The Hokies continue to be crushed by injuries and suspensions to their team for the upcoming 2013 season, not to mention they play Alabama in their first game. Four injuries and one suspension were announced by Virginia Tech on Thursday which are across many positions.
The offense will take the biggest hit as they lose LT Mark Shuman on the Offensive Line, WR Joel Caleb, and Running Backs Tony Gregory and J.C. Coleman in a RB corps already decimated for the battle with one of the best Defensive Line's in the country on Alabama. Definitely the worst injury of the four is Senior Tony Gregory who will miss the entire 2013 season with a torn ACL. Gregory finished third on the team in rushing in 2012 with 64 rushes for 299 yards (4.7 ypr)and 1 touchdown.Far less severe than Gregory's injury is J.C. Coleman's which may not even force him to miss the Alabama game after it was estimated that he would only miss 2 to 3 weeks with his ankle sprains. Coleman, a sophomore, is projected as the backup for the 2013 season after he finished last year 2nd in rushing behind starting QB Logan Thomas with 109 rushes for 492 yards (4.5 ypr) and 2 touchdowns which will be much needed in their opener. Along with the rushing attack, the passing game may be hindered in the opener with redshirt Freshmen WR Joel Caleb, a projected starter, suspended for the game. Caleb has also been moved to the RB depth chart with the injuries to the position. At the forefront of the offense is Left Tackle Junior Mark Shuman who is a projected starter and will miss 6 to 8 weeks with a torn meniscus. Shuman was part of an Offensive Line that gave up 25 sacks and helped the team to gain 146 rush ypg and 231 passing ypg. After all the destruction on the offense, there is finally the major injury on the defense; Sophomore OLB Ronny Vandyke, a projected starter, will be out for the year with a shoulder injury. Vandyke racked up 21 tackles and 2 tackles for loss in his first season.
Virginia Tech will definitely feel the absence of some of these players as they face Alabama in week one. Look for the defense to continue to be the strength of this team, especially, with this many injuries and question marks on the offense. I'll say good luck to QB Logan Thomas and Frank Beamer in his 27th year as head coach, but I do expect them to make it to a bowl and maybe if the stars align correctly, win the Coastal Division.
