Virginia Tech football: 62 days til kickoff with a look back at Blake DeChristopher

Today is June 30, 2019, which means we are officially just 62 days away from the Virginia Tech Hokies opening the college football season at Boston College. Yesterday, we profiled Laurence Gibson, a former four-star recruit who started two seasons for the Hokies at offensive tackle.

For No. 62, we continue our look into the offensive trenches as we profile a former All-ACC offensive tackle in Blake DeChristopher.

DeChristopher arrived at Virginia Tech as a 6’5”, 290-pounder from Clover Hill High in Midlothian, Va. He was considered a composite four-star recruit by 247Sports. The coaching staff had DeChristopher in the mix early as the backup at right tackle but coaches chose to keep him out action and redshirt him. He earned Super Iron Hokie honors and was also won the Paul Torgerson Award as the top offensive newcomer in spring practice.

There’s no doubt that the coaching staff was excited about DeChristopher before the 2008 season. He quickly showed coaches why they should be excited, winning the starting spot at right tackle as a redshirt freshman. It’s a spot he would never relinquish during his four years on campus.

He started every game in 2008, stabilizing the right side of the Virginia Tech’s offensive line in a year where Darren Evans was a first-team All-ACC running back. As a sophomore in 2009, DeChristoper was named as an honorable mention All-ACC pick on the offensive line. In 2010, DeChristopher was chosen as a second-team All-ACC pick. Finally, during his senior season of 2011, DeChristopher was one of the better offensive linemen in college football. He was selected to the All-ACC first team and also won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given to the ACC’s top offensive linemen that season.

DeChristopher blocked for some terrific running backs during his career, such as Evans, Ryan Williams and David Wilson. He would end his career at Virginia Tech starting 51 consecutive games, which, in retrospect, is an amazing accomplishment.

Not only is it rare for a freshman to start on the offensive line, it is even more rare for one to start every game during his career. DeChristopher was a fantastic Hokie who got the job done on the field, in the weight room and was looked upon as a strong leader by his teammates and coaches. Much like we’ve discussed in recent posts, the Hokies need more players like Grove, DeChristopher and Will Montgomery.

These days, DeChristopher is working in outside sales for Mid-South Building Supply in his native Richmond.