Nine Virginia Tech football players were recognized Tuesday as the Atlantic Coast Conference announced its 2020 All-ACC football teams, which were compiled from a vote among a panel of the league’s 15 head coaches and select media members.
The group was headlined by first-teamers tackle Christian Darrisaw and safety Divine Deablo, while running back Khalil Herbert earned second-team honors as an all-purpose player and third-team honors as a running back. Defensive tackle Jarrod Hewitt also was named to the third team.
Five Hokies were listed as honorable mention: guard Lecitus Smith, center Brock Hoffman, defensive end Amare Barno, kicker Brian Johnson and defensive back Chamarri Conner.
ALL-ACC FIRST TEAM
Tackle Christian Darrisaw
Darrisaw started 10 of the Hokies’ contests at left tackle where he anchored the left side of Tech’s offensive line and was part of a blocking unit that helped propel the squad to six 250-yard rushing games. The Hokies registered 27 rushing TDs, the squad’s best total in a decade, and the line paved the way for running back Khalil Herbert, who had six 100-yard rushing games in 2020. Darrisaw was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week following Tech’s 38-31 victory at Duke (10/5) and was included in PFF College’s All-America Team as a second-team selection.
Safety Divine Deablo
Deablo, a team captain, had 55 total tackles in 2020 despite missing two contests early in the season. He had two tackles for loss, defended eight passes, f orced a fumble and tied for the league lead with four interceptions. He wore Coach Frank Beamer’s 25 jersey in the final game of his college career, a victory over Virginia (12/12) to win back the Commonwealth Cup, a victory he sealed with an interception.
ALL-ACC SECOND TEAM
All-Purpose Khalil Herbert
Herbert amassed a staggering 1,791 all-purpose yards in 2020, a mark that led the nation and consisted of his 1,182 rushing yards, 179 receiving yards and 430 yards gained on kickoff returns. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native owned the best single-game output of any conference player with his school record 357-yard performance at Duke (10/10). Herbert’s 162.8 yards per game average also led all ACC players.
His total all-purpose output ranks fourth all-time at Virginia Tech since at least 1987 and is the most by any player to participate in only 11 contests or fewer.
ALL-ACC THIRD TEAM
Running Back Khalil Herbert
The first Tech player to gain 1,000 yards rushing since 2015, Herbert, nicknamed ‘Juice,’ led the Hokies’ potent rushing attack with 1,182 yards on the ground on 154 attempts. His average of 7.68 yards per carry ranked second in the conference and sixth nationally. After rushing for 100 or more yards in each of his first four games for the Hokies, Hebert finished the season with six such efforts after totaling 162 yards and a touchdown against Virginia (12/12). He had a season-best 207 rushing yards at Duke (10/10) as part of a record-breaking day that saw him accumulate 357 all-purpose yards.
Defensive Tackle Jarrod Hewitt
A redshirt senior and captain of the defense, Hewitt registered 31 total tackles (13 solo) this season and ranked inside the top 10 in sacks in conference play with 5.5. He recorded a career-best 8.5 tackles for loss and also had a quarterback hurry. Hewitt donned Coach Beamer’s 25 jersey for the Miami game (11/14) and had 2.5 sacks for 23 yards lost.
ALL-ACC HONORABLE MENTION
Defensive end Amare Barno
A converted linebacker playing on the line for the first time, Barno recorded 43 tackles on the season, including 28 solo stops. The Blythewood, S.C., native led the ACC and all power-five players with 16 tackles for loss. He tied with Tech defensive end Justus Reed for sixth in the league with 6.5 sacks.
Defensive back Chamarri Conner
Tech’s leader in tackles in 2020, Conner started all 11 games and registered 81 total tackles (60 solo). He had 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, four pass breakups, four quarterback hurries and forced a fumble. Conner was recognized twice as ACC Defensive Back of the Week (10/19) and (11/2).
Center Brock Hoffman
Hoffman started all 11 contests at center and helped the Hokies rush for 240.1 yards per game, which ranked second in the conference. Tech scored 27 rushing touchdowns on the season and amassed better than 200 rushing yards eight times, 250+ six times and 300 or more rushing yards on three occasions. Hoffman was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice (9/28) and (11/2).
Kicker Brian Johnson
Johnson became the first Virginia Tech kicker to convert three field goals of 50+ yards in a single season in 2020. He hit on 20 of his 26 field goal tries. Inside of 49 yards, he missed only twice and made all 34 of his extra-point kicks. Johnson owns the Virginia Tech record with 131 consecutive PATs made, never missing one in his four seasons of action for Tech. The Washington, D.C., native also kicked off 12 times for an average of 61.1 yards with seven touchbacks.
Guard Lecitus Smith
Another member of the Hokies’ talented offensive line, Smith was a key ingredient in helping running back Khalil Herbert have such an outstanding season. He started all 11 contests for the Hokies at left guard. He was named to the PFF College National Team of the Week (10/11) after the Hokies racked up 260 yards and four rushing scores at then-No. 8 North Carolina.
–VT Athletics
