NASHVILLE – Virginia Tech Football placed five student-athletes on Athlon Sports' 2022 Preseason All-ACC Team. P Peter Moore headlined the Hokies' contingent, earning second team accolades, while S Chamarri Conner, LB Dax Hollifield, RB Malachi Thomas and G Kaden Moore each received a third team nod.
ATHLON SPORTS ALL-ACC SECOND TEAM SPECALISTS
Moore (6-1, 207) tied for the most punts of 50+ yards in the ACC last season with 23 and tied for third in the conference with 22 punts inside the 20-yard line. The sophomore held a 45.1-yard average on 59 punts in 2021, which led the ACC and is tied with Jimmy Kibble (1997) for the second-highest single-season gross punting average in Tech annals. Moore produced the fourth-longest punt in the conference during the 2021 season with a 68-yarder at Boston College on Nov. 5. The Davidsonville, Maryland native was also named to The Athletic's Midseason Freshman All-America Team.
ATHLON SPORTS ALL-ACC THIRD TEAM DEFENSE
Conner (6-0, 205) started all 13 games at nickel during the 2021 season and tied for third on the team with 81 tackles (52 solo). The senior also tied for sixth in the conference with two forced fumbles. He was named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week on Sept. 7 after leading the team in tackles and recording the game-sealing interception in the 17-10 win over then-No. 10 North Carolina. Conner also racked up 5.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks and five pass breakups during the 2021 season.
Hollifield (6-1, 239) owned a team-high 88 tackles (40 solo) in 13 games in 2021. The senior started 12 games at middle linebacker and also led the team with 9.0 TFL and 4.5 sacks. He recorded his fourth career interception versus North Carolina on Sept. 3. He averaged 7.3 tackles per game to rank ninth in the conference. Hollifield was also named a nominee for the Charlotte TD Club Defender of the Nation Award.
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ATHLON SPORTS ALL-ACC THIRD TEAM OFFENSE
Thomas (6-0, 205) played in 12 games in his freshman campaign in 2021, starting on three occasions. On the season, he totaled 440 yards on 93 carries. Against Syracuse he recorded the first 100-yard, three-TD game for a Tech running back since David Wilson in 2011, with his 151-yard effort against the Orange. In Tech's Pinstripe Bowl appearance, he secured a 34-yard reception, the longest of his young career.
Moore (6-3, 311) started all 13 games of the Hokies' season on the offensive line at right guard, making his first career start in primetime against then-No. 10 North Carolina. Moore was named to The Athletic's Freshman All-America Team at the conclusion of the season.