It was a solid year for the defense. It wasn't a dominant run, but for the most part, it finished in the middle of the ACC pack in every area but in the one that really matters - scoring defense.The Hokies allowed just 22.8 points per game, and now the offense has to carry more of the load. When the D allowed fewer than 24 points, Virginia Tech was 6-0. It was 0-7 when giving up that many or more.But the defense needs more production, and in comes Sam Siefkes to take over the coordinator duties after spending the last several years in the NFL, mostly handling linebackers.
Virginia Tech Hokies Preview 2025: Defense
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN2025 Virginia Tech PreviewVirginia Tech Offense Breakdown Season Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season - So what needs fixing? Not as much as everyone might think. The pressure was great, and the takeaways were there. However, the line needs a bit of an overhaul, and that's where the portal comes in.Kelvin Gilliam is the mainstay up front as a solid all-around producer at one tackle spot. Arias Nash (Mercer) is only 278 pounds, but he's the best signing for the line from the transfer portal. He has elite quickness to get behind the line in a rotation with 283-pound Kemari Copeland, who looked strong early last year before getting knocked out for the year with a torn tricep.Ben Bell (Texas State) made 19 sacks and 31 tackles for loss over his last four years, and James Djonkam (Eastern Michigan) made 12 TFLs in his one season with the Eagles.
- The linebacking corps might be the team's biggest strength. Jaden Keller is a big 6-3, 235-pounder with range and pop, leading the way with 83 tackles. He's in the middle, second-leading tackler Caleb Woodson returns on the outside - he made 72 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss - and Jordan Bass (Pitt) is built to be a pass rusher and playmaker at one outside spot.
- Interceptions weren't a problem for the secondary, but it lost top corner Mansoor Delane to LSU, and excellent safety Jalen Stroman, who missed almost all of last year, is off to Notre Dame.Isaiah Cash (Sam Houston) was a good signing for one safety spot after making 67 tackles with two picks and ten broken-up passes. Tyson Flowers (Rice) has to find a spot somewhere in the safety mix, and Christian Ellis (New Mexico) enters after cranking up 81 tackles in the last two seasons with the Lobos.The corners will be fine with a little bit of time together. Dante Lovett saw plenty of work in the mix and now has a spot to himself on the other side of Isaiah Brown-Murray (East Carolina), an ultra-quick veteran who should be a broken-up pass machine. Season Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season2025 Virginia Tech PreviewVirginia Tech Offense Breakdown
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