| Virginia Tech Hokies–No. 52 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Defensive end |
| Class |  |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | February 23, 2002 [1] |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 252 lb (114 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College |
|
| High school | Indian River (Chesapeake, Virginia) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr. (born February 23, 2002) [1] is an American football defensive end for the Virginia Tech Hokies. He previously played for the Florida Gators.
Powell-Ryland attended Indian River High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. He was selected to play in the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game. He committed to the University of Florida to play college football. [2] [3]
After appearing in two games his first year at Florida in 2020, Powell-Ryland played in 12 games in 2021 and had five tackles and 1.5 sacks. [4] In 2022, he played in all 13 games with five starts and recorded 29 tackles and three sacks. After the season, he entered the transfer portal and transferred to Virginia Tech. [5] [6] After playing linebacker at Florida, Powell-Ryland converted to a defensive end at Virginia Tech and became a starter his first year in 2023. [7]
Xavier Oyekola Adibi is an American football coach and former player. He is an associate linebackers coach at Virginia Tech, and was previously the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M University–Commerce. He played college football at Virginia Tech. He was selected by the Houston Texans in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL draft and played professionally as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) with the Texans (2008–2010), Minnesota Vikings (2011), Chicago Bears (2012), and Tennessee Titans (2012). He was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
Akeem Raphael Jordan is an American former professional football linebacker. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and Toronto Argonauts. He played college football at James Madison University.
The 2007 Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game featured the Boston College Eagles and the Virginia Tech Hokies in a regular-season college football game that determined the conference's champion for the 2007 season. Virginia Tech defeated Boston College 30–16 to win the ACC football championship. The game, held at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, was a rematch of a regular-season game that took place on October 25, in Blacksburg, Virginia. In that game, Boston College, courtesy of a late-game comeback by quarterback Matt Ryan, won 14–10.
The 2005 Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game was the inaugural contest of the championship game for the recently expanded Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). It was a regular season-ending American college football contest held at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Florida State Seminoles. The game decided the winner of the ACC football championship. Florida State University (FSU) defeated Virginia Tech 27–22 in a game characterized by penalties, defense, and a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by Virginia Tech. The game was the final contest of the regular season for the teams, as bowl games are not considered part of the regular season.
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team represents Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the sport of American football. The Hokies compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They previously competed in the Big East. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium, located in Blacksburg, Virginia, with a seating capacity of over 65,000 fans. Lane Stadium is considered to be one of the loudest stadiums in the country, being voted number two in ESPN's 2007 "Top 20 Scariest Places to Play". It was also recognized in 2005 by Rivals.com as having the best home-field advantage in the country.
The 2006 Gator Bowl was a college football bowl game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Virginia Tech Hokies at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, on January 2, 2006. The game was the final contest of the 2005 football season for each team and resulted in a 35–24 Virginia Tech victory. Louisville represented the Big East Conference, and Virginia Tech represented the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the competition.
The 2001 Gator Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the Clemson Tigers and the Virginia Tech Hokies at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on January 1, 2001. The game was the final contest of the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 41–20 victory for Virginia Tech.
The 2002 Gator Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Virginia Tech Hokies, The 57th edition of the Gator Bowl, it was played at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on January 1, 2002. The game was the final contest of the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 30–17 victory for Florida State.
The 1998 Gator Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and the North Carolina Tar Heels from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The 53rd edition of the Gator Bowl, it was played at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on January 1, 1998. The game was the final contest of the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 42–3 victory for North Carolina.
Jason Adjepong Worilds is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He retired during the prime of his career to become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Cody James Grimm is an American football coach and former safety. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Ronald Fredrick Powell was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators. He was selected by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft.
Manuel Alberto Diaz II is an American football coach who is the head football coach at Duke University. He served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Pennsylvania State University from 2022 to 2023 and as the head football coach at the University of Miami from 2019 to 2021. Diaz previously worked as the head coach for Temple University and as an assistant football coach at Mississippi State University, Louisiana Tech University, the University of Texas at Austin, Middle Tennessee State University, North Carolina State University, and Florida State University.
James Rashaan Gayle is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Virginia Tech. He signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
Dadi L'homme Nicolas is a Haitian former professional gridiron football defensive end. He attended Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, Florida. He played college football at Virginia Tech, and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Fe'Zahn Tremaine Edmunds is an American professional football linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.
FeDerius Terrell Edmunds is an American professional football safety who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Virginia Tech and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Jonathan Raymond Greenard is an American professional football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Louisville and Florida.
Amaré Barno is an American professional football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Butler (KS) before transferring to Virginia Tech. Barno was drafted by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
James Houston IV is an American professional football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida before transferring to Jackson State.