BLACKSBURG – College football is back and Virginia Tech kicks off its season with a trip to Nashville, Tennessee to face Vanderbilt for the 10th time in series history. It’s been 35 years since these teams last met and they’ll be televised live on ESPN at FirstBank Stadium on Saturday, August 31st at 12:00 p.m. ET. Let’s dive into this week’s edition of Know the Foe, presented by AAA, to see what Vanderbilt has in store.
The Hokies will face a Commodores team led by head coach Clark Lea that finished 2-10 last season, including an 0-8 record in SEC play. Vanderbilt enters its season opener as a double-digit underdog and looks to start a new chapter with the hiring of Jerry Kill. Kill, who was named senior adviser to the head coach and senior offensive advisor in January, brings a wealth of experience, having led New Mexico State to consecutive bowl games and a berth in the Conference USA championship the past two seasons. Also of note, he spent time on the Virginia Tech football staff under Justin Fuente as a special assistant to the head coach.
Newly hired offensive coordinator Tim Beck, also from New Mexico State, is expected to implement an RPO-based run-first offense that aims to pressure the defense from multiple directions. The scheme starts with former New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia, who is coming off a stellar season that saw him named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year. Pavia is a dual-threat quarterback with 39 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing scores in his career. Vanderbilt will also rely on returning running back Sedrick Alexander, who will look to challenge the Hokies’ stout defense on the ground. After the departure of Vanderbilt’s top three receivers from last season, new faces such as Junior Sherrill, Quincy Skinner Jr., Richie Hoskins and Loic Fouonji will get a chance to prove themselves in the opener.
Defensively, the Commodores have struggled to control both the pass and the run. Last season, the Commodores ranked 109th in yards allowed per attempt through the air and 104th in rushing defense, highlighting potential weaknesses that offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen could exploit. Amid several personnel changes, head coach Clark Lea will take over defensive playcalling duties himself. Key players to watch include safety CJ Taylor, a versatile defender who led the team in interceptions and forced fumbles and finished second in tackles and sacks. Linebacker Langston Patterson is another standout returning player who leads the team in tackles, including 33 run stops.
Rounding out the coaching changes was the promotion of Jeff LePak from analyst to special teams coordinator. LePak takes over a strong special teams unit anchored by punter Matthew Hayball and long snapper Wesley Schelling, who was named to the First Team and Second Team All-SEC, respectively.
Pry and the Hokies look to set the tone for the season in Nashville. With Tech returning to Blacksburg in September, now is the perfect time to secure tickets for upcoming home games. Don’t miss the excitement, especially Thursday night’s highly anticipated game against Boston College on October 17th at 7:30 p.m..ET.
