Virginia Tech football schedule, roster, recruiting and what to watch in 2018

Zac Al-Khateeb

Virginia Tech football schedule, roster, recruiting and what to watch in 2018 image

Virginia Tech enters Year 3 of the Justin Fuente era nearly on the cusp of a breakthrough in the ACC.

The Hokies have won 19 games in Fuente's first two years, but have two losses apiece to both Georgia Tech and Clemson. The advent of Miami in the Coastal Division won't make things any easier in 2018, either.

MORE: SN way-too-early top 25

Despite Virginia Tech's success in 2016 and '17, it will need to see improvement on offense and overcome several key losses on defense if it wants to finally clear that hurdle. The Hokies, fell back to 17th in Sporting News' updated way-too-early top 25, will see how far they can go in the season-opener against Florida State in Tallahassee.

Here's what to look for from the Hokies in 2018: 

Virginia Tech football schedule 2018

DateOpponentLocation
April 142018 Spring GameBlacksburg, Va.
Sept. 3at No. 19 Florida State (Monday)Tallahassee, Fla.
Sept. 8William & MaryBlacksburg, Va.
Sept. 15East CarolinaBlacksburg, Va.
Sept. 22at Old DominionNorfolk, Va.
Sept. 29at DukeDurham, N.C.
Oct. 6No. 9 Notre DameBlacksburg, Va.
Oct. 13at North CarolinaChapel Hill, N.C.
Oct. 20ByeOff
Oct. 25Georgia Tech (Thursday)Blacksburg, Va.
Nov. 3Boston CollegeBlacksburg, Va.
Nov. 10at PittPittsburgh
Nov. 17No. 7 MiamiBlacksburg, Va.
Nov. 23Virginia (Friday)Blacksburg, Va.
Dec. 1ACC championshipCharlotte, N.C.
Bold denotes ACC games

Virginia Tech football recruiting 2018

The Hokies' 2018 class ranked 24th nationally and fifth in the ACC, according to 247Sports' Composite team rankings, the second straight year of improvement under Fuente. Virginia Tech got nine early enrollees in the Class of 2018, including three-star offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw, the country's No. 1 overall prep school player. Four-star linebacker Dax Hollifield, the No. 151 overall player and No. 8 inside linebacker, headlines the class and could immediately compete to start.

MORE: ACC offseason primer

Virginia Tech football roster 2018

The Virginia Tech football roster will be updated in the spring and fall here.

No.NamePos.Year
2Hendon HookerQBR-Fr.
3Caleb FarleyDBR-Fr.
5Bryce WattsDBSo.
5Ryan WillisQBR-Jr.
6Hezekiah GrimsleyWRSo.
6Mook ReynoldsDBSr.
7Devon HunterDBSo.
8Phil PattersonWRR-So.
8Ricky WalkerDLR-Sr.
9Khalil LadlerDBR-So.
11Houshun GainesDLR-Jr.
11Tre TurnerWRFr.
12Henri MurphyWRSr.
13Jalen HolstonRBSo.
14Damon HazeltonWRR-So.
15Sean SavoyWRSo.
16Coleman FoxRBR-Jr.
17Divine DeabloDBR-So.
17Josh JacksonQBR-So.
18Raymon MinorDLR-Sr.
18Chase MummauQBR-So.
20D.J. CrossenDBFr.
21Reggie FloydDBJr.
23Rayshard AshbyLBSo.
24Terius WheatleyRBR-Fr.
26Jovonn QuillenDBJr.
27Shawn PayneDBR-Sr.
28Jermaine WallerDBFr.
29Dalton KeeneTESo.
29Ishmiel SeisayDBR-Jr.
30Caleb StewardRBFr.
32Steven PeoplesRBSr.
33Deshawn McCleaseRBR-Jr.
33Bradley ParcellDBFr.
34Alan TisdaleLBFr.
35Zion Debose BrownDLR-Fr.
35Peter MuskettWRR-Fr.
36Adonis AlexanderCBSr.
37Nicolas ConfortiWRR-Fr.
37Devante SmithDBR-Fr.
38Rico KearneyLBR-Fr.
38Kaleb SmithWRR-Fr.
39Sean DanielWRR-Jr.
39Tyree RodgersDBR-So.
40Emmanuel BelmarDLR-So.
41Jaylen GriffinLBR-Fr.
42Cole BlakerTER-Fr.
42John JenningsDBSr.
43Xavier Burke DLR-Jr.
44Dylan RiversLBSo.
45TyJuan GarbuttDLR-Fr.
46Eli AdamsDLFr.
46Nick ReisenweaverWRFr.
47Darius FullwoodDLR-Jr.
47Corey ThomasWRFr.
48Daniel GriffithLBR-So.
50Patrick KearnsOLR-So.
50Dylan ThevayagamDBFr.
51Gene KastelburgOLR-Fr.
52Austin CannonOLR-So.
53Aiden BrownOLR-Fr.
54Lecitus SmithOLR-Fr.
55Jarrod HewittDLR-So.
56Clay DeanOLFr.
56Joe KaneOLFr.
57Zack TreserLBR-Jr.
58Nathan ProctorDLR-Fr.
59J'Bril GlazeDLSo.
60Silas Dzansi OLR-Fr.
61Kyle ChungOLR-Sr.
62D'Andre PlantinOLR-Jr.
63Daniel Bailey OLR-Jr.
65Matt ChristOLR-Jr.
66Louis MihotaOLFr.
68Connor KishOLR-Jr.
69Yosuah NijmanOLSr.
70Kevin KishOLR-Jr.
71T.J. JacksonOLR-Jr.
72Brennon GarrisonOLR-Fr.
74Braxton PfaffOLR-Sr.
75Zachariah HoytOLR-So.
76Jarrett HoppleOLR-So.
77Christian DarrisawOLFr.
79Tyrell SmithOLR-Jr.
83Eric KumahWRJr.
85Chris CunninghamTER-Jr.
86C.J. CarrollWRR-Sr.
87Tre Coghill IIIWRR-Fr.
88Justin HairstonWRR-Fr.
89Drake DeIuliisTER-Fr.
91Oscar BradburnPR-So.
91Vince ZduobaTEJr.
92Jordan StoutP/KR-Fr.
93Brian JohnsonKR-So.
94Trevon HillDLR-Jr.
96Jimmie TaylorDlR-So.
97Oscar ShadleyLSFr.
98Robert Porcher IVDLR-Fr.
99Vinny MihotaDLR-Sr.

What to watch in 2018:

1. What position will Caleb Farley play?

Hokies everywhere were disappointed last season when Farley, a versatile player who expected to play at receiver last year, tore his ACL, causing him to miss the entire season. But Farley should be ready to go for 2018, with a caveat: He might not play at receiver. The Hokies saw three starters depart from the secondary, meaning a move to defense isn't out of the question for the former three-star athlete, whom many projected would play on defense out of high school. Either way, expect to see a lot of him on the field in 2018.

2. Will offense finally take off under Justin Fuente?

Fuente's arrival in 2016 came with the promise of the same offensive success he saw as offensive coordinator at TCU and head coach at Memphis, both of which enjoyed top-20 offenses in his system. But Fuente's offense at Virginia Tech has been good — not great — and fell off in the 2017 season. Year 3 seems a good time for the offense to take off; he has had three recruiting cycles to bring in his style of players, and quarterback Josh Jackson has a year of experience underneath his belt. The Hokies also play only one team with a top-25 defense from 2017: No. 19 Florida State, in the season-opener.

3. Who will replace key defensive starters lost to NFL Draft?

Virginia Tech lost a total of six starters from its linebacker corps and secondary. That's a lot of talent to replace, but Tech can ease those losses with its latest recruiting class, which includes Hollifield and fellow linebackers Alan Tisdale and Keshon Artis. JUCO transfer Jeremy Webb, the No. 2 cornerback to come out of junior college, also has a good shot at breaking into the starting lineup in the secondary.

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.