On a weekend in which Virginia Tech's eight selections in the NFL Draft ranked second in the country only to perennial national power Southern Cal, the biggest news in these parts concerned the one Tech player who wasn't picked.

Linebacker Vince Hall didn't get a call.

In a development that left many Hokie fans shocked, Hall, the primary pulse of Tech's nationally ranked defense the past four years, was not drafted in the NFL's two-day, seven-round cattle call.

A guy that longtime Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster has called the best football player he's ever coached inexplicably got bypassed in a 252-player draft that tabbed 31 linebackers, including Andy Studebaker of Division III Wheaton (Ill.) College.

A Studebaker?

Well, Hall has been a Cadillac in his career in Blacksburg. A veritable tackling machine in his college career, as his 404 career tackles attest, the 5-foot-10, 238-pound Chesapeake native was a first-team All-ACC and College Football News All-American selection as a junior in 2006 when he lead the league with 128 tackles.

Despite missing four games with broken bones in his left arm and wrist last season, Hall finished with 92 stops and a career-high 3.5 sacks.

Hall, who couldn't be reached for comment Sunday night, didn't work out at the NFL Scouting combine in late February, but he did run a serviceable 4.82 40 at Tech's second Pro Day on March 27 in Blacksburg.

"I've been watching Vince Hall play the game since he was 15, and all I know was he was always where the football was and he arrived there in a foul mood. He can play for my team anytime," said Tech assistant Bryan Stinespring, who recruited Hall, on Sunday night.

While Hall endured what had to be the longest day of his life, his linebacker sidekick at Tech, Xavier Adibi, was one of five Hokies taken Sunday. Adibi, of Hampton, was selected in the fourth round by Houston as the 118th overall pick. Adibi was the second Tech player chosen in the draft by the Texans, who surprised many by choosing Hokies offensive tackle Duane Brown at No. 26 overall Saturday.

"I'm not going to lie and say I wasn't a little bit upset," Adibi told the Houston media in a conference call Sunday afternoon.

"I was thinking like the second, maybe third. But everything happens for a reason. I can't wait to show the [Houston] coaches what I can do and just show everybody else why they drafted me."

Tech defensive end Chris Ellis was selected with the ninth pick of the third round (72nd overall) by Buffalo. Ellis' 22 sacks, 35.5 tackles for loss and 82 quarterback pressure impressed the Bills.

"I watched the Boston College game and the LSU game and it seemed like every I watched he was a playmaker. Against the run, rushing the passer, he's always making plays," Bills scout Tom Roth said of the 6-4, 264-pound Ellis.

Tech defensive tackle Carlton Powell was selected in the fifth round (148th overall) by Denver, where he will join wide receiver-return specialist Eddie Royal, who was taken in Saturday's second round by the Broncos. Two wide receivers were the last two Tech players taken Sunday -- Josh Morgan in the sixth round (174th overall) by San Francisco and Justin Harper in the seventh round (215th overall) by Baltimore.

In addition to Hall, at least two more Hokies who didn't get picked, defensive tackle Barry Booker and safety D.J. Parker, are safe bets to sign free-agent deals in the next 24-48 hours.

Virginia, which had defensive end Chris Long (No. 2) and guard Branden Albert (No. 15) taken in Saturday's first round, had a third player selected Sunday.

Tight end Tom Santi, who caught 36 passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns last fall, was chosen by Indianapolis in the sixth round (196th overall).