Sack Masters: Antwaun Powell-Ryland shines in front of Hokies legend Bruce Smith

BLACKSBURG – Legends of the game have been known to inspire legendary performances.

Such was the case when Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame defensive lineman Bruce Smith was on location in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, to witness the Hokies barge into Old Dominion and tame the Monarchs, 37-17, during the third week of the season.

Smith, known more commonly as “The Sack Man” during his playing days in Blacksburg, was treated to a dominant defensive display at his position by another Norfolk-area native, Virginia Tech redshirt-senior Antwaun Powell-Ryland. In front of hometown support, Powell-Ryland torched the stat sheets with his all-around effort, tying his career high with four sacks (totaling 25 sack yards), forcing two fumbles (recovering one via his own strip sack) and setting a career best with seven tackles (six solo).

For his performance, Powell-Ryland was named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, also garnering national praise via Walter Camp National FBS Defensive Player of the Week and Chuck Bednarik Player of the Week honors. Most notably, Powell-Ryland moved into elite company as one of two all-time Hokies who have eclipsed the four-sack threshold on multiple occasions.

The other, you ask? “The Sack Man,” himself, who chatted with Powell-Ryland during warmups at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

“I actually spoke to Bruce when I saw him during pregame,” said Powell-Ryland. “I spoke to Bruce a few times before coming [to Virginia Tech] and stuff like that. We got a good relationship for the most part. We don’t really talk much, but you know, it’s love.”

Powell-Ryland’s loaded statistical evening could not have taken place at a more fitting time after the 6-foot-3, 252-pound lineman had taken possession of Virginia Tech’s iconic lunch pail during the week’s leadup to kickoff. To him, it was symbolic on a much deeper level.

“Most definitely, [it gave me extra motivation],” said Powell-Ryland. “Not only because it’s the lunch pail, but I got picked to carry this. So, that means not only do my teammates feel that way, but you know, that’s everybody in the building. That’s amazing.”

Teammates will be the first to echo high praises for Powell-Ryland on the field and in the locker room – a testament to the respect he has gained less than two years after transferring into Virginia Tech.

“I feel like I’ve been better at my leadership, which allowed me to carry this lunch pail,” said Powell-Ryland. “Really taking criticism from my teammates and my coaches. You know, I ask them like, ‘Is there anything I need to do better?’ Or, ‘What do you want from me that’s going to help us?’ I really take that into consideration.”

From the eyes of associate head coach (and defensive line coach) J.C. Price, Powell-Ryland’s outing at Old Dominion was the intersection of hard work and patience. Price would know, as he once had registered four sacks during a Virginia Tech ballgame, much like Smith had done before him.

“I tell him all the time, ‘Sacks come in bunches,’” said Price. “He was really close a bunch of times [during] the first games. He was getting frustrated, in a good way. But, they finally came this week.”

Sacks were only part of the equation for Powell-Ryland, who charted two sacks within a three-play sequence early during the second half. After stuffing ODU quarterback Quinn Henicle for an 11-yard solo sack, Powell-Ryland recovered his own strip sack of Henicle, setting the Hokies up in the red zone with the chance to break away from a 17-10 score line.

“I want to say I long-armed the tackle and I saw the quarterback step up as I was controlling my rush,” said Powell-Ryland. “I knocked the hands down and I actually did see the ball, so I swiped at it. I ended up seeing the ball, [so I knew] to get down and recover it.”

The momentous play was enough to spark Virginia Tech’s surge as the Hokies scored the game’s next 20 points, icing the program’s road victory against its in-state foe.

“That’s the trifecta, man – when you get a sack, cause a fumble and you recover it,” said Price.

Through three starts, Powell-Ryland has accounted for four and a half of Virginia Tech’s 10 sacks this season, putting him well in contention to contest for the Hokies’ first double-digit sacks season since 2005 (Darryl Tapp).

However, individual accolades are far from what runs through Powell-Ryland’s mind from snap to snap.

“[I keep] the mentality of not getting comfortable,” said Powell-Ryland. “I had sacks early on during the game and I wasn’t really thinking about that. I was thinking about getting the win.

“We were in a close game, so it wasn’t like we could sit back and enjoy watching whatever it was. We were still locked in. Any time I step out there, I am trying to go get it.”

As for his defensive-minded head coach, Powell-Ryland’s night in Norfolk was nothing short of exceptional.

“First of all, that’s the second time he’s had four sacks in a game,” said Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry. “And that’s only him and Bruce Smith that have done that. And Bruce was here tonight. So, an incredible accomplishment by APR to do it at home.

“So many family and friends here, [I am] really, really happy for him. He did his personal share [Friday] night for the team and talked about coming home; talked about coming to Virginia Tech, how it was the right thing for him and what it meant for him. I’m just very, very, very happy and proud of his efforts tonight.”

In the presence of a legend, a legendary homecoming performance.