BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) Deon Newsome wishes he had listened to his coaches when he first arrived at Virginia Tech.

Initially averse to playing defense, which was the coaching staff's preference, Newsome redshirted his first season. He saw little action as a running back the next two years - he had just 19 carries and seven receptions in a deep tailback rotation - before deciding the coaches were right.

Now a redshirt senior in his second season on defense, Newsome wants to have a memorable final year at Virginia Tech.