Running back Bhayshul Tuten and defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland were named to the All-ACC second team on Tuesday and cornerback Dorian Strong and punt returner Tucker Holloway to the third team.
Virginia Tech was shut out on the first team for a third straight year, but it was nevertheless a bounceback showing for the Hokies, who didn’t have any players selected on the first three teams last year, the first time that had happened since they joined the ACC.
Tuten earned his spot as an all-purpose player. The North Carolina A&T transfer finished third in the ACC during the regular season with 119.7 all-purpose yards per game. He had 727 yards rushing, 220 receiving and another 489 on kick returns, where he had two touchdowns.
Powell-Ryland’s 9.5 sacks ranked second in the league to Louisville’s Ashton Gillotte, who had 11. APR came up a half sack shy of becoming the sixth player in program history and the first since Darryl Tapp in 2005 with double-digit sacks in a season, though he’ll have a shot in the bowl game. The last Hokie to reach 9.5 sacks in a season was Ken Ekanam in 2014.
Strong made the third team but probably had the biggest gripe about not being higher. The cornerback’s three interceptions were tied for sixth in the ACC and his eight passes broken up were tied for seventh.
But the junior’s coverage was unequaled in the league. Opponents completed just 9 of 32 passes (28%) thrown in his direction, with Strong having an NFL passer rating against of 10.9 that was tops nationally among players with 250 or more coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Holloway made the third team as a specialist after being an honorable mention there last season. The sophomore led the ACC and was ninth nationally with a 13.6-yard return average.
Several other Hokies earned honorable mentions as well: Tuten at running back, tight end Dae’Quan Wright, defensive tackle Norell Pollard, linebacker Keli Lawson and kicker John Love.
Wright, who intends to enter the transfer portal, finished with 28 catches for 366 yards, third on the team in both categories. Pollard had 23 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss and four sacks. Lawson led the Hokies with 77 tackles and had six tackles for a loss.
Love went 20-for-22 on field goals, making 13 straight to finish the season and going 6-for-7 from 40-plus yards.
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first time that had happened since they joined the ACC“.
Brandon
So were we shut out our first year? Strange if we were as we won the conference. Probably first time ever.
Hudson as 1st team C. That stings.
These need to be “fact checked”. Strong 3rd team is fake news.
3 placekickers better than Love?
Yeah, not seeing that either.
Why is not PR and KR? Holloway and Strong were robbed. If a Miami jersey both are first team. Absolutely ridiculous!!!!!!!
Yea, congrats to the guys recognized but this is complete bull. Almost all of them deserved better than they got. Strong flat out got robbed!
Strong may be the best CB in the entire league. He’s a 1st team guy all the way
Strong will go high in draft in 2025
Why in the world is Wright leaving VT?
He has a bright future
$$$$$$
Maybe or home sick. Going closer to home
Wright will end up being a Georgia Bulldog. He’s a great fit for their offensive concepts, pro-style formations, and receiver/tight end routes.
Strong got ripped off. APR should have been 1st team. Tuten was legit, but 2nd team sounds right.
APR was too limited against the run to be first team.
Strong was so good in coverage nobody threw at him so he had very limited opportunities to rack up stats
This is a friggin joke. Strong on 3rd team come on now. Name us for cornerbacks, who are better than him in the ACC..and Love 20-22 yes fantastic. If we had finished with eight wins, this would’ve been much higher with nominations.
I’d say these things are beauty contests, but that insults beauty contests. The vast majority of people who vote in them – both writers and coaches – should hang their heads in shame for the minimal amount of effort they put into it.
Congratulations All.. Let’s Go… Hokies!