Keller and many other starters have major contributions on special teams. While most of the attention this offseason has been on what the Hokies are returning on offense and defense, the special teams units also return almost every starter from a year ago. That not only includes the specialists, but players like Keller who are instrumental in coverage and return units.
“Special teams is a big focal point here. We spend a lot of time on special teams, ..
. and I know we spend a lot more time in practice than other schools do just on the special teams period in general, Beamer Ball and all of that,” Keller said. “We take special teams very seriously here.
I treat special teams just like I would treat linebacker. I watch film, I make notes and all of that stuff. I treat it as if I was going out there on defense.
” Kicker John Love, punter Peter Moore and kickoff specialist Kyle Lowe return after serving in those roles last season. Christian Epling, who served as the short snapper until the Military Bowl when he handled both long and short snapping, is expected to handle both those duties. That familiarity allowed special teams coordinator Stu Holt to focus on improvement over the spring and preseason camp instead of having to evaluate position battles at multiple spots.
“Obviously there’s always going to be competition in the room, which I definitely love about the group of guys we’ve got,” Lowe said. “I would say we’re the closest group on this team, pretty tight knit, but it’s always competitive. A lot of guys have stepped into their roles and it’s easier to define roles.
” Love converted on 22 of his 24 field goal attempts in his first full season as a starter. That included making his final 15 field goal attempts. “His mental focus, I think, is elite, particularly for a guy at his experience level,” Holt said of Love.
“Last year was his first time being on the field and to go out there and perform well and be able to make every kick its own kick, whether it goes well or it don’t, I think that's the result that you’re looking for, to be able to bounce back and make it right the next time, I think that’s a really special quality about him.” Holt also has the luxury of putting Bhayshul Tuten back at kick return. Tuten is coming off a season in which he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns (one each at Florida State and Virginia), and there are players such as Malachi Thomas and Thomas Williams who are available to return kicks.
“I improved by just catching reps with catching the ball, seeing the ball, how the face of the ball goes down and the trajectory of the ball, along with the blocking scheme of the whole kick return,” Tuten said of his offseason improvement at the position. “Trying to learn that more, where guys want to be, where they’re supposed to be at, so kind of that aspect of it, trying to watch and work on it.” Tucker Holloway, who was projected to be the starting punt returner, suffered a knee injury late in spring practice and is questionable for the season.
Jaylin Lane is expected to be the primary punt returner in Holloway’s absence. Lane returned punts during his two seasons as a starting wide receiver at Middle Tennessee, and he averaged 12.1 yards on 37 returns over those two seasons.
That included a 70-yard punt return touchdown against Monmouth in the 2021 season. “The biggest thing with returning punts is just getting comfortable with it, catching it, tracking it, stuff like that. But I love punt return,” Lane said.
“Being with another great returner like Tucker has been amazing. You know, just having that rush of having a big punt return can change a game, so it’s always like being a playmaker, so punt return is one way to do that.” Holt added Ali Jennings, Takye Heath and Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw are candidates to return punts.
“I like where our guys are. I like the group we’re bringing back,” Holt said. “I think they’re really talented.
They work really hard. Really, really pleased with the way they go about it every day.”.
