Russell Athletic Bowl 2012: 4 Hokies Starters Better Than Rutgers Counterparts

While the Rutgers Scarlet Knights enter the Russell Athletic Bowl with a better overall record than the Virginia Tech Hokies, there is reason to believe these two teams are as evenly matched as any two in the upcoming bowl season.

Therefore, there aren't many positions where one team is considerably better than the other.

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas entered the season with much acclaim, but his struggles and inconsistencies have been well documented. Thomas completed just under 53 percent of his passes to go with 14 interceptions this season. Meanwhile, his counterpart, Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova, completed under 59 percent of his passes while throwing 15 interceptions.

One could argue Thomas' ability as a runner gives him an advantage, however, this position seems fairly even as we stand just under three weeks before the game.

Here is a look at four positions where the Hokies do have the advantage over the Scarlet Knights.  

Defensive End

Rutgers has a strong defensive line, but the Hokies do have the advantage at defensive end.  

Hokies junior defensive end James Gayle is a tremendous pass-rusher. Not only is Gayle active rushing the passer, but he is strong in the run game as well. 

The Hokies will line up several talented pass-rushers opposite of Gayle in J.R. Collins, Corey Marshall and Tyrel Wilson. All have shown the ability to get to the quarterback, and Marshall is the most promising player of the group. 

The Hokies finished the regular season with 32 sacks. Rutgers finished with only 22. However, the biggest matchup in the Russell Athletic Bowl could be the Scarlet Knights offensive line vs. Virginia Tech's talented defensive line. For the season, Rutgers has only given up eight sacks. 

Cornerback

Both teams enter this game feeling good about their starting cornerbacks. The Hokies, however, do have the advantage here.

Led by a pair of juniors, Antone Exum and Kyle Fuller, the Hokies have an excellent pair of starters. Exum struggled badly in a September loss to Cincinnati but rebounded nicely to have a good season. It can be argued that Exum supplanted Fuller as the Hokies' top corner.

Both players are assets in the running game too. Exum is a former safety, and Fuller played some whip linebacker in 2011. You won't find a team with a more physical pair of corners than the Hokies.  

Exum led the team with four interceptions; Fuller had two. 

Exum and Fuller will have their hands full in the Russell Athletic Bowl facing Rutgers' talented starting wideouts Brandon Coleman and Mark Harrison. 

Middle Linebacker

Both teams are strong overall at linebacker, however, it is the Hokies middle linebacker that gives them the edge.

Senior linebacker Bruce Taylor had a very good season to finish a strong career. He had nine tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks on the season and was also solid in coverage. 

The Hokies received a boost late in the season when defensive coordinator Bud Foster inserted senior Alonzo Tweedy into the lineup. Fellow linebacker Jack Tyler was the Hokies' leading tackler with 112 tackles on the season.

Kicker

Virginia Tech junior Cody Journell was an All-ACC kicker in 2011 before a December arrest that caused him to miss the Sugar Bowl. Due to uncertainty about his off-field incident, there were questions about whether he'd even be on the team in 2012.

Suffice to say, Journell was reinstated to the team, and the Hokies couldn't have been happier. He finished the season 18-of-22 on field goals, including a pair of game winners. Journell has proven he can make clutch kicks, and that could be vital in a game expected to be close.

Rutgers has played two kickers this season, and they are a combined 10-of-16. Sophomore Nick Borgese will be the kicker in the Russell Athletic Bowl.