Virginia Tech will once again be without fifth-year senior corner back Antone Exum when they host Pittsburgh in ACC play on Saturday. Exum’s status was to be determined after Thursday’s practice, but the news was not favorable for the Hokies. According to reports, including this one on Twitter by Virginia Tech beat reporter Andy Bitter of The Roanoke Times, Exum is listed as out for Virginia Tech’s game against Pitt in Blacksburg, Virginia.
A torn ACL suffered in the spring while playing a pickup basketball game has held Exum out of action this season, so patience in the rehab process has been stressed to ensure he is ready to play before getting in a game. Given his seniority, it is certainly wise to make sure the knee is on game shape before jumping right in. Brandon Facyson should get the start for the Hokies. Both were listed as potential starters on Virginia Tech’s depth chart this week.
Virginia Tech should be able to survive even without the fifth-year senior in the line-up. So far this season the Hokies are leading the ACC in interceptions with 13 and are ranked third in the conference in yards allowed per game through the air. Adding Exum will help Virginia Tech continue to have one of the ACC’s best secondaries, but the return of Exum will have to wait at least one more game.