Hokies Offseason Blog - 2010 Predictions

VT Predictions:

The recruiting class coming in will go down as one of the bests, amazing job restocking both lines.

Defense will struggle early then steadily improve to another top 20 performance.
Offense will be top 20 too.

Ryan Williams will not be a Heisman hopeful with Evans back.

Taylor will double his TD passes from last season.

Steven Friday will lead the team in sacks, but John Graves will be our best lineman.

Jayron Hosley, Eddie Whitley, and Davon Morgan will step in nicely at field corner, safety, and rover, and the pass defense will be even better than last year and will be top 5 in the nation.

The run defense will be a little bit worse though. Losing 3 starters on the line, the Grimm Reaper, and Chancellor will hurt.

I will miss saying the Reaper…

I will use the hell out of “Sausage Fingers” to compensate.

We will stop the triple option damnit!

Boise State will get abused in RFK.

We will win the ACC and get back to the BCS.


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ACC Predictions:

Georgia Tech’s triple option won’t be as devastating with Paul Johnson recruited skill players.

UNC’s defense will be top 5 in the nation.

The Atlantic will be even worse this year than last, and the top 4 ACC teams will be in the Coastal.

Florida State will win the Atlantic and get its swagger back.
Miami will not.

Rebuilding will not be easy at UVA.

Maryland will be worse.

Duke will return to the basement.

The ACC will fail to fill all of its bowl placements again.

At least one of the following teams will lose to a non FBS school: Duke, Maryland, NCST, UVA, Wake.

Preseason Top 10:

1) Alabama – I’m not entirely convinced Alabama will be the best team next year with how the rest of the top 6 or 7 are looking, especially considering the huge losses on defense. But I’m giving credit where credit is due. You win the national championship, return all of your key players on offense, and recruit the way Alabama does you get the #1 spot.

2) Boise State – Finished the season in the top 5 (possibly should have finished #2), and they return an astonishing 23 of 24 starters only losing an NFL talent CB, Kyle Wilson. Admittedly a huge loss, but that is only a single starter you have to replace from a team that didn’t lose last year.

3) Ohio State – So maybe the Big Ten is better than I thought. Their work in the bowl games made a huge statement. And with Pryor (possibly) turning the corner and returning most of the defense and pretty much all of the offense, Ohio State is poised to make another run to get blown out in the championship game. Just kidding (I think). Solely placed them ahead of Oregon because they just beat them even though I think Oregon has a better year next year. Makes sense to me at least…

4) Oregon – Very young team returning all of their starters except 1 on offense and 2 on defense. LaMichael James could make a run at the Heisman if he keeps up the numbers he put up last year.

5) VT – Hokies had a good season offensively for the first time in years and return most of the key players who made that possible. The losses of Render, Wang, and Boone will hurt both the run game and pass game, but there are athletes everywhere. The defense will have some rebuilding to do and this will be one of our least experienced defensive lines in years, but Bud Foster is still the coach isn't he?

6) Iowa – Returning Stanzi and most of their stifling defense will keep Iowa in the top 10. They are losing a lot of players off their offensive line which is always a bad sign.

7) TCU – The Horned Frogs are only losing two players on offense (including their starting running back) and should be just as explosive on offense this season. But key losses on the defensive side, namely Jerry Hughes, will hurt.

8) Arkansas – Ryan Mallett is coming back for his senior season and will lead a strong offense for the Razorbacks. They are returning most of the starters on both sides of the ball. They could be a dark horse to win the SEC which would automatically qualify them for the national championship game (right?). With Florida losing their whole team and the weird nonsense with Meyer, someone will have to step up in the SEC.

9) Texas A&M – To be honest, I don’t like anyone in the Big 12. Texas and Oklahoma are losing a lot of key players, Nebraska is losing Suh which had more to do with their success than anyone on any team I’d wager, and Texas Tech lost their coach. But I do kind of like Texas A&M and their young offense led by QB Jerrod Johnson. And if they can bring in a defensive coordinator like the guy from Air Force they could be ready to compete this season.

10) Oklahoma – With all the injuries Oklahoma had this year on offense they did get a lot of playing time from their youngsters. This will translate to a good year next year and a possible return to the Big 12 Championship. Expect a big offensive year from Oklahoma and a lot of new faces on defense. The last pick was probably pretty stupid so I put Oklahoma in here to follow A&M up for when they flounder.

Heisman Hopefuls:

1) Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

2) Kellen More, QB, Boise State

3) LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

4) Ryan Mallet, QB, Arkansas

5) Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State

No I don’t think Ryan Williams will be able put up Heisman numbers when he is splitting carries with Evans, Oglesby, and Wilson (hopefully we can redshirt Wilson). Also, I’m sure some Big 12 QB will put up astronomical numbers and be hyped into the list. My guess is Landry Jones from Oklahoma or Jerrod Johnson from Texas A&M.

And just remember, predictions don't have to be right!