ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Da’Wain Lofton jumped on a muffed punt with 2:29 remaining in the first quarter. To that point, the Hokies trailed No. 23 Tulane 7-3.

Peter Moore, the punter wearing No. 25 from just down the road in Davidsonville, Md., hung one in the air and gave his teammates plenty of time to sprint downfield. With the wet weather, the Green Wave’s Dontae Fleming couldn’t reel in the 51-yard punt. In a flash, it was on the ground.

Lofton, a wide receiver in the class of 2021 from Fort Worth, Texas, entered the transfer portal on Dec. 5 after catching just six passes for 58 yards this season, five of which came in the first month of the year. Yet he, like cornerback Derrick Canteen and offensive linemen Johnny Dickson and Hunter Mclain, chose to finish out the season with his teammates in the Military Bowl.

His presence was impactful, and his quick reaction on special teams swung the momentum early in what was then a tight contest. Players take pride in being part of that unit, and there wasn’t a more obvious example than Lofton.

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