Tech notes

Rarely used Hokie makes big block

Jacob Sykes made one of the most important plays yesterday in Virginia Tech's 31-7 win over Miami. Yet when Sykes dived to block a punt in the second quarter, many observers needed to look at Tech's roster to see that Sykes is a sophomore cornerback from Goldsboro, N.C.

Before yesterday, Sykes had played two snaps this season - both on special teams. Junior Rashad Carmichael usually occupies the far outside rush spot on the punt-block unit. But he and Sykes have an arrangement. Whenever Carmichael is winded - he also is the starting field cornerback - he asks Sykes to sub in.

Nobody touched Sykes as he ran toward Matt Bosher, who was punting from his 25-yard line. Sykes smacked the ball with his hand, and it rolled to the 1, where Matt Reidy picked it up and walked into the end zone, giving Tech a 21-0 lead.

Sykes didn't realize how close he was to Bosher until he was almost touching the punter because Sykes was expecting contact that never came.

"I thought somebody would have come to try to block me," he said.

Sykes hopes to parlay the biggest moment of his career into a regular punt-blocking role.

"I'm trying to take over the position if they let me," he said.

Oglesby chips in

Redshirt freshman Ryan Williams clearly is Tech's No.1 tailback. He carried 34 times yesterday for 150 yards and has 84 carries this season for 492 yards. He has eased the concerns Tech felt after Darren Evans, last season's leading rusher, suffered a season-ending knee injury in preseason practices.

Williams ran for two touchdowns yesterday and now has eight. Tech's single-season freshman record for touchdowns is 11, set by Evans last season. Freshmen weren't eligible until 1972.

Sophomore Josh Oglesby has the next-most carries by a Tech tailback. He entered yesterday with 21 for 83 yards, including a long of 16. But he got his share of yards against Miami, carrying four times for 48 yards. He had a 34-yard gain in the second quarter on which he slipped away from three defenders.

Hokies get commitment

Tech received a commitment yesterday from Nick Dew, a 6-2, 183-pound safety from First Colonial High in Virginia Beach.

Recruiting Web site Rivals.com ranks Dew as the 49th-best safety in the country and the No.18 player in Virginia. Dew also had scholarship offers from Arkansas, East Carolina, Louisville, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, among others, according to Rivals.

The Hokies have 18 commitments for the Class of 2010, including 12 from the state of Virginia. Recruits cannot sign letters of intent until Feb. 3.

Injury update

Rover Davon Morgan (Varina) injured his left shoulder in the first half and did not return. . . . As expected, senior starting boundary cornerback Stephan Virgil returned yesterday. He missed two games because of an injured left knee. . . . Senior defensive tackle Demetrius Taylor started for the first time in his career, in place of junior John Graves (sprained right ankle). Graves (Meadowbrook) was limited in the first half but did play. - Darryl Slater