Virginia Tech's injury report for Saturday's home game against Miami delivered good news to Hokies fans. The report, released Thursday, included only one player — backup tight end Eric Martin (shoulder) — who is out.
No. 3 wide receiver Marcus Davis played just six snaps in last Saturday's 23-3 loss to Clemson because of a sprained right foot he suffered the previous week at Marshall. Davis was not on the report leading into the Clemson game, but he aggravated his foot early in the game.
True freshman defensive tackle Luther Maddy is dealing with a high ankle sprain he suffered at Marshall. Though Maddy wasn't on the report, defensive line coach Charley Wiles had said he is hesitant to play Maddy against Miami's enormous offensive line and powerful rushing game, led by tailback Lamar Miller's 6.7 yards per carry.
The Hokies will eventually need Maddy because they lost second-year starter Antoine Hopkins (Highland Springs High) to a season-ending right knee injury (torn anterior cruciate ligament) against Clemson. Wiles expects to replace Hopkins by committee, which includes true freshman Corey Marshall (Dinwiddie), who is expected to start against Miami, and juniors Isaiah Hamlette and Dwight Tucker.
Maddy, who was a second-stringer along with Marshall before Hopkins' injury, will join the "by committee" approach when he is healthy.
Miami will be without two defensive starters. Defensive tackle Marcus Forston and linebacker Ramon Buchanan both suffered season-ending knee injuries – Forston during Wednesday's practice, Buchanan during last Saturday's win over Bethune-Cookman.
Forston last season ranked second on Miami with 12 tackles for loss. His replacement Saturday will be former defensive end Adewale Ojomo, who weighs 265 pounds – 35 lighter than Forston.
The Hurricanes rank 105th nationally in rushing defense (202.3 yards allowed per game), and Tech tailback David Wilson is averaging six yards per carry.
Basketball: Virginia Tech freshman point guard Marquis Rankin will miss six to eight weeks after having surgery on his left knee Thursday.
Rankin and sophomore Tyrone Garland are the backups to junior Erick Green, a returning starter. Rankin, who is not expected to play a major role for the Hokies, hurt his knee during preseason drills and had surgery to clean up cartilage.
The Hokies open practice a week from today and begin their ninth season under coach Seth Greenberg on Nov. 12 at home against East Tennessee State.
A six-week recovery window would bring Rankin back around Nov. 17, while an eight-week window would bring him back around Dec. 1.
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