NFL Hokies Week 5 recap

BLACKSBURG – Week 5 of the NFL season concluded this past Monday as many of the exciting matchups placed former Hokies against each other in competition. Tech alumnus continued to shine on the gridiron and provided fans with lots to be proud of once the whistle was blown. In this edition of NFL Hokies, presented by Coca-Cola, let’s look at some notable performances from the previous week and glance ahead at some notable matchups in Week 6.  

LB Tremaine Edmunds 
On the other side of the Panthers’ loss was a strong performance from Chicago linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Over the course of the game, Edmunds posted six tackles (four solo), tying for first with fellow Chicago linebacker T.J Edwards, safety Kevin Byard III and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. The Danville, Virginia native played 50 snaps in the contest and forced a fumble halfway through the fourth quarter. For his efforts this past Sunday, Edmunds was awarded an 85.4 defensive grade and a strong 87.6 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF). 

RB Raheem Blackshear 
Blackshear’s work on special teams was a highlight for the Carolina Panthers last Sunday. The former Hokie running back ran back three kickoffs for a total of 101 yards in the contest, the longest being a 43-yard return in the second quarter. The return is the longest of Blackshear’s season thus far and the fifth-longest of his career. While the Panthers would go on to lose the game 36-10, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native’s speed on special teams was a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy contest.

LT Christian Darrisaw 
Darrisaw excelled yet again at left tackle, being an integral part of the 23-17 win against the New York Jets in London. The talented anchor was only one of five offensive players to play all 73 offensive snaps in the contest, allowing only a single quarterback hurry. For his work, the former Hokie achieved an impressive 98.6 pass blocking efficiency grade, the highest of his season. Darrisaw’s success this year hasn’t gone unnoticed, as PFF currently has the Upper Marlboro, Maryland native as the fifth-highest ranked tackle in the league.  

S Chuck Clark 
Clark has continually been a force for the Jets defense this season. In the London-based contest against the Vikings last Sunday, Clark posted five tackles (three solo). The Suffolk, Virginia native had the third-highest tackle total amongst the Jets defense and Pro Football Focus awarded Clark with a 79.5 tackling grade for the performance. Clark’s consistent output over five games exemplifies the former Hokie’s importance in the Jets' secondary.  

S Chamarri Conner 
Chuck Clark wasn’t the only former Tech safety who performed well during Week 5. Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner continued his string of consistent performances in the 26-13 win over the Saints on Monday, posting three tackles alongside a quarterback hit on Saints signal caller Derek Carr. Conner’s production led to season-high grades in overall defense (79.7), tackling (78.7) and coverage (73.4) from PFF. It’s no secret that Conner is an integral part of a Chiefs secondary that has now helped in achieving a 5-0 record. 

Notable Week 6 Matchups
Houston Texans at New England Patriots: Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS 
The Texans will travel northeast to New England this Sunday for a contest against the Patriots. Both teams have former Hokies on their roster, with the Texans playing Tim Settle on the defensive line and Joey Slye as a placekicker for the Patriots. The matchup is the only Week 6 game that is guaranteed to field former Hokies on both sides, a change from the three matchups fans had in Week 5. Settle and the Texans' defensive line has the spotlight on them this week after it was reported that the Patriots will be starting quarterback Drake Maye for the first time.  

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets: Monday, Oct. 14 at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN 
Buffalo will have the shortest commute to work in Week 6 as the Josh Allen-led Bills face the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Jets safety Chuck Clark will have his selection of enticing matchups, including rookie Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman and third-year wideout Khalil Shakir, who leads the Bills in receptions (18) across only four games. Keen fans should keep their eyes peeled to see how the Jets defense performs this week, seeing as the recent firing of head coach Robert Saleh promoted defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to interim head coach.