Edmunds, Phillips, Stroman, Teller earn first-team ACC honors

Tech's four first-team picks are the second-most in the ACC and its most since 2009

November 27, 2017

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Nine Virginia Tech football student-athletes were recognized Monday, as the Atlantic Coast Conference announced its 2017 All-ACC Football Team, which was comprised from a vote among a panel of the league’s 14 head coaches and select media members.

The Hokies had four student-athletes tabbed to the first team, the second-most in the ACC behind defending national champion Clemson’s six representatives. Tech’s four first-team selections are the most since 2009 when four Hokies earned first-team accolades (RB Ryan Williams, LB Cody Grimm, K Matt Waldron and P Brent Bowden).

FIRST-TEAM ALL-ACC

WR Cam Phillips

The Hokies’ top vote-getter in this year’s All-ACC selection, Phillips ranks fourth in the ACC in both receptions (71) and receiving yards (964). Tech’s all-time leader in receptions (236) and receiving yards (3,027), Phillips is tied for second in the ACC with seven touchdown catches and ranks third with five 100-yard receiving games. His 189 receiving yards at East Carolina (9/16) are the most of any ACC player this season.

CELEBRATE OUR SENIORS 🎓@CamPhil5 is one of the most prolific WRs to ever wear a VT uniform!

📽 via @TheACCN#Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/9yZzDrBckA

— VT Football (@VT_Football) November 16, 2017

LB Tremaine Edmunds

One of five finalists for the Butkus Award, Edmunds turned in his second straight 100-tackle season for the Hokies and currently ranks sixth in the conference with 102 total tackles. His 14 tackles for loss rank third among ACC linebackers and eighth overall in the ACC. Edmunds, who leads the Hokies in tackles, TFL, sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (3), helps anchor a Virginia Tech defense that paces the FBS with 16 Red Zone scores allowed and three shutouts. He earned ACC Linebacker of the Week honors following a 10-0 win at Virginia (11/24).

G Wyatt Teller

A preseason All-ACC selection, Teller anchors a Virginia Tech offensive line that has only permitted 21.0 sacks this season. In 12 starts at left guard, Teller has been called for only two false starts and no holding penalties. His streak of 23 consecutive starts at left guard is the longest active streak on Tech’s offense.

CB Greg Stroman

Stroman is tied for third in the ACC with four interceptions and 15 passes defended. The Bristow, Virginia native leads the Hokies in both categories as well. His 24-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Georgia Tech (11/11) put him in sole possession of second with six career returns for touchdowns at Virginia Tech. Stroman leads a Tech secondary that has allowed an FBS-low 46.9 completion percentage this season and is second in the nation on third down (25.1 pct.).

CLUTCH PERFORMER 🔥@IAM_GSIII needs 1 more return score to tie @DeAngeloHall23 (7) for the most in @Virginia_Tech history! #LPD 💼 pic.twitter.com/WHv9a7OjoY

— VT Football (@VT_Football) November 13, 2017

SECOND-TEAM ALL-ACC

DT Tim Settle

Settle leads all ACC defensive tackles with 12.5 tackles for loss. Ten of his tackles behind the line scrimmage came against ACC opponents, which is tied for seventh in the conference. The redshirt sophomore has started in all 12 games this season and he’s registered four sacks, one pass breakup and a blocked kick at East Carolina (9/16), the second of his career. Settle is part of a defensive front that ranks 16th in the nation in rushing defense (119.2 ypg) and has allowed the fewest Red Zone scores in the country.

THIRD-TEAM ALL-ACC

LB Andrew Motuapuaka

Motuapuaka finished the regular season ranked second on Tech’s defense and tied for 13th in the ACC with 85 total tackles. The Virginia Beach, Virginia native trails only CB Greg Stroman for the team lead in passes defended with seven and has racked up 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, an interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Motuapuaka will leave Virginina Tech with his name in the top 10 in career tackles since 1987. This is his second consecutive season earning All-ACC honors.

S Terrell Edmunds

Before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, Terrell Edmunds collected 59 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and six passes defended in 10 starts at free safety. Edmunds, who moved from rover to safety in the offseason, had 70 return yards on those two interceptions, the eighth most in the ACC. Edmunds and younger brother, Tremaine, joins Kyle (first-team) and Kendall (second-team) Fuller as the only brother tandems in Virginia Tech history to be named to All-ACC teams.

ALL-ACC HONORABLE MENTION

DT Ricky Walker

Walker has put together a career year as a redshirt junior, setting personal bests with 12 starts, 27 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Known as the “Bell Cow” of the Lunch Pail Defense, Walker had a 12-yard fumble return touchdown vs. North Carolina (10/21) and leads a defensive front that ranks 16th in the nation in rushing defense (119.2 ypg).

C Eric Gallo

Gallo, a redshirt senior from Richboro, Pennsylvania, earns his first All-ACC accolades in his final season at Virginia Tech. He’s started in every game this season at center and has started in 22 consecutive games dating back to last season, the second-longest streak on the offense. A team captain, Gallo also gets it done in the classroom, where he boasts a 3.42 GPA as a finance major. He was recently named CoSIDA Academic First-Team All-District for his work in athletics and academics.

PR Greg Stroman

Stroman’s defensive reputation as one of the top shutdown cornerbacks in the nation rivals what he does in the return game. His 384 punt return yards ranks second in the FBS, and he’s returned two punts for touchdowns, tied for the most in the ACC. The senior’s 91-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. North Carolina (10/21) is the longest for an ACC returner in 2017 and was the second-longest in Lane Stadium history. Last season, Stroman was the first Virginia Tech player to be awarded All-ACC honors at two different positions, and he’s the first player in program history to do so in consecutive seasons.

Virginia Tech All-ACC Selections

FIRST-TEAM

WR Cam Phillips

LB Tremaine Edmunds

LG Wyatt Teller

CB Greg Stroman

SECOND-TEAM

DT Tim Settle

THIRD-TEAM

LB Andrew Motuapuaka

S Terrell Edmunds

HONORABLE MENTION

DT Ricky Walker

C Eric Gallo

PR Greg Stroman

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