2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

Last updated

2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football
Virginia Tech Hokies logo.svg
Conference Atlantic Coast Conference
DivisionCoastal Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 25
APNo. 24
Record9–4 (5–3 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Brad Cornelsen (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Spread
Defensive coordinator Bud Foster (23rd season)
Base defense 4–4
Home stadium Lane Stadium
Uniform
Virginia tech football unif.png
Seasons
  2016
2018  
2017 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Atlantic Division
No. 4 Clemson xy$^  7 1   12 2  
No. 23 NC State  6 2   9 4  
Boston College  4 4   7 6  
Louisville  4 4   8 5  
Wake Forest  4 4   8 5  
Florida State  3 5   7 6  
Syracuse  2 6   4 8  
Coastal Division
No. 13 Miami (FL) xy  7 1   10 3  
No. 24 Virginia Tech  5 3   9 4  
Georgia Tech  4 4   5 6  
Duke  3 5   7 6  
Pittsburgh  3 5   5 7  
Virginia  3 5   6 7  
North Carolina  1 7   3 9  
Championship: Clemson 38, Miami 3
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hokies were led by second-year head coach Justin Fuente and played their home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia. Virginia Tech competed as members of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They finished the season 9–4, 5–3 in ACC play to finish in second place in the Coastal Division. They were invited to the Camping World Bowl where they lost to Oklahoma State.

Contents

Coaching staff

NameTitleJoined Staff
Justin Fuente Head Coach2016
Bud Foster Associate head coach, Defensive coordinator & Linbeackers1987
Galen ScottAssistant Head Coach & Safeties2016
Zohn BurdenRunning Backs2015
Brad Cornelsen Offensive coordinator, Quarterbacks2016
Brian MitchellCornerbacks2016
James ShibestSpecial Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends2016
Vance ViceOffensive Line2016
Holmon Wiggins Wide Receivers2016
Charley WilesDefensive Line1996

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 37:30 p.m.vs. No. 22 West Virginia *No. 21 ABC W 31–2467,489
September 93:30 p.m. Delaware *No. 18 ACCN Extra W 27–062,526
September 163:30 p.m.at East Carolina *No. 16 CBSSN W 64–1743,776
September 232:00 p.m. Old Dominion *No. 13
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ACCN ExtraW 38–065,632
September 308:00 p.m.No. 2 Clemson No. 12
ABC L 17–3165,632
October 77:15 p.m.at Boston College No. 16 ESPN2 W 23–1032,057
October 213:30 p.m. North Carolina Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 14
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ESPN2 W 59–765,632
October 287:20 p.m. Duke No. 13
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ACCN W 24–360,914
November 48:00 p.m.at No. 10 Miami (FL) No. 13ABCL 10–2863,932
November 1112:20 p.m.at Georgia Tech No. 17ACCNL 22–2847,909
November 1812:20 p.m. Pittsburgh
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ACCNW 20–1458,948
November 248:00 p.m.at Virginia No. 25ESPNW 10–048,609
December 285:15 p.m.vs. No. 19 Oklahoma State *No. 22 ESPN L 21–3039,610

Schedule source [1]

Game summaries

vs West Virginia

Virginia Tech vs West Virginia
Team1234Total
No. 21 Virginia Tech3714731
No. 22 West Virginia0710724
  • Date: September 4
  • Location:
    FedEx Field
    Washington, D.C.
  • Game start: 7:40pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:46
  • Game attendance: 67,489
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Wind: 5 MPH N, Clear
  • Referee: Jerry McGinn
  • TV announcers (ABC): Steve Levy (Play-by-Play), Brian Griese (Analyst)

In the first game of the season at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, Hokies quarterback Josh Jackson ran for a touchdown and threw another as the Hokies held off No. 22-ranked West Virginia 31–24. In the 52nd meeting between the two schools, a back-and-forth matchup was decided in the fourth quarter when Jackson rushed for a 46-yard gain to set up Travon McMillion's three-yard touchdown run with 6:30 left in the game. The Hokie defense, which gave up 592 total yards to the Mountaineers, came up big at the end, keeping West Virginia out of the endzone after two attempts from the 15-yard line as time expired. The win moved the Hokies to 1–0 on the season. [2]

Delaware

Delaware at Virginia Tech
Team1234Total
Delaware00000
No. 18 Virginia Tech71001027
  • Date: September 9
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, Virginia
  • Game start: 3:35 pm
  • Elapsed time: 2:52
  • Game attendance: 62,526
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), Wind: 3 MPH NE, Mostly cloudy
  • Referee: Duane Heydt
  • Television network: ACCN Extra

The Hokies announced they would wear new "white Hokie stone" helmets for their first home game of the year against FCS Delaware. [3] [4] After allowing nearly 600 yards to West Virginia, Virginia Tech's defense rebounded nicely to record Bud Foster's 32nd shutout as the Hokies' defensive coordinator. The Blue Hens only got into Virginia Tech territory three times. Another Hokie hallmark, special teams, played an important role as Greg Stroman returned a punt for a touchdown late in the first quarter to give the Hokies a 7–0 lead. Quarterback Josh Jackson threw two scoring passes in the game as the Hokies were held to only 303 yards of total offense. However, it was enough as the Hokies moved to 2–0 on the season with a 27–0 win. [5]

At East Carolina

Virginia Tech at East Carolina
Team1234Total
No. 16 Virginia Tech71634764
East Carolina1700017

Virginia Tech traveled to Greenville, North Carolina to take on East Carolina in a non-conference game. Things did not start well for the Hokies as the Pirates took an early 7–0 and then 17–7 lead as the first quarter ended. VT responded quickly thereafter, getting a touchdown catch from Cam Phillips and three Joey Slye field goals in the second quarter to take the lead at the half 23–17. In the second half the Hokies ran away with the game scoring five touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 57–17 lead. Four of the third quarter touchdowns were passes from quarterback Josh Jackson. Another touchdown in the fourth quarter gave the Hokies a 64–17 win over East Carolina. [6]

The Hokies rushed for 287 yards and Jackson passed for 388 yards and five touchdowns in the blowout. Phillips set a school record with 14 catches for 189 yards in the game. [6] Meanwhile, the Hokie defense held the Pirates to only 281 total yards. The win moved the Hokies to 3–0 on the season.

Old Dominion

Old Dominion at Virginia Tech
Team1234Total
Old Dominion00000
No. 13 Virginia Tech31414738
  • Date: September 23
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, Virginia
  • Game start: 2:05 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:01
  • Game attendance: 65,632
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), Wind: 6 MPH SSE, Clear
  • Referee: Tra Blake

Clemson

Clemson at Virginia Tech
Team1234Total
No. 2 Clemson1077731
No. 12 Virginia Tech0301417
  • Date: September 30
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, Virginia
  • Game start: 8:21 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:15
  • Game attendance: 65,632
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), Wind: 10 MPH ENE, Clear
  • Referee: Jeff Heaser

At Boston College

Virginia Tech at Boston College
Team1234Total
No. 16 Virginia Tech7103323
Boston College300710
  • Date: October 7
  • Location:
    Alumni Stadium
    Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Game start: 7:15
  • Elapsed time: 3:17
  • Game attendance: 32,057
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), Wind: 14s, Clear
  • Referee: J Magallanes

North Carolina

North Carolina at Virginia Tech
Team1234Total
North Carolina00077
No. 14 Virginia Tech142117759
  • Date: October 21
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, Virginia
  • Game start: 3:35
  • Elapsed time: 3:18
  • Game attendance: 65,632
  • Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C), Wind: 4 MPH S, Clear
  • Referee: Garry Patterson

Duke

1234Total
Blue Devils03003
No. 13 Hokies7107024

At Miami (FL)

1234Total
No. 13 Hokies037010
No. 9 Hurricanes0147728

At Georgia Tech

1234Total
No. 17 Hokies367622
Yellow Jackets777728

Pittsburgh

1234Total
Panthers700714
Hokies7301020

At Virginia

1234Total
No. 24 Hokies037010
Cavaliers00000

Vs. Oklahoma State-Camping World Bowl

1234Total
No. 22 Hokies707721
No. 19 Cowboys31014330

Honorary #25 Beamer Jersey

Since the start of the 2016 season, two days prior to each game, Head Coach Justin Fuente has selected an outstanding special teams player to wear the #25 jersey in honor of former head coach, Frank Beamer, who wore #25 as a player for Virginia Tech.

The players honored in the 2017 season are:

GameOpponentPlayer
Game 1West VirginiaAnthony Shegog (2)
Game 2DelawareColton Taylor
Game 3East Carolina Greg Stroman (2)
Game 4Old DominionDeon Newsome
Game 5Clemson Terrell Edmunds (2)
Game 6Boston CollegeGreg Stroman (3)
Game 7North CarolinaOscar Bradburn (Fr)
Game 8Duke Ricky Walker
Game 9MiamiSean Huelskamp (2)
Game 10Georgia Tech Tremaine Edmunds
Game 11PittsburghAndrew Motuapuaka
Game 12VirginiaJovonn Quillen
Camping World BowlOklahoma StateAndrew Motuapuaka (2)

2018 NFL Draft

The Hokies had five players selected in the 2018 NFL draft. The Edmunds brothers were both selected in the first round.

PlayerTeamRoundPick #Position
Tremaine Edmunds Buffalo Bills 1st16th LB
Terrell Edmunds Pittsburgh Steelers 1st28th S
Tim Settle Washington Redskins 5th163rd NT
Wyatt Teller Buffalo Bills 5th166th G
Greg Stroman Washington Redskins 7th241st CB

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP 2118161312161514131317RV24222224
Coaches 2218161312191714131317RV25212225
CFP Not released1317252222Not released

References

  1. 2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football schedule. FBSchedules.com. Accessed April 14, 2017.
  2. "West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech - Game Recap - September 3, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  3. LaBlue, Ricky. "Virginia Tech Football Releases Photos of New Helmet". TechSideline.com. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  4. "Hokies to Debut Icy Hokie Stone Lids Against Delaware". The Key Play. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  5. "Delaware vs. Virginia Tech - Game Recap - September 9, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 11, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Virginia Tech vs. East Carolina - Game Recap - September 16, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 18, 2017.

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