Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Know Your Opponent: Virginia Tech
December 23, 2017 | Cowboy Football
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Oklahoma State football team is set to take part in a bowl game for a team-record 12th consecutive season, as the No. 17 Cowboys face No. 22/22 Virginia Tech Thursday in the 2017 Camping World Bowl.
On paper, Virginia Tech's stout defense will present an intriguing clash of styles with the Pokes' high-powered offense.
The Hokies enter with the nation's No. 4 scoring defense, surrendering just 13.6 points per game, while Oklahoma State's electric offense has be well-documented throughout the year to the tune of 46.3 points per game – the second-best average nationally.
Tech's stout defense has also taken care of business when opposing offenses get into the red zone. When that happens, the Hokies, led Tremaine Edmunds and Andrew Motuapuaka, tighten and allow opposing offenses to score only two-thirds of the time, which ranks third nationally.
Edmunds and Motuapuaka lead Virginia Tech with 102 and 85 total tackles, respectively. Between them, they have combined to rack up 96 solo stops and 24.5 tackles for loss this season. Their success, along with the rest of Tech's defensive unit, has helped the Hokies rank second in the country with a 25.1 percent third-down conversion rate for opposing offenses.
On the flip side of that, Oklahoma State's offense ranks 16th nationally in third-down conversion percentage at 45.8 percent, so Thursday's matchup truly will be a display of strength vs. strength.
Virginia Tech isn't solely led by one of the nation's best defensive units however, as the Hokies are potent on offense and special teams as well.
Led by Travon McMillan's 26.7 kickoff return average, Virginia Tech ranks eighth in the country in kickoff return yardage. The Hokies are also in the top 30 nationally for net punting (27th), punt returns (24th) and they lead the country with six blocked kicks this season.
The offense is led by quarterback Josh Jackson, who has completed 214 of 355 passes for 2,743 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. Jackson's favorite target has been wideout Cam Phillips, and the two have developed quite the connection through the 2017 campaign.
Phillips, a senior, has scored seven receiving touchdowns and racked up 964 receiving yards on 71 receptions this season. His impressive senior season has seen him become Virginia Tech's all-time leader in career receiving yards (3,027) and career receptions (236). Phillips also broke the Hokies' single-game receptions record earlier this year when he hauled in 14 passes against East Carolina on Sept. 16.
In the backfield, Virginia Tech fields several capable runners that have all shown a knack for picking up yards on the ground.
Travon McMillian is Tech's leading rusher in 2017, as he has racked up 439 yards on 104 carries. Along with McMillian, Deshawn McClease has carried the rock 90 times and gained 406 rushing yards in the process and quarterback Josh Jackson's 274 rushing yards round out a talented trio of players in the backfield.
Thursday's top-25 matchup will mark Oklahoma State's fifth contest against a ranked opponent this season, and the 2017 Camping World Bowl figures to be one other bowl season's most intriguing matchups. Kickoff inside Camping World Stadium is set for 4:15 p.m. CT on ESPN.
On paper, Virginia Tech's stout defense will present an intriguing clash of styles with the Pokes' high-powered offense.
The Hokies enter with the nation's No. 4 scoring defense, surrendering just 13.6 points per game, while Oklahoma State's electric offense has be well-documented throughout the year to the tune of 46.3 points per game – the second-best average nationally.
Tech's stout defense has also taken care of business when opposing offenses get into the red zone. When that happens, the Hokies, led Tremaine Edmunds and Andrew Motuapuaka, tighten and allow opposing offenses to score only two-thirds of the time, which ranks third nationally.
Edmunds and Motuapuaka lead Virginia Tech with 102 and 85 total tackles, respectively. Between them, they have combined to rack up 96 solo stops and 24.5 tackles for loss this season. Their success, along with the rest of Tech's defensive unit, has helped the Hokies rank second in the country with a 25.1 percent third-down conversion rate for opposing offenses.
On the flip side of that, Oklahoma State's offense ranks 16th nationally in third-down conversion percentage at 45.8 percent, so Thursday's matchup truly will be a display of strength vs. strength.
Virginia Tech isn't solely led by one of the nation's best defensive units however, as the Hokies are potent on offense and special teams as well.
Led by Travon McMillan's 26.7 kickoff return average, Virginia Tech ranks eighth in the country in kickoff return yardage. The Hokies are also in the top 30 nationally for net punting (27th), punt returns (24th) and they lead the country with six blocked kicks this season.
The offense is led by quarterback Josh Jackson, who has completed 214 of 355 passes for 2,743 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. Jackson's favorite target has been wideout Cam Phillips, and the two have developed quite the connection through the 2017 campaign.
Phillips, a senior, has scored seven receiving touchdowns and racked up 964 receiving yards on 71 receptions this season. His impressive senior season has seen him become Virginia Tech's all-time leader in career receiving yards (3,027) and career receptions (236). Phillips also broke the Hokies' single-game receptions record earlier this year when he hauled in 14 passes against East Carolina on Sept. 16.
In the backfield, Virginia Tech fields several capable runners that have all shown a knack for picking up yards on the ground.
Travon McMillian is Tech's leading rusher in 2017, as he has racked up 439 yards on 104 carries. Along with McMillian, Deshawn McClease has carried the rock 90 times and gained 406 rushing yards in the process and quarterback Josh Jackson's 274 rushing yards round out a talented trio of players in the backfield.
Thursday's top-25 matchup will mark Oklahoma State's fifth contest against a ranked opponent this season, and the 2017 Camping World Bowl figures to be one other bowl season's most intriguing matchups. Kickoff inside Camping World Stadium is set for 4:15 p.m. CT on ESPN.
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