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In addition to starting at
mike linebacker this upcoming
fall, Andrew Motuapuaka will
be in the process of wrapping
up requirements for a degree in
multimedia journalism.
Such an academic pursuit puts
him in rarified company amongst
his teammates. After all, he may
be the only Tech player with the
ability not only to play a football
game on Saturday, but also to
write the game recap afterward.
“Nah,” Motuapuaka said at the
ACC Football Kickoff media event
when asked if he could do media
members’ jobs as well as they
could. “I wanted to stick around
football, stay around sports, and
this is one of the ways. I like it. I
enjoy it. I’m not sure what path
I’m going to take, but I definitely
enjoy it.”
Tech’s coaches hope to see
Motuapuaka’s name in the local
newspaper a lot this fall, as the
fifth-year senior with the penchant
for making big plays headlines
Tech’s 2017 defense. He led the
Hokies in tackles a year ago
with 114, and he added three
interceptions, two sacks and two
fumble recoveries.
Such play surely will get
him recognized, but defensive
coordinator Bud Foster, who
doubles as the linebackers coach,
wants to see more leadership
from Motuapuaka as well. Tech’s
defense projects to start just three
seniors—Motuapuaka, Brandon
FacysonandGregStroman—so the
unit needs leadership, particularly
considering the defensive line in
front of Motuapuaka features no
seniors.
“I’ve definitely taken that role,”
Motuapuaka said. “It’s definitely
different than last year when there
were seniors on defense last year,
but we still know the expectations
of what Coach Foster has and our
own expectations for ourselves
and our team. We still have the
same goals in mind and everything
like that. There are so many people
returning, and we all know what
our goals are.”
Those goals include returning
to
the
ACC
Championship
Motuapuaka
,
Edmunds
LEAD
solid linebacker group
by
Jimmy Robertson
ANDREW
MOTUAPUAKA
28
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