Junior linebacker Maddox Marcellus was not going to be a starter entering this season. Marcellus himself was well aware of this.
The clear-cut starters at linebacker were graduate James Jackson and junior Kam Robinson. But after Robinson tore his ACL in Virginia’s win Nov. 15 at Duke, Marcellus was forced into the spotlight, and he made his fellow linebacker proud Saturday when the Cavaliers beat Virginia Tech, holding them to just seven points.
“I knew somebody had to step up when they called me,” Marcellus said postgame. “This win was for Kam. Kam means a lot to me … I knew I had at least tried to play half of what Kam is.”
Before Saturday’s game against Virginia Tech, Marcellus had not tallied more than six tackles in a single game — he recorded six tackles in Saturday’s first half alone.
“[Marcellus was] awesome,” Coach Tony Elliott said. “And I pointed that out in the locker room, because at his previous institution, he started in every game this year, and up until now, had been in a kind of a backup role where he was rotating [with other players].”
Robinson is a star. But that doesn’t mean Marcellus is some unqualified player. Last year at Eastern Kentucky, he was named First Team All-UAC and led his team in tackles. However, that was at an FCS program, a far cry from the prestigious ACC.
But in his first season in Charlottesville, Marcellus had only recorded a pair of half sacks all season. He also had never forced a turnover as a Cavalier — until Saturday, when Marcellus made a slew of crucial plays.
One of those plays was securing a crucial interception in the first quarter on Virginia Tech’s opening drive. Senior defensive end Fisher Camac tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage, and Marcellus swiftly corralled it, giving the ball to the Cavalier offense in favorable field position who then marched down the field to take a 7-0 lead. Virginia never relinquished the lead.
Minutes after the interception, Marcellus partnered with junior defensive lineman Jason Hammond to sack the Hokies’ quarterback on third down. Marcellus also netted a tackle for loss later in the game.
By evening’s end, Marcellus and the Virginia defense held the Hokies to eight three-and-outs, preventing Virginia Tech from ever generating any momentum.
A key symptom was limiting senior quarterback Kyron Drones. As a collective unit, the Cavalier defense entered this week ranked first nationally in quarterback hits. That trend continued Saturday as Virginia harassed Drones and held him to just four completions all night, which is only two more than the pair of interceptions he tossed.
Even when faced with adversity — Marcellus took a hit to his shoulder early in the second quarter — the junior linebacker was unfazed and determined to seal the victory.
“He got banged up there, was down on the ground with his shoulder, and went to the sideline, got a quick drink of water, and was ready to ready to finish,” Elliott said.
When Virginia Tech had chances to extend drives by converting third downs, the Cavaliers shut them out with ease. The Hokies only recorded six first downs — the fewest by a Virginia opponent since 2004.
Over 60 minutes of play, the Hokie offense crossed midfield twice, and one of those occasions was on their lone touchdown, which was a 57-yard dash.
Led by Marcellus, the Cavaliers kept Virginia Tech scoreless for 55 minutes of gameplay. The Hokies’ only points came on their long touchdown with 4 minutes and 21 seconds left. By that point, Virginia held a 27-0 lead.
When the clock finally ran out, the Cavaliers secured their spot in the ACC Championship game, and, for the first time since 1991, beat Virginia Tech by 20 or more points. For a team that has dealt with a large swath of injuries, Marcellus’ role in this historic night is especially valued by Virginia’s coaches.
“[Marcellus’ performance] just shows the type of young men that we have in that locker room,” Elliott said.
That group of young men will be playing for an ACC title this Saturday — and Marcellus is ready.
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