Latest news with #XavierChaplin
Miami Herald
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Virginia Tech Football Preview 2025: Hokies Season Prediction, Win Total Projection, Top Players
Virginia Tech Hokies Key to the Season Block did this already in the offensive section, but it really is Hokies struggled way too much to consistently get the passing game going, the third-down conversions weren't there, and the time of possession battle wasn't a plus. That all came from the problems with pass protection and tackles for loss allowed. So ... X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN2025 Virginia Tech PreviewVirginia Tech Offense BreakdownVirginia Tech Defense Breakdown Virginia Tech Hokies Key Player Lucas Austin, OT someone to dominate at a tackle spot. Xavier Chaplin was one of the top players in the transfer portal - more on that in a moment - and he needs to be replaced at left tackle. It'll take fall camp to figure it out, but if Austin plays like he's supposed to after coming over from West Virginia, this becomes a far easier puzzle to put together, helped by ... Virginia Tech Hokies Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss Top Transfer In: Thomas Rimac, OG be way too basic about it, Virginia Tech horked a slew of good West Virginia linemen who took off rather than be a part of the Rich Rodriguez offensive style. Also, the Hokies had an offensive line that needed fixing. The 6-6, 317-pound Rimac is a two-time All-Big 12 Honorable Mention guard who'll step right Transfer Out: Xavier Chaplin, OT was sort of an odd thing. The Virginia Tech pass protection wasn't good, the running game wasn't strong enough, but the line had a few star talents to work around. The 6-7, 338-pound Chaplin was an all-star at left tackle with the NFL size and skills. Now he'll be a key part of the Auburn offense. Virginia Tech Hokies Key Game at North Carolina State, Sept. 27Virginia Tech beat NC State 11-6 early in the 1902 season, and overall, it's been able to take its share of wins, but the Wolfpack have won the last two in 2022 and 2023. This year it's the ACC opener, and with nasty road games ahead against Georgia Tech and Florida State, picking off an away date right away is a must.- 2025 Virginia Tech Schedule Breakdown Virginia Tech Hokies Top 10 Players 1. Jaden Keller, LB Sr.2. Kyron Drones, QB Sr.3. Caleb Woodson, LB Jr.4. Ben Bell, DE Sr.5. Terion Stewart, RB Sr.6. Kyle Altuner, C RFr.7. Ayden Greene, WR Jr.8. Arias Nash, DT Sr.9. Thomas Rimac, OG Sr.10. Christian Ellis, S Sr. Virginia Tech Hokies 2024 Fun Stats - Total Offense: Virginia Tech 4,781 yards, Opponents 4,719 yards- 4th Quarter Scoring: Virginia Tech 120, Opponents 63- Rushing Yards Per Carry: Virginia Tech 4.7, Opponents 3.9 Virginia Tech Hokies 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen It's not a totally unmanageable schedule, but it'll take several big breaks to come up with something SMU, Pitt, and a don't-laugh-but-really nasty Duke off the slate. It's not right in any way that the Wolfpack don't play North Caroline, but that's for another time. The Hokies also miss the Notre Dame part-time ACC thing, if Florida State and NC State play like they did last season, the road games are a relative breeze with three of the four in the ACC against teams that finished with losing records, and the other against Georgia Tech. But NC State will be better, and so will Florida State. However, the Hokies only leave Virginia once after October 11th, the opener against South Carolina is in Atlanta, the Vanderbilt game is at home, and there isn't any one date on the slate that's a 100% sure-thing no-chance least for now, though, there are too many 50/50 games that lean loss. It'll be a bowl season, but everything has to work perfectly for anything The Virginia Tech Win Total At … 6.5Likely Wins: Old Dominion, Wofford50/50 Games: Cal, at Florida State, at Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, at NC State, South Carolina (in Atlanta), Vanderbilt, at Virginia, Wake ForestLikely Losses: No Projected Sure-Thing Losses 2025 Virginia Tech PreviewVirginia Tech Offense BreakdownVirginia Tech Defense Breakdown © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
USA Today
03-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn Spring Football Preview: Offensive Line
Auburn Spring Football Preview: Offensive Line Spring practice is underway at Auburn, and it's time to preview another position group ahead of A-Day, which will take place on Saturday, April 12 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The next position group that we will examine in our spring breakdown series is the offensive line, which will feature many fresh faces. The Tigers return a few familiar names from the 2024 team, and will welcome two new players from the transfer portal. Tackle Percy Lewis left the team after the season and is now an Ole Miss Rebel. The unit allowed 27 sacks last season, with quarterback Payton Thorne being sacked 26 times. The group did well in the rushing attack opening running lanes for Jarquez Hunter and made it possible for him to gain 1,201 yards. They will welcome tackles Xavier Chaplin (Virginia Tech) and Mason Murphy (USC). Here is a look at what the Auburn offensive line looks like as spring practice continues on the Plains. Center No. 71 Dylan Senda Dylan Senda should be the backup center for this Auburn team coming up this fall. He will get plenty of reps during the spring though with Connor Lew being out due to injury. Senda was only in for 13 snaps last season. No. 75 Connor Lew Hugh Freeze mentioned during his opening press conference to begin spring practice that Connor Lew was out. He should be the expected starter at center for the Tigers. He played in 748 snaps last year and PFF gives him a grade of 75.7. That ranks fifth from the 2024 Auburn Tigers. Tackle No. 65 Xavier Chaplin Xavier Chaplin comes to Auburn by way of the transfer portal after two seasons with the Virginia Tech Hokies. Chaplin played in 587 snaps last season for the Hokies and only gave up two sacks on the season. PFF gives him a grade of 69.8, and he graded better as a pass protector at 72.7. No. 72 Izavion Miller Izavion Miller is a returning player for the Tigers on the right side. He has been a starter for the Tigers for the last two seasons after arriving from junior college. He won SEC Lineman of the Week last year in the 24-10 win over Kentucky where Hunter rushed for 278 yards and two touchdowns. No. 76 Mason Murphy Mason Murphy played the last three seasons at USC and spent most of 2024 at right tackle with 771 snaps played. He did play 45 snaps at left tackle. He allowed three sacks last season and 11 hits on the quarterback. No. 79 Tyler Johnson Tyler Johnson is a left tackle that started as a freshman last season against Alabama A&M and appeared in every game. He played 92 snaps last season and should give the Tigers some valuable depth at tackle. Other tackles on the roster: No. 53 John Henry Flatt No. 56 Seth Wilfred No. 67 Broderick Shull No. 70 Favour Ebuka Edwin Guard No. 52 Dillon Wade Dillon Wade has started the last two seasons for the Tigers and moved from tackle to left guard last season. He also played 16 games in two seasons at Tulsa before transferring to Auburn in 2023. He is one of the most experienced players on the offensive line and the locker room. According to PFF he grades better as a run blocker. No. 55 Bradyn Joiner Bradyn Joiner was selected to the All-SEC Freshman team, and became a starter beginning with the Kentucky game. He played 470 snaps at left tackle and allowed three sacks. No. 77 Jeremiah Wright Jeremiah Wright was a started at right guard in 2024, and was a team captain. He is a senior that brings a lot of experience to the offensive line. PFF grades Wright with 73.4 as a pass blocker. No. 78 DeAndre Carter DeAndre Carter played as a true freshman in 2024. Played just 40 snaps last season and needs to improve on his run blocking skills. Other guards:
