Biggest questions, #3: Will VT have depth at DE?

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Virginia Tech lost a ton of defensive end talent, experience and depth following the 2013 season. I don’t need to go into details in long paragraphs. The numbers themselves will suffice.

James Gayle: 656 plays in 2013, 557 in 2012, 575 in 2011: 1,788 plays over the last 3 years
JR Collins: 510 plays in 2013, 439 in 2012, 700 in 2011: 1,659 plays over the last 3 years
Tyrel Wilson: 155 plays in 2013, 311 in 2012, 326 in 2011: 792 plays over the last 3 years

Those three guys combined for 4,229 defensive plays over the last three seasons. That’s a ton of football. Meanwhile, here are the career defensive snaps for Virginia Tech’s returning defensive ends:

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