Before the start of the college football season, there’s always a debate about which players will have the biggest impact on their teams. Whether you’re talking about a Heisman Trophy candidate, a National Championship contender, or neither, it’s important to take note of who the best player within the program is.
Virginia Tech has a few players that come to mind. Cornerback Dorian Strong has developed into one of the best cover cornerbacks in college football. Another impactful player is, of course, quarterback Kyron Draughns, who helped the Hokies turn a corner from last year’s struggles around the team and will be a key part of their late playoff run.
There are two other obvious players: running back Beischl Teuthen and edge rusher Antwan Powell-Ryland. Teuthen changed the identity of the offense last year. Teuthen had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and was arguably one of the best returners in the country. Powell-Ryland’s impact is off the charts. Antwan has a very solid spin move and often treats offensive tackles like kids. He wreaks havoc on defense and is one of the main reasons the defense was so great last year.
On3 Sports recently released their list of the most impactful players in the ACC, and while no Hokies players made the top 10, they did have a few names on the honorable mention list.
The aforementioned Kyron Draughns was a total no-brainer. His ability to really extend plays with his legs has completely changed the capabilities of this offense. He plays a key role in the game planning process and is the player coaches want at the quarterback position. His mechanics have also improved significantly. Early in his career he struggled to keep his hips compact, but now he has adapted and can throw all over the field. His throwing motion is very well-crafted, small, compact and fast. He will adjust as needed, but he is a quarterback coach’s dream and is just so good in all aspects of being a quarterback.
Antwan Powell-Ryland is poised to have his most impactful year yet in Blacksburg. With help from new addition Aeneas Peebles, the offensive linemen will have their hands full, which will result in Ryland being forced into one-on-one coverage more often. Antwan is not only gifted with intelligence, but he also has the build of an ideal defensive end at 6’3″ and weighing around 250 pounds. He has a strong initial impact against linemen and his speed allows him to get off blocks quickly, among other things. He is a total disruptor of the passing and running game and will be a defining presence down the stretch if Virginia Tech makes the playoffs this year.
