Marty Gordon
Virginia Tech junior defensive lineman Kemari Copeland, graduate wide receiver Da’Quan Felton and senior running back Bhayshul Tuten have been named to Bruce Feldman’s 2024 college football “Freaks List,” as released by The Athletic on Tuesday.
Copeland ranked No. 8 overall on Feldman’s top 101 listing with Felton ranking No. 22 and Tuten ranking No. 40.
Copeland was heralded for setting a Virginia Tech all-time strength record this spring upon squatting 605 pounds for 10 repetitions. The 6-foot-3, 280-pound lineman joined the Hokies after making previous stops at Army West Point and Iowa Western Community College.
Tuten was listed as the fourth-highest running back, having led the Hokies in all-purpose yards (1,652) during the 2023 campaign. On Tuesday, Tuten was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list, tracking his potential to be named the best running back in college football.
Gallo on watch list
Virginia Tech tight end Nick Gallo has been named to the Mackey Award watch list for the second straight season. The award is presented annually to college football’s most outstanding tight end.
Gallo (6-4, 245) suffered a preseason injury in 2023, missing the entire season. The Richboro, Pennsylvania product played in 11 games in 2022, making 11 starts. He ranked second on the team in receptions (30) and receiving yards (256). Gallo, in his 6th season in Blacksburg, has appeared in 46 career games with 27 starts. He has tallied 55 career receptions for 469 yards and a touchdown.
The award is named after NFL Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey, who played 10 years in the NFL and was selected for the Pro Bowl five times. Mackey was a three-time All-NFL honoree and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team and the league’s 50th Anniversary team.
Gray to Odense Boldklub Q
Virginia Tech alum Emily Gray has been loaned to Odense Boldklub Q of the Danish Kvindeliga from Utah Royals FC for the remainder of the 2024 NWSL season.
Gray, who won the NWSL Challenge Cup in back-to-back seasons with the North Carolina Courage, was traded to the Utah Royals in November of 2023. She made two appearances with the Royals this season.
One of the most prolific players to ever wear a Hokie uniform, Gray became the program’s highest-ever draft pick as she went No. 3 to the Courage in the 2022 NWSL Draft. She scored 27 goals for the Hokies over four years and started in 69 matches.
Gray also logged 24 assists in her Hokie career – the second most in program history. The two-time All-ACC and three-time United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region honoree was also named a 2021 United Soccer Coaches Scholar Third Team All-American her senior year.
Drones named to Davey O’Brien Award watch list
Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones has been named to the watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award which is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.
Drones (6-2, 234), who was named to the Maxwell Award watch list last week, threw for 2,085 yards and 17 touchdowns last season against only three interceptions. The redshirt junior from Pearland, Texas also rushed for 818 yards and five scores. Drones took over as the starter in Week 3 last fall at Rutgers and led Tech to a big turnaround over the final eight games, going 5-3 in the ACC to become bowl-eligible.
RU basketball tickets on sale
Season tickets for the 2024-25 Radford Men’s and Women’s Basketball season are now on sale at radfordtickets.com. To order tickets today, call 540-831-7889 or visit radfordtickets.com. The renewal deadline is Friday, Sept. 20.
Season ticket holds from the 2023-24 season can renew online at any time, reserve by phone, or visit the ticket office in the Dedmon Center during normal business hours. Following the renewal deadline, preferred seating locations will be released to the general public on a first-come, first-serve basis and cannot be guaranteed.
