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Tech rookies set to get first taste of NFL action on Thursday

BUY 2018 FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS

While S Chuck Clark and CB Kyle Fuller got an early start to the 2018 preseason in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio last week, the NFL preseason schedule begins in earnest on Thursday evening with a host of games featuring Hokies. Both Buffalo and Washington feature four former Hokies on their rosters with each squad boasting three Tech rookies who could potentially see their first pro game action.
 
Thursday, August 9
 
Washington at New England – 7:30 pm ET
CB Greg Stroman, DT Tim Settle, CB Adonis Alexander, LB Dadi Nicolas and the Washington Redskins face the New England Patriots. Stroman, Settle and Alexander are rookies that will all be getting their first taste of NFL action. Former Tech alum Torrian Gray serves as the defensive backs coach for the Redskins, while Kysheon Jarrett is also assisting the coaching staff.
 
Stroman and Settle have been a feel-good story during training camp in Richmond. The duo played together at Stonewall Jackson High School and have remained teammates at Tech and were both drafted by the Redskins. Stroman registered an interception off QB Colt McCoy in Tuesday's practice session.

Carolina at Buffalo – 7:00 pm ET
LB Tremaine Edmunds, TE Logan Thomas, WR Camp Phillips, G Wyatt Teller and the Buffalo Bills will host Carolina. Edmunds and Phillips have strong training camps up to this point and look to take advantage of their first NFL action. Edmunds has been mentioned as a possible Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, but has been busy soaking up all the knowledge he can from veteran teammates.

Other Thursday games featuring Hokies
 
Cleveland at N.Y. Giants – 7:00
New starting QB Tyrod Taylor makes his debut with the Cleveland as the Browns face T Nick Becton and the N.Y. Giants. Taylor has been a hit thus far with the fans and his teammates in Cleveland. The Browns are the subject of this season's version of HBO's Hard Knocks, so we'll be sure to share any of the best excerpts including Taylor, who has taken an active role in helping to groom No. 1 overall pick, QB Baker Mayfield.
 
Chicago at Cincinnati – 7:00 pm ET
CB Kyle Fuller and the Chicago Bears travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. This will be the second game for the Bears as they opened the preseason in the Hall of Fame game last Thursday. Fuller did not see any playing time in the contest. In a story published by Eric Edholm of Pro Football Weekly, defensive coordinator Bud Foster and Fuller both shared plenty of praise for one another. Here are a couple excerpts . . .
 
"We've had a strong bond," Fuller told PFW on Tuesday, "and there's a lot of trust there."
It makes sense. The oldest Fuller brother, Vincent, played defensive back at Tech under Foster, followed by wide receiver Corey at Tech a few years later. Bringing home the family quartet were Kyle and youngest brother Kendall, who is now with the Chiefs; they were both high-round DB draft picks who starred under Foster in the same Hokies backfield in 2013 and 2014.
 
"My whole family loves [Foster] and loves all the Virginia Tech coaches," Fuller said. "He has always gone to [bat] for us, and that means a lot."
 
"It's been great to see him blossom into the guy I always thought he could be," Foster said. "From my perspective, I just have loved seeing that development."

Pittsburgh at Philadelphia 7:00 pm ET
S Terrell Edmunds, TE Bucky Hodges, and the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Former All-American Eugene Chung serves as the Eagles is assistant o-line/ tight ends coach and is the father of current Tech C Kyle Chung. Former Hokie Keith Gray is an assistant strength and condition coach for the Eagles.
 
Edmunds has been a fan favorite during camp, signing autographs and taking photos with fans after practices at training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He also received nothing but praise for his work ethic and attitude from a Pittsburgh scout who was attending a Tech practice this week.

New Orleans at Jacksonville – 7:00 pm ET
RB Trey Edmunds and the New Orleans Saints travel to Jacksonville to face LB Andrew Motuapuaka and the Jaguars. Edmunds enters his second season with the Saints and looks to have another season of contributing heavily on special teams.
 
Houston at Kansas City – 8:30
CB Kendall Fuller and the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Houston Texans. This contest will mark Fuller's first season in Kansas City after an off-season trade sent him to Arrowhead as part of the QB Alex Smith. Fuller has had an excellent training camp so far and looks to continue his dominant performance. Take a listen to the interview with Voice of the Chiefs, Mitch Holthus as he and Fuller discuss Tech's vaunted Lunch Pail Defense led by Bud Foster.

Tampa Bay at Miami - 7:00 pm ET
WR Isaiah Ford and the Miami Dolphins Host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ford suffered an injury last year that cost him a majority of the season, but he is back and has started to generate buzz throughout training camp with his hands and work ethic.
 
L.A. Rams at Baltimore – 7:30 pm ET
S Chuck Clark and the Baltimore Ravens take on the L.A. Rams. This will be Clark's second contest of the preseason as he faced the Bears in the Hall of Fame game. In the contest Clark tallied one tackle and an interception in the Ravens' 17-16 win.
 
Dallas at San Francisco – 10:00 pm ET
S Antone Exum, Jr. and the San Francisco 49ers host the Dallas Cowboys. Exum is going into his second year with the 49ers and is a veteran leader among the defensive backs.
 
Indianapolis at Seattle – 10:00 pm ET
T Duane Brown and the Seattle Seahawks take on the Indianapolis Colts. Brown is entering his second season with the Seahawks after being traded to Seattle from Houston mid-season a year ago. He recently received a three-year contract extension.
 
Saturday, August 11
 
L.A. Chargers at Arizona – 10:30 pm ET
CB Brandon Facyson and the L.A. Chargers travel to Arizona to face T Vinston Painter and the Arizona Cardinals.
 
HOKIES ON NFL ROSTERS (as of August 8)
No.         Player                                    Team
34           CB Adonis Alexander         Washington
61           T Nick Becton                       N.Y. Giants
76           T Duane Brown                    Seattle
31           S Kam Chancellor*             Seattle
36           S Chuck Clark                      Baltimore
33           RB Trey Edmunds               New Orleans       
49           LB Tremaine Edmunds      Buffalo
34           S Terrell Edmunds              Pittsburgh
38           S Antone Exum, Jr.             San Francisco
36           CB Brandon Facyson         L.A. Chargers
84           WR Isaiah Ford                    Miami    
23           CB Kendall Fuller                Kansas City          
23           CB Kyle Fuller                      Chicago
68           T Laurence Gibson             N.Y. Giants
84           TE Bucky Hodges                N.Y. Jets
45           LB Andrew Motuapuaka     Jacksonville
55           LB Dadi Nicolas                   Washington
78           T Vinston Painter                 Arizona 
5              WR Cam Phillips                 Buffalo
97           DT Tim Settle                       Washington
25           CB Greg Stroman                Washington
5              QB Tyrod Taylor                  Cleveland
75           G Wyatt Teller                      Buffalo
82           TE Logan Thomas               Buffalo
 
HOKIES ON CFL ROSTERS (as of July 25)
97           DT Woody Baron                 Montreal
 
*Chancellor remains on the Seattle roster, but has not been medically cleared to play. Chancellor has indicated that he has likely played his last football game.