Thursday, Aug. 12
Washington at New England – 7:30 p.m. ET – NFL Network
The Washington Football Team has by far the most Hokies of any NFL team, boasting five players (CB Kendall Fuller, DE Justus Reed, DT Tim Settle, CB Greg Stroman and TE Logan Thomas) and one support staff member (Sr. Director of Player Development Malcolm Blacken). Reed, a member of the 2020 Hokies' squad, originally signed after the 2021 NFL Draft with Tennessee but has since landed with Washington. Thomas, Tech's all-time total offense leader, signed a three-year, $24 million extension with Washington in July. Patriots' TE Dalton Keene will miss the 2021 NFL season after being placed on injured reserve during camp.
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia – 7:30 p.m. ET
S Terrell Edmunds and brother RB Trey Edmunds are set for Pittsburgh's second preseason game after the Steelers beat Dallas 16-3 in the 2021 Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 5. Terrell did not play in the game, but Trey caught both of his targets for 22 yards.
Friday, Aug. 13
Tennessee at Atlanta – 7 p.m. ET
One of Tech's two 2021 first-round picks, CB Caleb Farley will have to wait for his first game action for the Titans as Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel said Thursday that Farley was "not ready" for Friday's game. Farley was picked No. 22 overall, becoming the 12th first-rounder in school history and the first Tech cornerback to be taken in the first round since Kyle Fuller in 2014. Coincidentally, Farley will be instructed in Tennessee by Hokies alum Anthony Midget, who serves as the Titans' secondary coach.
Lurking 3️⃣ @IamCalebFarley pic.twitter.com/RwhAC0zLgX
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 3, 2021
Buffalo at Detroit – 7 p.m. ET – NFL Network
One of the Bills' defensive captains, LB Tremaine Edmunds could see his first action of the new season in Buffalo's first preseason game in Detroit. Edmunds was a beast for the Bills in 2020, recording the second-most tackles on the team with 77, including two sacks. The 16th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, Edmunds has made 46 starts in his three seasons in Buffalo, racking up 355 career tackles.
Saturday, Aug. 14
Miami at Chicago – 1 p.m. ET – NFL Network
The first Hokies vs. Hokies game of the new season may take place between the Dolphins and Bears as three Hokies could see the field. WR Isaiah Ford and the Dolphins visit 2021 Bears' sixth-round pick RB Khalil Herbert and free-agent signee K Brian Johnson, both in their first year in the league after playing huge roles for the 2020 Hokies. Herbert rushed for 1,182 yards in 2020, the most by a Tech running back since David Wilson's 1,709 yards in 2011. Johnson is sixth on Tech's all-time scoring list after racking up 293 points in three seasons as the Hokies' starting kicker. Ford has been turning heads in Dolphins' training camp with a number of spectacular catches, including this one.
Sheesh, @IAF_1 😳 pic.twitter.com/ZQMeoBFzLl
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) August 8, 2021
Denver at Minnesota – 4 p.m. ET – NFL Network
Another game featuring Hokies on both sides follows the Miami-Chicago game on NFL Network but Tech's second 2021 first-rounder, T Christian Darrisaw, will also not play this week after undergoing a minor procedure Thursday but is hopeful to return for the regular season or sooner. Darrisaw was selected No. 23 overall by the Vikings to become Tech's 13th first-round selection and first offensive lineman drafted in the first round since Duane Brown in 2008. During the offseason, Denver signed longtime Bears' CB Kyle Fuller who was a first-team All-Pro after the 2018 season that saw him lead the league in interceptions.
👋👋 @chrisdarrisaw71 pic.twitter.com/QmxYRtvAcI
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 4, 2021
New Orleans at Baltimore – 7 p.m. ET
Two Hokie defensive backs square off as Ravens' S Chuck Clark and recently signed Saints' CB Adonis Alexander could take the field. Clark has played in every game for the Ravens except one since he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, racking up 203 tackles, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions in four seasons. Alexander most recently spent time on practice squads for Washington, L.A. Rams and San Francisco before signing with the Saints on Aug. 4.
Cleveland at Jacksonville – 7 p.m. ET – NFL Network
2020 Second-Team All-Pro G Wyatt Teller could suit up for the Browns Saturday night on NFL Network as they visit Jacksonville. Following the 2020 season, Teller ranked as the 18th-best player in the NFL by Pro Football Focus and the No. 2-ranked offensive lineman. Another Hokie will be present on the sidelines as Nick Sorenson, a four-year letterman and member of the 1999 Hokies' squad that made the lone National Championship game in program history, is the special teams coordinator for the Jaguars.
Cincinnati at Tampa Bay – 7:30 p.m. ET
No Hokie players in this one but Super Bowl LV Champion Head Coach Bruce Arians will be manning the helm for the Buccaneers in their first action since hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February. The Bucs 31-9 victory over the Chiefs gave Arians his first Super Bowl as a head coach, third on an NFL staff, adding to an impressive resume that includes two NFL Coach of the Year awards. Joining Arians on the Tampa Bay sideline for another season are Tech alums Cody Grimm (defensive/special teams assistant) and Nick Rapone (safeties).
Houston at Green Bay – 8 p.m. ET
After spending the last two seasons with the L.A. Chargers, QB Tyrod Taylor could see his first game action as a Texan when Houston visits Green Bay and T Yosh Nijman Saturday night. The 2021 NFL season is Taylor's 11th in the league since he left Tech as the program's total offense leader with 9,213 total yards (since overtaken by Washington TE Logan Thomas). Nijman, a free-agent signee of the Packers following the 2019 NFL Draft, played in all 16 games for Green Bay in 2020.
Seattle at Las Vegas – 9 p.m. ET
The Seahawks-Raiders game Saturday night has three Hokies on rosters but only one with the chance to play as Raiders LB Divine Deablo is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and Seahawks T Duane Brown is at camp but has yet to practice for Seattle. However, Seahawks DT Jarrod Hewitt, a free-agent pickup following the 2021 NFL Draft, may get his first NFL action in Saturday night. Both Deablo and Hewitt were starters for the Hokies a year ago and racked up a combined 86 tackles.
L.A. Chargers at L.A. Rams – 10 p.m. ET – NFL Network
Chargers CB Brandon Facyson could play in the battle for Los Angeles on NFL Network Saturday night. Facyson, who signed with the Chargers following the 2018 NFL Draft, has played in 44 games in three years with Los Angeles, including four starts, racking up 57 career tackles.
Sunday, Aug. 15
Carolina at Indianapolis – 1 p.m. ET – NFL Network
The final Week 1 NFL Preseason game that features a Hokie will see K Joey Slye kick for the Panthers, who begins his third season as the team's kicker. Slye, Tech's all-time scoring leader with 403 points, has made 54 field goals in his pro career, including a career-long 56-yarder a year ago. Hokies alum Corey Fuller begins his first season as a scouting assistant for Carolina after serving as Tech's assistant director of player personnel.
Hokies on NFL Rosters (As of Aug. 11, 2021)
44 CB Adonis Alexander New Orleans
76 T Duane Brown Seattle
36 S Chuck Clark Baltimore
71 T Christian Darrisaw Minnesota
49 LB Divine Deablo (PUP) Las Vegas
49 LB Tremaine Edmunds Buffalo
34 S Terrell Edmunds Pittsburgh
33 RB Trey Edmunds Pittsburgh
28 CB Brandon Facyson L.A. Chargers
3 CB Caleb Farley Tennessee
20 WR Isaiah Ford Miami
23 CB Kyle Fuller Denver
29 CB Kendall Fuller Washington
24 RB Khalil Herbert Chicago
62 DT Jarrod Hewitt Seattle
6 K Brian Johnson Chicago
44 TE Dalton Keene (IR) New England
73 T Yosh Nijman Green Bay
79 DE Justus Reed Washington
97 DT Tim Settle Washington
4 K Joey Slye Carolina
37 CB Greg Stroman Washington
5 QB Tyrod Taylor Houston
77 G Wyatt Teller Cleveland
82 TE Logan Thomas Washington
Hokies on NFL Staffs
Bruce Arians – Head Coach, Tampa Bay
Malcolm Blacken – Senior Director of Player Development, Washington
Corey Fuller – Scouting Assistant, Carolina
Cody Grimm – Defensive/Special Teams Assistant, Tampa Bay
Jeff King – Director of Pro Scouting, Chicago
Anthony Midget – Secondary, Tennessee
Nick Rapone – Safeties, Tampa Bay
Johnny Shelton – Team Chaplain, Baltimore
Nick Sorenson – Special Teams Coordinator, Jacksonville
Darryl Tapp – Assistant Defensive Line Coach, San Francisco