While Virginia Tech’s backfield warrants a slight tweaking, it should not be viewed as the Hokies’ most pressing concern. That distinction belongs elsewhere — specifically, up front.
Happy New Year Hokie Nation ! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/X7OQLasBGI
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) January 1, 2026
If Virginia Tech is going to take a meaningful step forward offensively in 2026, it will start with the “big boys.” The offensive line, battered by injuries and inconsistency, struggled to provide reliable protection throughout the 2025 campaign. Those issues not only limited the run game’s efficiency but also placed starter Kyron Drones under near-constant pressure, disrupting timing and shrinking the playbook.
Protection breakdowns were a recurring theme. Whether on straight dropbacks or extended plays, Drones was often forced to move before routes had time to develop. That lack of stability up front contributed to stalled drives and put additional stress on the skill-position players to create on their own. Even when the Hokies found rhythm, sustaining it proved difficult behind a line that rarely looked settled…