Draft Day Royalty: Hokies’ First-Round NFL Heroes
Virginia Tech has produced a string of first-round NFL selections spanning nearly four decades. It all began with Bruce Smith, taken No. 1 overall by the Buffalo Bills in 1985, and continued with Eugene Chung (1992), Jim Druckenmiller (1997), and another No. 1 pick in Michael Vick (2001). Cornerback DeAngelo Hall and running back Kevin Jones went in 2004, followed by offensive tackle Duane Brown in 2008. David Wilson closed out 2012, Kyle Fuller joined in 2014, and brothers Tremaine and Terrell Edmunds were both selected in 2018. The most recent Hokies to hear their names called were cornerback Caleb Farley and lineman Christian Darrisaw in back-to-back slots of the 2021 draft. Amid a rebuilding era under new leadership, Virginia Tech eyes a return to first-round prominence.
Hokie faithful, rejoice—or at least dust off your old foam fingers—because this lineup of NFL draft royalty reads like a Hall of Fame fantasy draft that somehow stayed on the rails. From Bruce “Sack Machine” Smith to Michael “Jet Powered” Vick, these guys turned Blacksburg into Canton’s vacation home. Of course, six-year storm clouds settled between picks (sorry, 1997–2001, you were a thing), but let’s pretend those gaps were strategic “mystery builds” rather than pure dorm-room pizza hangovers. Now that Caleb and Christian did the honors in 2021, it’s up to the new regime to keep the conveyor belt churning. Go ahead—dream big, Hokies—just don’t trip over your own jerseys.
Epic Seven-Inning Rally Fizzles in Liberty Softball Showdown
In a wild softball contest at Tech Softball Park, No. 16 Virginia Tech overcame a five-run deficit in the seventh inning but fell just short in a 10-9 loss to Liberty. Freshman pitcher Avery Layton opened shakily, surrendering early runs, and relief hurler Emma Mazzarone battled back through several innings. Nova Abromavage’s two-run homer ignited hope, and Rachel Castine’s clutch two-run blast cut the gap to a single run. Despite mounting a furious comeback—highlighted by multiple extra-base hits—the Hokies could not complete the rally against Flames reliever Caitlyn Nesbitt. Virginia Tech drops its third straight game and prepares for a home series vs. North Carolina.
Ah, nothing like snatching defeat from the jaws of irrelevance! This roller-coaster of runs had everything—wild pitches, bunt heroes, pinch-runners channeling Usain Bolt, and even the “Mighty Rio Grande” soundtrack for dramatic effect. Yet, as the rally song faded, the Hokies remembered they forgot to pack a time machine to erase the early five-run hole. Coach Pete D’Amour praised “hard contact” like it was an Olympic event, while the Liberty outfield packed picnic baskets. But hey, at least Tech fans can now say they’ve witnessed THE comeback that almost was—surely a badge of honor at the next fantasy league draft.
Aztecs’ Towering Transfer: Miles Heide Signs On
Virginia Tech men’s basketball landed its second transfer addition of the cycle with San Diego State center Miles Heide. The 6-foot-9, 235-pound senior averaged 5.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and led the Mountain West in two-point shooting percentage during conference play. Heide also ranked top five in offensive rebound rate and block rate last season. Entering the Hokies’ 2026-27 roster with one year of eligibility, he will join fellow frontcourt players Amani Hansberry, Kuol Atak, Sin’Cere Jones, and rising talents Ben Hammond, Tyler Johnson, and Solomon Davis.
Behold, Hokie Nation: your interior defense has just grown a pair of skyscraping shoulders. Heide—who might be part giant, part sleeping bag—comes armed with enough offensive rebounding to launch basketballs into orbit. Stats nerds drool over his KenPom rankings; casual fans just want to know if he can dunk on someone named Thaddeus. Sure, he’s no nightly double-digit scorer, but let’s face it: when you’re calling for screens and post feeds, you’d rather have a vertical fence than a revolving door. Now if only someone could teach him the art of the three-point shot, we’d really be cooking.
Speedster on the Horizon: Morrison’s Hokie Pledge
Hickory (Pa.) High running back Kelvin Morrison, a three-star recruit, became Virginia Tech’s first offensive commitment for the Class of 2027. Rated No. 46 among running backs nationally and No. 17 in Pennsylvania by 247Sports, Morrison boasts over 4,500 career rushing yards. As a junior, he tallied 1,645 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground, plus a receiving and punt-return score. At roughly 175–188 pounds, he adds speed to a returning backfield featuring veterans like Darius Taylor and Tyler Mason.
Move aside, freight trains—Kelvin “Sliver-Back” Morrison is slicing through defenses like a hot knife through pre-dawn campus waffles. Sure, he’s lighter than the average lumberjack, but what he lacks in bulk, he makes up by breezing past linebackers who probably need to stretch first. Virginia Tech’s RB room just got a new flavor of intangible “oomph,” which sounds suspiciously like “he’s fast.” If Morrison can turn those quick jump cuts into highlight reels, expect Hokie Stadium to witness more end zones than a Sudoku puzzle. Pack the banana smoothies; he runs on pure pedal power.
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