NFL Hokies: 2022 primerNFL Hokies: 2022 primer
Football

NFL Hokies: 2022 primer

BLACKSBURG – The NFL preseason has come to a close, with the final games for teams ending this past Sunday, and many former Virginia Tech football players stood out during the three weeks of the preseason schedule in August.
 
For a breakdown of how certain Hokies faired on their respective teams last month, read Thursday's edition of NFL Hokies, presented by Coca-Cola.
 
Arizona Cardinals 
Rookie Lecitus Smith is the lone Hokie to crack Arizona's 53-man roster in 2022. The Cardinals took the 6-foot-3, 320-pounder at No. 215 overall in the sixth round of this past April's NFL Draft. He worked primarily as a guard on the offensive line for the Cards.

A two-time All-ACC honorable mention selection during his time at Tech, Smith impressed many during this past preseason, earning him a spot on the 53-man that possesses just nine offensive linemen.

Safety Tae Daley also represented the maroon and orange well after a strong showing in preseason camp in which he recorded 14 total tackles. But was unable to make the final roster cut after signing on as an undrafted free agent.

Baltimore Ravens
When looking at the heyday of Virginia Tech football that spanned over a decade plus during the height of the Frank Beamer era, there were a multitude of things that gave the Hokies their identity. Of course, special teams have to be thrown in the mix. But don't forget about "DBU," a longstanding tradition that has continued to reign true when looking at the very core of Tech football.

At least for the time being, a sprinkle of that coveted tradition has made its way up north to Baltimore, where Chuck Clark and Kyle Fuller are ready to suit up in the Charm City.

A new addition to the purple and black, Fuller recorded an interception in the only game he appeared in this past August, and now returns to his roots in his hometown of Baltimore with sights set on becoming a staple in the Ravens' secondary.

Same could be said for Chuck Clark, who enters his sixth season with the team since being a sixth-round draft pick back in 2017.

Buffalo Bills
For quite some time now, it seems the Virginia Tech-to-Buffalo connection has seemed to have run strong, and this season is no exception.

The Bills possess two Hokies on their initial 53-man roster, with former first-round pick Tremaine Edmunds highlighting the pair. The Danville, Virginia native enters the 2022 campaign already as a two-time Pro Bowler in just four seasons at the professional level, and is poised for another monster year at the linebacker position for Bills Mafia.

Tim Settle also takes his talents up to upstate New York after inking a two-year deal with Buffalo this past offseason. The 6-foot-3, 313-pounder is coming off a season in which he notched 13 total tackles and four tackles for loss in a solid 2021 while suiting up for the Washington Football Team.

Luke Tenuta and Raheem Blackshear both made strong pushes to make the final cut, particularly Blackshear. The undrafted free agent caught some eyes over the past month when he rushed for two touchdowns across 209 yards throughout the preseason, making a serious case for why the Florida product should crack the 53-man. Blackshear's efforts weren't a total lost cause, though. The rookie running back was signed to the Bills' practice squad. So, he'll be sticking around in Orchard Park.
 



Carolina Panthers 
2022 NFL draftee Amarè Barno is the only former member of the maroon and orange to be employed by the Carolina Panthers.

The Blythewood, South Carolina native gets the opportunity to stay home to start off his professional career, impressing in preseason camp in a small sample size before being limited after suffering a hamstring injury just a little over a week ago.

Barno left Tech having recorded 9.5 sacks over the course of the past two seasons, and has shown flashes the last six months as to why he can be a productive defensive end in the NFL, including an incredible 4.36-second 40-yard time at the NFL Combine that was the fastest by a D-lineman since 2003.

Chicago Bears 
For the ninth straight season, Virginia Tech football finds itself represented in the Windy City with the Chicago Bears.

Kyle Fuller occupied the defensive secondary for quite some time at Soldier Field, and now he's passed the torch to Khalil "Juice" Herbert, a record-breaking running back in his only season suiting up with the Hokies back in 2020.

The 5-foot-9, 212-pounder rushed for a solid 433 yards with two touchdowns a season ago, while also adding 14 receptions that were good for 96 yards in an attempt to show off his versatility out of the backfield.

Herbert looks to continue to solidify himself as a major contributor in both the running backs room and the kick return game in 2022, and is poised to do so with his immense speed, vision and athleticism that have continued on since Blacksburg.

Cornerback Greg Stroman also had a nice showing in preseason camp. But will ultimately have to look elsewhere after narrowly missing out on the 53-man cut.

Cleveland Browns
It's hard to envision where the Cleveland Browns would be offensively without Wyatt Teller. The 2018 fifth-round pick out of Tech has certainly made a name for himself in the NFL as a star offensive tackle. A 2021 Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro, Teller comes into 2022 a lot richer than he was a year ago.

Signing a four-year, $56.8 million-dollar contract extension back in November of 2021, the Manassas, Virginia product will remain in Cleveland until 2025 – something Browns fans have to be pleased about.

Undrafted free agent Brock Hoffman just missed joining Teller in the offensive line room on the active roster. A fan favorite during his time with the Hokies, many thought Hoffman would earn his way onto the 53-man roster after an impressive preseason camp. Alas, the 2021 All-ACC honorable mention pick will be left on the practice squad after barely being left on the outside looking in.

Detroit Lions
The pride of Big Stone Gap, Virginia has made it to the Motor City.

A sixth-round draft pick in this past year's NFL Draft, tight end James Mitchell, or "The Governor," as the folks in Blacksburg would call him, is set to embark on his rookie campaign in 2022 with the Detroit Lions.

Opening eyes throughout his collegiate career, Mitchell was always regarded as a potential starter at the NFL level. And while he'll have to continue to work his way up through the ranks with three other tight ends currently sitting on the roster, the 6-foot-4, 249-pounder has all the tools to be a productive member of Detroit's tight ends room.

Mitchell, another fan favorite during his time in the New River Valley, finished his career with the Hokies with a 26-reception, 435-yard and four-touchdown season in his final full year with Tech in 2020. And with the rookie's untapped potential that continues to be talked about across the league, don't be surprised if he regains his 2020 form coming off a season-ending injury in 2021.

Green Bay Packers
2019 undrafted free agent Yosh Nijman continues to be on Green Bay's roster for the fourth consecutive season after a solid career with the Hokies that ranged from 2014-18.

An offensive lineman out of New Jersey, Nijman is the lone Tech alum represented on the Packers' roster in 2022.

After being up and down from the practice squad to the active roster throughout his first few seasons playing up in the Badger State, Nijman has found his niche up front these past couple of years. And with the 6-foot-7, 314-pounder's continued productivity in that spot over the years, there's no signs of that changing anytime soon.

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Indianapolis Colts 
Cornerback Brandon Facyson has found a new home.

A former undrafted free agent out of Tech following the 2017 campaign, Facyson has bounced around a little bit with successful stops with both the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders. And after a solid 2021 season in which he tallied 55 total tackles highlighted by his first career interception, the Jacksonville, Florida native has now taken his talents to the Crossroads of America hoping to continue to better his NFL career.

Facyson's college teammate, Isaiah Ford, also was thought to have had a shot to crack the 53-man roster after spending the preseason with the Colts. But he'll be forced look elsewhere after just missing the cut prior to the start of the regular season.

Luke Tenuta has since been picked up by Indianapolis since being cut by the Bills, so the 2021 All-ACC honorable mention honoree will end up getting his shot with the Colts on the 53-man for his rookie year in 2022.

Las Vegas Raiders
It's not often that such a strong prospect at one position at the collegiate level can switch positions so effortlessly and not skip a beat when moving up to the NFL. But for the Las Vegas Raiders' Divine Deablo, that's exactly what came to fruition.

A star safety in his time at Tech after converting from the wide receiver room to safety and playing from 2016-20, Deablo capped off his time in Blacksburg with his best season yet. The Winston-Salem, North Carolina product recorded 55 total tackles, four interceptions and a fumble recovery, cruising his way to first team All-ACC.

Since joining the professional ranks, Deablo hasn't skipped a beat, adding 45 total tackles a season ago in his rookie campaign while moving to the linebacker position in Vegas. A former third-round pick back in 2021, the 6-foot-3, 226-pounder is now poised to continue to build on his solid start in the NFL, seeking a big role with the Raiders in 2022.

Minnesota Vikings
You can't mention the 2021 NFL Draft without mentioning offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw.

The No. 23 overall pick just a little over a year ago, Darrisaw was the second Hokie to be picked in a row, immediately following Caleb Farley's selection at No. 22 overall to the Tennessee Titans. A 6-foot-5, 315-pounder out of Petersburg, Virginia, Darrisaw came to Virginia Tech having held no other FBS offers. Flash forward three years later, and the now-Minnesota Vikings star was a first-team All-ACC selection and had an easy call to declare early for the NFL Draft.

Since reporting to the professional level, Darrisaw has continued to shine, navigating around a groin injury that kept him sidelined in the early portions of the season, and producing solid results as a rookie starter up in Minnesota.
 



New York Giants 
It's hard not to think about Virginia Tech football without thinking of Tyrod Taylor. The former ACC Player of the Year with the Hokies in 2010 has had quite the NFL career, bouncing around handling the starting job at four different stops with a Super Bowl and Pro Bowl to add to his resume, too. That just highlights his lengthy stint at the professional level. Now at 33 years of age, Taylor is set to begin his 12th NFL season as the No. 2 quarterback with the New York Giants.

Just signed to a two-year deal this past offseason, the Hampton, Virginia native is coming off of a preseason in which he completed 22 passes on 36 attempts for 195 yards and a touchdown before an injury-shortened camp.

Even with dealing with a back injury after sustaining a powerful hit in the preseason finale just under a week ago, Taylor isn't expected to miss a significant amount of time. And has been listed on the Giants' 53-man roster to start off the 2022 campaign.

New York Jets
Speaking of someone who won multiple ACC championships, Duane Brown returns for a 15th season in the NFL and this time with the New York Jets after extended stays in both Houston with the Texans and Seattle with the Seahawks.

Currently the longest-tenured Hokie in the league, Brown inked a two-year contract with the Jets this past offseason in hopes of extending his professional career. And now at 37 years old, the Richmond, Virginia product is now primed for another solid season, looking to add a sixth Pro Bowl to his resume.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Another one-man show resides in Pittsburgh, where former first-round pick Terrell Edmunds prepares to enter his fifth season as a starting safety for the black and gold.

The brother of fellow former first-rounder and current Buffalo Bills star, Edmunds returns to the Steel City having completed a respectable 2021 campaign.

Totaling 89 total tackles with a sack and two interceptions a season ago, the 6-foot-1, 217-pounder has become a reliable piece during his time in Pittsburgh, continuing to prove that in preseason camp with eight total tackles in just three games played.

Tennessee Titans
There was a lot of hype about cornerback Caleb Farley after his first-round selection back in 2021 around the Music City, and for good reason, too.

Picked at No. 22 overall, the Maiden, North Carolina native unfortunately dealt with a season-ending ACL tear last October that sidelined him for the final 13 games of the year. So, there's definitely a chip on Farley's shoulder to prove how valuable he can really be when the lights come on in just a few weeks.

The 2019 first-team All-ACC member played in all three preseason games for Tennessee throughout the month of August, so Farley should be good to go a week from now when the Titans' kick off the season at home against the Giants.



Washington Commanders
It's hard to find a team that possesses more Virginia Tech football grads than the Washington Commanders do. In fact, you can't. The burgundy and gold will feature three Hokies on their 53-man roster, including tight end Logan Thomas, cornerback Kendall Fuller and placekicker Joey Slye.

Thomas, a former quarterback during his time in Blacksburg, has reinvented himself into a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end at the professional level. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder caught 18 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns in just six games played in 20201 before being sidelined due to injury. And now fresh off the Injured Reserve (IR) list that kept him out of the preseason in 2022, Thomas has positioned himself to get back to the level he can be at, as shown during his previous two seasons in the nation's capital.

Fuller, a former Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, returns to Washington coming off a 2021 season with 77 total tackles, a sack and an interception, and hopes to continue to be a mainstay in the Commanders' secondary for the upcoming campaign. Meanwhile, Slye, a former undrafted free agent, went 3-for-4 in field goals this past preseason with a long of 44 yards.

The former four-year starter at Tech is coming off an excellent 2021 season in which he booted through 23 kicks in 25 tries, maxing out at 56 yards in the process. The Stafford, Virginia product looks to replicate a similar showing in 2022, and continue to be one of the more trusted starting kickers in the league in his second season up in D.C.