ORANGE BOWL NOTES: Rivers on big stage

Rivers on big stage

Barquell Rivers is from Wadesboro, N.C., a town of about 3,500 people located between Charlotte and Fayetteville. A redshirt freshman linebacker for Virginia Tech, he has yet to play a major role because he served as the backup this season to senior Brett Warren.

But in Thursday's Orange Bowl against Cincinnati, Rivers will be thrust onto a stage unlike any he ever saw during his days at Anson County High. Warren is out with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, so Rivers will make his first start.

"I don't know Brett's that much better than Barquell physically," junior linebacker Cody Grimm said. "It's more probably just an experience factor that you expect Barquell to have a couple mess-ups in. Just seeing plays, Brett's a little calmer, might read them faster. I don't think Barquell will have much trouble after a quarter or two, once he just calms down a little bit."

Rivers is listed at 5-11 and 229 pounds, Warren at 6-1 and 237 pounds. Rivers has played 28 snaps on defense this season and 26 on special teams.

A likely 2009 starter

Like Rivers, redshirt freshman right guard Jaymes Brooks likely will be a starter next season. Also like Rivers, his first start is coming earlier than expected.

Tech's starting left guard, senior Nick Marshman, is academically ineligible for the Orange Bowl. Starting right guard Sergio Render has moved to left guard.

Though Brooks has played just four snaps this season and none in the past six games, offensive line coach Curt Newsome said Brooks has been on the verge of playing, if not for all of the Hokies' tight games (seven of 13 decided by fewer than seven points).

"Nick's playing because he's an older guy," Newsome said. "He brought that to the table and knowing exactly what to do against different looks."

Tech has refused to make Brooks or Rivers available to the media.

Redshirt freshman right tackle Blake DeChristopher (Clover Hill High) said his friendship with Brooks and practicing alongside him leading up to the Orange Bowl will help them communicate more easilyThursday. "I'm not worried about the communication at all," DeChristopher said.

Newsome said Render will remain at left guard next season to replace Marshman, while Brooks is scheduled to be the right guard. Center Beau Warren, who will be a junior, will take the place of current senior Ryan Shuman.

A ring for Martin

Tech senior defensive end Orion Martin showed up to yesterday's media interviews wearing a titanium wedding ring. Martin married his girlfriend of about eight months, Jennifer Edwards, on Dec. 20 in his hometown of Martinsville. His younger brother, Cam, was the best man. Cam is Tech's junior starting whip linebacker.

After the wedding, Martin got right back to business. He and Edwards - who is in South Florida for the Orange Bowl - drove back to Blacksburg that night so Martin could attend practice the next day.

As for why he decided to squeeze his wedding in between final exams and the Orange Bowl, Martin said: "I didn't know when I'd have any free time from January until the summer time. If I waited, we'd probably have to wait another year or so, so we just went on and got it done." - Darryl Slater