Mike linebacker is one of the biggest question marks on the Virginia Tech defense this year. It’s perhaps the only big question mark, now that I think about it. The Hokies have major depth issues there, and even the starter can be considered questionable. Both of those issues come from not recruiting enough bodies at the position, as well as one bad luck injury.

By my count, these are the mike linebacker prospects that Virginia Tech has signed over the last five recruiting classes…

2015: Carson Lydon
2014: None
2013: Andrew Motuapuaka
2012: Maybe one, depending on whether you consider Devin Vandyke a mike or backer
2011: None

Any prospects in 2011 would have been r-seniors in 2015, recruits from 2012 would be r-juniors this year, etc. Tech failed to sign a mike linebacker in two of those five recruiting classes, and arguably a third. I do believe that Devin Vandyke — who had to give up football due to injuries — would be Virginia Tech’s starting mike right now had he not gotten hurt, and that part of it is just bad luck.

...