Virginia Tech Football: Hokies seniors to be ahead of final home game

There is plenty at stake for the Virginia Tech football team this afternoon when the Hokies take the field at Lane Stadium against North Carolina State. At 5-5, a win would be the all-important sixth win to officially become bowl-eligible, but also, it will mark the final time that 23 seniors will run out of the tunnel to “Enter Sandman” and a sold-out crowd.

Virginia Tech seniors to play game at Lane Stadium

Before the game, it’s sure to be emotional for seniors and their families for the final time inside Lane Stadium as a player. They have a lot to do with the turnaround the program has gone through after starting 1-3 and having them in this position to become bowl-eligible.

Here is a list of the seniors who will play their final game in Blacksburg later this afternoon,

• Cole Beck
• Luke Bussel
• Derrick Canteen
• Da’Quan Felton
• Clayton Frady
• Nick Gallo
• Josh Fuga
• Stephen Gosnell
• Jesse Hanson
• Ali Jennings
• Keonta Jenkins
• Matt Johnson
• Mario Kendricks
• Pheldarius Payne
• Jaylin Lane
• Nasir Peoples
• Norell Pollard
• Dorian Strong
• Justin Pollock
• Alan Tisdale
• Grant Wells

Head coach Brent Pry spoke this week on SiriusXM College Sports Radio about what it would mean to send the senior class off with a victory. Last season, Virginia Tech was not able to honor their seniors due to the cancellation of the game against Virginia after the tragedy on their campus. Instead, the seniors were honored during a basketball game against then No. 1-ranked University of North Carolina at Cassell Coliseum.

It wasn’t the ideal way to send out the seniors, but given the circumstances, you certainly understand why they did what they did. Now, today, the seniors will get their much-deserved send-off before NC State and a big opportunity is in front of them.