Hokie ClubGREENSBORO, N.C. – Eight Virginia Tech football student-athletes were recognized Tuesday as the Atlantic Coast Conference announced its 2019 All-ACC Football Teams, which were compiled from a vote among a panel of the league's 14 head coaches and select media members. The group was headlined by CB Caleb Farley (first team) and LB Rayshard Ashby (second team), while six players earned honorable mention honors; P Oscar Bradburn, T Christian Darrisaw, WR Damon Hazelton, DT Jarrod Hewitt, G Lecitus Smith and CB Jermaine Waller.
ALL-ACC FIRST TEAM
CB Caleb Farley
A former high school quarterback, Farley has blossomed into one of the ACC's top cornerbacks in just his second season playing that position.He leads the ACC with 16 passes defensed & ranks fourth in the nation averaging 1.5 passes defensed per game. He is tied for the ACC lead with four INTs and registered a 17-yard INT return TD in a 45-0 shutout of Georgia Tech (11/16). The Hickory, N.C. native posted a career-high four passes defensed in a 43-41 six-OT win vs. North Carolina (10/19).
ALL-ACC SECOND TEAM
LB Rayshard Ashby
Named ACC Linebacker of the Week five times this season, the Chesterfield, Virginia native was the only defensive player in the league to win that many ACC POW honors in 2019. He also finished third in the voting for ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Ashby leads Tech with 106 total tackles and ranks fourth in the ACC. He also leads the Hokies and is tied for fourth in the ACC with 14.5 tackles for loss. He has held VT's Lunch Pail for Bud Foster the entire season and leads a VT defense that helped the Hokies become the first ACC team to post back-to-back shutouts against Power Five foes for the first time since 1978. The Hokies rank second in the ACC in Red Zone defense with a 71.8 opponent scoring percentage, trailing only Clemson (71.4%).
ALL-ACC HONORABLE MENTION
P Oscar Bradburn
Bradburn earned All-ACC honorable mention accolades in 2019 after being named a third-team All-ACC selection in 2018. A semifinalist for The Ray Guy Award, he ranks eighth in the nation in gross punting average (46.7). The Sydney, Australia native owns 21 punts of 50+ yards, 21 punts inside the 20. He also forced 21 fair catches while suffering only seven touchbacks. Bradburn was named the ACC Specialist of the Week following Tech's 36-14 victory over No. 22 Wake Forest. He boomed four punts for an average of 51.3 yards, hit a long punt of 59 yards and dropped three punts inside the 20 in that contest.
T Christian Darrisaw
A true sophomore for the Hokies, Darrisaw has started all 12 games at left tackle for Tech in 2019 after opening 12 contests at that position as a true freshman. The Upper Marlboro, Maryland native helped jumpstart Tech's rushing game in the regular season's final eight games as the Hokies averaged 184.4 rushing ypg & scored 17 rushing TDs over that span.
WR Damon Hazelton
Hazelton missed the first season's first three games due to injury, but has still posted a team-best seven TD catches. The Baltimore native earned All-ACC third-team honors in 2018. He ranks second on the squad with 30 receptions for 506 yards. A transfer from Ball State who sat out the 2017 campaign, he tied a season-high with seven catches at UVA (11/29) for 118 yards, marking his fourth career 100-yard game at Tech.
DT Jarrod Hewitt
A redshirt junior, Hewitt received honorable mention accolades for Tech in 2019. The Venice, Florida native owns 27 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, four QB hurries and one pass breakup. He enjoyed a monster game in a 43-41 six-OT triumph vs. North Carolina (10/19), producing career bests with 3.0 TFL and 2.5 sacks to go along with five tackles.
G Lecitus Smith
A redshirt sophomore for the Hokies, Smith has started 11 games at left guard for Tech in 2019 after opening four contests at that position in 2018. The Fitzgerald, Georgia native anchored the left side of Tech's offensive line along with T Christian Darrisaw. That duo helped Tech register 17 rushing TDs over the season's final eight regular season games as the Hokies averaged 184.4 rushing ypg during that stretch.
CB Jermaine Waller
A true sophomore, Waller emerged as a consistent cover corner for the Hokies in 2019. The Washington, D.C. native is tied for fifth in the ACC with three interceptions and is tied for fourth in the league with 13 passes defensed. He ranks second on the squad in both categories behind teammate CB Caley Farley.