GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Virginia Tech relies heavily on its passing game behind prolific thrower Ryan Willis, who passed 52 times in last week’s loss to Notre Dame, while one of North Carolina’s strengths is containing the opponent’s passing game. The Tar Heels rank third in the ACC limiting opponents to only 177.0 yards a game passing. The Hokies are third in the league with 251.2 passing yards a game.
DRAFT SLANT
–DT Ricky Walker had three tackles, including one for loss, in last week’s loss to Notre Dame. He has 12 tackles this season with three for loss.
ROSTER REPORT
–WR Tre Turner was out for two games because of an undisclosed injury but he played against Notre Dame last week and caught two passes for 21 yards. A true freshman, Turner has reached the threshold of four games for retaining redshirt status.
–DE Trevon Hill was dismissed from the team on Sept. 23 a day after the loss at Old Dominion. The reason given was “not upholding the high standards we have for our student-athletes,” coach Justin Fuente said in a statement. Hill, a junior, had 20 career tackles for loss, including 4.5 this season in three games.
–LB Devon Hunter, a sophomore, will redshirt after playing the first four games of the season and then sitting out last week’s game against Notre Dame while the coaches evaluated his future. Under a new NCAA rule, a player can play up to four games and still save a year of eligibility as a redshirt.
