MOBILE, Ala. – Virginia Tech football will be sending three of its players to the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl as DE Amaré Barno, G Lecitus Smith and WR Tré Turner have accepted their invitations.
The Senior Bowl is considered as the most prominent college football all-star game in the United States and is treated as the first step in the NFL Draft process. Dating back to its first game in 1950, the Senior Bowl has seen 55 of its former players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl will take place on Feb. 5 at the University of South Alabama's Hancock Whitney Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on NFL Network. Tickets are also available for purchase.
Barno (6-6, 245) is currently tied for second on the Hokies' defense with 3.5 sacks this season and leads the team with nine quarterback hurries. The Blythewood, South Carolina native has totaled 34 tackles this season including 5.5 TFL (-32.0 yards). He was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention following the 2020 season that saw him lead all Power Five players with 16.0 TFL.
Smith (6-3, 315) has started all 10 games on the offensive line this season, nine at left guard and one at left tackle vs. Richmond (9/25). The Fitzgerald, Georgia native has helped Tech to the third-best rushing offense in ACC play this season, averaging 194.8 yards per game. Smith was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention after both the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Turner (6-2, 190) leads Tech in receiving this season with 35 receptions for 631 yards and two touchdowns. The Greensboro, North Carolina native was named the ACC Wide Receiver of the Week and the Reese's Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week following a seven reception, 187-yard performance with a 69-yard touchdown at Georgia Tech (10/30). Turner is currently sixth in Tech history in both career receptions (129) and career receiving yards (2,248).
Virginia Tech has a long history of sending players to the Senior Bowl as this year's trio ups the program total to 55 participants. S Divine Deablo and RB Khalil Herbert participated in the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl and both players were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.
