Since the regular season ended for the Virginia Tech football team with a 55-17 win over in-state rival Virginia in Charlottesville on Nov. 25, slowly, players have announced that they are returning to Blacksburg in 2024.
First defensive linemen Antwaun Powell-Ryland and Josh Fuge announced they were returning, then quarterback Kyron Drones announce on a radio interview that he’ll also be back. Four wide receivers, Jaylin Lane, Da’Quan Felton, Ali Jennings, and Stephen Gosnell announced that they were returning earlier this week, then Dorian Strong and Mansoor Delane announced they were going to come back.
Saturday afternoon, another key piece to Virginia Tech’s offense announced on Instagram that he’s returning for the Hokies.
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten announces he’s returning in 2024
Running back Bhayshul Tuten announced on his Instragram page that he is coming back in 2024 for offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen and head coach Brent Pry.
Once ACC play began in late September, Tuten was a huge piece of the Virginia Tech offense running the ball. He averaged 4.7 yards a carry and rushed for 727 yards on 155 carries and had eight touchdowns. He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against Florida State and Virginia.
A North Carolina A& T transfer, he originally committed to Boston College last winter, but flipped to the Hokies in January, and what an addition he has been. He scored a season-high three touchdowns in a 48-22 win at Boston College on Nov. 11.
It’s no secret that Virginia Tech’s offense took off over the final eight weeks when Tuten started becoming effective offensively. Combining with Drones and Malachi Thomas running the ball, the Hokies put up dominating performances in wins over Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Syracuse, BC, and Virginia in conference play when Tuten was running effectively.
Things are starting to fall into place big time for Pry and the Hokies in 2024 and what a special season could very well be ahead of them. At a little over the halfway point of the season for Virginia Tech football, starting running back Bhayshul Tuten can only be described as a game-changer for the Hokies.
An already accomplished running back, Tuten was a third-team FCS All-American as a sophomore last year for North Carolina A&T, where he ran for 1,363 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 31 receptions for 342 yards, including four additional touchdowns. His commitment to Virginia Tech earlier this year facilitated strong chemistry with the coaching staff since his transfer.
“Thinking of all my relationships with teammates and coaches and everyone so far has been amazing,” Tuten said. “They are great people, and it’s a great place to be.”
Under the guidance of newly-appointed running back coach Elijah Brooks, Tuten has showcased his versatility, accumulating 20 receptions for 204 receiving yards and 360 rushing yards with five total touchdowns through seven games.
“Coach Brooks came here with me,” Tuten commented. “He’s a tremendous leader and coach. He’s coached players at a higher level, so it’s a positive learning from him and just hearing his feedback.”
As a dynamic running back known for his relentless work ethic, Tuten has garnered two consecutive ACC Player of the Week honors for his performances against Pitt and Florida State.
“My mindset going forward is to just keep working,” Tuten reflected. “Back-to-back weeks is a great milestone, but I always look at it like I can get it again, so it’s always a positive. It’s humbling too to show that I can achieve that goal, and that’s my goal every week.”
In recognition of his performance against Pitt, the junior tailback was awarded ACC Running Back of the Week, achieving a season-high 109 rushing yards and contributing four receptions, including a 12-yard receiving touchdown.
In the following week against Florida State, Tuten set a record for the longest kick return in the conference this season, covering an impressive 99 yards for a touchdown and securing ACC Specialist of the Week honors.
“It started out in practice,” Tuten stated. “We drilled the kickoff returns at full speed, so I think that’s a big reason why I was able to take it the full 99 yards. Coach Stu Holt has a great game plan with the kickoff returns, the counters and the blockers we have.”
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