# 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.

## 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

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. No. 22 West Virginia* | No. 21 | FedExFieldLandover, MD (Black Diamond Trophy) | ABC | W 31–24 | 67,489 |
| September 9 | 3:30 p.m. | Delaware* | No. 18 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ACCN Extra | W 27–0 | 62,526 |
| September 16 | 3:30 p.m. | at East Carolina* | No. 16 | Dowdy–Ficklen StadiumGreenville, NC | CBSSN | W 64–17 | 43,776 |
| September 23 | 2:00 p.m. | Old Dominion* | No. 13 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ACCN Extra | W 38–0 | 65,632 |
| September 30 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 2 Clemson | No. 12 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA (College GameDay) | ABC | L 17–31 | 65,632 |
| October 7 | 7:15 p.m. | at Boston College | No. 16 | Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA (rivalry) | ESPN2 | W 23–10 | 32,057 |
| October 21 | 3:30 p.m. | North Carolina | No. 14 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ESPN2 | W 59–7 | 65,632 |
| October 28 | 7:20 p.m. | Duke | No. 13 | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ACCN | W 24–3 | 60,914 |
| November 4 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 10 Miami (FL) | No. 13 | Hard Rock StadiumMiami Gardens, FL (rivalry) | ABC | L 10–28 | 63,932 |
| November 11 | 12:20 p.m. | at Georgia Tech | No. 17 | Bobby Dodd StadiumAtlanta, GA (rivalry) | ACCN | L 22–28 | 47,909 |
| November 18 | 12:20 p.m. | Pittsburgh | | Lane StadiumBlacksburg, VA | ACCN | W 20–14 | 58,948 |
| November 24 | 8:00 p.m. | at Virginia | No. 25 | Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA (Commonwealth Cup) | ESPN | W 10–0 | 48,609 |
| December 28 | 5:15 p.m. | vs. No. 19 Oklahoma State* | No. 22 | Camping World StadiumOrlando, FL (Camping World Bowl) | ESPN | L 21–30 | 39,610 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after October 31 released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||
Schedule source

## Game summaries
### vs West Virginia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 21 Virginia Tech | 3 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
| No. 22 West Virginia | 0 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 24 |
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.

### Delaware

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • No. 18 Virginia Tech | 7 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
The Hokies announced they would wear new "white Hokie stone" helmets for their first home game of the year against FCS Delaware. 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.

### At East Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 16 Virginia Tech | 7 | 16 | 34 | 7 | 64 |
| East Carolina | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
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.
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. 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Old Dominion | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • No. 13 Virginia Tech | 3 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 38 |

### Clemson

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 2 Clemson | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| No. 12 Virginia Tech | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 17 |

### At Boston College

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 16 Virginia Tech | 7 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
| Boston College | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |

### North Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • No. 14 Virginia Tech | 14 | 21 | 17 | 7 | 59 |

### Duke

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Devils | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 13 Hokies | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |

### At Miami (FL)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 13 Hokies | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| No. 9 Hurricanes | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |

### At Georgia Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 17 Hokies | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 22 |
| Yellow Jackets | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |

### Pittsburgh

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Hokies | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 20 |

### At Virginia

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 24 Hokies | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Cavaliers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### 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 |

## 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

The Hokies had five players selected in the 2018 NFL draft. The Edmunds brothers were both selected in the first round.
| Player | Team | Round | Pick # | Position |
| Tremaine Edmunds | Buffalo Bills | 1st | 16th | LB |
| Terrell Edmunds | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1st | 28th | S |
| Tim Settle | Washington Redskins | 5th | 163rd | NT |
| Wyatt Teller | Buffalo Bills | 5th | 166th | G |
| Greg Stroman | Washington Redskins | 7th | 241st | CB |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | 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 | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 13 | 17 | — | 25 | 22 | 22 | Not released |