Virginia Tech’s Jaylin Lane: Like father, like son | 2025 NFL Draft film review

In 2023, we highlighted the potential breakout tandem of new Virginia Tech receivers Jaylin Lane and Ali Jennings. After all, the pair combined for three touchdowns in the team’s 36-17 opening week victory over Old Dominion. Unfortunately for the Hokies, they never got to see the duo realize its full potential. Jennings suffered a foot/ankle injury and missed most of the season.

Meanwhile, Lane continued to cruise on the outside lanes in Blacksburg. He finished as the Hokies second-leading receiver (538 yards) a year after ranking third in Conference USA in that category (940 yards).

Return on Investment

Excluding his breakout 2022 campaign, Lane’s receiving numbers aren’t necessarily eye-popping on a year-to-year basis.

The number of ways in which he can change a game, however, ranks as must-see. In 2024, Lane finished 17th nationally and fourth in the ACC in punt return average (10.2 yds/PR). While at MTSU in 2021, the Clover, South Carolina product was fourth nationally in that same category (14.6 yds/PR).

And what about the gunner position? It is an outside cover position on the punt unit (aligned like a receiver and sometimes held up by two blockers) that requires the player to be one of the first players down the field in coverage.

How did Lane do at the task you might ask?

He posted three tackles and forced several fair catches in the 2021 campaign (see video above). During his career, he also returned kickoffs and scored three times as a runner on offense.

Virginia Tech used him in the slot, in speed motion and as a screen option after motion to help loosen the box for star running back Bhayshul Tuten. He also was more than capable of venturing into the middle of the field when working as a No. 2 slot receiver (see Miami, Fla. ’24).

A further glance into Lane’s receiving totals reveals that he eclipsed the 500-yard mark three different times and nearly did it a fourth in 2024 (466). He also led the Hokies in receptions (38) as a senior.

Coach Lane

None of this should come as a surprise.

Lane’s father, Brian, is currently the head coach at Westside High School (S.C.). He brings an extensive offensive pedigree to the table. Known for his wide open spread-style attack offense, Lane’s units have routinely been at or near the top of several categories in the state of South Carolina. Prior to developing the attack, he served as a running backs coach and co-offensive coordinator for Byrnes High School (SC).

And, this past season at Westside, he led the team to the state championship game. They lost a back-and-forth 42-41 shootout versus South Florence. A year earlier, as a first-year head coach at the school, the Rams defeated South Florence in the Class 4A state championship game 34-32. It marked the program’s first state championship since 1969. Under Lane’s tutelage the last two seasons, South Carolina signee Cutter Woods passed for 7,384 yards and 85 touchdowns.

In this year’s state championship defeat, a set of brothers –WR/DBs Chamarryus Bomar and Armoni Weaver– combined for five receiving touchdowns. Bomar had two interceptions and Weaver contributed 10 tackles on the night. The pair signed with West Virginia this winter.

Like father, like son

In an article written at the Herald by current Charlotte Observer reporter Alex Zietlow, a quote Brian Lane shared on his son’s work ethic goes as follows:

“Jaylin was that guy, man. Devoted. Borderline obsessed,” Lane explained. “That’s what I tell him, you gotta be obsessed with football to get to this point. And he definitely was. I’m just so proud of him.”

Part-coach, part-father.

He was referring to the time spent with his son in his now well-known spread offense.

The former Virginia Tech all-purpose standout played for his father at Clover High School. He finished his senior year with 76 receptions for 1,611 yards and 30 touchdowns.

In his final career playoff contest at the prep level, Lane caught 14 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns in a loss against top-ranked Dorman High School.

Lane’s ability to excel at different spots on the field (gunner, slot WR, X-WR, punt returner, kickoff returner) mirrors the adaptability of his father.

In 18 seasons, Brian Lane has compiled a stellar 146-67 record as a head coach at five different stops (South Florence, Woodruff, Byrnes, Clover, Westside) in the state of South Carolina.

Adaptability is defined as the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions.

After earning second-team All-C-USA honors as a punt returner at MTSU, Lane adjusted seamlessly to the ACC while at Virginia Tech.

If his father’s career path is any indication, then the 4.35 speedster could change lanes in the NFL with few speed bumps.

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