Virginia Tech football: Antwaun Powell-Ryland receives award for his performance in win over Wake Forest

Virginia Tech defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland was named ACC defensive lineman of the week for his performance in last week’s win over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Powell-Ryland had six tackles, including 4.5 for loss, four sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the win. He now has seven sacks on the season, which leads the ACC.

Powell-Ryland, a Portsmouth, Va., native, played high school football at Indian River. He spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career at Florida before entering the transfer portal. He quickly became a top priority for head coach Brent Pry once he hit the portal.

Powell-Ryland is only the fourth player in school history to have four sacks in one game. Bruce Smith did it twice, Morgan Roane did it in 1985 and J.C. Price did it in 1995. Amazingly enough, Price is now Powell-Ryland’s position coach.

Kirk Herbstreit was also paying attention to Powell-Ryland.

If Powell-Ryland maintains his current pace, he’d be the first Hokie since Darryl Tapp to record double-digit sacks in a single season.

Congratulations to Powell-Ryland.