The Virginia Tech Hokies (6-6) punched their ticket to Duke’s Mayo Bowl after defeating their in-state rival UVa in the final week of the regular season. They will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-5) in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday, January 3rd.
Since taking down the Cavaliers on November 30th, the Hokies have been plagued by the transfer portal and the NFL Draft, where players who entered the portal or declared for the draft have opted out of Tech’s bowl game, leaving the Hokies with a relatively young and less experienced roster.
Tech will likely enter the opening kickoff against Minnesota without the following starters and significant role players on the offensive and defensive sides of the football:
- QB Kyron Drones (injury)
- S Jaylen Jones (injury)
- RB Bhayshul Tuten (opt out)
- WR Da'Quan Felton (opt-out)
- WR Jaylin Lane (opt-out)
- OG Kaden Moore (opt out)
- DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland (opt-out)
- DT Aeneas Peebles (opt-out),
- STAR Keonta Jenkins (opt-out)
- CB Dorian Strong (opt-out)
- CB Mansoor Delane (portal)
- LT Xavier Chaplin (portal)
- C Braelin Moore (portal)
- S Mose Phillips (portal).
- LB Keli Lawson (portal)
While the Hokies will take on the Golden Gophers with a limited roster, this allows younger, less experienced athletes to step up in pursuit of Tech’s second straight bowl victory. Here are Tech’s keys to the game for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
