Baron highlights 13 All-ACC honorees from Tech

DT Woody Baron makes the ACSMA's first team

November 28, 2016

GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the first time since the 2010 season, Virginia Tech had 13 players honored on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team, which was announced Monday and voted upon by the Atlantic Coast Conference Sports Media Association (ACSMA). Senior defensive tackle Woody Baron highlighted the 2016 Hokie selections, as the Nashville, Tennessee native was Tech’s only first-team selection. To see the full ACC release - CLICK HERE.

Earning spots on the second team were wide receiver Isaiah Ford and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, while six others – tight end Bucky Hodges, offensive tackle Jonathan McLaughlin, offensive guard Augie Conte, placekicker Joey Slye, linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka and cornerback Greg Stroman – made the third team. Four more Hokies were named honorable mention, a group that included offensive guard Wyatt Teller, defensive end Ken Ekanem and safeties Chuck Clark and Terrell Edmunds.

Tech last put 13 players on the all-conference team back in 2010 when the team won the Coastal Division title with a perfect 8-0 ACC record and won its last ACC Championship with a victory over Florida State in the title game.

The seven defensive players are the most for the program since 2013 when eight Hokies were selected to the ACSMA postseason team.

Baron has started all 12 games for Tech and is sixth in tackles with 50, but leads the Hokies with 17.5 tackles for loss for a total of 65 yards and includes 4.5 sacks. He has five quarterback hurries and also has recovered a fumble.

Ford, a junior from Jacksonville, Florida, makes it three straight years on the ACSMA list – first team last year and honorable mention in 2014. He leads the Hokies in receptions (69), receiving yards (949) and is tied in receiving touchdowns (7). Ford is poised to become the school record holder in career yards receiving, just 63 yards shy, while he already holds the career receptions and touchdowns record.

Tremaine Edmunds, a sophomore from Danville, Virginia, earned his first postseason honor after finishing the regular season second on the team with 91 total tackles, while his 47 solo stops are tied for the team high. He is also second in tackles for loss with 17 for 62 yards and is tied with Baron for the second-most sacks on the team with 4.5. Edmunds has eight quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as well.

Hodges, a redshirt junior from Virginia Beach, Virginia, also makes it three straight years on the ACSMA list, with all of them being third-team selections. He is third on the team in receptions (42) and receiving yards (598) and is tied with Ford in touchdown catches (7). He currently holds all the school's tight end marks and is fourth in the ACC in career catches and yards, while tied for first in career touchdowns for a tight end.

McLaughlin, a senior from Mauldin, South Carolina, has started all 12 games at the right tackle position and has 47 career starts to his name, the most on the team.

Conte, a redshirt senior from Richmond, Virginia has started all 12 games this year as well, at the right guard position, right next to McLaughlin. The pair have each started the past 25 consecutive games. Along with Teller, this is the first time since 2011 that three offensive linemen have been named to the postseason all-conference team.

Slye, a junior from Stafford, Virginia becomes the first placekicker for Tech to earn a spot on one of the top three teams since Chris Hazley was a first-teamer in 2010. Slye is again over 100 points scored for the Hokies and is approaching the single season and career field goals made record at the school.

Motuapuaka, a redshirt junior from Virginia Beach, Virginia, leads the Hokies with 102 total tackles and is tied with Edmunds for the team lead with 47 solo tackles, which includes 5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. He has intercepted two passes this season, broke up four more, has four quarterback hurries and recovered two fumbles, one of which he took back 70 yards for a touchdown.

Stroman, a junior from Bristow, Virginia, has missed the past three games, but is still tied for the team lead with three interceptions. He also has eight pass breakups, second on the team, and also blocked a kick on special teams.

Teller, a junior from Bealeton, Virginia, has played in all 12 games this season, earning 10 starts at left guard.

Ekanem, a senior from Centreville, Virginia, started in 11 games for the Hokies this season and has recorded 31 total tackles on the year, including 16 solo stops. He also has defended two passes at the defensive end position.

Terrell Edmunds, a redshirt junior from Danville, is fourth on the team in tackles, totaling 39 solo stops and 33 assists. He also has tallied a career-high three interceptions on the year and a fumble recovery at rover.

Clark, a senior from Suffolk, Virginia, is third on the team with 77 tackles on the year, including 42 solo stops from the free safety position. He also has defended two passes and forced a fumble in the team’s 49-0 shutout victory over Boston College on Sept. 17.

The Hokies will face Clemson, the Atlantic Divisional champions, in the 2016 Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game held on Saturday, Dec. 3. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at the Camping World Stadium.

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