Virginia Tech has been known to follow the Beamerball credo religiously — get big plays on defense and special teams while the offense does just enough to win games.
Known as a run-first school offensively, Tech’s passing game has often been criticized and buried in the national rankings while the team’s stellar defense and solid run game are credited with the Hokies’ consistent success.
Last year was no exception. Quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon threw for only six touchdowns while tossing up 12 interceptions. It wasn’t even until the 11th game of the season when then freshman split-end Jarrett
Boykin caught the season’s first touchdown by a wide receiver.
But what a difference a season makes.
Taylor, now a junior, has already thrown nine touchdowns to four different receivers and is ranked sixth in the country in pass efficiency this season.
Prior to Tech’s loss against Georgia Tech, Taylor had back-to-back multi-touchdown games for the first time in his career, and he became the first Tech quarterback to do so since Marcus Vick in 2005.
His young receiving corps, including Boykin, who is now a sophomore, sophomore Dyrell Roberts, redshirt sophomore Danny Coale and redshirt freshman Xavier Boyce, has come into its own and is now consistently proving just how much a year of experience can make.
“I think a little bit of it is natural progression,” said Coale, who hails from Lexington, Va. “But we’re becoming more and more comfortable with each other, seeing what each other are seeing and as a group really trying to take advantage of the opportunities we have a little more.”
And they have.
Tech’s offense has improved over last year and has put up more than 30 points in four out of the seven games this season.
“We just want to help the offense,” Coale said. “If we perform better, the running game will perform better, and we can work off each other ... to see that progression — it’s good. It’s a positive thing for the offense.”
The unit is entering merely its second year together, as all of its members are just sophomores with the exception of Boyce. Yet, they’ve managed to establish a strong relationship on and off the field, and in doing so they have made Tech’s passing game a legitimate threat.
“It’s great,” Coale said. “I mean, it’s as great as you can get. We’re always watching film and coaching each other. It’s great when you come off the field and have three guys who know what you’re talking about.”
The four receivers have pulled in at least one touchdown each this season, and they have combined for over three quarters of Tech’s production through the air.
“The competition is good,” receivers coach Kevin Sherman said. “I think we’re at a point right now that if we went out there and played I wouldn’t have a problem starting any of them.”
However, it’s the trio of sophomores who have emerged as Taylor’s favorite targets. Coale led the team in receptions last year and has a team-high 26.3 yards per catch to complement his two touchdowns this season.
Roberts has tallied two touchdowns of his own, the most memorable of which was the game winning 11-yard strike thrown his way in the final minute of play to move the Hokies past Nebraska.
But it’s been the sophomore out of Matthews, N.C., who has done the most damage through the air.
“All of them can be (the go-to guy),” Taylor said. “But Jarrett Boykin has shown he can catch the ball in some difficult situations.”
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