Hokies Lose Backup Linebacker Devin Vandyke For Year To ACL Injury

Virginia Tech's football team, already littered with injuries, has suffered another serious injury that will keep a player out for the remainder of the year. The player in question: Devin Vandyke, the Hokies third-string middle linebacker behind starter Jack Tyler and backup Chase Williams and the brother of the Hokies' projected starter at whip linebacker in the pre-season, Ronny Vandyke, who was also lost for the year with an injury.

Backup LB Devin Vandyke suffered a torn ACL in the Western Carolina game and will miss the rest of the season.

— VT Football (@VT_Football) September 17, 2013

Devin redshirted in 2012 while suffering injury-related issues with his knee, though Hokiesports is not specific which knee. This time, however, it is his left knee in which he tore his ACL while playing special teams against Western Carolina. He seemed to have a noticeable limp as he came off the field. That game was the only one he has played so far, so he should be a prime candidate for a medical redshirt. The prognosis is that he'll miss anywhere from 6-8 months with the injury.

The injury, although to a reserve, means the Hokies are now officially down 11 scholarship players for the remainder of the season after transfers, players leaving the team (voluntarily or otherwise), injuries and legal problems from the time they end of last season. As we wrote back in August:

"The Hokies have had ten players (as far as I can tell) leave the program since the end of the 2012 season. Since the start of camp, the Hokies have lost non-scholarship kicker Brooks Abbott, and scholarship players Jarontay Jones, Davion Tookes and after another absence Donaldven Manning to transfer, and offensive lineman Adam Taraschke who decided to stay at Tech but quit the team. In addition, Michael Holmes was dismissed from school and Kevin Asante was kicked off the team for this year. It was also announced that Riley Beiro, Nick Acree and Jake Goins have all been lost for medical reasons, though it is unsure if Goins' issue is a career-ending one. Additionally, the Hokies have lost Tony Gregory and Ronny Vandyke for the season and Mark Shuman for 4-6 weeks to various injuries. That is in addition to the serious injuries to Antone Exum and Mark Irick, as well as the nagging injuries to D.J. Coles, Deon Clarke and the five others listed with injuries that comprise the Hokies walking wounded. The Hokies also had four players (Drew Harris, Holland Fisher, Cequan Jefferson and D.J. Reid) from previous recruiting classes (2012 and 2013) who didn't qualify. Whew, did I miss anyone? Yes, it's that ridiculous."

We wish both of the Vandykes, as well as all the other injured Hokies, the best of luck in recovering from their injuries.

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