Clemson football: Scouting report on the Virginia Tech Hokies
Game info
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lane Stadium (66,233); Blacksburg, Va.
TV: ABC
Line: Clemson by 5.5
Three story lines
1. This game features two of the best defensive coordinators in the country in Clemson’s Brent Venables and Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster. Both units have been impressive this season with Clemson ranking third in scoring defense at 9.3 points per game and the Hokies sixth at 10.3 points per game.
2. Clemson has been excellent on the road over the past few years with 11 consecutive road victories. Virginia Tech has one of the toughest road environments in the ACC, but the Tigers are confident, especially after dominating Louisville at Papa John’s Stadium. The Hokies crowd will try to do what Louisville’s couldn’t and rattle Kelly Bryant in his second career road start.
3. Virginia Tech is averaging 289 passing yards per game. Hokies quarterback Josh Jackson will provide a tough challenge for Clemson’s banged up secondary to try to slow down.
Three players to watch
1. In his first year as a starter, Josh Jackson is averaging 282 passing yards and 36 rushing yards per game. The redshirt freshman has 11 passing touchdowns and only one interception on the year.
2. Cam Phillips nearly had 1,000 receiving yards last season and is on pace to shatter that mark in 2017. The senior has 34 receptions for 523 yards and five touchdowns through four games. He will be a tough matchup for Clemson’s secondary.
3. Andrew Motuapuaka finished with 114 tackles and three interceptions in 2016 and is off to a strong start in his senior year. The Virginia native is third on the team in tackles with 29, second in tackles for loss with 4 and first in sacks with 2.5
Scouting report
▪ Virginia Tech lost the majority of its offensive production from a season ago but has had no problem scoring points this season, averaging 40 per game.
▪ The Hokies topped West Virginia to open the season in a tough win before playing three games against non-Power Five teams.
▪ Like Clemson, Virginia Tech has used a running back-by-committee approach. The Hokies have six players with at least 97 rushing yards but none with 200.
▪ Virginia Tech’s offensive line has allowed only four sacks this season but will have a tough test against the Tigers.
Matt Connolly
This story was originally published September 24, 2017 at 7:56 PM with the headline "Clemson football: Scouting report on the Virginia Tech Hokies."