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The Hokies restocked the running back room following Tuten’s final season of eligibility. There wasn’t a Tuten available in the transfer portal, so the coaching staff found ways to replace Tuten’s production through multiple tailbacks.

A bruising runner from Bowling Green was at the top of the list. An undervalued tailback from Division II Central Missouri had the traits to do everything in the offense. Then, not long before spring practices started, the Hokies found someone from Coastal Carolina who ran routes well.

There’s plenty of options for Drones. How are they going to fit?

“It is a mystery room,� Drones said, “but we have a plethora of running backs that can all be in the rotation. Any one of them guys that get in the game going to do damage, and I’m really excited about that.�

Tuten didn’t come off the field much over the last two seasons. That will change this season as the rotation is expected to feature Terion Stewart (Bowling Green), Marcellous Hawkins (Central Missouri) and Braydon Bennett (Coastal Carolina), along with returnees P.J. Prioleau, Jeremiah Coney and Tyler Mason.

“I think we have probably the most competitive room we’ve had since I’ve been here,� Prioleau said. “We’ve got guys with all kinds of different skill sets, different things they bring to the team. I think you can’t replace Bhayshul, he was a unique talent. But all together, I think we’ve got something special in the room.�

Tuten rushed for 2,022 yards and 25 touchdowns on 356 carries over the last two seasons.

The Hokies are entering the season expecting to give the newcomers plenty of opportunities for one to establish himself as the primary tailback like Tuten or for all of them to find roles in the offense.

“You’ve got guys with power, got guys that are slashers, we’ve got some combo guys in there,� offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery said. “All of them have done a really good job of being able to do things out of the backfield, understanding protections and how they fit within it. But I like our room.�

Stewart was among the nation’s best at breaking tackles during his time at Bowling Green.

In the 2023 season, he ranked fourth in the nation with 78 broken tackles and was second in the nation by averaging 4.81 yards per rush after contact.

“It’s an instinct. Plus, on top of that, I work out a lot. I work out a lot,� the 5-foot-9, 220-pound Stewart said. “... Whenever the time comes, that’s when you’ve got to strike.�

Running backs coach Elijah Brooks helped Tuten become one of the best at breaking tackles and forcing missed tackles in the 2024 season. Tuten ranked sixth in both categories with 29 broken tackles and forcing 66 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.

“I’m actually so glad I can fill some big shoes like Bhayshul Tuten’s,� Stewart said. “Those are big shoes to fill and I’m looking forward to filling them shoes and just keep doing the same thing I’m doing as a runner and shocking my coaches.�

Hawkins is a bit of an unknown after an undisclosed injury limited him to three games in the 2024 season and Hokies coach Brent Pry said Hawkins battled through an injury early in spring. The 5-foot-11, 219-pound Hawkins was healthy throughout the summer, and the coaches are seeing a running back that tallied 1,053 yards and 18 touchdowns during the 2023 season.

“When he finally got healthy, he showed us he’s a hard runner, he’s got an explosive step to him, real eagerness. This offseason, this summer, he leaned up. He was probably carrying a bit too much weight when he came to us,� Pry said. “He’s a little faster, he’s a little more explosive. He understands the system a little bit better. I think he arguably might be the most well-rounded of the group, that can do the most things at a pretty high level. There are some other guys that maybe do certain things better than him, but … I know that Coach Brooks and his staff are excited about what he’s doing right now.�

Bennett has the pass-catching skills to be a third-down option. He had 76 catches for 769 yards and four scores during his five seasons at Coastal, and the sixth-year senior rushed for 1,954 yards and 24 touchdowns on 321 carries.

“It’s one of the more competitive rooms right now. How’s that going to shake out and who’s going to be our three backs who get touches? I don’t know that it’ll go much deeper than that, but it’ll be interesting to see,� Pry said. “I love the candidates. I love the competition. To me, finding a way to run the ball effectively, that’s what it’s about. That’s the end goal. Whether it’s three guys, whether it’s one guy, whether it’s two guys. We’ve got to be able to do that.�

One of the tailbacks who could work his way into the three-man rotation is Prioleau.

He joined the rotation last season and provided a burst out of the backfield when he got his chances. He had a 61-yard touchdown called back because of a holding penalty at Miami, and the following week he suffered an Achilles injury on a non-contact play at Stanford.

Prioleau called it a “freak foot injury,� and he’s fully cleared 10 months after the setback.

“I don’t think the injury really derailed anything. It kind of was like just another challenge along the way,� he said. “It felt good to be able to get on the field and get that touchdown luckily before it happened, so got a little experience in the game, got a feel for it, so now that I’m coming back and fully healthy, I know what it feels like and I’m ready to do it again.�

Drones will still factor into the running game with designed runs, run-pass option calls and when plays break down. He has rushed for 1,154 yards and 11 touchdowns in his two seasons with the Hokies.

“I’ll be fine to run the ball. My goal this year is to come out healthy, so I’m not going to be taking all those hits I took last year,� he said. “But at the same time, I’m going to do whatever I need to do to win. I know that’s a part of my game, so I’m going to get as many yards as I can and get down when I need to.�