BLACKSBURG — In the early weeks of last season, Kemari Copeland admits now he was still trying to get comfortable with being part of Virginia Tech’s highly touted defensive line.
This was a group, after all, that included the likes of Indian River’s Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Josh Fuga and Aeneas Peebles — players in the sights of every opposing quarterback in the ACC.
Copeland had arrived in Blacksburg following the 2023 season from Iowa Western Community College, his second school following a short stint at Navy. But the former All-Tidewater performer out of Kellam High School in Virginia Beach anticipated this experience to be different.
“It was kind of a lot,” Copeland admitted. “I felt like ‘Wow! this is Virginia Tech.’”
“… I was kind of shell shocked. I tried to keep it low-key, but that was APR (Powell-Ryland) — the guy who had four sacks against Wake Forest.”
By the fall, those anxieties had subsided, he said. The stars in the defensive line room became familiar teammates and Copeland was beginning to establish himself as a reserve who could help keep up the pressure in the trenches on downs when the starters needed some rest.
It all changed for Copeland during Week 4 of the season against Rutgers. A torn triceps injury cut the year short and meant that by the time he returned to the field, his star teammates would be gone. That’s when Copeland found out the teammates he looked up to were even better cohorts than he thought.
Because of them Copeland remained engaged. Peebles encouraged him to observe the tactics and tendencies of offensive lineman, both at practice and when watching film. He may not have been fighting offensive linemen on Saturdays, but Copeland was contributing in meetings and film sessions.
“I saw how humble and how hard they worked,” he said. “I’m really thankful for what they gave me last year.”
Virginia Tech defensive lineman Kemari Copeland (13) lines up during NCAA college football practice in Blacksburg, Va., Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP)
The off-the-field work has paid off, his coaches say. He has overcome the most serious injury of his football career and is atop the depth chart at defensive end for the Hokies when they open the season on Sunday against South Carolina in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta.
Defensive line coach J.C. Price said he is pleased with how Copeland continued to grow despite not being in uniform. Like Powell-Ryland, this is Year 2 for Copeland, but due to the injury, the staff took a different route with him.
“He had the mental battle of not being out there and going through rehab,” Price said. “His journey has been a little bit different than APR’s, but we’re excited he’s healthy.”
Price, who first recruited Copeland when he was still an assistant at Marshall, said what’s best is he is still the guy he remembers.
“His personality never changed,” Price said. “He’s for the most part a reserved guy, but his personality didn’t change. He didn’t get down on himself. If you look at his TikTok channel or things like that, you see that he’s the same guy every day.”
Copeland said after a few days back on the field, Price began pushing him like he had seen him with his predecessors. The added pressure, considering that the players that contributed an overwhelming majority of the 37 sacks last year are (APR alone had 16) gone.
“One of the first things (Price) told me when I got back was that I just need to play better this year,” Copeland said. “You’re going to be a key guy this year and a playmaker.
“… Now, I’m more settled, I know what’s going to happen. Now it’s more about going out there and showcasing what I can do.”
Standouts
With a major turnover in personnel at wide receiver and running back, the Hokies need experienced quarterback Kyron Drones to be ready to go every week. (Ryan Hunt/Getty)
Kyron Drones: R-Sr., 6-1, 235, QB.: With 20 career starts going into 2025, Drones has proven to be an efficient signal caller, throwing for 27 touchdowns with just nine interceptions. Injuries, however, cut his season short in 2024.
Benji Gosnell: R-Jr., 6-5, 254, TE.: He emerged as Virginia Tech’s primary midrange receiver in 2024 and will be the No. 1 target for opposing defenses during the early weeks.
Dante Lovett: Jr., 6-0, 200, CB.: Lovett has played every game during his first two seasons in Blacksburg, but now will get a chance to take on a fulltime starting job.
Keyshawn Burgos: Sr., 6-5, 260, DL.: A major reason the Hokies won three of their first four ACC games in 2024 was the amount of pressure the senior-laden defensive line put on opposing quarterbacks. Burgos served a supporting role last season, but now he is a senior and will be expected to lead the crew in charge of wreaking havoc at the line of scrimmage and in the backfield.
Jaden Keller: R-Sr.., 6-3, 235, LB.: Keller, who is part of Virginia Tech’s most experienced defensive unit, finished 2024 as the Hokies’ leading tackler and will be expected to be around the football on nearly every snap. His ability to patrol the middle of the field allows his fellow linebackers to help out at the line or in the secondary when necessary.
Storylines
Coordinator changes: If asked about the 2024 team’s biggest shortcomings, Virginia Tech fans would likely point to an offense that did not get the ball to its most dynamic playmakers enough, and a defense that rarely made key stops late in games. New offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery and defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes are aware of the critiques and have had nine months to address these respective matters.
Keeping Kyron in good kilter: The five offensive linemen who will be on the field for the Hokies’ first snap will be different than the quintet that started in last year’s regular-season finale against Virginia. Drones says by the time ACC play began in 2024, he was already hampered by injuries. While the offensive coaches like this year’s front five, they need to find gameday cohesiveness quickly for their QB’s sake.
A new set of pass rushers: Virginia Tech’s 37 sacks was fifth-best in the ACC last year, but the top returning individual in the category, linebacker Caleb Woodson, had just two of those. Look for returners Keyshawn Burgos and Kemari Copeland, who missed the last nine games due to injury, to lead the way early while multiple transfers and redshirts find their footing.
New generation of playmakers: Benji Gosnell’s 32 receptions in 2024 is more than the total catches made by the rest of the returning roster. Junior Ayden Greene caught six passes for 115 yards in last year’s bowl game, and will join veteran teammates Takye Heath, Brodie Adams and Tucker Holloway among the two-deep. Virginia Tech also used the transfer portal to bring Donavon Greene (Wake Forest), Isaiah Spencer (Jackson State) and Cameron Seldon (Tennessee).
Setting the tone: The first month of the season has not been stellar since Pry arrived in 2022. The Hokies’ 6-8 record includes a 2-6 mark against Power Four/Five opponents and 0-5 versus foes from the Southeastern, Big Ten and Big 12 conferences. Now in his fourth season in Blacksburg, Pry will need a strong start against a challenging early slate that includes South Carolina and Vanderbilt. If that doesn’t happen, the November homestretch schedule, which includes Louisville, Miami, Florida State and Virginia becomes an even greater challenge.
Schedule
Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry leads his team out of the tunnel before the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Minnesota on Jan. 3, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty)
Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina, at Atlanta, 3 p.m.
Sept. 6 vs. Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 vs. Old Dominion, 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 vs. Wofford, TBA
Sept. 27 at N.C. State, TBA
Oct. 4 vs. Wake Forest, TBA
Oct. 11 at Georgia Tech, TBA
Oct. 24 vs. California, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 1 vs. Louisville, TBA
Nov. 15 at Florida State, TBA
Nov. 22 vs. Miami, TBA
Nov. 29 at Virginia, TBA
