We've already seen what Virginia Tech is like on both the offensive and defensive fronts, but there's still a lot to break out on special teams before the 2024 campaign.
The Hokies will have some familiar faces returning, but there's a lot to like about the group as a whole. Let's take a quick look at what Tech looks like on that side of the ball.
place kicker
Definitely a special teams coordinator. Stu Holt We need to have a good feel for the kicker position heading into next season.
Tech returns incumbent starter John Love He joined the team after a successful redshirt freshman season in maroon and orange. The Spartanburg, South Carolina, native made 22 of 24 field goal attempts in 2023, posting a kick completion percentage of 91.7%, ranking sixth in the nation.
Love also converted all 47 of his extra point tries, cementing his status as one of the best kickers in the country.
Kyle Lowe He'll be back for the Hokies this year. The redshirt junior proved to be key in the kickoff role before the season, kicking 54 kicks into the end zone for touchbacks, completing 71% of the time, and converting all attempts by his team. Contributed to the recovery of two out of three side kicks.
panter
3rd year starter peter moore The redshirt junior will return to the program for his fifth year in 2024. Nick Vertzista And a red shirt second year student bryce lafollette It also adds depth.
Moore, a former All-ACC honoree and member of the Ray Guy Award Watch List, punted the ball 60 times without a block for 2,588 yards before the season, averaging a solid 43.13 yards per kick. and got the ball inside the 20-yard line. 17 times in the redshirt junior campaign.
long snapper
When looking at the success of the entire special teams unit, the long snapper position cannot be ignored.
The 5th grade boy is gone. Justin PollockHe helped steer the ship in that position the past few years, but is back as a redshirt sophomore. Christian Eplingwho made a field goal a year ago.
red shirt senior griffin armstrong Tech also welcomes the move to Massachusetts, while returning to the long snap corps for another season. tate kendall This spring too.
kick returner
return of Beishul Tuten This allows the Hokies to maintain a dynamic presence in their return game in 2024. Tuten scored two touchdowns on kickoff backs before the season, making him one of five players in the nation to score on multiple returns.
The 5-foot-11, 209-pound Tuten averaged nearly 29 yards per return, good for fifth in the nation, and gained 550 yards on 19 attempts for the season.
It goes without saying that malachi thomas It will help you there too. The Hartwell, Ga., native assisted on Tuten's kick a year ago, gaining 81 yards on five attempts.
punt returner
There is certainly no shortage of talent when it comes to Tech's ability to get on the field and return kicks this season.
junior tucker holloway He returned for the following season after being at the helm for the majority of the past two years. The Andrews, N.C., native returned 20 punts for 258 yards in 2023, averaging nearly 13 yards per attempt, seventh-best in the nation.
Not an outstanding receiver Jaylin Lane I couldn't fulfill my role. The sophomore member of the Maroon & Orange had five punt return opportunities a year ago and was the primary punt returner in 2022 at Middle Tennessee.
Overall, the depth and talent of each special teams unit provides opportunities for our student-athletes to make an impact and shine on the field on game day.
