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Thanks for putting this together Joe. I like to think I'm up to date on most things Hokie related but each time you provide links to articles that I must have missed. I appreciate you keeping all of us in the know.

thanks for bringing my attention to the Athlon articles. A few thoughts:
- Brad Kaaya is the best QB we face, at #8. Zaire/Kizer at #11 and Dobbs at #12 are about right. Of all four of them, I probably fear Zaire the most. Very talented guy.
- Chad Kelly is #6.....
- Lamar Jackson from Louisville is #16. Wut?
- Gunner Kiel is back at Cinncy. I think he just turned 35.
- Thomas/Sirk/Trubisky in a row from 28-30. Of course, Sirk is out. But I don't have any problem with those three, all of them are solid at least.
- Tommy Armstrong is back at Nebraska. I think he just turned 34.
- Kenny Hill transferred to TCU. Huh.
- Patrick Trowles from Kentucky transferred to BC. I did not know that. Good fit for Addazio (not Loeffler's) offense. He's better than that kid they had two years ago we couldn't stop.
- Brandon Harris is #47. He's awful. I'm not sure who VT's QB will be, but he will be better than Brandon Harris.
- I'm not sure who Tyler O'Connell is, but he's QB at Michigan State which means he's better than the #57 on this list. And he will be a good NFL QB.
- Dungey/Johns/Wolford at 57-60. That's about right. All three will have good games and will lose games all on their own.
- I'm okay with Dwayne Lawson at #68. I would rank Jerod Evans about 35th.
- Trace McSorley is the starter at PSU? I hope they have a really short OL. I doubt he's 5'10".
- Austin Appleby transferred from Purdue to UF? I know he's not listed as UF's starter, but let's play spoilers here: he won't be the starter. Ever. And what happened to that UF guy with the PED's? I thought he was pretty good.
- Kurt Benkert at ECU is #97. I honestly can't remember who they hired. If they had their old staff, I would propose to cut Benkert's ranking in half. At least against VT, Benkert will be a top 20 QB.

Figured it was something like that. Great to see that happening. What does the front of the short say I couldn't read it on my phone screen.

Well, there were a lot more. Look at the first scene - DeAndre Plantin, Terrell Edmunds, and several other guys in the middle are in maroon. Probably just different colors for different drills or something. Initially I thought it might be some sort of "captain" role, which it could be, but it seems there are a lot of guys with them.

But that said, damn is Sam Rogers a good and vocal leader. I got a kick out of the "three claps and a Ric Flair" deal. Hilarious.

via giphy.com

Damn, I got downvoted for this? I didn't say she doesn't do anything in her new position. Just that her responses have been pretty vague as to what she will actually be doing, hence the several other posters asking what her job duties entail because it has in no way been made clear. Also, in case you don't know who Pepper Potts is she pretty much runs everything for Iron Man/Tony Stark and he couldn't function without her so that was actually a pretty favorable comparison.

edit: I just read the rest of this thread and realized that some people maybe don't like my comment because it could have been sexist in some way. I didn't say admin sec because she is a woman, just that helping your boss in any way possible is like literally a description of that job. Could have been a man and I would have made the same connection. I'm super excited Fuente has people around him to take care of shit (recruiting, daily operations, etc) to free him up to concentrate on coaching (something the former regime seemed to badly need as well).

Agreed that President Sands and AD Babcock are in a position to ratchet up the Universities standing, but at this point, it is only a hopeful expectation. Come back in 3 years and we can evaluate things then.

Good news for students

Yes, but he left after 1 season of Mendenhall as his HC. Seems like a smart guy to me.

Too bad, he would have been great in Charlottesburg, NC.

#42??

Agree completely. I hate facing ECU every year but Ruffin seemed like a pretty stand-up guy. Boggles my mind. Irkes me as well that he went to UVA though. My cousin is married to an ECU grad and the only time we really talk is when VT and ECU play. It will be interesting to see how they do with whomever they have now. Hopefully we straight pound them for last year. And all years going forward.

Some interesting points on links from within the Athalon article.

On the way to early starting QB rankings VT is a #68 with Dwayne Lawson.

68. Dwayne Lawson, Virginia Tech

Lawson is unproven and isn't guaranteed to win the starting job. However, new coach Justin Fuente has a good track record at developing quarterbacks. Whether it's Lawson, Brenden Motley or junior college recruit Jerod Evans, the Hokies should find the right answer under center.

In the way to early ACC rankings, Clemson is obviously expected to win it again with FSU right behind. Shocker. On the Coastal side it's a new twist with UNC, Miami and VT in the top three (GT is at 5th in the coastal behind Pitt).

3. Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock wasted no time in replacing retiring coach Frank Beamer, and the program landed a home-run hire in Justin Fuente. After struggling on offense in recent seasons, Fuente's background on that side of the ball should pay off in 2016 and beyond. The quarterback position is up for grabs with Michael Brewer expiring his eligibility, but the Hokies return running back Travon McMillian and standout receiving targets in Isaiah Ford (75 catches) and tight end Bucky Hodges (40 catches). One of Fuente's biggest moves so far was to retain veteran coordinator Bud Foster and most of Beamer's defensive staff. Foster has a busy spring ahead, as three starters depart the line and linebacker Deon Clarke must be replaced. The secondary held ACC quarterbacks to a 49 percent completion clip this season and should be solid once again in 2016.

The top-75 returning RBs has McMillian at #42.

42. Travon McMillian, Virginia Tech

New coach Justin Fuente inherits a couple of talented options in the backfield, with McMillian leading the way after recording 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns in 2015. He was the first 1,000-yard rusher for the Hokies since David Wilson reached that mark in 2011. Shai McKenzie and Marshawn Williams return to the mix after redshirt years in 2015.

edit: James Connor is the #18 returning RB. Glad he's made it through cancer and an injury but not looking forward to having to deal with him again, although he hasn't trounced us as much as others have in the past but still. Nards expects him to play.