ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Since I'm on my way to Blacksburg, Va., for the Hokies first practice of the season, why not start with them:

1. Who is going to emerge as the go-to wide receiver?

Virginia Tech's speed took a hit when Brandon Dillard went down for the season with a ruptured Achilles' heel. Split end Zach Luckett is the most experienced player returning, but he dropped a few passes this spring and needs to earn the trust of the staff. Ike Whitaker, a former quarterback, moved to the top of the depth chart at split end late in the spring, and Danny Coale had his moments, but none of the receivers showed the consistency they need. There are also six freshmen who could factor into the competition.

2. How will Virginia Tech compensate for the loss of seven starters on defense?

This defense reloads under Bud Foster. Orion Martin is the only returning player on the defensive line who started last season, but he had 6.5 sacks and will be the leader of that group. At linebacker, where Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi have to be replaced, there's Brett Warren, who played a big role last year when Hall was hurt. And the secondary is in the capable hands of Victor "Macho" Harris and Kam Chancellor. It's not the starters the coaches are worried about, it's the depth. The Hokies will have to stay healthy.

3. How will the decision to redshirt Tyrod Taylor (or not) affect the chemistry of the team behind closed doors?

Sean Glennon wants to start, and Tyrod Taylor wants to play. You can't fault either of them for wanting the job. Summer camp will determine how the situation unfolds, but if Taylor's skills weren't considered valuable, he wouldn't have played such an important role in helping the Hokies to the ACC title last year. He adds a running dimension to the game and should have a better grasp of the entire playbook because of the significant snaps he got last year.