Bud Foster "Optimistic" Stephan Virgil Will Play Against Miami

From Randy King's blog at the Roanoke Times:

Virginia Tech cornerback Stephan Virgil, who has missed the last two games with a bruised left knee, participated in full during the Hokies' Monday practice.

Virgil's playing status won't be known until the Hokies release their final injury report Thursday.

Defensive coordinator Bud Foster sounded optimistic about the senior's chances of playing during his appearance on Tech's Monday night radio show.

King has full quotes from Foster from Monday night's Tech Talk Live. This is encouraging news because the Hokies will need Virgil against Miami's talented receivers.

I feel much more comfortable with Virgil playing boundary corner than Rashad Carmichael because Virgil is better at man-to-man coverage and at assisting on run defense. Carmichael has been better on the field side of the ball and significantly better than Eddie Whitley in my opinion.

Whitley started at field corner against Nebraska and Carmichael has started at boundary corner the last two games after Virgil was injured late in the Alabama game. Cris Hill and Jayron Hosley also saw playing time at cornerback against Marshall.

Virgil's return would help settle a secondary that his been vulnerable to deep passes and the occasional breakdown in coverage early on in the season.