One of the biggest question marks this past spring was whether or not the Hokies could find a placekicker with Cody Journell no longer a member of the team.  With Journell accepting a plea bargain in his case earlier this week, he may have opened the door to his return to the team and provided a solution to Tech’s kicking woes.

Journell had a nice season as Tech’s first-year starter in 2011, going 14-of-17 with a long of 42 yards.  However, he was arrested along with two other men prior to the Sugar Bowl for breaking and entering into the Blacksburg home of Dorenzo Hudson.  They were looking for marijuana that they claimed Hudson’s roommate stole.

Only Hudson was home that night, and Journell and the two men left after entering the home.  Later, Hudson and his roommate had a “physical altercation” with two of the men (not Journell).  Interestingly enough, Hudson is being sued for assault by one of the guys who broke into his house.  It seems pretty clear that Hudson and his roommate went out looking for a fight with the guys who broke into their house that night, but they were not arrested or charged with anything by police, and Hudson was not suspended by then-coach Seth Greenberg.

With a felony charge against him, Journell was indefinitely suspended.  He missed the Sugar Bowl, and though he remained enrolled in school, he was not allowed to take part in team functions.

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