Virginia Tech Linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka Could Miss up to 4 Weeks

The Hokies are down a mike linebacker.

[Mark Umansky]

Virginia Tech associate athletics director for sports medicine Mike Goforth released an injury update Monday evening, and mike linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka could miss up to 4 weeks with a sprained MCL. Motuapuaka injured his knee Saturday during Hokies' 42-3 win over Furman.

Mike linebacker was a dangerously thin position for Tech this season, and the Hokies will be tested to find a replacement for Motuapuaka.

Motuapuaka had a rough game against Ohio State, but defensive coordinator Bud Foster noted his improved play against Furman.

"It looked like to me he was playing better," said Bud Foster. "They (Furman) ran what we call a 'Belly G' and he fit up in there nice and he secured his gap."

Sean Huelskamp (R-SO, 6-1, 207) and Trent Young (R-FR, 5-10, 212) are listed as Motuapuaka's backups on the latest unofficial depth chart and they have very little combined game experience. True freshman Carson Lydon (6-2, 233) might be Tech's best prospect at mike.

Lydon, a 3-star prospect at East Lake HS in Tarpon Springs, FL, enrolled early in January and seemed poised to avoid a redshirt season. On national signing day, Bud Foster said of Lydon, "He is a guy who will compete for a starting position at that spot (mike linebacker)."

Although, over the course of preseason camp that sentiment changed and Tech planned to redshirt Lydon.

It's also feasible that Foster could move one of his backups at backer to fill in the spot at mike.

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I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction:
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"I'm too drunk to taste this chicken" - Colonel Sanders via Ricky Bobby