Virginia Tech football: 49 days til kickoff with a look back at Tremaine Edmunds

Today is July 13, 2019, which means we are officially just 49 days away from the Virginia Tech Hokies opening the college football season at Boston College. Yesterday, we profiled an outstanding Hokie linebacker, Ki Luczak, who played for the Hokies from 1949-1952.

For No. 49, we don’t have to go back too far in Tremaine Edmunds. Edmunds arrived in Blacksburg in 2015 from Dan River High in Ringgold, Va., outside of Danville. He was the third Edmunds’ brother to attend Virginia Tech. And, in an extreme rarity, all three brothers were actually a part of that 2015 team with Trey, a senior running back, and Terrell, a redshirt freshman defensive back, also on the team.

Unlike most freshmen, Tremaine didn’t have to wait too long to see the field on defense. While he wasn’t a freshman starter early, defensive coordinator Bud Foster found ways to get him on the field. He played in all 13 games as a true freshman, making two starts with 11 tackles, including two for loss.

As a sophomore in 2016, big things were expected of Edmunds. And he delivered. He started all 14 games, finished with 106 tackles, second on the team to Andrew Motuapuaka, had 18.5 for loss, 4.5 for loss and also an interception. He finished with nine quarterback hits and seven passes defensed. He proved that season what a valuable weapon he could be as a sideline-to-sideline linebacker or as a pass rusher. After the season, he was named to the All-ACC second team.

In 2017, Edmunds entered the with even bigger expectations. Edmunds again started all 13 games for the Hokies, led the team in tackles with 109, including 14 for loss and 5.5 sacks. He also forced three fumbles. After the season, he was named as a first-team All-ACC selection and a third-team All-American. He would skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. Terrell also skipped his final season to enter the draft.

Edmunds was selected 16th overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2018 NFL Draft. To add to his joy, Terrell was also picked in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Justin Fuente and Foster were there at the draft with the brothers. Trey was already in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints. So, all three brothers in the NFL, all Hokies (Trey did play his final season at Maryland) and their father, Ferrell, also happened to be a former NFL player. Ferrell Edmunds happened to be a terrific tight end from 1988-1994 with the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks. He would make two Pro Bowl’s and one All-Pro team. Ferrell is the head football coach at Dan River and coached all three of his sons.

Tremaine Edmunds was a fantastic Hokie who will best be remembered for never missing a game, making big plays and hopefully becoming a regular Pro Bowler in the NFL. The only gripe with Edmunds is he was the youngest brother and there will be no more coming to Virginia Tech. Tremaine had an outstanding rookie season for the Bills and he just turned 21 in May.

Hokie Nation certainly misses the Edmunds’ brothers.