BLACKSBURG – A pair of departing Virginia Tech seniors will strap on a Hokies' helmet one final time on Saturday as they showcase their skills for NFL coaches and scouts.
DT Ricky Walker will play in the 94th East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 19, 2019 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. ET kickoff and will be televised by NFL Network. T Yosuah Nijman is slated to compete in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. That contest is set to kick off at 5 p.m. ET and will be televised by FS1.
Walker started every game at defensive tackle for Tech in 2018, posting a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, a pass breakup, two forced fumbles and a career-high 49 total tackles (23 solo). Those numbers helped him land a spot on the second-team All-ACC squad. He played in 51 career games (30 starts) for the Hokies, accumulating
30.5 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and 127 total tackles (53 solo) to go along with a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. He was a 2018 team captain, the keeper of Virginia Tech's famed Lunch Pail and graduated in the spring of 2018 with a degree in sociology.
Nijman started 10 games at right tackle for Tech in 2018. He played in 45 career games (32 starts) for the Hokies, working at both the left and right tackle positions. The Maplewood, N.J. native attended Fork Union Military Academy prior to enrolling at Virginia Tech 2014. He graduated in December 2018 with a degree in consumer studies.