Hokies will have their hands full vs. No. 19 Huskers

BLACKSBURG

It sure sounds like Frank Beamer and Bo Pelini could use a hand.

Monday, as the two coaches began preparing for Saturday's showdown between No. 13 Virginia Tech (1-1) and No. 19 Nebraska (2-0), hands were a hot topic.

Beamer pondered the Cornhuskers' star defensive tackle: 6-foot-4, 300-pound Ndamukong Suh, who had 7.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss last season. Suh already has 1.5 sacks and four tackles for loss in two games this year.

"He's a real handful," Beamer said. "They're stout up front. They're going to present a challenge to our offensive line. "

The Hokies faced a similar test in the opener against Alabama's massive All-American tackle, Terrence Cody. Two years ago, when Pelini was the defensive coordinator at LSU, Tech faced All-American, Glen Dorsey.

"It's more of the same," Beamer said. "Big guys that can change the game."

The Hokies have little guys who can change the game in tailbacks Ryan Williams and David Wilson, who combined for 329 rushing yards and four touchdowns against Marshall. Pelini's thoughts on that duo:

"Tremendous athletes, really good running backs and just good football players. Obviously, they block well for them up front. We'll have our hands full."

Young receiving corps had a productive day

Add this to the list of notable stats from Saturday's blowout win over Marshall:

The Hokies' young wide receivers caught as many touchdown passes against the Thundering Herd (2) as they did in 12 regular-season games last season. Xavier Boyce made a diving grab for one and Dyrell Roberts sneaked in the back of the end zone while quarterback Tyrod Taylor scrambled loose to sling him the other.

Therein lies another staggering stat: Six of Tech's touchdowns against Marshall were scored by freshmen - three from Williams, one from Wilson, Jayron Hosley, on his third career punt return and Boyce, his first TD catch.

The seventh came from Roberts, a sophomore who also returned a kickoff 98 yards in Week 1.

"I feel good about all the young players that had an important role," Beamer said. "We're still basically a young football team, and I just like those guys stepping up to the plate and giving us a great performance."

Non-conference home record on the line

How critical is Saturday's game, As nonconference home games go, very.

"When I first came here, they wanted us to schedule better," Beamer said. "When you start out with Alabama, Nebraska, Miami... you're scheduling better. There's some name programs in that crowd. Nebraska's right at the top. "

Since the Hokies' days as an independent ended - Tech joined the Big East in 1991, then the ACC in 2004 - they've hosted eight ranked non-league opponents. The last such game was a win for the unranked Hokies against No. 6 West Virginia in 2004.

That improved Tech's record to 4-3-1 under Beamer in non-league home games against ranked teams.

The last time the Hokies lost to a nonconference opponent of any kind was 1998, when No. 16 Virginia beat No. 20 Tech 45-23.

Ocean lakes grad is real 'team player,' coach says

Tyrone Fahie might have the most compelling background of any player in Saturday's game - which will be a homecoming of sorts for the junior defensive end from Virginia Beach.

Fahie, an Ocean Lakes High alum, walked onto the Nebraska football team in 2007 after six years of military service, including two tours in Iraq. He played in just one game last season and won't likely see much action Saturday, but Pelini said he is an important part of the Huskers.

"He has great energy," Pelini said. "He just wants to do whatever he can for the football team. He's a guy that's a great example of what a team player needs to be."

Quick kicks...

Huskers RB Roy Helu Jr. has rushed for 212 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries (7.1 ypc). He ranks 22nd nationally (106 ypg).... QB Zac Lee is 42 of 58 (73.7 percent) for 553 yards, six TDs and one interception. He ranks fifth nationally in TD tosses and seventh in completion percentage.... Nebraska ranks 10th in the country in scoring (43.5 ppg).

- Kyle Tucker