Quillen awarded honorary Beamer No. 25 for UVA

Hampton, Virginia native has been a key cog on special teams for Hokies

November 22, 2017

BLACKSBURG – Head coach Justin Fuente announced Wednesday that DB Jovonn Quillen will wear Frank Beamer’s No. 25 jersey on Friday in Virginia Tech’s annual clash for the Commonwealth Cup against Virginia.

Quillen made three tackles on special teams and blocked a punt in the Hokies’ dramatic 20-14 win over Pitt last Saturday. He also returned his first career kickoff for 25 yards on the first possession of the game that ended with a Virginia Tech touchdown.

Last season, Quillen recovered a fumble at Pitt (10/27/16) on the game’s opening kick off and also made special teams tackles vs. Boston College (9/17/16), at North Carolina (10/7/17) and at Notre Dame (11/19/16).

In 2017, Tech’s special teams units have allowed 307 combined kickoff and punt return yards, the lowest total of any Power Five program. The Hokies’ five blocked kicks are tied for second in the FBS and its punt return unit has helped CB Greg Stroman rack up 384 punt return yards, the nation’s second-highest total.

At the beginning of last season, head coach Justin Fuente announced that a special teams player of the week would be selected to wear the No. 25 as a tribute to Coach Beamer and his legacy of special teams excellence he spawned for the Hokies.

2017 BEAMER BALL 25 RECIPIENTS
Player Opponent
LB Anthony Shegog West Virginia
LS Colton Taylor Delaware
CB Greg Stroman at East Carolina
DB Deon Newsome Old Dominion
S Terrell Edmunds Clemson
CB Greg Stroman at Boston College
P Oscar Bradburn North Carolina
DT Ricky Walker Duke
LB Sean Huelskamp at Miami
LB Tremaine Edmunds at Georgia Tech
LB Andrew Motuapuaka Pitt
DB Jovonn Quillen at Virginia

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