Freshman QB to lead Hokies against Mountaineers

Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente has named redshirt freshman Josh Jackson the starting quarterback for the Hokies’ season opener against West Virginia.

Fuente said he has been pleased with Jackson’s consistency, his demeanor and his ability to process information.

Jackson beat out juniorcollege transfer AJ Bush and freshman Hendon Hooker. None of the three has taken a snap in a Football Bowl Subdivision game.

Fuente said the timing of the announcement was right because “we’ll be able to focus in on getting better and not really worrying about who’s going to be in or anything like that.”

The Hokies and Mountaineers open the season Sept. 3 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

Pitt will travel to Blacksburg, Va., to face Virginia Tech Nov. 18.

West Virginia

Wide receiver Marcus Simms has been suspended for the Mountaineer’s season opener following his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen announced the suspension Monday night. must fulfill certain requirements before reinstatement. Simms played in nine games as a freshman last season and caught six passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.

Florida

Coach Jim McElwain said his star receiver Antonio Callaway is running out of chances. “Absolutely. The one thing I will do is I’ll continue to help. I’ll continue to support. But obviously the consequences, you make your own bed, man.” Callaway’s third off-the-field stumble led McElwain to suspend his star player and six teammates Sunday from team activities and the opener against Michigan.

Notre Dame

The Irish and Wisconsin will play at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., in 2020 and Soldier Field in Chicago in 2021. The schools made a joint announcement, along with officials from the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.

Alabama

Former Auburn coach Pat Dye said his onetime Alabama counterpart Gene Stallings suffered a mild stroke. Stallings, who led Alabama to the 1992 national championship, also had a stroke in May. Stallings was Alabama’s coach from 199096. He’s also a former Texas A&M and St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals coach.

Elsewhere

Frank Broyles, who guided the Arkansas to its lone national championship and later molded the program as its athletic director, died at the age of 92. See obituary, Page B-4.