The Virginia Tech Hokies are sitting pretty at 3-0, eyeing their first 4-0 start since 2017, but their ACC opener on Saturday against Boston College just got a whole lot tougher. We’re talking a massive injury report that dropped Wednesday, with defensive tackle Emmett Laws officially ruled out and *nine* other guys listed as questionable. Yeah, you read that right: nine.
Two Massive Hits to the Offense
Man, the biggest concerns gotta be wide receiver Ayden Greene and offensive lineman Justin Terry. Greene, who was the Hokies’ leading receiver *last year*, got dinged up last week against Maryland. He snagged four passes for 58 yards, then left the game and didn’t come back at all. Nobody knows the full scoop on his injury, but Coach Franklin said on Monday that Greene’s a game-time decision for Saturday. If your leading receiver can’t go, or is playing hurt, that’s a huge, huge blow to any offense looking to put up points, especially in a conference opener.
Then there’s Terry, the 6-foot-5, 331-pound redshirt sophomore who’s been the starting left tackle for all three games this season, protecting that blind side. He also took a lower-leg injury last week and couldn’t return, leaving a big hole on the line. The guy was spotted on crutches afterward, which is never a good sign! Franklin kept it tight-lipped on Monday, saying he’d have more Wednesday, but all we got on Wednesday was that Terry wasn’t at practice and they’re getting other dudes ready. That crutches visual and missing practice? Not exactly screaming “he’s gonna play,” and losing your starting left tackle changes everything for an offense.
Depth Tested and a Nasty Forecast
So with Terry likely out or severely limited, what’s the plan for the offensive line? Redshirt junior Logan Howland, who transferred in from Oklahoma, stepped in for him last week. Plus, Layth Ghannam, who’s the starting left guard, has been getting reps at left tackle in practice. Franklin mentioned they’d given Ghannam time at tackle in the offseason, so at least they’ve been thinking about having guys ready for this kind of scenario. It’s all about that “next man up” mentality, but it’s a big ask to fill a starting tackle spot so quickly.
Beyond Greene and Terry, that questionable list is long and heavy on playmakers: Takye Heath, Snook Peterkin, L.J. Booker, and Luke Stuewe (who at least returned to practice this week after missing some time) are all receivers in doubt. Running back Bill Davis, cornerback Jojo Crim, and offensive linemen Lucas Austin and Roseby Lubintus round out that tough list. And defensive tackle Emmett Laws is definitely ruled out, though that’s not a surprise since he’s recovering from offseason surgery and is nearing his return.
Oh, and if all that wasn’t enough, severe weather is expected for the game in Chestnut Hill. Franklin had his guys running drills with wet balls on Wednesday, trying to get ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at them. You think injuries are tough? Try playing in a monsoon with a patchwork lineup. Talk about a brutal week just to get to kickoff.
This Saturday’s Noon kickoff against the Eagles is gonna be a grind, no doubt about it. The Hokies are pushing for that 4-0 start, something they haven’t done in years, and this is their first ACC test of the season. But with so many key players banged up and the weather looking nasty, they’re gonna need everyone who *can* play to step up big time, plus some serious grit from the backups. Can they pull off a win and keep that perfect record alive despite all this adversity? We’ll find out soon enough what this squad is really made of.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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