Our 2022 Virginia Tech football preview continues today as our staff makes some bold predictions for the Hokies this upcoming season. Check out those and the rest of our preview stories to date below.
- Breakout Player Predictions
- Player Our Staff Is Most Excited To See
- Offensive and Defensive MVP Predictions
Tim Thomas: Virginia Tech Won't Have a Single All-ACC 1st Teamer
This is one I hope I am wrong about, but while I could see Virginia Tech have several players earn All-ACC honors outside of the First Team, I think the Hokies get shut out from having an All-ACC First Team for the second-straight season. If that happens, it would be the first time since the Hokies joined the ACC.
This team doesn't have a lot of weaknesses, but one of the biggest is the lack of star talent that can really transform and win games for you. There's a couple guys who have shown that type of talent on a consistent basis in Chamarri Conner and Dax Hollifield, but there's a lot of just potential after that.
Dorian Strong, Kaden Moore, Parker Clements, and Peter Moore seem like some of the top upside picks who have shown plenty of potential and could make the jump to having massive years that give them shots at All-ACC First Team honors. Strong and Kaden Moore particularly fit that bill while special teams can be a wild card but Peter Moore definitely has a good chance though being a really good punter on a middling team may hurt him some.
Chamarri Conner would still be my top pick to prove me wrong with Strong, Kaden Moore, and Peter Moore likely ranked after that but I have a hard time seeing an All-ACC First Teamer even if they're are plenty of Second and Third Team, and Honorable Mention level guys.
Carter Hill: Virginia Tech Could Stumble Into Eight Wins
When looking at the landscape of Virginia Tech football in 2022, it’s actually quite a tough task to come up with a list of bold predictions as the season-opener against Old Dominion continues to loom closer. The reasoning? Well, no one really knows what to expect from the Hokies in the upcoming campaign. Myself included.
You could convince me 5-7, 6-6, 7-5 and potentially 8-4 are all very real possibilities. And with the schedule the maroon and orange are set to endure in 2022, it’s actually not at all out of the question for Virginia Tech to secure an unthinkable eight-win season to kick off the Brent Pry era in his return to Blacksburg as the Hokies’ head man.
Think about it, here's how I categorize it. Old Dominion, Wofford, Georgia Tech, Duke and Liberty are five games Tech absolutely should win. I’m sorry, that’s just how it is.
Then you got four toss-up games in the form of Boston College, West Virginia, North Carolina and Virginia. That gives you a realistic possibility to hit the eight-win mark should Virginia Tech take care of business when it certainly should.
Pittsburgh, Miami and NC State will most definitely present challenges. But at the end of the day, it’s not impossible for the Hokies to pick up a victory against one of those three foes.
Long story short, eight wins isn’t as far-fetched as some may imagine.
Do I think it’s likely? No. Do I think it’s doable? Absolutely.
Will Locklin: 1. Kaleb Smith Makes An All-ACC Team
In Smith’s time in Blacksburg, he’s long gone under the radar. The previous coaching staff never did utilize his talents the best and there were always guys ahead of him like Tre Turner. But with Turner and others gone, it’s Kaleb Smith’s time to shine under the bright lights of Lane Stadium.
He’s the WR1 for this team and has a proven track record of productivity when given a large share of targets. Smith hauled in 20 receptions for 260 yards and two touchdowns in 2021. Modest numbers but once more, he was overshadowed by other playmakers in last year's Hokie offense.
Grant Wells will want to trust the elder statesman of the wide receiver room. WRs coach Fontel Mines has been brought in as Tech’s WR’s coach and will get the best out of Smith. Though his production hasn’t wowed fans in the past, the breakout season for Kaleb Smith is just on the horizon.
2. Return Of The Lunch Pail Inspires Top 5 Defense in ACC
As all Virginia Tech football fans knowthat the lunch pail is back and so will be Tech’s defense.
Last year, the Hokies allowed over 393 total yards of offense per game in the 13 games they played in. After a strong start, the defense routinely folded like a cheap tent which hurt the Hokies chances in many of their games during the latter part of the season.
With Brent Pry now at the helm, Tech’s defense will automatically improve. It starts up front where Tech has a host of great interior defensive lineman. Tyjuan Garbutt, Norell Pollard, and Mario Kendricks bring unique skill sets to the table and will be able to stop the run as well as force opposing QBs out of the pocket with their interior pressure.
The middle will be held up by fan favorite Dax Hollifield. Hollifield has been one of the most consistent forces in this Hokie defense since he took his first snap in the maroon and orange.
Tech has some contributors on the back line too. Armani Chatman and Dorian Strong had their weak points last year but with more development from CBs coach Derek Jones, they will be hard nosed and more disciplined in 2022. As for the safeties, Chamarri Conner and Nasir Peoples will keep up their stellar play and guard the deep middle of the field well.
There’s a lot of talent on this defense and with a defensive minded coach in Pry and a great staff, they will put it together in 2022 and form a top 5 defense in the ACC.
