Virginia Tech concluded their 2014 football season at 7-6 after defeating the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Military Bowl.

However, their most impressive victory came in the second game of the season, where the Hokies defeated the 2014 national champions, Ohio State, 35-21. Over the last three years, the Hokies have earned a 22-17 record under head coach Frank Beamer and this past season marked his first losing record in conference play since 2002.

Last year, Virginia Tech recorded 26 total turnovers and averaged about seven penalties per game. If it can address this situation alone, it could be a more productive team in the 2015 season.

Starting at quarterback will be Michael Brewer, who started all 13 games last year and threw for 2,692 yards and 18 touchdowns. He ended the season completing a school record-setting 262 of 441 passes, but he also threw 15 interceptions. The redshirt senior is expected to start again in 2015, and backing him up will be redshirt junior Brenden Motley.

The Hokies will return two of their starting receivers in 2015. Sophomore wideout Isaiah Ford started 11 out of the 13 games he played in as a freshman. He led the team with 56 receptions for 709 yards and six touchdowns.

Sophomore Cam Phillips started nine of the 13 games he played in, and he finished the season with 40 receptions for 498 yards and three scores in his freshman debut.

“They give you a real excitement out there at wide receiver,” said Beamer.

Virginia Tech has many options when it comes to running backs. The Hokies were missing key backs Shai McKenzie and Marshawn Williams last year and only recorded an average of 4.9 yards per play. However both Williams and Mckenzie should return to assist a committee of talented running backs.

Beamer also mentioned he is impressed by what he has seen from senior tailback J.C. Coleman, redshirt junior tailback Trey Edmunds and redshirt freshmen D.J. Reid and Travon McMillian.

“We’re fortunate. We’ve got really good backs. I think the thing that we’ve got to be good about is narrowing it down,” he said. “And not trying to play too many guys.”

Although there are plenty of talented options at running back, the offensive line will be one of the weakest links of the 2015 Virginia Tech football team. The unit lost three players who started every game a season ago.

The Hokies will have to replace key linemen Laurence Gibson, David Wang and Caleb Farris. However, it allowed 34 sacks in 2014. With the veterans gone, Virginia Tech will look to sophomore guard Wyatt Teller and junior tackle Jonathan McLaughlin.

Defensively, the Hokies are much better off. The 2015 season will return eight starters from a unit that ranked 21 in the NCAA in total defense. Virginia Tech loses key safeties Kyshoen Jarrett and Detrick Bonner as well as linebacker Chase Williams, but defensive coordinator Bud Foster has made adjustments to fill the voids left by those three.

Former cornerback Chuck Clark has made the move over to safety. The junior recorded 73 tackles after playing in all 13 games and starting 11 in 2014. At cornerback, redshirt sophomore Brandon Facyson will return after missing almost all of 2014 with a shin injury followed by a broken leg. His return will be greatly beneficial to the secondary as Clark changes positions.

Junior cornerback Kendall Fuller will also return after being named a Third-Team All-American by the Athlon and the Associated Press. Fuller has played in every game since he has been at Virginia Tech and has started all but one.

On the defensive line, redshirt senior tackle Luther Maddy will return after missing most of 2014 with a knee injury. This veteran returns to join redshirt senior tackle Corey Marshall and redshirt junior tackle Nigel Williams. Redshirt senior defensive end Dadi Nicolas and redshirt junior end Ken Ekanem will also return to solidify the defensive front.

The Hokies have a tough season opener against defending national champion Ohio State, but have three games in between that and their next ACC opponent.

Virginia Tech also has a helpful open date before they take on Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia at the end of the season.