2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

The 2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hokies were led by second-year head coach Justin Fuente and played their home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia. Virginia Tech competed as members of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They finished the season 9–4, 5–3 in ACC play to finish in second place in the Coastal Division. They were invited to the Camping World Bowl where they lost to Oklahoma State.

2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionCoastal Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 25
APNo. 24
2017 record9–4 (5–3 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrad Cornelsen (2nd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBud Foster (23rd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumLane Stadium
(Capacity: 65,632)
2017 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Atlantic Division
No. 4 Clemson xy$^  7 –1     12 –2  
No. 23 NC State  6 –2     9 –4  
Boston College  4 –4     7 –6  
Louisville  4 –4     8 –5  
Wake Forest  4 –4     8 –5  
Florida State  3 –5     7 –6  
Syracuse  2 –6     4 –8  
Coastal Division
No. 13 Miami xy  7 –1     10 –3  
No. 24 Virginia Tech  5 –3     9 –4  
Georgia Tech  4 –4     5 –6  
Duke  3 –5     7 –6  
Pittsburgh  3 –5     5 –7  
Virginia  3 –5     6 –7  
North Carolina  1 –7     3 –9  
Championship: Clemson 38, Miami 3
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The Hokies finished the 2016 season 10–4, 6–2 in ACC play to win its sixth ACC Coastal Division title.[1] In the ACC Championship, the Hokies fell to eventual National Champion Clemson.[2] The Hokies were invited to the Belk Bowl where they defeated Arkansas, scoring 35 unanswered points to win the game 35–24, the greatest comeback in team history.[3]

Coaching staff
Name Title Joined Staff
Justin Fuente Head Coach 2016
Bud Foster Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator & Linbeackers 1987
Galen Scott Assistant Head Coach & Safeties 2016
Zohn Burden Running Backs 2015
Brad Cornelsen Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks 2016
Brian Mitchell Cornerbacks 2016
James Shibest Special Teams Coordinator, Tight Ends 2016
Vance Vice Offensive Line 2016
Holmon Wiggins Wide Receivers 2016
Charley Wiles Defensive Line 1996

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 37:30 p.m.vs. No. 22 West Virginia*No. 21
ABCW 31–2467,489
September 93:30 p.m.Delaware*No. 18
ACCN ExtraW 27–062,526
September 163:30 p.m.at East Carolina*No. 16
CBSSNW 64–1743,776
September 232:00 p.m.Old Dominion*No. 13
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ACCN ExtraW 38–065,632
September 308:00 p.m.No. 2 ClemsonNo. 12
ABCL 17–3165,632
October 77:15 p.m.at Boston CollegeNo. 16
ESPN2W 23–1032,057
October 213:30 p.m.North CarolinaNo. 14
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ESPN2W 59–765,632
October 287:20 p.m.DukeNo. 13
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ACCNW 24–360,914
November 48:00 p.m.at No. 9 Miami (FL)No. 13
ABCL 10–2863,932
November 1112:20 p.m.at Georgia TechNo. 17
ACCNL 22–2847,909
November 1812:20 p.m.Pittsburgh
  • Lane Stadium
  • Blacksburg, VA
ACCNW 20–1458,948
November 248:00 p.m.at VirginiaNo. 24
ESPNW 10–048,609
December 285:15 p.m.No. 19 Oklahoma StateNo. 22
ESPNL 21–3039,610
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Schedule source[4]

Game summaries

vs West Virginia
See also: 2017 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
Virginia Tech vs West Virginia
1 234Total
• No. 21 Virginia Tech 3 7147 31
No. 22 West Virginia 0 7107 24
  • Date: September 4
  • Location:
    FedEx Field
    Washington, D.C.
  • Game start: 7:40pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:46
  • Game attendance: 67,489
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Wind: 5 MPH N, Clear
  • Referee: Jerry McGinn
  • TV announcers (ABC): Steve Levy (Play-by-Play), Brian Griese (Analyst)

In the first game of the season at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, Hokies quarterback Josh Jackson ran for a touchdown and threw another as the Hokies held off No. 22-ranked West Virginia 31–24. In the 52nd meeting between the two schools, a back-and-forth matchup was decided in the fourth quarter when Jackson rushed for a 46-yard gain to set up Travon McMillion's three-yard touchdown run with 6:30 left in the game. The Hokie defense, which gave up 592 total yards to the Mountaineers, came up big at the end, keeping West Virginia out of the endzone after two attempts from the 15-yard line as time expired. The win moved the Hokies to 1–0 on the season.[5]

Delaware
Delaware at Virginia Tech
1 234Total
Delaware 0 000 0
• No. 18 Virginia Tech 7 10010 27
  • Date: September 9
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, Virginia
  • Game start: 3:35 pm
  • Elapsed time: 2:52
  • Game attendance: 62,526
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), Wind: 3 MPH NE, Mostly cloudy
  • Referee: Duane Heydt
  • Television network: ACCN Extra
See also: 2017 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

The Hokies announced they would wear new "white Hokie stone" helmets for their first home game of the year against FCS Delaware.[6][7] After allowing nearly 600 yards to West Virginia, Virginia Tech's defense rebounded nicely to record Bud Foster's 32nd shutout as the Hokies' defensive coordinator. The Blue Hens only got into Virginia Tech territory three times. Another Hokie hallmark, special teams, played an important role as Greg Stroman returned a punt for a touchdown late in the first quarter to give the Hokies a 7–0 lead. Quarterback Josh Jackson threw two scoring passes in the game as the Hokies were held to only 303 yards of total offense. However, it was enough as the Hokies moved to 2–0 on the season with a 27–0 win.[8]

at East Carolina
Virginia Tech at East Carolina
1 234Total
• No. 16 Virginia Tech 7 16347 64
East Carolina 17 000 17
See also: 2017 East Carolina Pirates football team

Virginia Tech traveled to Greenville, North Carolina to take on East Carolina in a non-conference game. Things did not start well for the Hokies as the Pirates took an early 7–0 and then 17–7 lead as the first quarter ended. VT responded quickly thereafter, getting a touchdown catch from Cam Phillips and three Joey Slye field goals in the second quarter to take the lead at the half 23–17. In the second half the Hokies ran away with the game scoring five touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 57–17 lead. Four of the third quarter touchdowns were passes from quarterback Josh Jackson. Another touchdown in the fourth quarter gave the Hokies a 64–17 win over East Carolina.[9]

The Hokies rushed for 287 yards and Jackson passed for 388 yards and five touchdowns in the blowout. Phillips set a school record with 14 catches for 189 yards in the game.[9] Meanwhile, the Hokie defense held the Pirates to only 281 total yards. The win moved the Hokies to 3–0 on the season.

Old Dominion
See also: 2017 Old Dominion Monarchs football team
Old Dominion at Virginia Tech
1 234Total
Old Dominion 0 000 0
• No. 13 Virginia Tech 3 14147 38
  • Date: September 23
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, Virginia
  • Game start: 2:05 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:01
  • Game attendance: 65,632
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), Wind: 6 MPH SSE, Clear
  • Referee: Tra Blake

Clemson
See also: 2017 Clemson Tigers football team
Clemson at Virginia Tech
1 234Total
• No. 2 Clemson 10 777 31
No. 12 Virginia Tech 0 3014 17
  • Date: September 30
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, Virginia
  • Game start: 8:21 pm
  • Elapsed time: 3:15
  • Game attendance: 65,632
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C), Wind: 10 MPH ENE, Clear
  • Referee: Jeff Heaser

at Boston College
See also: 2017 Boston College Eagles football team
Virginia Tech at Boston College
1 234Total
• No. 16 Virginia Tech 7 1033 23
Boston College 3 007 10
  • Date: October 7
  • Location:
    Alumni Stadium
    Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Game start: 7:15
  • Elapsed time: 3:17
  • Game attendance: 32,057
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), Wind: 14s, Clear
  • Referee: J Magallanes

North Carolina
See also: 2017 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
North Carolina at Virginia Tech
1 234Total
North Carolina 0 007 7
• No. 14 Virginia Tech 14 21177 59
  • Date: October 21
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, Virginia
  • Game start: 3:35
  • Elapsed time: 3:18
  • Game attendance: 65,632
  • Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C), Wind: 4 MPH S, Clear
  • Referee: Garry Patterson

Duke
1 2 3 4 Total
Blue Devils 0 3 0 0 3
No. 13 Hokies 7 10 7 0 24
See also: 2017 Duke Blue Devils football team

at Miami (FL)
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 13 Hokies 0 3 7 0 10
No. 9 Hurricanes 0 14 7 7 28
See also: 2017 Miami Hurricanes football team

at Georgia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 17 Hokies 3 6 7 6 22
Yellow Jackets 7 7 7 7 28
See also: 2017 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

Pittsburgh
1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 7 0 0 7 14
Hokies 7 3 0 10 20
See also: 2017 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

at Virginia
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 24 Hokies 0 3 7 0 10
Cavaliers 0 0 0 0 0
See also: 2017 Virginia Cavaliers football team

vs. Oklahoma State-Camping World Bowl
1 2 3 4 Total
No. 22 Hokies 7 0 7 7 21
No. 19 Cowboys 3 10 14 3 30
See also: 2017 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team

Honorary #25 Beamer Jersey

Since the start of the 2016 season, two days prior to each game, Head Coach Justin Fuente has selected an outstanding special teams player to wear the #25 jersey in honor of former head coach, Frank Beamer, who wore #25 as a player for Virginia Tech.

The players honored in the 2017 season are:

Game Opponent Player
Game 1 West Virginia Anthony Shegog (2)
Game 2 Delaware Colton Taylor
Game 3 East Carolina Greg Stroman (2)
Game 4 Old Dominion Deon Newsome
Game 5 Clemson Terrell Edmunds (2)
Game 6 Boston College Greg Stroman (3)
Game 7 North Carolina Oscar Bradburn (Fr)
Game 8 Duke Ricky Walker
Game 9 Miami Sean Huelskamp (2)
Game 10 Georgia Tech Tremaine Edmunds
Game 11 Pittsburgh Andrew Motuapuaka
Game 12 Virginia Jovonn Quillen
Camping World Bowl Oklahoma State Andrew Motuapuaka (2)

2018 NFL Draft
Main article: 2018 NFL Draft

The Hokies had five players selected in the 2018 NFL draft. The Edmunds brothers were both selected in the first round.

PlayerTeamRoundPick #Position
Tremaine EdmundsBuffalo Bills1st16thLB
Terrell EdmundsPittsburgh Steelers1st28thS
Tim SettleWashington Redskins5th163rdNT
Wyatt TellerBuffalo Bills5th166thG
Greg StromanWashington Redskins7th241stCB

Rankings
Further information: 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP 21 18 16 13 12 16 15 14 13 13 17 RV 24 22 22 24 
Coaches 22 18 16 13 12 19 17 14 13 13 17 RV 25 21 22 25 
CFP Not released 13 17 NR 25 22 22 Not released

References
  1. Times-Dispatch, MIKE BARBER Richmond. "Virginia Tech headed to ACC championship game after N.C. State's win over UNC". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  2. "Clemson vs. Virginia Tech - Game Recap - December 3, 2016 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  3. "Belk Bowl score: Virginia Tech rallies back from 24-0 in epic collapse for Arkansas". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  4. 2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football schedule. FBSchedules.com. Accessed April 14, 2017.
  5. "West Virginia vs. Virginia Tech - Game Recap - September 3, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-09-05.
  6. LaBlue, Ricky. "Virginia Tech Football Releases Photos of New Helmet". TechSideline.com. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  7. "Hokies to Debut Icy Hokie Stone Lids Against Delaware". The Key Play. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  8. "Delaware vs. Virginia Tech - Game Recap - September 9, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  9. "Virginia Tech vs. East Carolina - Game Recap - September 16, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-09-18.

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