Virginia Tech enters 2010 with a senior quarterback, two outstanding
tailbacks, an experienced group of receivers, a solid offensive line and a
defense that is still led by Bud Foster. It’s expected to be a very good season,
and Tech is a preseason top 10 pick by most, and a top five pick by a few. We’ve
all got good reasons to look forward to 2010, but it’s tough not to take a look
even further down the road to 2011 as well.

I remember being on the radio before the 2009 season and being asked if Tech
had a chance to win the National Championship. I said that we should be looking
forward to 2010 instead. I stand by that statement. I believe the Hokies will be
better in 2010 than they were last year. However, that doesn’t automatically
make them National Championship contenders. It doesn’t even mean they are the
best team in the Coastal Division.

As high powered as the Tech offense should be this season, they still have to
break in new tight ends, a new kicker and punter, as well as numerous positions
on the defensive side of the ball. There are plenty of holes to fill, and the
schedule features road games against NC State, Boston College, North Carolina
and Miami, not to mention a neutral site game against Boise State and a home
contest with Georgia Tech. If the Hokies can run that gauntlet with an
unblemished record, or even just one loss, they’ll be a legitimate National
Championship type team.

However, in 2011, the Hokies will be returning a majority of their starters
on both sides of the ball, and on paper it looks like they’ll have a lot more
depth at the critical defensive line and linebacker positions.

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