Facyson, Phillips headed to East-West Shrine Game

Senior duo has enjoyed record-setting seasons for the Hokies

December 17, 2017

BLACKSBURG – CB Brandon Facyson and WR Cam Phillips have accepted invitations to play in the 93rd East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 20, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Facyson has racked up five pass breakups and 2.0 tackles for loss this season while helping lead a defensive back group that ranks first in the nation with a 46.9 opponent completion percentage. This season, Facyson passed Brandon Flowers and Antone Exum in career passes defended since 1987. He now has 44 career PDs. Thanks in part to Facyson and the Tech secondary, the Hokies are second in the nation on third downs (25.1%) and have permitted an FBS-low 16 Red Zone scores.

Phillips, a first-team All-ACC selection, ranks fourth in the ACC in both receptions (71) and receiving yards (964). Tech’s all-time leader in receptions (236) and receiving yards (3,027), Phillips is tied for second in the ACC with seven touchdown catches and ranks third with five 100-yard receiving games. His 189 receiving yards at East Carolina (9/16) are the most of any ACC player this season.

Facyson and Phillips join LB Andrew Motuapuaka, G Wyatt Teller and C Eric Gallo as Hokies who have accepted postseason all-star game invitations. Motuapuaka will play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 20, 2018 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, Teller accepted an invitation to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl held in Mobile, Alabama on Jan. 27, 2018 and Gallo will play in the Spiral Tropical Bowl held in Daytona Beach, Florida on Jan. 14, 2018.

East-West Shrine Game

shrinegame.com

Teller anchors a Virginia Tech offensive line that has permitted only 21.0 sacks this season. He’s started in all 12 games at left guard and has started 23 consecutive games, the longest streak on the Tech offense. Pro Football Focus has honored Teller on their ACC Team of the Week four times this season. The Bealeton, Virginia native was the runner-up for the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, which is presented to the conference’s most outstanding blocker.

Senior Bowl
seniorbowl.com

Gallo, a redshirt senior from Richboro, Pennsylvania, earned his first All-ACC accolades in his final season at Virginia Tech as an honorable mention pick. He’s started in every game this season at center and has started in 22 consecutive games dating back to last season, the second-longest streak on the offense. A team captain, Gallo also gets it done in the classroom, where he boasts a 3.42 GPA as a finance major. He was named CoSIDA Academic First-Team All-District earlier this month for his work in athletics and academics.

Tropical Bowl
tropicalbowl.com

Motuapuaka has been a key and steady component for the Hokies’ defense this past season. He finished the regular season ranked second on Tech’s defense and tied for 13th in the ACC with 85 total tackles. The Virginia Beach, Virginia native trails only CB Greg Stroman for the team lead in passes defended with seven and has racked up 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, an interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Motuapuaka will leave Virginia Tech with his name in the top 10 in career tackles since 1987.

NFLPA Collegiate Bowl
collegiate.nflpa.com

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