GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its All-Academic Team for the 2020 football season and that list included six Virginia Tech student-athletes. Four of those six players will return to play for the Hokies in 2021. Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one's academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team. Tech's honorees, their fields of study and hometowns are listed below.
P Oscar Bradburn – Sociology – Sydney, Australia
Bradburn earned a spot on the All-ACC Academic Team for a second straight year. A semifinalist for The Ray Guy Award in 2019, he concluded his Tech career as the school's all-time leader with a 43.5-yard punting average. He punted 37 times for 1,591 yards (43.0 avg.) in 2020 with a long of 62 yards. He boomed eight punts of 50+ yards, landed 12 punts inside the 20 and forced 17 fair catches with only six touchbacks. In 48 career games for Tech he punted 225 times for 9,796 yards with a long of 72 yards, 49 punts of 50+ yards, 81 inside the 20 and only 23 touchbacks.
RB Khalil Herbert – Graduate Curriculum & Instruction – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
A third-team All-ACC selection as a running back, Herbert led the Hokies' potent rushing attack with 1,182 yards on the ground, while his 107.5 ypg. rushing average ranked second in the ACC. Hebert finished the season with six 100-yard rushing games. He posted a season-best 207 rushing yards at Duke (10/10) as part of his record-breaking day that saw him accumulate 357 all-purpose yards. A second-team All-ACC all-purpose honoree, he racked up 1,791 all-purpose yards to rank third in the nation (1,182 rushing yards, 179 receiving yards and 430 kickoff return yards).
OL Brock Hoffman – Communication Science & Social Inquiry – Statesville, North Carolina
Hoffman returns for Tech in 2021 after starting all 11 contests at center for Tech in 2020. He helped the Hokies rush for 240.1 yards per game which led the ACC. Tech scored 27 rushing TDs on the season and amassed better than 200 rush yards eight times, 250+ six times and 300 or more rushing yards on three occasions. Hoffman was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice (9/28) and (11/2). He was tabbed as a first-team All-ACC pick by Eric Mac Lain of ACC Network.
LB Dax Hollifield – Human Nutrition, Food & Exercise – Shelby, North Carolina
Versatile linebacker played both the inside and outside spots for Tech in 2020 and will return for his senior campaign in 2021. He played in 10 games (six starts) last season, finishing sixth on the squad with 52 total tackles (21 solo), 2.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks and two pass breakups. In 36 career games (25 starts), he owns 181 tackles (69 solo) with 14.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks and three INTs. He has also posted 10 QB hurries, a fumble recovery, two forced fumbles, six passes defense and three pass breakups.
TE James Mitchell – Sport Media Analysis – Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Mitchell returns for his senior campaign in 2021 after posting a team-high four TD catches in 2020. He ranked third on the squad with 26 catches for 435 yards, while also registering a rushing score. Mitchell is making his second appearance on the All-ACC Academic Team. He owns 47 career catches for 796 yards with six receiving scores. He has also registered five rushing TDs during his career at Virginia Tech.
T Luke Tenuta – Sport Media Analysis – Crozet, Virginia
Named All-ACC Third Team by PFF College and Eric Mac Lain of ACC Network, Tenuta returns for the Hokies in 2021 after starting eight games at right tackle in 2020. He was named to the PFF College National Team of the Week after Tech opened the season with 314 rushing yards in a 45-24 win vs. NC State (9/26). Tenuta was a key part of a Tech blocking unit that helped RB Khalil Herbert break off six 100-yard rushing games. He is making his second appearance on the All-ACC Academic Team.