How will the Hokies try to Replace Kendall Fuller at Corner, Motuapuaka Practices and #Punterswag

Virginia Tech defensive backs coach Torrian Gray mentioned knee surgery for star cornerback Kendall Fuller at Tuesday evening's media availibilty, but the Virginia Tech athletics department has said official word on Fuller's status will likely not be released until Wednesday (update: Kendall Fuller will miss the rest of the season).

Surgery or not, Fuller will almost certainly be unavailable for the Hokies' ACC opener against Pittsburgh this Saturday, meaning redshirt freshman Terrell Edmunds will likely receive his first career start.

"Well, right now, we'll probably go with Edmunds," said defensive coordinator Bud Foster. "We're just gonna go that route. And Facyson, Riley will figure in over there as well. We'll just go from there. Get those guys ready to go."

Edmunds nearly earned the starting nod at East Carolina after Kendall Fuller was unable to play, but a game-time gut decision from Gray slotted Greg Stroman in Fuller's cornerback spot. But despite picking off East Carolina's first play from scrimmage, Stroman had a forgettable afternoon.

"I just went with my gut. When we're up 14-0 and he makes an interception that leads to a touchdown, that's what my gut felt," said Gray. "Now the plays he didn't make, he's in position. He didn't make them. I like to think given more time, more experience, he'd make those plays or at least 2 or 3 of those plays because those are big plays in the game."

Stroman will return to his nickel role this week, leaving Edmunds and Donovan Riley as Gray's two options to replace the injured Fuller. Edmunds will get his chance early, but Gray expects both corners to be utilized against Pittsburgh.

"Yeah, we'll play a couple of guys there," said Gray. "Terrell's valuable to us from a special teams standpoint. He's still new so you don't want to throw everything out there on one guy right at the time, so we'll try to do it by committee."

Edmunds worked at safety during his redshirt year, but is confident in his understanding of the cornerback's responsibilities after this year's transition.

"You have to learn your stuff, but that's with anything," said Edmunds. "Anything in life you're gonna have to learn how to do it. And then once you learn, you'll be in."

With Pittsburgh and standout receiver Tyler Boyd coming to Blacksburg on Saturday, Edmunds and his fellow defensive backs will be forced to slow down one of the best receivers in all of college football without their unquestioned leader.

"He's a dynamic receiver," said Gray of Boyd. "What you're used to having a security blanket with Kendall where you would match him up or put him over on the other team's best guy whether you were playing man or zone. And we don't have that right now. So we just gotta play how we play and get those guys ready."

Edmunds recognizes the talent of Boyd, but doesn't plan on backing down from the challenge come Saturday.

"Yeah, he's a good guy," said Edmunds. "He can run routes. He can catch the ball well. He's just an athlete. But at Virginia Tech, we have athletes as well so I feel like we can match up with him."

But despite the unfortunate injury to Fuller, don't expect the Dean of DBU to feel sorry for himself.. At this point, Gray is more surprised if his whole unit is healthy.

"It's always very interesting knowing from the standpoint that I've never had any of my guys healthy at the same time," said Gray. "You go back to a couple years ago when you get Kendall, Brandon, and you got Antone Exum and Kyle (Fuller) and none of them were never healthy (together). I never had everybody together healthy last year with Brandon (being injured). Never had the group that you could have and really be great this year with C.J. (Reavis) and Kendall. It's just the nature of the beast."

Andrew Motuapuaka Could Return for Pittsburgh

Andrew Motuapuaka practiced in a limited contact blue jersey today, but Bud Foster was clearly pleased with the progress of his starting mike linebacker.

"Andrew practiced today. I was really encouraged," said Foster. "If he's ready to go, we'll play him. Obviously Sean has to sit out the first half, but Andrew to me looked sharp and really good movement and flexibility. It'll be interesting to see how he feels tomorrow. He practiced in blue, but he did everything. I was real pleased with what I saw."

Motuapuaka, like Foster, will take a wait-and-see approach as he recovers from his sprained MCL.

"I felt pretty good today," said Motuapuaka. "We'll see how it feels the rest of the week."

If Motuapuaka is unable to go, true freshman Carson Lydon will be forced to play the first half while Sean Huelskamp serves his targeting suspension. Foster seemed ready to move on from the questionable flag, but not before dropping this nugget when asked if he would teach Huelskamp a different tackling technique after watching the film.

"No. Not anything," said Foster. "That play's over. But I wouldn't teach him anything different."

A.J. Hughes In The News

Punter A.J. Hughes made national news last week as he defied all laws of physics and punted a football that sailed over the Lane Stadium scoreboard. For Hughes, it was just another activity that could fill a little downtime during practice.

pic.twitter.com/ofeWpk9fG8— AJ Hughes (@AJ_HughesVT) September 24, 2015

"Yeah it was right after we got done kicking with Coach Beamer...We were all just kinda hanging around outside, waiting to do whatever it is we do," laughed Hughes. "I was just looking at it, it was almost inviting, almost asking for a ball to get kicked over it. So I went up and unloaded."

But somehow, Hughes may have managed to top his impressive practice performance with what may go down as the greatest 20-yard punt in Virginia Tech history. For Hughes, it was all just a quick reaction that ended up turning out pretty well.

"Saw the ball come out and it went straight up in the air and I'm like 'oh, gosh,'" said Hughes. "When those opportunities present themselves, I think just the only thing to do is react. I did just that. Turned around and had some space to cover before I got the ball. So I checked back and didn't have anybody immediately on me, so I was like 'alright, I can do something with it.' I picked it up, and obviously just wanted to get it out of our territory....I saw the ECU guys coming, they were right on me, so I just had to get it out of there."

But with kicker Joey Slye continuously turning in vicious hit after vicious hit on kickoff coverage, the athletic prowess of Hughes often goes overlooked. But if you ask Hughes, a certain punter normally wins every athletic competition the specialists hold.

"Absolutely," laughed Hughes. "We just had competitions today. And I'm not gonna say any names, but number 27 usually wins. 46, he's usually right behind."

Additional Quotes

Terrell Edmunds

ON IF HE WAS SURPRISED TO NOT GET THE START AT EAST CAROLINA:

"Well I know all of the coaches will always have the best interest in mind. When they told me I wasn't gonna start, I wasn't really down about it. I was gonna make the best out of anything and I just went out there and played whatever position they put me in."

ON WHAT HE'S BEEN FOCUSED ON AT CORNERBACK:

"Well they had me working on my footwork and just coming out of my breaks. After I came out of my breaks, they just wanted me to learn everything and just have everything down pat."

ON HAVING ALL 3 EDMUNDS BROTHERS ON KICKOFF COVERAGE:

"That's a great experience. When I first saw the pictures, it really just hit me. I knew he (Tremaine) was here, but I didn't really picture it is as a big thing. And then when I saw everyone blowing it up, I saw it on ESPN, I was like 'this is really happening.'"

Sean Huelskamp

ON HIS TARGETING PENALTY/EJECTION:

"Calls are not gonna go your way all the time, that's the game of football. Just kinda over it, on to Pitt."

Andrew Motuapuaka

ON HOW SEAN HUELSKAMP AND CARSON LYDON HAVE FILLED IN FOR HIM:

"They've done a very good job. Very proud of both of them just stepping up and just taking on the challenge. I'm very proud. Huelskamp, he's gonna be a great player."