Virginia Tech Football: Number Four Has Been the Number of the Past Decade

When you think of famous Virginia tech numbers, you may think of the retired numbers that Frank Loria (No. 10), Jim Pyne (No. 73), Bruce Smith (No. 78) and Carroll Dale (No. 84) wore. Or you may think of some recent numbers like Michael Vick's (No. 7) and Corey Moore's (No. 56).

However, it's been all about the No. 4 since the turn of the century when DeAngelo Hall first came to Virginia Tech in 2001.

And I'll tell you why...

DeAngelo Hall

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DeAngelo Hall was a play-maker for the Hokies in every sense of the word all three years he was at Virginia Tech. From recording his first interception in his first game as a Hokie to being named a first-team All-American and Jim Thorpe award semi-finalist his junior year, he always made things happen.

He set multiple records at Virginia Tech from running the fastest forty time in Hokie history (4.15) and returning the most punt returns for a touchdown in a single game in Big East history (two).

Hall continued to set records even after he left Virginia Tech, when he became the youngest player to return an interception for a touchdown (21 years, 44 days) and when he tied the NFL mark for most interceptions in a game (four).

He has gone on to become a three-time Pro-Bowler for the Falcons and Redskins and was the Pro Bowl MVP in 2011.

Virginia Tech's Number Four Has Been Under-Appreciated

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Eddie Royal produced for Virginia Tech since the day he stepped on campus.

He started 11 games as a true freshman, receiving freshman All-American honors for totaling over 1,100 all-purpose yards and averaging nearly 30 yards a return on kickoffs.

Royal continued to produce for the Hokies as every season went on, including during his junior year when he garnered second-team All-ACC and honorable mention All-America honors.

His senior season, Royal was named first-team All-ACC as well as a second-team All-American, which capped a Hokie career that consisted of setting a school record for all-purpose yards (4,686) and an ACC record for most punt return yards in a career (1,296).

He was a valuable receiver, too, by racking up 119 career receptions (fourth in school history), 12 receiving touchdowns (fifth in school history) and 1,778 receiving yards (sixth in school history).

David Wilson

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David Wilson is only a rising junior, yet, he's already garnered second-team All-ACC honors and has already played in 26 games.

He is a freak athlete who earned All-America honors in the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last year and received Iron Hokie status the past two years for his elite strength and conditioning level.

Wilson is a big play ready to happen and proved it last year by breaking the school record for most kickoffs returned for a touchdown (two).

During offseason testing his sophomore year, he squatted 445 pounds, had a vertical jump of over 40 inches and ran the 40 in under 4.3 seconds.

Look for Wilson to bust out numerous 20-plus yard runs for Virginia Tech this season, as he will be handling the load at running back with Ryan Williams and Darren Evans leaving.