INDIANAPOLIS – An ACC-high six Virginia Tech Football alums have received invitations to participate in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis from March 1-7. DE Amaré Barno, TE James Mitchell, G Lecitus Smith, T Luke Tenuta, WR Tré Turner and CB Jermaine Waller will be representing Virginia Tech. The National Football League announced the list of all 324 players receiving Combine invitations on Wednesday.
The annual scouting combine provides an opportunity for personnel staff and coaches to evaluate potential draftees both in on-field drills and performance testing. The week also includes medical tests and in-person interviews with teams and the media. More details on the schedule in Indianapolis and television coverage will be made available when finalized.
DE Amaré Barno
Barno started 12 games at defensive end for the Hokies in 2021, racking up 35 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. The Blythewood, South Carolina native recorded a career-high nine tackles vs. Pitt (10/16/21) and 3.5 tackles for loss vs. North Carolina (9/3/21). Barno led all Power Five players and ranked third in the FBS with 16.0 tackles for loss in 2020. Prior to the combine, Barno participated in the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl on Feb. 5.
TE James Mitchell
Mitchell played in two games in 2021 before requiring season-ending surgery after the win over Middle Tennessee State. The week before, Mitchell made three receptions for 36 yards with an 11-yard touchdown in the 17-10 victory over North Carolina (9/3). In 2020, Mitchell led the team in receiving touchdowns with four, totaling 24 receptions for 389 yards. Mitchell was a 2020 All-ACC Second Team selection of PFF College.
G Lecitus Smith
An All-ACC honorable mention in 2021, Smith started 11 games on Tech's offensive line, 10 at left guard and at left tackle vs. Richmond (9/25/21). The redshirt junior helped the Hokies to the second-best rushing offense in ACC play this season as the team averaged 214.5 rushing yards per game in conference games. Smith was also an All-ACC honorable mention in both 2019 and 2020. Smith participated in the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl on Feb. 5.
T Luke Tenuta
Tenuta started 12 games for Tech in 2021, 11 at left tackle and made a start at right tackle vs. Richmond (9/25/21) and earned an All-ACC honorable mention. The redshirt sophomore was an All-ACC third-team selection by Pro Football Focus and Eric Mac Lain following the 2020 season that saw him start 11 games at right tackle. Tenuta has also been named to the ACC All-Academic Team the past three seasons. Tenuta played in the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl on Feb. 3.
WR Tré Turner
Turner leaves Blacksburg ranked No. 5 in Tech history in both receptions (134) and receiving yards (2,292) after a four-year career for the Hokies. 2021 was a career year for Turner as he set career highs with 40 receptions and 675 yards, earning All-ACC honorable mention status. The Greensboro, North Carolina native went off at Georgia Tech (10/30/21), posting seven receptions for a career-high 187 yards with a career-long 69-yard touchdown. Turner had four 100-yard receiving games in his career, two of which came this season after a 102-yard performance vs. Richmond (9/25/21) and at Georgia Tech. Prior to the combine, Turner played in the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl on Feb. 5.
CB Jermaine Waller
A 2021 All-ACC Second Team selection, Waller led the Hokies and tied for the ACC lead with four interceptions in 2021, one of which he returned for a touchdown vs. Notre Dame (10/9/21). He was named the PFF College Cornerback of the Week on Oct. 11 and the AP's ACC Midyear Top Defensive Player on Oct. 20. Waller started 11 games In 2021, recording 45 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, and five pass breakups. Waller was invited to the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl on Feb. 3.