inside.hokiesports.com 21 ACC Honorable Mention a season ago after starting all 13 games. He finished second on the team in 88.0 total tackles (51.0 solo), while also recording an interception and three pass breakups. DB NOTES • Chamarri Conner has started each of the last 37 games for Virginia Tech • The Hokies retain 78.6 percent of their total pass breakup production from 2021 POSITION OUTLOOK The Hokies will have a talented returning group at the top of the depth chart, as they did a season ago. Though Tech will lose the likes of Jermaine Waller and Tae Daley, plenty of experience still resides in the secondary room for the Hokies. SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER TO WATCH Special teams excellence has been a longstanding tradition for Virginia Tech football. Stu Holt, the special teams coordinator, will be tasked with returning those units to their former glory. One area he will not be too concerned about is the punter, where All-ACC talent Peter Moore will work. The Davidsonville, Maryland native punted 65 times for 2,892 yards, a 44.5-yard punt average and a long of 68 yards last season. Moore also finished first in the ACC with 24 punts booted 50 yards or more, good enough to earn him a spot on the All-ACC Third Team. OTHERS IN THE MIX The kicking competition will be ongoing throughout fall camp. With the departure of NFL signee John Parker Romo (New Orleans Saints), the Hokies find themselves in search of the next consistent placekicker. Will Ross (Coastal Carolina transfer), Kyle Lowe and John Love all find themselves in the mix and although none of those three have kicked in a collegiate game before, both Lowe and Love were five-star kicking prospects out of high school, according to Kohl’s Kicking. As far as long snappers go, Virginia transfer Enzo Anthony, Justin Pollock and freshman Christian Epling are all vying for the opportunity to contribute on special teams. SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES • Keshawn King had a total of 13 kickoff returns for 322 yards to lead the team • King, Chance Black and Malachi Thomas all handled kick returns during the 2021 season • No active member on the Hokies roster fielded punt returns from a season ago, though William Kakavitsas received one back in 2020 POSITION OUTLOOK There will be some new faces associated with Virginia Tech’s special teams unit in 2022, though Peter Moore should provide some continuity. The roster does not lack for explosive athletes who could flip the field for Tech this season when given the opportunity to field punts.
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