Blue and Gold Illustrated

Oct 9, 2021

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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36 OCT. 9, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: VIRGINIA TECH well and then got into the red zone and stalled out. I think that's going to be a big deal moving forward, figuring out how to finish those drives and put points on the board." Burmeister's most effective weapon has been junior wide receiver Tré Turner, who has 16 catches for 250 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt junior running back Raheem Blackshear has been the Hokies' most versatile offensive player. He's the only athlete on the team with at least 100 rushing and receiving yards. Blackshear ranks second on the roster in rushing yards (141) behind redshirt ju- nior Jalen Holston (159). Burmeister is a not-so-distant third; he has 140 rushing yards on 44 carries, which is more than any other Hokie. Like Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder last week, Burmeister is a threat to beat the Irish with his legs on called passing plays and designed runs. He's looking forward to the opportunity to try to do so but rec- ognizes it won't be easy. "They're big, they're physical, they're fast," Burmeister said of the Irish. "They have one of the best players in the country in No. 14 [safety Kyle Hamilton]. "I think they're pretty good up front and definitely have some playmakers in the back end. I'm excited for the challenge." A STEADY DEFENSE The Virginia Tech defense has been consistent in a much better way than the offense. The Hokies have yet to allow 400 or more yards. They're coming off a season-best 237 yards allowed against Richmond. Junior linebacker Dax Hollifield has been a menace to opposing offensive lines. He ranks second on the team in total tackles with 30 and is tied with junior de- fensive lineman Tyjuan Garbutt for first in both tackles for loss with 4.5 and sacks with 3.0. Four different Hokies have at least 3.5 2021 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 5 at Florida State W, 41-38 (OT) Sept. 11 Toledo W, 32-29 Sept. 18 Purdue W, 27-13 Sept. 25 vs. Wisconsin* W, 41-13 Oct. 2 Cincinnati L, 24-13 Oct. 9 at Virginia Tech (ACCN) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 USC (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 North Carolina (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6 Navy (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Virginia TBA Nov. 20 Georgia Tech (NBC) 2:30 p.m. Nov. 27 at Stanford TBA * at Soldier Field in Chicago 2021 VIRGINIA TECH SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 3 North Carolina W, 17-10 Sept. 11 Middle Tennessee W, 35-14 Sept. 18 at West Virginia L, 27-21 Sept. 25 Richmond W, 21-10 Oct. 9 Notre Dame (ACCN) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 Pittsburgh TBA Oct. 23 Syracuse TBA Oct. 30 at Georgia Tech TBA Nov. 5 at Boston College (ESPN2) 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 Duke TBA Nov. 20 at Miami TBA Nov. 27 at Virginia TBA Virginia Tech linebacker Dax Hollifield was tied for first on the team in tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (3.0) through four games. PHOTO COURTESY VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETICS

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