We continue our preview series here at The Tech Lunch Pail as we make our Offensive and Defensive MVP predictions for the Hokies. While the offensive choice likely seems obvious for Virginia Tech, the defensive one isn’t so straightforward.
With that said, let’s get into our picks.
Tim Thomas: Kyron Drones and Antwaun Powell-Ryland
I won’t get long-winded in Kyron Dromes but the combination of his stardom and the importance of QB play in modern football makes him a true MVP in the sense of the valuable part. The Hokies need Drones to take the next step to being a top 10-15 quarterback in the country and possibly the best in the ACC.
There’s no reason to think he can’t do that, especially with what he showed as a dual-threat playmaker who is a perfect for all the RPOs and misdirection that the Hokies like to run. He also has all the offensive weapons he could want surrounding him, all of whom he has a full season of experience with.
I did heavily consider Bhayshul Tuten for this given his dynamic playmaking potential as a running back and a kick returner. Once the Hokies made some adjustments to where Tuten wasn’t breaking tackles just to get back to the line of scrimmage, he was one of the best running backs in the league and could easily have a 1,200+ yard rushing season this fall.
Defensively, I’m going with Antwaun Powell-Ryland after the 757 native dominated opponents last season racking up 40 tackles including 14.5 for loss with 9.5 sacks plus three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. The advanced numbers are even better as he forced 48 total pressures per PFF and received an 80.6 defensive grade for the season from them.
There’s also room for APR to grow as a defensive end after being a little too aggressive at times on run defense last season, putting himself out of position to make a play. That’s an area where I think APR should show some growth in this fall. He also may get more one-on-one opportunities given the interior threat that Aeneas Peebles is along with the continued development of guys like Cole Nelson and Keyshawn Burgos.
Dorian Strong also received consideration after a dominant season, but Strong may not get the chances to make as many big plays like APR will.
Ryan Duvall: Kyron Drones and Aeneas Peebles
A good quarterback is a staple of a good football team - and I believe that the Virginia Tech Hokies have found their guy in Kyron Drones.
The redshirt junior came to Blacksburg from Baylor a season ago, and quickly shined due to his dual-threat ability (notably great runner in CFB 25).
Taking over for Grant Wells in week three against Rutgers, Drones took the reins and never gave them back, tossing 17 touchdown passes to just three interceptions, while finishing just 45 rushing yards short of the lead for the Hokies with 818 and five scores.
Now, with a full offseason as QB1, and the return of versatile running back Bhayshul Tuten & the ‘Bad Boys,’ Drones could go nuclear in 2024. While the Heisman is a long shot, ACC Player of the Year honors could definitely be in the Texas native’s future if Tech can make a run at the ACC Championship.
Well would you look at that. Two transfers could be the most valuable players on a Brent Pry led team that clearly knows how to execute in the portal.
Peebles, a standout senior defensive lineman from Duke was All-ACC third team a year ago, clogging the line of scrimmage with 43 total tackles, 8.5 for loss (five sacks), in addition to both a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Adding Peebles to a line that already features a monster off the edge in Antuwan Powell-Ryland is dangerous. But when you consider the Hokies added several defensive lineman this offseason (Kemari Copeland, Kevin Gilliam, Khurtiss Perry), there will need to be a veteran leader, and Peebles could be both a physical and vocal leader for Virginia Tech in 2024.
Tucker Terry: Kyron Drones and Aeneas Peebles
While this may be the boring pick, Virginia Tech is going to go as far as Kyron Drones takes them, and I expect him to build off of his great season last year and prove himself as one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.
Last season, Drones threw for just over 2,000 yards on a terrific 17:3 touchdown to interception ratio, while effectively turning the Hokies season around after taking the starting job. He did this without his number one receiver, Ali Jennings, who got hurt just two weeks into the regular season. Jennings is back, along with a strong supporting cast of Jaylin Lane and Da’Quan Felton, who combined for over 1,100 receiving yards. With this receiver room, as well as one of the best running backs in the ACC in Bhayshul Tuten, Drones has all the tools to quarterback the strongest offensive attack the Hokies have had in years.
After a long offseason of work, including training with Shadeur Sanders and Cam Ward in the spring, I expect Drones to pick up right where he left off, as well as improving his 58% completion to at least 60%.
Defensively, my MVP honors was between All-ACC Third Team cornerback Dorian Strong, All ACC Third Team defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles. In the end, I settled on Peebles because of the new dimension I feel he can add to the defense as the Hokies premier transfer addition. As a senior at Duke, he led the Blue Devils in tackles for a loss with eight and a half, was second in sacks with four, and registered 40 tackles on the season. Peebles’ interior pass rushing will only improve the Hokies’ passing defense which already paced the ACC without him, while also improving a flawed run defense that allowed 4.2 yards per carry just a season ago.
In the end, Virginia Tech has a chance to have the best defense in the ACC if Peebles remains an All-ACC level talent in Blacksburg.
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