Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 13 No. 1 | August 2020

16 Inside Hokie Sports by Jimmy Robertson OFFENSIVE LINE SEASON PREVIEW 2020 OFFENSIVE LINE DEPTH CHART (in numerical order) 52 Austin Cannon (6-2, 323, r-Sr.) 54 Lecitus Smith (6-3, 316, r-Jr.) 58 Walker Culver (6-6, 300, r-So.) 60 Silas Dzansi (6-5, 325, r-Jr.) 61 Bryan Hudson (6-4, 315, So.) 69 Luke Tenuta (6-7, 315, r-So.) 70 Parker Clements (6-7, 270, Fr.) 71 T.J. Jackson (6-6, 359, r-Sr.) 72 Jesse Hanson (6-5, 301, r-Fr.) 74 Doug Nester (6-6, 315, So.) 75 Zachariah Hoyt (6-5, 305, r-Sr.) 76 Brock Hoffman (6-3, 316, r-Jr.) 77 Christian Darrisaw (6-5, 311, Jr.) 79 Tyrell Smith (6-3, 308, Gr.) PLAYER TO WATCH Tech offensive line coach Vance Vice wasted little time in getting Doug Nester some experience, as he started Nester in 11 games last season. He inserted Nester into the starting lineup in the second game against Old Dominion after T.J. Jackson went down with an injury, and Nester basically remained a starter throughout the rest of the season. Nester, a right guard from Huntington, West Virginia, played so well that he earned College All-Freshman honorable mention honors by Pro Football Focus. He is big and powerful, but more importantly, he excels at the mental aspect of playing on the offensive line. Head coach Justin Fuente called him a perfectionist last season, and with that type of mindset, Nester should be an even bigger force on a Tech offensive line that figures to be one of the strong points of this team. OTHERS IN THE MIX Tech returns its entire starting offensive line from 2019 and features a bunch of players with all-conference capability. In addition to Nester, the interior of the line includes center Bryan Hudson, who started 10 games last season as a true freshman, and left guard Lecitus Smith, who owns 16 career starts. Also, Tech gets the services of Brock Hoffman, who started every game for two years at Coastal Carolina before transferring to Tech last summer and sitting out the season. In addition, Jackson, Austin Cannon and Zechariah Hoyt all three have started games in their careers at Tech. So basically the three interior positions feature seven players with experience. Tech lacks that depth at the two tackle spots, but returns Christian Darrisaw, a two-year starter at left tackle who ranks as one of the ACC’s best linemen. Plus, co-starters Silas Dzansi and Luke Tenuta return at the right tackle position. Tenuta started the final five games of the 2019 campaign. INTERESTING FACTS • Darrisaw has started 23 consecutive games for the Hokies, and his 25 career starts lead all of Tech’s offensive linemen. • Ten of Tech’s offensive linemen have started at least one game in their careers and have combined for 117 career starts. • Vice started eight different line combinations in 13 games last season. • Tyrell Smith’s 44 career games played are the most on Tech’s roster, but the sixth-year senior has not started a game in his career. 2020 OUTLOOK For the fourth consecutive season under Fuente, Virginia Tech’s offense finished with more than 5,000 total yards, including more than 2,000 yards rushing each season. Even with uncertainty at tailback, a lack of depth at receiver, and two fewer games, the Hokies could surpass those totals again this season because of a deep, experienced offensive line. The group not only brings experience—four seniors and four juniors—but also size. Every single offensive lineman on Tech’s roster weighs more than 300 pounds, with the exception of freshman Parker Clements, who enrolled in January. Eight of the linemen weigh more than 315 pounds. Tech’s offensive line played well last year, and the offense’s numbers were markedly better once Hendon Hooker entered the lineup as the quarterback. Behind Hooker, a good receiving group, and their solid offensive line, the Hokies averaged 36 points per game in Hooker’s eight starts. The line and Hooker return. So hopefully the production is even better in 2020. BOLD PREDICTION Behind this big, experienced, deep offensive line, the Hokies rush for 2,600 yards in 2020—their most under Fuente and their most since 2010. Doug Nester