After a standout first season at Virginia Tech, star RB Bhayshul Tuten has announced on Instagram that he will return for the 2024 season rather than enter the 2024 NFL Draft.
All-ACC RB Bhayshul Tuten has just announced on Instagram that he is returning to Virginia Tech for the 2024 season instead of going to the NFL Draft. Massive news for the #Hokies who have pretty much everyone who could return backhttps://t.co/fJZ4IWL9kX
— Tim Thomas (@TimThomasTLP) December 16, 2023
Tuten finished the season with 727 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns while averaging 4.7 yards per carry plus 25 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns, with the NC A&T transfer likely to pass 1,000 total yards of offense in the Military Bowl. He also shined on special teams with two kick return touchdowns while averaging 30.6 yards per kick return. His overall performance helped him earn All-ACC Second Team honors as an all-purpose player and Honorable Mention honors as RB.
Despite Tech's issues in the trenches, Tuten was able to overcome in an offense that got better at getting him in space as the season went along, enabling him to deliver big play after big play. Tuten showed plenty of great burst and speed being able to get around the edge again and again on off tackle runs and pitch plays to keep the Hokies on schedule and produce big plays.
He also was a tackle breaking machine doing so early in the season just to get back to the line of scrimmage and then getting more one-on-one opportunities later in the season that enabled him to launch big plays.
He also was a difference maker on special teams who helped the Hokies win the field position battle and had some big momentum-shifting kick returns from his one against Florida State that helped the Hokies get back in it coming out of halftime to his UVA one that kept the Cavaliers from sustaining any sort of momentum.
There's no doubt that Tuten should likely be Preseason All-ACC in 2024 whether that's as an all-purpose player and/or as a running back.
With Tuten back in the fold, the Hokies basically have their whole offense back with Kyron Drones at the helm plus Tuten, Da'Quan Felton, Jaylin Lane, and Ali Jennings surrounding him. They also have quality depth with guys like Malachi Thomas and Stephen Gosnell back plus a TE room with promise led by Benji Gosnell though it remains to be seen if Nick Gallo uses a medical redshirt and returns or not.
Tech also has already added one transfer portal offensive lineman in Georgia State's Montavious Cunningham in pursuit of improving Tech's weak point that they were able to largely scheme around this past fall.
Virginia Tech made strides throughout the season on offense in 2023 and with a higher level of continuity than most teams will have for 2024, the Hokies should be prime to take their offense to the next level and then some.
