Hokies Return to the Rankings; Morgan Lost for the Season

Virginia Tech returned to the Top 25 following their 35-30 win over Nebraska
on Saturday night. The Hokies had been out of the rankings since their loss to
East Carolina in late August.

Tech is now the highest ranked team in the ACC. The conference only has two
teams in the Top 25. The Hokies are 20th in the A.P.
Poll and 24th in the USA
Today Coaches’ Poll. Wake Forest, after getting upset at home by Navy, fell
to 25th in both polls.

Other ACC teams receiving votes in at least one of the two polls are
Maryland, North Carolina, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Duke

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Virginia Tech lost starting rover Davon Morgan for the season on Saturday
night when he tore the ACL of his right knee against Nebraska. He will have
surgery, and Dorian Porch will replace him in the starting lineup.

Porch (5-11, 210, r-Jr.) will make his first collegiate start against Western
Kentucky on Saturday. Primarily a special teams player throughout his career,
Porch has 32 career tackles. He played most of the game against Nebraska, and
did well.

Porch was listed as the #1 player at rover coming out of spring practice.
Davon Morgan won the job in August, but these two have fought each for the job
in the past. Porch is the best tackler of Tech’s defensive backs, so there might
not be a dropoff at all.

Senior center Ryan Shuman has been Virginia Tech’s best offensive lineman
this season. He was honored for his play against Nebraska when he was named ACC
Offensive Lineman of the Week on Monday. He helped pave the way for 206 rushing
yards as the Hokies knocked off the Cornhuskers 35-30.

Shuman had a seven knock-down blocks in the victory. He was Virginia Tech’s
high-grader on the offensive line in three of the previous four games. He has
graded higher than 80% in all five games this season.