Charley Meyer who haven’t been in the program long (and in Caleb’s case, hasn’t even been playing receiver for a full year). Ditto for the tight ends, where Perez-Means and McCray are converted defensive linemen who are still learning the position.

HELP ON THE WAY

There’s not a ton of players who seem like they could contribute immediately. David Prince will start out at receiver and probably Deon Newsome too (although he’s been mentioned as a DB candidate by Bud Foster as well). Quarterback Carlis Parker took some reps at wide receiver this spring after enrolling early, although he looked very raw at a position he’s never played before. Coaches mentioned on signing day that Kendall Fuller could be a guy who could possibly play offense too. That might be a stretch this year, considering how excited the defensive staff is to get him on the field early.

POTENTIAL BREAKOUT

Since Knowles established himself a little bit last year, let’s go with Stanford. The Canadian-born receiver was one of the last members of the 2012 class to sign, but it’s clear the Hokies got a steal on that one. He was going to be in Tech’ s plans last year before the knee injury set him back. He seems eager to have a big role this year, and is a smart player who picks things up quickly. If the Hokies go with three wide receivers, expect him to be one of them.

BATTLE TO WATCH

The trio of Coles, Knowles and Stanford seems like a very good bet to get tons of playing time. It’s the players below them on the depth chart who will be competing to get on the field. Guys like Asante, Caleb, Meyer, E.L. Smiling and Willie Byrn are in that second-tier that needs to advance their games enough for the coaches to trust putting them on the field with any regularity. Whoever can get over that hump will play, because Tech won’t be able to get by with just three receivers.

THEY SAID IT

“I’d rather have a group of guys that are a little more established, but you know what? This is my group. Of course you can mold them the way you need to mold them, but we’re going to have to grow up fast, because as you guys know, the ACC is a good football league and there are a lot of good football teams, and if you go in flat, you’re going to have some really slow Saturdays. If you come in up tempo and every week you’re coming in and you’re fired up, you’re ready to go and you’ve got play-makers, you’ll be good.” — Moorehead

LAST WORD

It’ll be a brand new look at receiver this year for the Hokies, who have bid adieu to Danny Coale, Jarrett Boykin, Marcus Davis, Corey Fuller and Dyrell Roberts in the last two years. Those five guys caught nearly all the team’s passes. With the exception of Coles, it’s a fairly inexperienced group, one that’s going to need to progress rapidly for Thomas to achieve a comfort with them that makes passing games so effective. There’s some promise. Coles, if he gets healthy and in shape, could be primed for a big year. Knowles and Stanford have promise. And Malleck is a decent option at tight end. But Tech will need more than them to be effective, leaving plenty of opportunities for whoever wants to seize them.

The Hokies and Wolverines will play each other in 2020 and 2021, the schools announced Thursday. The first game will be in Ann Arbor’s Michigan Stadium on Sept. 19, 2020. The second will be at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg on Sept. 11, 2021.

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“I am pleased that [Michigan athletic director] Dave Brandon and I have been able to work out this agreement,” Tech athletic director Jim Weaver said. “Michigan is the winningest college football program in the country, and it will be exciting to have the Wolverines come to Lane Stadium.”

Virginia Tech and Michigan have only met once before, but it was a thriller. The Wolverines edged the Hokies 23-20 in overtime, a finish most Tech fans still lament for the overturned touchdown catch by Danny Coale.

The Hokies have a Michigan connection on the staff right now. New offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler was a quarterback for the Wolverines in the mid-90′s, getting his coaching start there as a GA and returning later as the quarterbacks coach from 2002-07. Tech coach Frank Beamer consulted with former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr before hiring Loeffler in January.

Tech is currently 1-1 all-time against teams that were in the Big Ten at the time of the meeting, with both meetings coming in bowl games. Prior to their Sugar Bowl loss to Michigan in 2012, the Hokies beat Indiana 45-20 in the 1993 Independence Bowl.

It continues a trend of Big Ten non-conference scheduling for the Hokies, who have upcoming home-and-home series with Ohio State (2014-15) and Wisconsin (2016-17).

Tech’s other marquee non-conference game coming up is a trip to Notre Dame in 2016. A second game against the Fighting Irish should take place in Blacksburg from 2017-19 when the second cycle of the ACC’s scheduling agreement with Notre Dame begins.

It fits with Weaver’s scheduling philosophy of having at least one BCS-level opponent each season. The only seasons the Hokies lack that type of opponent are in 2018 and ’19, although those spots are sure to be filled in time.

Michigan had been on Weaver’s radar for a while. He said in the fall that he had discussed a possible home-and-home series with a Big Ten school, mentioning the Wolverines as a possibility on the Tech Talk Live radio show. But that an agreement had to be put on hold as conference realignment re-emerged.

He hinted at a Big Ten matchup last month when the Notre Dame game was announced but wouldn’t divulge the opponent until the contracts were signed.

At the time, Weaver said he has had conversations with a number of Big Ten schools, although he didn’t say which ones. Virginia Tech reportedly has had interest in scheduling Penn State. Weaver is a Penn State graduate, playing and later coaching there for Joe Paterno.

Here is an updated look at Virginia Tech’s future non-conference schedules:

• 2014: vs. William & Mary, vs. East Carolina, at Ohio State, vs. Western Michigan
• 2015: vs. Furman, at East Carolina, vs. Ohio State
• 2016: vs. Liberty, vs. Wisconsin, vs. East Carolina, at Notre Dame
• 2017: vs. Delaware, at Wisconsin, at East Carolina, vs. Old Dominion
• 2018: vs. William & Mary, at Old Dominion, vs. East Carolina
• 2019: vs. Charlotte, vs. Old Dominion, at East Carolina
• 2020: vs. Liberty, vs. East Carolina, at Michigan
• 2021: vs. Richmond, vs. Michigan

Virginia Tech wrapped up spring practice on April 20, although questions remain heading into the summer that won’t have more definitive answers until fall camp. Nevertheless, the spring cleared up some things. Over the next two weeks, I’ll be taking a look back at what the Hokies figured out and what remains a work in progress.

Today, we’ll cover the running backs. If you missed a previous installment, you can get to it here: quarterbacks.

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THE TWO-DEEP

– RB: J.C. Coleman, So., or Trey Edmunds, r-Fr., or Michael Holmes, So.

– FB: Riley Beiro, Jr. (starter), Greg Gadell, Jr.

THE GOOD

The stated goal at the start of spring was to start whittling the field so that the Hokies didn’t employ a four-tailback approach like last year. For the most part, Tech  got some clarity. Coleman, Edmunds and Holmes emerged as the three guys most likely to get the first carry in the Georgia Dome against Alabama come August, even if an exact pecking order hasn’t yet been decided. All three showed some things. Coleman, who began spring atop the depth chart (more of a nod to last year’s finish than anything), seemed to pick up where he left off. Holmes, who looked bigger, ran with more confidence. And Edmunds, who seems to be the fan favorite for the gig, showed flashes of why coaches talk about him so highly, displaying a size-speed combo that would seem to fit the mold of what Scot Loeffler and Co. want at tailback in what is presumed will be a run-heavy offense.

THE BAD

Holmes’ status is in limbo after his arrest on charges of malicious wounding and simple assault last month. His indefinite suspension means he’s away from the team during summer workouts, although with a legal battle ahead of him, that might be the least of his worries. On the field, the group still left something to be desired. The trio combined for only 34 yards on 17 carries in the spring game, hardly the breakout performance many fans hoped to see (although, like last year, much of the backs’ success will depend on the holes created by the offensive line). Most disappointing was the group’s short-yardage shortcomings, a problem all of last year. There still wasn’t enough separation among the three for running backs coach Shane Beamer to declare a starter. Although he claims Tech will have a featured back this year, the circumstances sound similar to last year. The backs had some injuries that hindered things in the spring too. Tony Gregory sat out with a rib injury. Beiro, the presumed starter at fullback, was still coming back slowly from a shoulder injury.

HELP ON THE WAY

At this point, Tech probably has to proceed as though Drew Harris won’t be able to help them in the fall. He’s at a junior college in New York, still trying to get his academic requirements in order for the NCAA Clearinghouse. How that group will rule is anyone’s guess. So too is if Harris will stick with his VT commitment (he’s currently a recruitable athlete and has garnered interest from Florida State and Arkansas). D.J. Reid is another signee, although given the glut of running backs near the top of the depth chart, a redshirt season seems in order, provided he qualifies.

POTENTIAL BREAKOUT

Of the three potential starters, Edmunds seems like he has the highest ceiling. He can stand up linebackers in Tech’s “T-Time” Drill, has the explosiveness to break a big play and has the kind of game — put a foot in the ground and cut upfield — that’s conducive to what the Hokies are trying to do in the running game. Edmunds and Holmes seem like the two backs big and strong enough to be workhorses. Holmes’ situation might have made the coaches’ decision about who gets more reps easier come fall.

BATTLE TO WATCH

Obviously it’s the top spot. The spring started with a group of five backs at the top. Chris Mangus fell back a little. Gregory too, with his injury, leaving Coleman, Edmunds and Holmes at the top. Your starter will come from those three, although it could take some time to figure out who it will be.

THEY SAID IT

“Competition throughout the summer is good. I can assure you going into the Alabama game that we will have a pecking order. No doubt about it. But if we came out of the spring and said, ‘Hey, I feel like we’ve got three starting running backs,’ I’ve got no problems with that right now.” — Shane Beamer

LAST WORD

The Hokies are looking for a total package at running  back. Whether any one player on the roster can fit that bill at this point in his career remains to be seen. All three of the potential starters have question marks — Coleman’s size, Edmunds’ experience, Holmes’ legal situation and struggles last year as the top guy. But all three bring something to the table. It sounds a lot like last year, although Beamer has sworn not to go down the road of “equal reps for all,” an approach that some feel stunted the growth of the backs last season. A new coordinator and fresh approach might do the running game good. Loeffler has said repeatedly that you have to run the football to be successful. This group will need to step up its game to make that happen.