2016 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

The 2016 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Tech in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hokies were led by first-year head coach, Justin Fuente and played their home games at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia. They competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference in its Coastal Division.

2016 Virginia Tech Hokies football
Lane Stadium in the 2016 opener
ACC Coastal Division champion Belk Bowl champion
ACC Championship Game, L 35–42 vs. Clemson
Belk Bowl, W 35–24 vs. Arkansas
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division	Coastal Division
Ranking
Coaches	No. 16
AP	No. 16
Record	10–4 (6–2 ACC)
Head coach	Justin Fuente (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Brad Cornelsen (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Bud Foster (22nd season)
Base defense	4–4
Home stadium	Lane Stadium
Uniform

2016 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings

	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic Division
No. 1 Clemson xy$#		7	–	1					14	–	1
No. 21 Louisville x		7	–	1					9	–	4
No. 8 Florida State		5	–	3					10	–	3
NC State		3	–	5					7	–	6
Wake Forest		3	–	5					7	–	6
Boston College		2	–	6					7	–	6
Syracuse		2	–	6					4	–	8
Coastal Division
No. 16 Virginia Tech xy		6	–	2					10	–	4
North Carolina		5	–	3					8	–	5
No. 20 Miami (FL)		5	–	3					9	–	4
Pittsburgh		5	–	3					8	–	5
Georgia Tech		4	–	4					9	–	4
Duke		1	–	7					4	–	8
Virginia		1	–	7					2	–	10
Championship: Clemson 42, Virginia Tech 35
# – College Football Playoff champion $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

The Hokies finished the 2016 season with a regular season record of 9–3, winning its sixth ACC Coastal Division title. The Hokies played Clemson in the ACC Championship Game; Clemson won the game, 42–35.

Virginia Tech played Arkansas in the Belk Bowl on December 29, 2016. Arkansas took a 24–0 lead into halftime. However, in the second half, several Arkansas turnovers along with defensive adjustments, allowed Virginia Tech to score 35 unanswered points and win, 35–24. The comeback was the greatest in the team's 124-year history.

The Hokies finished the season with a record of 10–4, and ranked #16 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	12:30 p.m.	Liberty*		Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	ACCN	W 36–13	62,234
September 10	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 17 Tennessee*		Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, TN (Battle at Bristol) (College GameDay)	ABC	L 24–45	156,990‡
September 17	3:30 p.m.	Boston College		Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)	ESPNU	W 49–0	60,054
September 24	12:30 p.m.	East Carolina*		Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA	ACCN	W 54–17	63,712
October 8	3:30 p.m.	at No. 17 North Carolina	No. 25	Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC	ABC/ESPN2	W 34–3	33,000
October 15	3:45 p.m.	at Syracuse	No. 17	Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY	ESPNU	L 17–31	33,838
October 20	7:00 p.m.	Miami (FL)		Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)	ESPN	W 37–16	63,507
October 27	7:00 p.m.	at Pittsburgh	No. 25	Heinz Field Pittsburgh, PA	ESPN	W 39–36	40,254
November 5	3:30 p.m.	at Duke	No. 19	Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC	ESPNU	W 24–21	38,217
November 12	3:30 p.m.	Georgia Tech	No. 14	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA (rivalry)	ESPNU	L 20–30	65,632
November 19	3:30 p.m.	at Notre Dame*		Notre Dame Stadium South Bend, IN	NBC	W 34–31	80,795
November 26	12:00 p.m.	Virginia		Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA (Commonwealth Cup)	ESPN2	W 52–10	63,120
December 3	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 3 Clemson	No. 23	Camping World Stadium Orlando, FL (ACC Championship Game)	ABC	L 35–42	50,628
December 29	5:30 p.m.	vs. Arkansas*	No. 22	Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NC (Belk Bowl)	ESPN	W 35–24	46,902
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 1 released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

Schedule source:

‡ – Current NCAA record for largest attendance for a collegiate football game.

Game summaries

Liberty

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flames	6	7	0	0	13
Hokies	7	17	9	3	36

See also: 2016 Liberty Flames football team

Vs. Tennessee

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hokies	14	0	3	7	24
#17 Volunteers	0	24	7	14	45

Main article: 2016 Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol

See also: 2016 Tennessee Volunteers football team

Boston College

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	0	0	0	0
Hokies	14	7	21	7	49

See also: 2016 Boston College Eagles football team and Boston College–Virginia Tech football rivalry

East Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
Pirates	0	0	14	3	17
Hokies	14	24	9	7	54

See also: 2016 East Carolina Pirates football team

North Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
#25 Hokies	6	7	14	7	34
#17 Tar Heels	0	3	0	0	3

See also: 2016 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

At Syracuse

	1	2	3	4	Total
#17 Hokies	3	0	6	8	17
Orange	7	10	0	14	31

See also: 2016 Syracuse Orange football team

Miami (FL)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hurricanes	3	6	7	0	16
Hokies	3	13	14	7	37

See also: 2016 Miami Hurricanes football team and Miami–Virginia Tech football rivalry

At Pittsburgh

	1	2	3	4	Total
#25 Hokies	6	10	13	10	39
Panthers	0	14	7	15	36

See also: 2016 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

At Duke

	1	2	3	4	Total
#23 Hokies	7	14	0	3	24
Blue Devils	7	0	7	7	21

See also: 2016 Duke Blue Devils football team

Georgia Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
Yellow Jackets	6	14	0	10	30
#18 Hokies	0	0	7	13	20

See also: 2016 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team and Georgia Tech–Virginia Tech football rivalry

at Notre Dame

Virginia Tech Hokies (7–3) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4–6)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Virginia Tech	0	14	7	13	34
Notre Dame	10	14	7	0	31

at Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

• Date: November 19, 2016
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Flurries, 38 °F (3 °C)
• Game attendance: 80,795
• Referee: Duane Heydt
• TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks, Doug Flutie, and Kathryn Tappen
• Box Score, Game Book

Game information

First quarter ND – Josh Adams 1-yard run (Justin Yoon kick), 11:51. Notre Dame 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 78 yards, 3:09. ND – Justin Yoon 25-yard field goal, 4:26. Notre Dame 10–0. Drive: 13 plays, 42 yards, 6:28. Second quarter ND – Chris Finke 31-yard pass from DeShone Kizer (Justin Yoon kick), 14:53. Notre Dame 17–0. Drive: 7 plays, 79 yards, 2:59. VT – Jerod Evans 23-yard run (Joey Slye kick), 11:28. Notre Dame 17–7. Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 3:25. ND – Miles Boykin 18-yard pass from DeShone Kizer (Justin Yoon kick), 6:00. Notre Dame 24–7. Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards, 2:11. VT – Cam Phillips 16-yard pass from Jerod Evans (Joey Slye kick), 1:18. Notre Dame 24–14. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:42. Third quarter VT – Steven Peoples 2-yard run (Joey Slye kick), 12:39. Notre Dame 24–21. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:21. ND – Josh Adams 67-yard run (Justin Yoon kick), 3:49. Notre Dame 31–21. Drive: 4 plays, 78 yards, 1:24. Fourth quarter VT – Joey Slye 23-yard field goal, 13:35. Notre Dame 31–24. Drive: 12 plays, 66 yards, 5:14. VT – Bucky Hodges 7-yard pass from Jerod Evans (Joey Slye kick), 9:13. Tie 31–31. Drive: 8 plays, 49 yards, 3:20. VT – Joey Slye 20-yard field goal, 4:19. Virginia Tech 34–31. Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards, 4:14. Top passers VT – Jerod Evans – 22/29, 267 yards, 2 TD, INT ND – DeShone Kizer – 16/33, 235 yards, 2 TD Top rushers VT – Jerod Evans – 18 rushes, 67 yards, TD ND – Josh Adams – 13 rushes, 100 yards, 2 TD Top receivers VT – Isaiah Ford – 7 receptions, 86 yards ND – Equanimeous St. Brown – 6 receptions, 90 yards

External videos
2016 Virginia Tech at Notre Dame – ACC Network highlights

Virginia

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cavaliers	0	0	3	7	10
Hokies	7	21	24	0	52

See also: 2016 Virginia Cavaliers football team and Virginia–Virginia Tech football rivalry

Vs. Clemson–ACC Championship Game

	1	2	3	4	Total
#19 Hokies	7	7	7	14	35
#3 Tigers	14	7	14	7	42

See also: 2016 Clemson Tigers football team and 2016 ACC Championship Game

Vs. Arkansas–Belk Bowl

	1	2	3	4	Total
Razorbacks	17	7	0	0	24
#18 Hokies	0	0	21	14	35

See also: 2016 Arkansas Razorbacks football team and 2016 Belk Bowl

Rankings

Further information: 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	—	—	—	RV	RV	25	17	RV	25	23	18	RV	RV	19	18	16
Coaches	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	19	RV	25	21	22	RV	RV	18	19	16
CFP	Not released									19	14	—	—	23	22	Not released

Personnel

2016 Virginia Tech Hokies football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Isaiah Ford Jr QB 4 Jerod Evans Jr WR 5 Cam Phillips Jr TE 7 Bucky Hodges  Jr WR 8 Phil Patterson Fr QB 9 Brenden Motley  Sr QB 11 Jack Click  Fr WR 12 Henri Murphy So TE 13 Chris Durkin  So WR 15 Jaylen Bradshaw  So RB 16 Coleman Fox  Fr QB 17 Josh Jackson Fr QB 18 Chase Mummau Fr WR 27 Dominic Benson Fr RB 28 Shai McKenzie  So WR 30 Jordan Jefferson Fr FB 32 Steven Peoples So RB 33 Deshawn McClease  Fr RB 34 Travon McMillian  So WR 39 Sean Daniel Fr WR 41 Kevin Henry Fr FB 41 Trey Skeens  Fr RB 42 Marshawn Williams  So FB 45 Sam Rogers Sr RB 48 D.J. Reid  So OL 50 Patrick Kearns Fr OL 52 Austin Cannon Fr OL 56 T.J. Jackson Fr OL 57 Wyatt Teller  Jr OL 58 Colt Pettit  So OL 61 Kyle Chung  Jr OL 62 D'Andre Plantin  Fr OL 63 Daniel Bailey  Fr OL 64 Eric Gallo Jr OL 65 Matt Christ  Fr OL 66 Billy Ray Mitchell  So OL 67 Parker Osterloh  Jr OL 68 Connor Kish  Fr OL 69 Yosuah Nijman So OL 70 Kevin Kish  Fr OL 71 Jonathan McLaughlin Sr OL 72 Augie Conte  Sr OL 74 Braxton Pfaff  So OL 75 Zachariah Hoyt Fr OL 76 Jarrett Hopple Fr OL 77 Demetri Moore Jr OL 79 Tyrell Smith  Fr TE 80 Casey Harman  Fr WR 81 Samuel Denmark Fr TE 82 Xavier Burke  Fr WR 83 Eric Kumah Fr TE 85 Chris Cunningham  Fr WR 86 C.J. Carroll  So WR 87 Bodhie Long Fr WR 88 Divine Deablo Fr WR 89 Devin Wilson Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 2 Tyree Rodgers Fr DB 3 Greg Stroman Jr DE 4 Ken Ekanem  Sr FS 6 Mook Reynolds So DT 8 Nigel Williams  Sr CB 9 Khalil Ladler Fr DE 11 Houshun Gaines  Fr LB 14 Tavante Beckett Fr FS 17 Jahque Alleyne So LB 18 Raymon Minor  So DB 19 Chuck Clark Sr S 20 Deon Newsome  Jr DB 21 Reggie Floyd Fr ROV 22 Terrell Edmunds  So FS 23 Der'Woun Greene  Sr LB 24 Anthony Shegog  Jr DB 26 Jovonn Quillen Fr CB 27 Shawn Payne So CB 28 Curtis Williams  Jr CB 29 DuWayne Johnson  Fr LB 30 Eron Carter Fr CB 31 Brandon Facyson  Jr CB 35 Erikk Banks  Jr CB 36 Adonis Alexander So LB 37 Johnathan Galante Sr ROV 38 Alden Carpenter  Jr DB 39 Tyrone Thornton  Fr LB 40 Emmanuel Belmar Fr DB 41 John Jennings So CB 42 Elisha Boyd  So DE 43 Seth Dooley  Jr LB 44 Tre Hubbard Fr DE 47 Darius Fullwood  Fr LB 48 Daniel Griffith Fr LB 49 Tremaine Edmunds So DL 52 Clay Dean Fr LB 53 Trent Young  So LB 54 Andrew Motuapuaka  Jr DL 55 Jarrod Hewitt Fr LB 56 Sean Huelskamp  Jr LB 58 Zack Treser  Fr DT 60 Woody Baron Sr LB 61 Joe Koshuta  Fr DT 90 Dalton Roe  Jr DT 91 Steve Sobczak  So LB 92 Matt Reinhart  Fr DE 94 Trevon Hill  Fr DE 96 Jimmie Taylor Fr DT 97 Tim Settle  Fr DT 98 Ricky Walker  So DL 99 Vinny Mihota  So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K 35 Michael Santamaria  So K 46 Joey Slye Jr P 53 Wayne Mutter Sr LS 54 Chaska Moon  Fr LS 87 Colton Taylor  Jr LS 89 Wright Bynum  Fr P 90 Mitchell Ludwig Jr K 92 Robert Warfel Sr P 93 Brian Johnson Fr	Head coach Justin Fuente Coordinators/assistant coaches Bud Foster Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons at Virginia Tech	Alma mater
Justin Fuente	Head coach	0	Murray State (1999)
Bud Foster	Associate head coach/Defensive coordinator/Inside Linebackers	29	Murray State (1981)
Galen Scott	Assistant head coach/Safeties	0	Illinois State (2001)
Zohn Burden	Running backs	1	VMI (2006)
Brad Cornelsen	Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks	0	Missouri Southern State (2000)
Brian Mitchell	Cornerbacks	0	BYU (1995)
James Shibest	Special teams coordinator/Tight ends	0	Arkansas (1987)
Vance Vice	Offensive line	0	Oklahoma State (1990)
Holmon Wiggins	Wide receivers	0	New Mexico (2003)
Charley Wiles	Defensive line	20	Murray State (1987)
Reference:

Honorary #25 Beamer Jersey

At the start of the 2016 season, Head Coach Justin Fuente began a tradition of selecting 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 2016 season are:

Game	Opponent	Player
Game 1	Liberty	Steven Peoples
Game 2	Tennessee	Sean Huelskamp
Game 3	Boston College	Tim Settle
Game 4	East Carolina	Greg Stroman
Game 5	North Carolina	Cam Phillips
Game 6	Syracuse	Joey Slye
Game 7	Miami	Anthony Shegog
Game 8	Pittsburgh	Divine Deablo
Game 9	Duke	Chuck Clark
Game 10	Georgia Tech	Adonis Alexander
Game 11	Notre Dame	CJ Carroll
Game 12	Virginia	Sam Rogers
Game 13	Clemson	Woody Baron
Belk Bowl	Arkansas	Terrell Edmunds

External links

Media related to 2016 Virginia Tech Hokies football team at Wikimedia Commons