I’d like to congratulate the Hokies. This season won’t result in an ACC Championship like the team had intended, but the season was still a pretty good one. The UNC loss still stings but the other two losses were to very solid teams. This team has nine wins and will have a shot at a sixth straight 10-win season in their bowl (likely the Chick-fil-A Bowl v. Tennessee). While the record isn’t what Hokies had hoped for, there were some great things.

The offense has performed much better than it had over the past three seasons. Virginia Tech’s offense is currently ranked 56th in the NCAA; the past three seasons had all fielded offenses ranked 99th or worse. Ryan Williams has turned into one of the nation’s best backs, leading a rushing offense that ranks 15th in the nation. Tyrod Taylor hasn’t thrown a ton this season, but he has been very effective, ranking 14th nationally in passing efficiency. The Hokies are averaging over 31 points per game this season, good for 27th in the nation.

The defense struggled at times but really elevated their play over the past four games. In that span, the Hokies defense hasn’t allowed a single point in the second half. The Hokie defense will need a strong bowl performance to rank in the top 10 in total defense for the 6th straight season; they are currently 13th in total D. The scoring defense is slightly better, ranking 11th. Despite some injuries to the secondary this season, the Hokie pass defense is the 7th best nationally. The defense was inexperienced early but that seems to be less of a factor now and the entire defense is playing faster.

Now to honor individual achievements:
Congratulations to Ryan Williams. Williams won both the ACC Offensive and ACC overall Rookie of the Year awards. Williams absolutely deserved these honors as he holds the ACC rushing yards and touchdown records and is only 110-yards from the single season school rushing record.

Congrats to Cody Grimm. As many people know, he came to Virginia Tech as a walk-on and eventually earned a scholarship. His hard work and nose for the ball have made him a Hokie fan favorite. Grimm leads the nation in fumbles forced. The Hokies will miss him next season.

ALL-ACC First Teamers
RB Ryan Williams
LB Cody Grimm
K Matt Waldron
P Brent Bowden

ALL-ACC Second Teamers
TE Greg Boone
OT Ed Wang
OG Sergio Render
DE Jason Worilds
FS Kam Chancellor

Congrats to the guys who made first or second team all-conference. Also, I want to say that it is too bad for Rashad Carmichael that he didn’t make it. He deserved to be at least second team all-conference but was snubbed.