Midseason Awards & Demerits for the 2024 Virginia Tech Hokies
Sitting at 3-3 during their bye week, which Hokies have stood out amongst the rest, both good and bad?
What better way to pass the bye week than to hand out some meaningless midseason awards to some of Virginia Tech’s players?
Most of those listed below are being recognized for their positive contributions, however, a couple will be highlighted for not meeting expectations through the first half of the season. Either way, let’s jump in.
Most Valuable Hokie: Bhayshul Tuten
2024 Stats: 107 carries, 605 rush yards, 9 rush TDs
This should come as no surprise. Bhayshul Tuten has carried Virginia Tech’s offense through the first six games, both literally and figuratively.
After rushing for 10 touchdowns in 13 games last season, Tuten has already scored nine times on the ground in seven fewer games. He’s averaging 5.7 yards per rush (an improvement on his 5.0 clip from 2023) and has done all of this behind an inconsistent offensive line while dealing with nagging injuries.
Tuten isn’t making the same impact on special teams that he did a year ago, but it’s wise of Brent Pry to save his workhorse tug boat as much as he can. Tuten’s four-week stretch of 100-yard rushing games ended last week at Stanford, which means he’s due.
Honorable Mention: Jaylin Lane
Best Newcomer: Aeneas Peebles
2024 Stats: 18 tackles, 4 TFLs, 3 sacks, 14 hurries
As the temperatures begin to drop, Peebles is heating up. He’s recorded sacks in each of the last three games and is tied for third on the team with four tackles for loss.
It’s no coincidence that as Peebles has improved, so has the defense. Alongside Josh Fuga, Peebles is beginning to solidify the middle of the Hokies’ defense.
Honorable Mention: Sam Brumfield
Best Underclassman: Kaleb Spencer
2024 Stats: 15 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 INT
Among those on the roster in their freshman or sophomore season, Spencer has been the biggest standout. Virginia Tech put him into the rotation in Week 2 against Marshall, and Spencer has steadily improved each week.
The transfer linebacker from Miami has recorded each of his four tackles for loss in the last two weeks. His interception against Miami came at a critical time for the defense. He’s registered a Pro Football Focus grade of 76.2 or higher in each of the last three weeks.
Spencer always seems to find his way to the football. He’s showing why Tech eagerly accepted him this offseason.
Honorable Mention: Dante Lovett
Biggest Overachiever: Josh Fuga
2024 Stats: 7 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack
Prior to the 2024 season, Josh Fuga had never registered more than two tackles for loss in a single season. Through six games, he’s doubled that total.
As one of the few remaining holdovers from the Justin Fuente era, Fuga has successfully partnered with Kelvin Gilliam to fill the interior spot next to Aeneas Peebles.
When a guy gets to his fifth season, you generally know what you’re getting. Fuga has been better than advertised, and it’s helping a unit that lacked substantial depth coming into the season.
Honorable Mention: Wilfried Pene
Best Assistant: Pierson Prioleau
Jalen Stroman’s injury seemed to close the book on any thought that Virginia Tech’s safeties would hold up their end of the bargain.
Instead, Pierson Prioleau’s unit has been better than advertised. Mose Phillips is growing into his own at safety, leading the team in tackles while registering three tackles for loss and an interception. Jaylen Jones has improved, and Quentin Reddish has held looked decent for a freshman.
Virginia Tech’s cornerbacks receive a lot of praise and rightfully so, but the steadiness at safety has been the storyline thus far. The unit struggled against Rutgers, but has otherwise kept opposing offenses in check.
Honorable Mention: Derek Jones
Challenge Flag: Ron Crook
As the Hokies’ offensive line goes, so does the rest of the offense.
Virginia Tech’s run game looks great when the guys up front do their job. When they don’t, it hinders the entire unit and pushes Kyron Drones into more obvious pass situations. If Tech was better in pass protection, that might not be an issue, but alas.
Ron Crook’s unit is showing signs of improvement. Tech effectively ran the football against Miami and Stanford while also allowing just three sacks over the last two weeks. Coincidentally, Kyron Drones’ best two performances have happened at the same time.
Virginia Tech needs their offensive line to hold their own for the remainder of the year. Competent offensive line play gets the Hokies a lot closer to their ceiling as a football team.
Challenge Flag: Ali Jennings
2024 Stats: 4 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD
The return of Ali Jennings was supposed to push Tech’s unit of wide receivers into elite territory. Instead, Jennings’ 2024 season has been marred by a nagging injury and inconsistent opportunities.
After catching two passes for 91 yards against the Commodores in Week 1, Jennings has been shut out in three of the last four games. He caught two passes against Old Dominion before missing the entirety of the second half after hurting his leg. He’s since ceded snaps to Ayden Greene and Stephen Gosnell, neither of whom have the ceiling that Jennings does.
Jennings needs to get healthy and fight his way back into the rotation. As good as some of the Hokies’ receivers have been this season, Jennings can be as good, if not better, than all of them. The Hokies could really use the old Ali Jennings.