The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DEMITRI Knowles and the Virginia Tech Hokies kicked off the NCAA 2014 football season in the win column as the junior wide receiver tries to find his way in the new-look offence.

The Grand Bahama native caught one pass for 38 yards in the Hokies’ 34-9 win over William and Mary at Lane stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Knowles’ catch came late in the second quarter as Virginia Tech drove for their final score of the half. He also returned a kickoff for 16 yards to finish second on the team in all purpose yards with 54.

Virginia Tech is scheduled to return to action 8pm September 6 when they travel to face the no.6 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in a nationally televised game on ESPN.

After struggling with an ankle injury throughout training camp and the emergence of true freshman Isiah Ford, Knowles was relegated to third on the depth chart at receiver.

As a sophomore, Knowles finished the regular season with career highs in nearly every statistical category. He was second on the team in receptions, yards and touchdown catches.

Knowles totalled 43 receptions for 619 yards and three touchdowns, good for an average of 14.4 yards per catch and a long of 56 yards.

As a freshman last season he caught 19 passes for 240 yards and one touchdown. He made the transition from a return specialist to the top receiving options in the Hokies’ offence.

In the season finale, he helped lead the Hokies to a 16-6 win over in-state rival Virginia on November 30 with four receptions for 48 yards.

Knowles’ best game of the season came when he set a new career high in receptions with eight catches for 99 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown pass in the Hokies’ 15-10 win on the road over the East Carolina Pirates on September 14. He earned the game ball from Beamer for his performance.

After struggling in week one with two catches for three yards against a vaunted Alabama defence and adding another two catches for 20 yards against Western Carolina, Knowles broke out against East Carolina.

During the Hokies’ six-game win streak he also had several other notable performances.

Knowles hauled in five passes for 67 yards in a 17-10 win over Georgia Tech, four catches for 57 yards and a touchdown, five receptions for 79 yards in a 19-9 win over the Pittsburgh Panthers and in the game when the streak ended he totalled four catches for 69 yards in a 13-10 loss to Duke.

He caught his third touchdown of the season in Virginia Tech’s 42-24 win on the road over the Miami Hurricanes with two receptions for 25 yards, including the 19-yard score.

Knowles also made an impact in the return game with 22 returns for 480 yards, including an 88 yarder in a 27-24 loss to Marylan on November 16.