BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente announced the Hokies' team captains for 2018 as voted upon by team's leadership council. Seniors Ricky Walker and Kyle Chung headline that list, along with junior Reggie Floyd. QB Josh Jackson was also selected by his teammates, making him one of only seven FBS sophomores to earn that distinction.
"Any time you're named a captain it's an honor, especially when it's voted upon by your peers," Fuente said. "We have a number of leaders on our team, but these four student-athletes definitely are representative of the type of players we have in our program who work hard and hold their teammates accountable."
Tech opens the 2018 season on Monday, Sept. 3 at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida as the Hokies visit Florida State in a contest that will be televised by ESPN's lead college football crew of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Maria Taylor. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
Walker (6-2, 300) enjoyed a career year for the Hokies in 2017 as he racked up 41 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 13 starts at defensive tackle. An All-ACC Honorable Mention selection, his tackles for loss total ranked 15th in the conference and he scored his first career touchdown on a fumble recovery vs. North Carolina (10/21/17). Walker helped the Lunch Pail Defense finish the season ranked fourth in the nation in scoring defense (14.8 points per game), second in third-down defense (26.2 percent) and fifth in first downs allowed (200).
Chung (6-3, 310) started all 13 games at right tackle for Tech in 2017 and is projected to start for Tech at left guard in 2018. The versatile lineman can play all five spots on the offensive line, including two starts at center for the Hokies in 2016. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida native is in his sixth year in Blacksburg after being awarded a medical hardship redshirt. He is the son of Eugene Chung, an All-American for the Hokies in 1991 and a first-round draft pick of the New England Patriots. The elder Chung currently an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Floyd (6-0, 222) is the "elder statesman" in a youthful Tech secondary. Owning 25 games of experience for the Hokies, the Manassas, Virginia native started 12 games at safety in 2017, registering 73 tackles (44 solo), along with three interceptions, four passes defensed and 3.0 TFL. Floyd produced a 69-yard INT return TD last season against North Carolina and was named ACC Co-Defensive Back of the Week. He also made a touchdown-saving tackle against Pitt that set up an epic goal-line stand to preserve a 20-14 win against the Panthers
Jackson (6-1, 215) is coming off of a record-setting rookie campaign for the Hokies. He set two Virginia Tech freshmen passing marks with 2,991 yards and 20 touchdowns. Jackson's passing yardage and 236 completions led all Power Five freshmen quarterbacks in 2017. The first freshman quarterback at Virginia Tech to start a season opener since Michael Vick in 1999, Jackson was named ACC Freshman of the Week twice last season and tied a program record with five touchdown passes at East Carolina (9/16/17).
2018 FBS Sophomore Team Captains
QB Josh Jackson Virginia Tech
LB Tuf Borland Ohio State
LB Paddy Fisher Northwestern
QB Collin Hill Colorado State
QB Jawon Pass Louisville
FB Adam Prentice Colorado State
QB Armani Rogers UNLV
