Virginia Tech will likely be without the services of two starters on Saturday. Boundary cornerback Stephan Virgil and tight end Greg Boone are listed as doubtful for tomorrow’s game against the Marshall Thundering Herd.
Boone played in just 19 plays against Alabama before suffering an SC joint sprain in his shoulder. The injury isn’t serious, but it is very painful. Andre Smith (6-5, 268, r-Jr.) will start in Boone’s place after playing 26 snaps against Alabama. Sam Wheeler (6-3, 259, r-Sr.), who got four offensive plays against Alabama, figures to play more of a role against Marshall.
Cornerback Stephan Virgil injured his knee towards the end of the Alabama game. After his knee failed to show improvement in the first half of the week, an MRI was performed on Wednesday. The MRI was negative, but Virgil is still listed as doubtful for the Marshall game.
With Virgil out, Rashad Carmichael (5-11, 186, r-Jr.) will move from field corner to boundary corner. The Hokies like to play their best cornerback at boundary, and Carmichael is Tech’s most experienced corner with Virgil out. Replacing Carmichael at field corner will be Cris Hill (5-11, 183, r-So.).
Hill is a relatively inexperienced player. In 2008, he played just 27 defensive snaps at field corner. He did play 155 special teams plays, though his play as a gunner on the punt team was much-maligned. In the Alabama game, he had five special teams and did not play on defense.
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