Virginia Tech Football: The Biggest Offseason Storylines for the Hokies

The 2015 college football season is in the rearview mirror—unless you're a fan of the Clemson Tigers or Alabama Crimson Tide. For a team like the Virginia Tech Hokies, the 2016 season has already begun.

With a new coach in place, Virginia Tech is facing a transition. Former coach Frank Beamer retired after 29 seasons, and a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame awaits.

New head coach Justin Fuente comes to Blacksburg with an impressive resume.

In four years as the head man at Memphis, Fuente compiled a 26-23 record. While that record doesn't necessarily blow you away, consider that the Tigers won a combined nine games in the four years prior to Fuente's arrival.

Fuente took the Tigers to a bowl in his final two seasons there, and Memphis won 10 games for the first time in school history in 2014. 

Now, Fuente takes over a Virginia Tech team that has battled mediocrity over the last four years. 

There's no shortage of storylines surrounding the Hokies this offseason, but let's take a look at the four most significant ones Virginia Tech fans should follow. 

To say the Hokies have been inconsistent on offense in recent seasons would be an understatement. Whether it's bad offensive line play, receivers running incorrect routes or inept quarterback play, Virginia Tech's offense has held the team back.

Coaching has been a problem, too. Tech's offense has often looked lost and predictable.

Fuente's arrival should change that.

A former quarterback at Oklahoma and Murray State, Fuente turned Memphis into one of the better offensive teams in the nation over the last two seasons.

He has talent to work with. All-ACC receiver Isaiah Ford returns as does running back Travon McMillian. Both had outstanding seasons in 2015. The majority of VT's offensive line returns as well.

If tight end Bucky Hodges puts off the NFL for another year, Tech could turn into an offensive juggernaut much quicker than expected if the Hokies settle on a quarterback. 

Fuente, the former quarterback, wanted to add competition to the mix in his first season in Blacksburg.

Former QB Michael Brewer graduated, leaving rising sophomore Dwayne Lawson—a big-time recruit in 2015—and senior Brenden Motley on the roster.

Motley started six games last fall when Brewer went down with an injury, but his performance was inconsistent. Motley is a terrific athlete with a lively arm. However, he battled sacks and turnovers during his time under center.

So Fuente went out and signed top junior-college QB Jerod Evans. Evans, at 6'4", 225 pounds, is a big-bodied dual-threat quarterback. He also comes to Blacksburg with some experience under his belt.

The Hokies also signed 6'2", 200-pound Joshua Jackson of Saline, Michigan. 

Fuente clearly expects all four to compete for the job this spring, and the best man will win. 

Evans and Jackson were nice additions to this year's class, but the Hokies need more where that came from.

Virginia Tech currently has the 39th-ranked recruiting class for 2016, per 247Sports. That's lower than a typical recruiting class for the Hokies, as Tech generally produces a top-25 or top-30 class on an annual basis.

Obviously, a coaching change played a big part in that. But the Hokies have had trouble closing with some high-level recruits in recent years, specifically those in their own backyard. Some of the best players in the state are leaving in droves. Schools like Alabama, Ohio State and Florida State have capitalized on Tech's recent run of mediocrity. 

Fuente must stop the bleeding.

While 2016 is a down year for top prospects in the state of Virginia, some talent is still available for the taking. 

Linebacker Jaquan Yulee, the state's No. 4 player, decommitted from Alabama last week and is in play for the Hokies. He would be a big addition to this year's class.

More importantly, the Hokies need to start looking to the class of 2017. It will be another strong year for the state and the Hokies must start closing the borders. 

You just had to watch the Independence Bowl to know that the 2015 Virginia Tech defense isn't a typical Bud Foster-coached unit. The Hokies allowed 52 points and 563 total yards to a 6-7 Tulsa team. 

Unfortunately for Tech, its problems on defense began long before the bowl game.

Losses to Duke and East Carolina in the 2015 season were largely due to defensive ineptitude. In particular, VT had issues stopping dual-threat quarterbacks. 

You can trace the issues this season to a number of things. Kendall Fuller missing most of the season at cornerback forced the Hokies to start three freshmen in the secondary for a large portion of the season. Tech also received inadequate play from its linebackers.

Foster is a prideful coach who is used to his side of the ball being among the top groups in the country. Statistics bear that out. Foster's defense has finished in the top 15 in scoring defense in 15 of his 21 seasons as defensive coordinator, per David Teel of the Daily Press. 

That is sustained excellence.

Expect the longtime defensive coordinator to spend the entire offseason correcting what ailed his unit in 2015. 

Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.com unless otherwise noted.