Teller earns Pro Bowl bid
Of the many highlights from Tech's NFL alums this season, Cleveland G Wyatt Teller making his first Pro Bowl earns the top spot. Teller started all 17 games at right guard and finished the season as the fifth-ranked guard in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. The Bealeton, Virginia native also signed a four-year contract extension with Cleveland in the middle of the season which will keep him on the Browns' offensive line through the 2025 season.
Career seasons for NFL Hokies
Tech defensive backs enjoyed career seasons in the NFL this year. A pair of Hokie safeties in the AFC North achieved personal bests this year. Pittsburgh S Terrell Edmunds racked up a career-high eight tackles for loss this season. The Danville, Virginia native had totaled four tackles for loss prior to the 2021 season. Edmunds also recorded multiple interceptions for the second straight year.
Baltimore S Chuck Clark finished the season with a career-high two interceptions, both of which coming in Baltimore's Week 17 game vs. the L.A. Rams, marking his first career multi-interception game. He also returned the first of those two interceptions for a touchdown to record his first career pick-six and second career touchdown.
Two former Tech cornerbacks also had productive years as CB Kendall Fuller and CB Brandon Facyson registered career highs. Washington's Fuller had a career-high 16 passes defensed and started 16 games, the most in his five-year professional career. Facyson, who began the season on the L.A. Chargers' practice squad before signing with Las Vegas, racked up a career-high 55 tackles and made his first career interception.
The career years weren't limited to the defensive side of the ball as WR Isaiah Ford hauled in his first two career touchdown receptions for the Miami Dolphins. Ford also recorded the longest reception of his career when he went for 52 yards in Week 10 vs. Baltimore. Green Bay T Yosh Nijman played in all 17 games for the NFC's No. 1 seed and made his first eight starts of his career at left tackle.
Despite playing for three different teams, K Joey Slye had his most consistent season as he finished the year making a career-high, 92 percent of his field goals (23 of 25). He made all 12 of his field goal attempts in the six games after signing with the Washington Football Team.
Rookie Report
Tech had a strong contingent of players from the 2020 football roster that made an impact as NFL rookies. Chicago 2021 sixth-round draft pick RB Khalil Herbert was one of the best rookies in the league this year as he finished his debut campaign with 103 carries for 433 yards with two touchdowns. Herbert also finished in the Top 10 of the league with 650 kickoff yards, while hauling in 14 receptions for 96 yards. Pro Football Focus graded Herbert as the No. 2 rookie running back in the NFL and the No. 14 running back overall this season.
Another rookie that made an impact right away was Las Vegas LB Divine Deablo. The third-round pick played in all 17 regular season games and made five starts for the Raiders. Deablo racked up 45 tackles, recovered a fumble and had a pass defensed in his first pro campaign. He graded out as the No. 5 rookie linebacker and the 23rd best linebacker in the NFL this season by Pro Football Focus.
Minnesota T Christian Darrisaw had a solid rookie season after playing in 12 games with 10 starts at left tackle. Darrisaw finished the year as the fourth-ranked rookie tackle according to Pro Football Focus. K Brian Johnson was as consistent as you can be in the field-goal kicking game in his first year as an NFL kicker, making all 10 of his field goal attempts while kicking for both New Orleans and Washington in 2021.
Gallery: (1-13-2022) FB: NFL Hokies 2021 Season's Best
