Bud Foster's Last Season Must Save Virginia Tech Football

The death of 'Beamerball', a brand of football predicated on defense and special teams, could be upon us.

The great Virginia Tech teams under Frank Beamer and, at least for a couple of seasons, Justin Fuente, have all but disappeared. Instead, it's been replaced by sub-par recruiting and a middling ACC Coastal squad, a description that ought to eat at Hokies supporters.

VaTech's recruiting class has sunk from a respectable mid-20's range in 2019 to 73rd in 2020, per 247sports. There aren't any high-profile targets on the horizon.

Even Virginia Tech's normally-stingy defense has taken a step back, finishing just 98th in college football last season in yards allowed. Offensively, they've lost the likes of Josh Jackson, Sean Savoy, Eric Kumah, Samuel Denmark and tight end Chris Cunningham. There are oh so many questions on this team, and Ryan Willis must answer all of them.

Coach Bud ought to foster some motivation out of this defensive group, especially knowing they're the last he'll be coaching at the University.

2018 was arguably the worst defense Foster has fielded in Blacksburg. While that unit was made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores, they need a dramatic improvement in 2019 to salvage Foster's final season. LB Rayshard Ashby and Dax Hollifield are two of the best run-stoppers in the ACC. There's legitimate talent, but they must prove they're up for the challenge, especially on the defensive line without Houshun Gaines for the season.

Foster deserves one last memorable run, and it's very possible in a mediocre Coastal division. The pieces are there, but it remains to be seen if the Hokies can overcome their horrendous 2018 and actually play up to the potential Foster and Fuente preach.