Virginia Tech football: 92 days til kickoff with a look back at Luther Maddy

Today is May 31, 2019, which means we are officially 92 days away from the Virginia Tech Hokies opening the college football season at Boston College. In today’s edition of our countdown, we take a look back at number 92, Luther Maddy, who played at Virginia Tech from 2011-2015.

Maddy came to the Hokies as a low three-star recruit in the class of 2011. He played his high school football at Atlantic High in Delray Beach, Fla., an area that has been good to the Hokies over the years. In the class of 2011, it was Kris Harley who was the defensive tackle everyone was excited about. A four-star prospect from Indianapolis, Harley wasn’t ready for action his freshman season.

Maddy was certainly ready. At 6’1”, 280 pounds, Maddy may have been considered a bit undersized, but he possessed outstanding strength and impressed Bud Foster and Charley Wiles in fall camp. Maddy would end up playing in all 13 games, starting seven. That’s an impressive feat for a true freshman defensive tackle, especially one who many thought would need a lot of development before he ever saw the field.

As a sophomore in 2012, Maddy continued to prove recruitniks wrong. He played in all 13 games, with 9 starts, racking up 35 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and four sacks. As a junior in 2013, Maddy had another strong season, finishing with 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He was selected to the All-ACC third team after the season. He should have been much higher. Maddy’s senior season was interrupted with a knee injury after just four games. He was able to get a medical redshirt and return in 2015. As a senior, Maddy had 57 tackles, including seven TFLs and two sacks. He was selected to the All-ACC first team.

Maddy would go undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft. The NFL considered him undersized but Maddy’s brute strength and athleticism should have put him on the NFL radar. Instead, he is now in the Canadian Football League with the B.C. Lions.

Maddy won numerous awards during his time in Blacksburg. He was the winner of the Iron Hokie Award in 2012 and the President’s Award in 2013. And, he also carried the precious lunch pail as the leader of Tech’s defense. Maddy will be remembered as the type of player who Virginia Tech built its program around. A lower-ranked recruit who worked hard and set an example for his teammates and future Hokies. The Hokies could certainly use a few Maddy-types in the pipeline.

What’s your favorite memories of Luther Maddy? Share them with us.