Excerpts:

NO. 24 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES

Returning Production: 6th

The Hokies are coming off an 8-5 season and return 18 starters from a unit that made drastic strides late last season after a disastrous September. Things are looking up again for Justin Fuente in Blacksburg. Hendon Hooker taking a step in Year 2 as the starter is a must. Hooker was efficient last year (13 TDs, 2 INTs), but the Hokies need him to continue that with increased responsibility. The defense should be good, Bud Foster or not. Almost the entire unit is back and elevated DC Justin Hamilton gives a top 40 defense some continuity. The Hokies’ secondary should be among the best in the country with star cornerback Caleb Farley leading the way.

NO. 5 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS
Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons (Photo: Icon Sportswire, Getty)
Returning Production: 47th

This might be the year Penn State breaks through and reaches the CFB Playoff. The Nittany Lions return nine starters on offense. Losing speedy receiver KJ Hamler is unquestionably a huge blow – he was the instant offense in Happy Valley. But Penn State will feature one of the best running back groups in the country (Journey Brown, Noah Cain, Devyn Ford) alongside a QB (Sean Clifford) and o-line built to run the ball. In some ways bringing in Kirk Ciarrocca, a purveyor of a zone-heavy run system, is going to fit the offense even better than the team’s previous principles that often required the line to pull. Expect plenty of RPOs and longer developing downfield routes, which fits some of the Nittany Lions' unproven recieving pieces. Penn State’s losses are much heavier on defense (Yetur Gross-Matos, Garrett Taylor and a few other starters). Yet the Nittany Lions are going to be fine defensively thanks to a mix of elite recruiting and linebacker Micah Parsons, who will be on the short list of the best defensive players in college football next season. The Ohio State bugaboo remains for Penn State. But the Buckeyes do have to travel to Happy Valley this year.



[Post edited by VTVOICE at 06/11/2020 12:21PM]