PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Ryan Willis, a junior transfer from Kansas, moved into the starting lineup in late September when QB Josh Jackson suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Willis has 17 touchdown passes for the season, and 29 in his career. With one TD throw last week, he moved into a tie for 10th in program history with Jim Druckenmiller (1996) and Marcus Vick (2005) with 17. He also has 295 rushing yards.
–WR Damon Hazelton, a transfer from Ball State, has been the top target all season, although he had a quiet game against Miami’s talented secondary — five catches for 58 yards. It was only the second game all season in which he failed to catch a touchdown pass.
–Dax Hollifield, a freshman, has seen more time in November due to an injury to starter Dylan Rivers. He had 10 tackles vs. Boston College on Nov. 3, had a sack against Pitt on Nov. 10 and came up with three tackles for loss, including a sack last week vs. Miami.
–RB Steven Peoples leads Tech with 116 rushes for 586 yards and five TDs. “Steven Peoples is a workhorse,” said QB Ryan Willis. “He doesn’t say much, just brings his lunch pail everyday and goes to work.”
SERIES HISTORY: Virginia Tech leads 57-37-5 and has won 14 in a row, including 10-0 last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We’ve got guys out there playing beat up and roughed up and trying their best to come back from injuries … a whole bunch of guys that are really, really focused on trying to do our best to send this senior class out the right way.” — Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente
