Virginia Tech football: 41 days til kickoff with a look back at George DelRicco

Today is July 21, 2019, which means we are officially just 41 days away from the Virginia Tech Hokies opening the college football season at Boston College. Yesterday, we continued our run of looking at outstanding former Hokie linebackers in James Anderson, today we keep that going with a look at No. 41, George DelRicco.

DelRicco arrived in Blacksburg in 1991 as an unheralded 6’2”, 210-pound linebacker from Seabrook, Md., who played his high school at the DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Md. After redshirting in 1991, DelRicco played in all 11 games in 1992, mostly on special teams. He made 31 tackles between playing special teams and backup linebacker.

In 1993, the redshirt sophomore moved into the starting lineup, starting nine of 11 games and finishing second on the team in tackles with 103 and leading the team with 11 TFLs. He also finished with three sacks and finished fourth on the team with 14 quarterback hits. He helped lead the Hokies to an impressive turnaround from the two-win season in 1992 to a nine-win team in ‘93 that also won the Independence Bowl.

As a junior in 1994, DelRicco started all 11 games for the Hokies. He led the Hokies in tackles with 130, had five TFLs and four sacks. The Hokies finished 8-4, including a 5-2 mark in the Big East and fell to Tennessee and Peyton Manning in the Gator Bowl.

In 1995, DelRicco once again played in every game for the Hokies. He led the Hokies in tackle with 137, finished with five TFLs and two sacks. The Hokies won the Big East that season and dominated Texas in the Sugar Bow. DelRicco was named first-team All-Big East and the Hokies were officially on the national scene.

When we look back in Virginia Tech history, we often discuss the 1999 team as the best ever. And rightfully so. But that 1995 team sometimes gets forgotten and that is unfair. This was a special team and after going to bowl games in two straight seasons, this team was the one who put the Hokies on the map.

Simply put, DelRicco was one of the best linebackers in Virginia Tech history and a player who is remembered fondly in Blacksburg for helping elevate the program.