When Virginia Tech rose to prominence in the early to mid-1990s, a talented running back was always the centerpiece of the offense. Whether it was Dwayne Thomas, Shyrone Stith, Lee Suggs, Kevin Jones, Ryan Williams, Darren Evans or David Wilson, the Hokies always had a strong and talented backfield.

The Hokies once had Jones and Suggs in the same backfield. Then, a few years later, Tech had Evans, Williams and Wilson in the same backfield. There were other talented backs as well. Mike Imoh, Branden Ore, Ken Oxendine and others come to mind as well. You get what I mean: The Hokies always had a talented running back.

The Hokies haven’t been as successful in the running game in recent years. Khalil Herbert’s phenomenal 2020 season almost felt like an outlier until Bhayshul Tuten came on the scene last season. Tuten was a force in the running game, catching passes out of the backfield and returning kicks.

He’s back. Malachi Thomas, too.

What else can we expect from Virginia Tech’s running game in 2024?

The running backs

Virginia Tech Sports

Expected starter

Tuten transferred to Virginia Tech from North Carolina A&T and immediately became the Hokies’ starting running back. Tech struggled to run the ball early last season. That wasn’t Tuten’s fault. The running game wasn’t going well for a variety of reasons. The quarterbacks struggled early last season; the offensive line was still developing and offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen was trying to find his best personnel lineups.

Tech’s running game took off after quarterback Kyron Drones became the regular starter. Drones’ dual-threat skills opened Bowen’s playbook and everyone benefited. Tuten had some big games last season and proved he can be a weapon out of the backfield as well.

Tuten rushed for 863 yards at an average of five yards per carry and scored 10 touchdowns. He also caught 27 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns. Tuten was the All-ACC kick returner after averaging 29 yards per return with two more touchdowns.

The backups

Thomas returns to Blacksburg for his fourth season. Thomas looked like a potential star as a freshman, rushing for 440 yards and averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Several things slowed Thomas down, including an injury and the arrival of Tuten. Fortunately, Thomas decided to return to Virginia Tech, giving the Hokies a rock-solid one-two punch at the running back position.

Over the course of his career, Thomas has averaged 4.5 yards per attempt.

Other names to keep an eye on include redshirt freshman Jeremiah Coney, true freshman Tyler Mason and junior PJ Prioleau. Coney is a firecracker who could have played a lot of snaps as a freshman if he didn’t have Tuten and Thomas in front of him.

Prioleau had a good offseason and should make the team. Mason set several records at Mount Airy High School (North Carolina), rushed for over 6,000 yards and scored 120 touchdowns during his high school career, and averaged over 13 yards per attempt. Mason seems like an ideal candidate for a redshirt.

Outlook 2024

The Hokies have good depth in the backfield. An injury could change that quickly, however. This group is strong at the top, thanks to Tuten and Thomas. Thomas is often overlooked and isn’t quite as dynamic as Tuten, but he’s a capable player who has proven he can start and carry the load.

One thing we’ve seen in Bowen’s offense, especially when Drones took over, is that the running backs have become more involved in the passing game. The Hokies are well-stocked with wide receivers, but having running backs that can impact the passing game is crucial.

If he stays healthy, Tuten is an All-ACC running back. Of course, a lot depends on the offensive line, but Drones has helped the offensive line with his mobility and ability to stretch the defense.