Hokies Receiving Corps Seeks Another Record-Breaking Season in 2015

The arrival of Scot Loeffler two seasons ago significantly changed the offensive dynamic of the Virginia Tech football team.

The much-maligned, third-year offensive coordinator has modernized a Hokies' attack, that's historically been run-first, into one that attempted 456 total passes in 2014 — fourth-highest total in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

In Michael Brewer's debut season, the Texas Tech transfer quarterback set new Virginia Tech records for both passing completions, and attempts — 262 and 441 respectively.

As such, the evolution of the receiving game has materialized over the past two seasons — improving in passing and receiving production from year one to year two.

Wide receiver Isaiah Ford hauled in 56 passes for 709 yards and six touchdowns in 2014 — all school records for a freshman receiver.

Bucky Hodges also wrote his name in the record books. The redshirt freshman recorded school records for a tight end with 45 catches for 526 yards and seven touchdowns.

Willie Byrn is the Hokies' lone graduating receiver.

The ever-reliable, redshirt senior experienced a reasonably reduced role in 2014 in the wake of a wave of incoming talented receivers. Nevertheless, the former walk-on accounted for 388 yards on 47 catches.

Affectionately coined The Paperboy for his ability to deliver, Byrn is joined in his departure by Josh Stanford, who permanently left the program after taking a personal leave of absence and briefly returning.

The sophomore took a significant step back after setting freshmen records for receptions and receiving yards — both of which were broken by Ford just one year later.

Stanford and Byrn comprised a record-breaking 2013 trio, also including Demitri Knowles, of which each member caught 40 passes or more.

In 2014, however, five players accounted for the Hokies' 19 total touchdown receptions — Stanford and Byrn not among them. Tech returns all five of those players, three of whom were freshmen.

Isaiah Ford will return as the Hokies' top receiving option on the outside and will be joined by fellow second-year player, Cam Phillips — both of whom, with Hodges, were the three freshmen that found paydirt.

Phillips caught at least one pass in 10 of the Hokies' 13 games and accounted for three touchdowns.

Phillips, Ford, Byrn and Hodges each collected at least 40 receptions — breaking the recent record set by the 2013 trio.

Knowles — the third member of 2013's 40-catch club — took a significant step back in 2014 after snaring 45 passes for 641 yards the previous season.

Taking a back seat to Phillips and Byrn, the speedy deep threat managed just 55 yards on three catches during limited action in 2014.

Carlis Parker ended 2014 as the Hokies' No. 2 split end behind Ford.

The rising junior showed encouraging flashes in Tech's 2013 Sun Bowl loss, rushing six times for 40 yards, but failed to earn a starting spot in 2014 after a promising spring.

The quarterback-turned-receiver appeared on just 25 offensive plays in 2014 — down from 61 in 2013.

Somewhat similarly to Parker, Deon Newsome emerged as a versatile option in his debut season, primarily on the ground.

The rising redshirt sophomore averaged 4.9 yards on 19 end-around carries, not the least of which was a 24-yard burst that set up a lead-taking Hodges touchdown reception in the early stages of the fourth quarter against Ohio State — a lead that the national champions wouldn't regain.

Newsome, who added 19 yards on seven catches, will likely be joined in competition at the flanker spot by Jaylen Bradshaw.

The rising redshirt freshman is a former VirginiaPreps first-team all-state selection from Chesapeake, Virginia.

Also coming into the fold will be fellow redshirt freshman Kendrick Holland. The 2014 signee and Florida native sat out last fall following preseason shoulder surgery. Over seven months removed from the operation, initially slated for a six-to-eight month recovery, Holland would figure to be full for spring practice.

Isaiah Ford, Bucky Hodges and Cam Phillips are poised to be Tech's top three receiving targets in 2015. Spring practice will be the first opportunity for first-year wide receivers coach Zohn Burden to flesh out the rest of the depth chart. He has plenty of talented options to choose from, and the competition at wide receiver to earn targets should be fierce.