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Jaylin Lane had a breakout freshman season, catching 42 passes for 466 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 93 yards and a score last season. He also had a punt return for a TD and averaged more than 20 yards per kickoff return. His 15.5 average on punt returns has earned Lane some preseason hype, including being named preseason All-American by Athlon. "I try not to look too far ahead," Lane said. "I'm just focused on building team comradery and focused on being better than I was last year. The accolades will come if they come. I'm just trying to win ball games." - Daily News Journal

(DS#15 WR) rSr/2025

WR Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
News Source: Daily News Journal
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07/29/22 - Chamarri Conner, rSr/2023, Virginia Tech, 6-0, 209 (DS#15 FS) + More +

Virginia Tech was one of three schools not to have any players voted to the All-ACC preseason football team for the first time since 2019. The ACC released the 27-member squad as voted on by 164 members of the media. Clemson led the way with six players on the team while Atlantic rival N.C. State had the second most with five players, including ACC preseason player of the year Devin Leary. - Roanoke Times

(DS#15 FS) rSr/2023

FS Chamarri Conner, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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07/29/22 - Chamarri Conner, rSr/2023, Virginia Tech, 6-0, 209 (DS#15 FS) + More +

Virginia Tech didn't get much love in the ACC's annual preseason poll that was released on Tuesday afternoon. Tech was predicted to finish No. 5 in the Coastal Division behind the University of Virginia at fourth. Miami was picked to win the division with 98 first-place votes and Clemson was picked to win the Atlantic (111 first place votes). It was seventh time in the last eight years Clemson was picked to win the Atlantic and fifth straight year they were the overall preseason conference favorite. Clemson was an overwhelming favorite - they received 103 votes from the 164 members of the media that voted - over NC State to win the league.

While Tech got three first-place votes in the Coastal, it was the lowest the program has ever finished in the poll. The previous low came in 2016 when it was picked at No. 4, but went on to win the league. Virginia Tech had a busy offseason after parting ways with former coach Justin Fuente with two games left in the 2021 season. Pry, a former grad assistant under Frank Beamer was announced as Tech's new coach on Nov. 30. He brought on a staff that included former Florida State linebackers coach Chris Marve as defensive coordinator and Jacksonville Jaguars tight ends coach Tyler Bowen as offensive coordinator. - Roanoke Times

(DS#15 FS) rSr/2023

FS Chamarri Conner, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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07/28/22 - Jaylin Lane, rSr/2025, Virginia Tech, 5-10, 191 (DS#15 WR) + More +

Conference USA released the 2022 preseason watch list, as selected by the league's 11 head coaches on Monday. Five student-athletes from each of the conference's 11 member institutions are recognized as key players to watch ahead of the 2022 season. Representing Middle Tennessee are WR Izaiah Gathings, WR Jaylin Lane, DE Jordan Ferguson, DL Zaylin Wood and punter Kyle Ulbrich. Gathings finished the 2021 season with 24 receptions for 302 yards and a touchdown after transferring from Gardner-Webb. The 6-4, 222-pound wideout is poised for a breakout campaign in 2022. Lane, who has been on most preseason all-conference teams, finished the 2021 season with 42 receptions for 466 yards and four touchdowns, while also leading the team in punt returns (19 for 295) and kickoff returns (13 for 285). Lane was a freshman all-american as a returner last year. - Middle Tennessee Football

(DS#15 WR) rSr/2025

WR Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
News Source: Middle Tennessee Football
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07/26/22 - Pheldarius Payne, rSr/2024, Virginia Tech, 6-2, 286 (DS#28 DT) + More +

Virginia Tech defensive end Pheldarius Payne will likely miss the 2022 season with an Achilles injury he suffered in June. Tech coach Brent Pry said at the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte that it was a non-contact injury, and that it would be "tough" for him to make it back before the end of the season. Pry wouldn't rush him back to play a couple games since Payne could redshirt and retain a year of eligibility. Payne, who started his career at Lackawanna Community College, transferred to Tech in May after two years at Nebraska. "I doubt that we would burn a couple games if he had a chance [to come back in 2023]," Pry said.

Pry was excited about adding the veteran to a rotation at defensive end that features three players that just moved there from different positions and a pair of true freshmen. Payne had 40 career tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks at Nebraska. The lone veterans at the position going into the fall for the Hokies are TyJuan Garbutt, Jaylen Griffin and Eli Adams. Griffin missed spring camp recovering from a knee injury, but was cleared to fully participate in the team's summer workouts. "I was excited about what he was bringing," Pry said of Payne. "To be honest, more than anything, it was devastating for him. He was super excited about the opportunity." - Roanoke Times

(DS#28 DT) rSr/2024

DT Pheldarius Payne, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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07/25/22 - Johnny Jordan, rSr/2023, Virginia Tech, 6-1, 300 (DS#43 C) + More +

2022 PRESEASON RIMINGTON TROPHY WATCHLIST: Johnny Jordan, Virginia Tech,...Virginia Tech center Johnny Jordan was named to the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list on Friday, making him just one of five centers in the ACC on the prestigious list. Jordan appeared in all 13 games, making three starts at center in 2021. - Virginia Tech Football

(DS#43 C) rSr/2023

C Johnny Jordan, Virginia Tech
News Source: Virginia Tech Football
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07/23/22 - Isaiah Cash, rSr/2026, Virginia Tech, 5-11, 193 (DS#69 FS) + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM (COACHES): DB Isaiah Cash, HBU, So., Austin, Texas,...Cash started all 11 games as a redshirt freshman, ranking third on the team with 95 tackles and fifth in the conference with 8.6 tackles per game. The Austin, Texas, native added three tackles for loss, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery and forced a fumble. Cash registered double-digit tackles five times, including a career-high 13 and a forced fumble at Northwestern State. - Houston Baptist Football

(DS#69 FS) rSr/2026

FS Isaiah Cash, Virginia Tech
News Source: Houston Baptist Football
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07/22/22 - Ali Jennings, rSr/2025, Virginia Tech, 6-1, 198 (DS#67 WR) + More +

2022 PRESEASON BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST: Ali Jennings III, Old Dominion,...Jennings led the Monarchs in receiving yards last season with 1,066 yards and tied for the team lead with five touchdown catches. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Jennings caught 62 passes on the year, including 46 passes in the final seven games of the year. In the final regular season game of 2021, Jennings had nine receptions for 252 yards and three touchdowns. The 252 yards were the second most in program history and the most against an FBS opponent. - Old Dominion Football

(DS#67 WR) rSr/2025

WR Ali Jennings, Virginia Tech
News Source: Old Dominion Football
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07/05/22 - Connor Blumrick, rSr/2023, Virginia Tech, 6-6, 227 (DS#62 TE) + More +

It's easy to understand why Virginia Tech's offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen is a bit enamored with Connor Blumrick. Bowen, who is building an offense that stresses "flexibility" and "versatility", views Blumrick as someone capable of playing just about anywhere on offense. "He brings a lot of skills to the table," Bowen said, in June. Blumrick made an impression on the staff during winter workouts with Brent Pry mentioning him as one of the most talented players on the roster.

The former quarterback moved to tight end two weeks into spring camp with the staff envisioning him getting opportunities in multiple different roles. "He really made that transition seamless," Bowen said. "...He's impressed me every step of the way with how he's handled the entire transition. He's got a chance to be a very multiple-player with how we are trying to use him on the offense. I've been excited about him." Bowen isn't the only one. Virginia Tech offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, who has experience as an offensive coordinator, said Blumrick caught his attention during spring. He described Blumrick as a player that consistently made those around him better. "We asked him to do a lot of things in the spring and you see that guys have great confidence in him," Rudolph said. "It's kind of fun." - Roanoke Times

(DS#62 TE) rSr/2023

TE Connor Blumrick, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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06/25/22 - Dorian Strong, rSr/2025, Virginia Tech, 6-1, 185 (DS#22 CB) + More +

Virginia Tech's new coaching staff wants Dorian Strong to garner the same type of attention he did two years ago. Strong was thrown into the starting lineup as a true freshman in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly reshaped Tech's secondary. He thrived in the role and capped off a productive year with his first career interception to help lock up Tech's win over the University of Virginia. The Maryland native remained one of Tech's primary corners last fall and had a productive year - he was second on the team behind Armani Chatman with six pass breakups and had 23 tackles (20 solo) in 13 games - he didn't put together the All-ACC caliber season he was hoping for.

"Oftentimes when you have early success, it's easy to get complacent, it's easy to not get into exactly what it takes to get better," Virginia Tech cornerbacks coach Derek Jones said in a recent interview. "And I think just having been a part of it a couple times in my career, when there's a coaching change, that's tough. Because guys oftentimes, especially when you're younger, become disconnected, lose that fire, lose that hunger that it takes, knowing that the guy that's coaching you is probably not going to be there." Jones reviewed film of last season when he got the job. With Strong, he saw a player making mental mistakes far too often. "If you talk to him, I think he'd tell you it was just not putting the preparation in that he did as a freshman and expecting his ability to go on," Jones said. According to Jones, none of that was a problem this spring for the third-year defender. Strong has embraced Jones' "cheetah" mentality and has shown the attention to detail needed to get back on track. "I think the sky's the limit for him," Jones said. - Roanoke Times

(DS#22 CB) rSr/2025

CB Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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06/06/22 - Pheldarius Payne, rSr/2024, Virginia Tech, 6-2, 286 (DS#28 DT) + More +

Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry reported that defensive end Pheldarius Payne enrolled ahead of summer workouts and was officially part of the roster. The former Nebraska defensive end verbally committed back in March. Payne had been on Pry's radar going back to the defender's time at Lackawanna Community College, about three hours away from Penn State's campus. The Virginia native was an impact player for Lackawanna's defense with 53 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks over two seasons. "He had a shoulder injury at the time that kept us from taking him, but we would have taken him," Pry said. "He ended up at Nebraska and got his shoulder fixed, he was their third guy. He's looking for a chance to have more of an impact." - Roanoke Times

(DS#28 DT) rSr/2024

DT Pheldarius Payne, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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06/06/22 - Reid Pulliam, Fr/2026, Virginia Tech, 6-3, 220 (DS#999 OLB) + More +

Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry announced linebacker signee Reid Pulliam will not be on the team because the player is "working through some things," Pry said. "We'll see how it shakes out." A Virginia Tech spokesperson has declined to comment on the situation. Pulliam was announced as one of 12 early enrollees in January as a three-star prospect out of Life Christian Academy by the way of Texas. He was the No. 161-ranked linebacker in the class with Power Five offers from Arizona State, Duke, Houston, Indiana and Maryland. - Roanoke Times

(DS#999 OLB) Fr/2026

OLB Reid Pulliam, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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06/05/22 - DJ Sims, rFr/2026, Virginia Tech, 6-3, 194 (DS#999 WR) + More +

Virginia Tech receiver DJ Sims removed his name from the transfer portal on April 25 within hours of entering the searchable collegiate database. The Virginia Tech Hokies had eight players enter the transfer portal after spring camp, but Sims was the only one to change his mind. Tech coach Brent Pry cleared up his status on Friday. "There's a head coach's rule where you can maintain your scholarship, but you don't need to be on the roster for first year coaches," Pry said. "He's on scholarship at Virginia Tech as far as I know, but he's no longer on the football team." Sims, who was a 2021 signee out of Christchurch School in Richmond, redshirted as a true freshman last fall. The 6-foot-3, 194-pounder was a three-star recruit coming out of high school with 26 scholarship offers including a handful of power five ones (Wake Forest, Virginia and North Carolina). - Roanoke Times

(DS#999 WR) rFr/2026

WR DJ Sims, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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05/19/22 - Silas Dzansi, rSr/2023, Virginia Tech, 6-5, 323 (DS#40 OT) + More +

Virginia Tech's new staff not signing an offensive tackle out of the transfer portal has been one of the biggest surprises of the offseason. The Hokies depth at the tackle - or lack thereof - is now one of the more pressing question marks for the fall. Tech's only scholarship players working full-time at the position this spring were Silas Dzansi and Parker Clements. Former junior college transfer Bob Schick split time at left guard and left tackle. The rest of the practice reps during camp went to walk-ons William Jones, Chris Boyd, Dimitri Georgiadis and Griffin Duggan.

Tech has avoided injuries at the position in recent years - Christian Darrisaw and Luke Tenuta missed only a handful of starts during their careers - but there's reason to worry Dzansi might not be quite as durable. Dzansi is prone to cramping, and the previous staff would often sit him for a series or two in each of his starts to keep him fresh. He was in line to be one of the starting tackles in 2019 before cramping sidelined him in the weeks leading up to the season opener against Florida State. - Roanoke Times

(DS#40 OT) rSr/2023

OT Silas Dzansi, Virginia Tech
News Source: Roanoke Times
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05/14/22 - Nick Gallo, rSr/2025, Virginia Tech, 6-3, 245 (DS#999 TE) + More +

Tech got an early start to life without James Mitchell after he went down with a season-ending injury in Week 2. Gallo and DeIuliis handled an expanded role well, with Gallo getting most of the opportunities in the passing game that went to Mitchell. This year will probably go the same way. Tech's new staff really likes what Gallo brings to the table and he took home the offense's most improved player award for the spring. He had 14 catches for 130 yards last year - it was his second straight season with double-digit receptions - and fans should expect to see those numbers go up this fall. DeIuliis coming back for a sixth season gives the Hokies time to develop a tight end room that now features three true freshmen. - Richmond Times-Dispatch

(DS#999 TE) rSr/2025

TE Nick Gallo, Virginia Tech
News Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch
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