Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 14 No. 1 | August 2021

inside.hokiesports.com 17 Continued on page18 • Tech’s tailbacks were used consistently in the passing game last season, combining for 31 receptions and 391 receiving yards in 2020. POSITION OUTLOOK Don’t expect any one individual to replace the productivity of Herbert, who piled up 1,361 yards from scrimmage in 2020. The three-headed monster of Holston, Blackshear and King appear poised to get the lion’s share of touches in 2021. With multiple returning starters on an offensive line that helped Tech lead the ACC in rushing (240.1 ypg), expect the Hokies to seek continued success on the ground. And don’t forget, QB Braxton Burmeister and Tech’s receivers have also demonstrated the ability to excel as ball carries. WIDE RECEIVERS PLAYERS TO WATCH Tayvion Robinson and Tré Turner posted almost identical numbers a year ago. Robinson led the squad with 38 catches for 592 yards with three TDs, while Turner was right behind him with 34 receptions for 529 yards and three scores. Robinson averaged 15.6 yards per catch in 2020, and boasted an even higher 17.7-yard average when Braxton Burmeister was at quarterback. Robinson had a big day in the season finale vs. Virginia, coming up with five catches for 98 yards, including a 60-yard TD. Turner owns a pair of 100-yard receiving games in his career and also owns four rushing scores. With 94 career receptions, he’s just six catches shy of joining Tech’s 100-catch club. OTHERS IN THE MIX Kaleb Smith could be poised to be a big contributor for Tech in 2021 after an injury-shortened 2020 campaign. He owns 17 catches for 209 yards with two TDs in his first two campaigns with the Hokies. Also keep an eye on redshirt freshman Jaden Payoute who missed all of 2020 after fracturing his ankle in the preseason. The Chesterfield, Virginia native is a former four-star recruit and was the state 100-meter champion at L.C. Bird High School. WR NOTES • The trio of Robinson, Smith and Turner made up 96.6% of receiving yards from wide receivers during the 2020 season. • Robinson hauled in the longest reception in 2020, a 60-yard touchdown from Burmeister vs. Virginia. • Turner also was the only WR to have a multi-TD game in 2020, recording two touchdown catches at Pitt. •While Robinson and Turner tied for receiving touchdowns in 2020 with three, Turner led all wideouts in total touchdowns, adding two TDs on the ground. POSITION OUTLOOK The trio of Turner, Robinson and Smith gives the Hokies a solid complement of pass catchers with starting experience. The wild card for the Hokies could be Jaden Payoute. After missing the 2020 campaign, the athletic and speedy Payoute could be a difference maker. There should be plenty of opportunities for freshman Da’Wain Lofton and Dallan Wright to get lots of work during preseason camp after getting fully indoctrinated into the offense this spring. Villanova transfer Changa Hodge was coming on strong at the end of the 2020 campaign and will unfortunately miss the 2021 season after suffering a knee injury in the spring. Hodge’s absence opens the door for a number of other players to potentially step up this fall. TIGHT ENDS PLAYER TO WATCH Tech’s tight end unit may be the deepest position group on the squad, but James Mitchell is clearly the alpha male in this group. The Big Stone Gap, Virginia native led Tech with four receiving TDs in 2020, while adding a rushing score. No returning ACC tight end can top the 435 receiving yards he produced a year ago. With big, fast pass catchers who are willing blockers becoming the desired prototype for NFL tight ends, the Hokies appear to have the next incarnation in Mitchell, who can create match-up issues and has shown the ability to set the edge as a blocker. And there’s nothing a quarterback prefers more in the Red Zone than a big, tall target who has the ability to get up and secure the ball in traffic. OTHERS IN THE MIX Both Drake DeIuliis and Nick Gallo are even taller than Mitchell, yet provide similar versatility and blocking ability, in addition to receiving aptitude. DeIuliis made his first two career starts last season and had three receptions for 25 yards. The Charlotte, North Carolina native has played in 25 games over the past four seasons for Tech. Gallo has played in 22 games (five starts) since he arrived on campus in 2019. Last season, the Richboro, Pennsylvania product recorded 11 catches for 83 yards with one TD. TE NOTES • Mitchell flourished as Tech’s top tight end target in 2020, setting career marks in receptions (26), receiving yards (435) and receiving touchdowns (4). • Mitchell (9), Gallo (4) and DeIuliis (2) all made starts at tight end for Tech in 2020. • Gallo saw action in every game last season and produced three- catch games at Wake Forest and vs. Liberty. football JAMES MITCHELL