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Football

Graduate senior Tyrell Smith wins campus award

Virginia Tech Football Season Tickets

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech graduate student Tyrell Smith was honored at the fifth annual Uplifting Black Men Conference on Saturday, receiving the Black Male Excellent Network's (BMEN) leadership award. This award recognizes a community member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership through their involvement and impact on the lives of black male students at Virginia Tech.
 
Five years ago, the Student Success Center made a commitment to help meet the needs of black male students' by developing a conference for networking, professional development and community engagement. The mission of BMEN is to empower Virginia Tech's black men by creating academic and social community through holistic development, in addition to supporting the Virginia Tech's Diversity Strategic Plan by improving academic performance, undergraduate experiences, and the overall graduation rates of Black male undergraduates at Virginia Tech.
 
"Thank you to BMEN for the work the organization does at Virginia Tech," Smith said. "It was a pleasure to attend Saturday's conference and meet so many of my peers who are thriving at Tech, as well as the many individuals who are working to make a difference in the lives of young men like myself on campus. I was humbled to accept this award." 
 
Smith (6-3, 308) was voted a team captain by his teammates last season, but suffered a season-ending knee injury against Duke and has been rehabbing to get back on the field for one more season. He owns an undergraduate degree from criminology and earned a Master's in instructional technology in December and is pursuing a second graduate degree. He appeared in 34 consecutive games for the Hokies before last season's injury. 
 
 
Tech ranks No. 25 in the ESPN Preseason Football Power Index
ESPN Stats & Info posted its initial Football Power Index (FPI) of the 2020 preseason with the Hokies coming in at No. 25. Tech was one of four schools (Tennessee, Nebraska & Florida State) to jump into the preseason Top 25 after ranking outside the final 2019 Top 30. The Hokies moved up 23 spots from their final 2019 ranking. Check the below link for the complete rankings. 
 
Full ESPN FPI Rankings  
es.pn/2HCb1E1
 
 
Vote for Cam Phillips as the XFL Star of the Week 
WR Cam Phillips caught eight passes for 63 yards with three TDs as the XFL's Houston Roughnecks moved to 2-0 on the season with a 28-24 victory over the St. Louis Battlehawks. Phillips is a finalist in the fan voting for the XFL Star of the Week along with WR DeAndre Thompkins of the DC Defenders. Fans can vote via the below Twitter poll.