Hokies Williams and Grimm earn All-American recognition

BLACKSBURG -- Two Virginia Tech football players were named third-team All-Americans yesterday.

Redshirt freshman tailback Ryan Williams was honored by The Sporting News, while fifth-year senior whip linebacker Cody Grimm, a former walk-on, was recognized by the Associated Press.

Williams is the third running back in Hokies' history to be named an All-American by one of the five nationally recognized teams.

Kevin Jones was a consensus All-American in 2003. Lee Suggs was a third-team selection by the Associated Press in 2000.

Grimm continues an impressive streak by defensive coordinator Bud Foster. Tech credits Foster as having at least one All-American in each of his 15 seasons as the Hokies' coordinator. This includes 2004, when Sports Illustrated honored two players, even though that is not one of the nationally recognized teams (Associated Press, Walter Camp, Sporting News, Football Writers Association of America and American Football Coaches Association).

Williams has run for a Tech and ACC freshman record 1,538 yards and needs 110 yards in the Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Bowl to break the school's single-season record, set by Jones in 13 games in 2003.

Through 12 games, Williams has 20 total touchdowns, including 19 rushing. He was named first-team all-ACC earlier this month.

Williams ranks fifth nationally with 128.2 rushing yards per game. He is third in rushing touchdowns among running backs, behind 20 by Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers and 26 by Stanford's Toby Gerhart, the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.

Grimm, whose only scholarship offer came from William and Mary, leads the Hokies with 99 tackles, including 9½ for a loss. Three of those were sacks.

He has broken up five passes and is tied for the NCAA lead with seven forced fumbles. He has recovered two fumbles.

In his final home game at Lane Stadium, against North Carolina State, he tied an NCAA record by forcing three fumbles on the first four plays. He also was a first-team all-ACC selection.

Williams is the second Tech freshman to be named an All-American. In 1999, redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Vick was on Sporting News' first team and the Associated Press' second team. That year also was the only time Tech had a former walk-on named an All-American, as defensive end John Engelberger was on the Associated Press' second team. -- Darryl Slater