Virginia Tech football’s Bhayshul Tuten and Antwaun Powell-Ryland were named to the 2023 All-ACC Second Team, while Dorian Strong and Tucker Holloway earned Third Team accolades, the ACC announced Monday evening.
Tuten was recognized as an all-purpose player and Powell-Ryland was named on the defensive team.
Strong was named to the defensive team while Holloway was selected as a specialist. Five Hokies also received honorable mentions, a group that includes tight end Dae’Quan Wright, defensive lineman Norell Pollard, linebacker Keli Lawson, kicker John Love and Tuten as a running back.
Tuten (5’11”, 205) led Tech in all-purpose yardage, totaling 1,436 yards in 12 games. His explosiveness was quite an asset, as the North Carolina A&T transfer returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, one for 99 yards against Florida State and the other for 94 yards in the regular season finale versus Virginia. He is one of two Power Five kick returners who co-lead the nation in touchdowns, ranking third nationally in average kick return yardage (30.6). Among Tuten’s 16 kick returns this season, eight have qualified as explosive plays totaling 20 yards or more, including returns of 99, 94, 50 and 35 yards. The Paulsboro, New Jersey native is also the Hokies’ rushing leader with 727 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns. Tuten’s versatility was consistently on display as he hauled in 25 receptions for 220 yards and two scores.
Powell-Ryland (6′ 3″, 244), commonly referred to as APR, may have a new nickname as the ‘Mayor of Sacksburg’. The Florida transfer recorded 9.5 sacks, the most by a Tech player since 2014. As a new addition to Tech’s defensive front, the junior was very disruptive, leading the team in tackles for loss (13.5), forced fumbles (3) and quarterback hurries (7). APR amassed 39 tackles in the regular season and registered four sacks against Wake Forest, the most in a Tech game since 1995.
Strong (6’0″, 182) primarily held down the boundary cornerback role for Tech’s secondary and finished with a career-high 80.4 defensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). He is just the second FBS cornerback since 2014 with 300+ coverage snaps that has given up less than 10 receptions and less than 100 yards receiving. Strong has given up just 9 receptions for 83 yards on 340 coverage snaps. The redshirt junior snagged three interceptions for 28 yards. He also led the Hokies in pass breakups with eight. Strong totaled 21 tackles on the year and assisted on a TFL.
Holloway (6’2″, 185) brought big play ability to the table as a punt returner, leading the Hokies with 258 return yards on 19 attempts. The Andrews, North Carolina native returned two punts for more than 50 yards. The first went for 66 yards in the season opener versus Old Dominion, and the latter against Syracuse for 57 yards. Holloway ranks eighth in the country, first in the ACC in average yards per return (13.6). The sophomore wideout also recorded his first offensive touchdown against Virginia on a 33-yard rush.
Wright led the Hokies tight end room in both receptions (28) and receiving yards (366), both third highest on the team. Pollard racked up 7.5 tackles for loss on the interior, four of which were sacks and 23 total tackles in 12 starts. Lawson led the defense in tackles with a career-high 77 while recording 1.5 sacks, six passes defended and a forced fumble. Handling full-time field goal duties, Love connected on 20 of 22 attempts, including a season-long 47 yards at Virginia. The redshirt freshman was a perfect 39 of 39 on PATs and tallied 99 points on the season.
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