Former Virginia Tech wide receiver Jaylin Lane is now in the NFL. The South Carolina native began his career at Middle Tennessee before transferring to the Hokies for his final two seasons. In April, the Washington Commanders selected Lane in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, with GM Adam Peters calling Lane the best returner in the draft and one of the top slot receivers.

It hasn’t taken Lane long to impress Washington coaches and teammates. Star quarterback Jayden Daniels is impressed with Lane. So is head coach Dan Quinn. Same for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

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Washington’s OC recently met with the media and praised the rookie wideout, and even gave a sad glimpse into what Hokie fans know all too well: Virginia Tech’s offense has stunk in recent years.

“He’s been very impressive,” Kingsbury said of Lane. “He’s a coach’s kid, been around the game his entire life, and if you tell him how to do it one time, he usually nails it, and then if he makes a mistake, he’ll come back and get it corrected, but super, super talented, very fast. I’ve been really impressed.”

High praise from one of the best offensive minds in all of football. Now, to the next part.

I don’t think I could see some of those things at Virginia Tech, watching the film, and getting him here in person, and watching him run around, and watching the coachability and the route tree that he can run. It’s been really impressive.”

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Ouch.

We’re looking at you, Tyler Bowen.

Bowen was VT’s offensive coordinator for the past three seasons and mainly got middling results, despite excellent talent at the skill positions. The sad part for longtime Virginia Tech fans, the school’s offensive ineptitude predated Bowen. Justin Fuente and Brad Cornelsen were terrible. The final years of Frank Beamer weren’t great, either.

Bowen is gone now. He left the Hokies to take over as Ohio State’s offensive line coach. Replacing him is Phillip Montgomery. Montgomery is a longtime college football offensive coordinator and former head coach. He’s gotten results everywhere he’s been. Another sad reality is that Bowen wasn’t even head coach Brent Pry’s worst coordinator over the last three years.

As for Lane, he’ll make his NFL debut in Friday’s preseason opener against the New England Patriots.