BLACKSBURG -- Stick Cody Grimm in a lineup with any five other 21-year-old guys on Virginia Tech's campus, and it's far from a lock he would be unanimously chosen as the one who plays football for the Hokies.

The guy goes a pedestrian-like 5-feet-11, 198 pounds. If he ever shows up in "Muscle" magazine, he will be the dude in the "before" picture, not the "after" shot.

So what? Grimm may not look great on the hoof, as football coaches say, but the junior linebacker is smart and savvy enough to know how to seize an opportunity.

Take last Saturday in the Hokies' 20-17 ACC win over Georgia Tech at Lane Stadium. Starting in place of injured Cam Martin, Grimm performed solidly, playing 35 snaps and recording his first career interception.

"It should have been a touchdown!" noted senior linebacker Brett Warren, busting on lifelong buddy Tuesday. "I had his block ... and he tripped."

Grimm, sitting in a chair five feet away, heard the conversation and laughed.

"Brett would have probably missed the block anyway," the quick-witted Grimm responded. "I guess I got a little too excited. I slipped or something. A touchdown sure would have been nice."

Grimm, the second son of ex-Washington Redskins star Russ Grimm to play at Tech, has become a key role player for Tech. He has been one of the club's leaders in special team plays and tackles for the better part of two-plus years. When Martin was hurt, Grimm finished out Tech's win over Boston College in last year's ACC championship game and recorded six tackles in Tech's Orange Bowl loss to Kansas.

"As injuries kept going, I guess I took some advantage of opportunities that came up," Grimm said. "I didn't really expect it. When I came in, I thought I would be happy to be on special teams."

Grimm, a recruited walk-on out of Oakton High School in Fairfax, was put on scholarship last winter. Of course, not many seem to know it. When asked if students on campus know who he is, Grimm laughed.

"Not really," he said. "Some people do, ... like when I'm hanging around the bigger guys. When I'm hanging around by myself, no. I don't really tell anyone."

Word is leaking out, though.

Dressed in red

Freshman TB Ryan Williams has agreed to redshirt this season. Tech coach Frank Beamer said it is best for both sides.

"When the ball is in his hands, there's no question he can play," Beamer said of Williams. "When the ball is not in his hands, I don't think he feels comfortable picking up some of the pass protections. He's going to be a terrific player. Our feelings about Ryan haven't changed."

Where's Ike?

While another Ike lashed the Gulf Coast last week, Ike Whitaker was quiet. The Hokies' junior wideout didn't play against Georgia Tech. Beamer offered a couple of reasons for Whitaker not getting in the game.

"He didn't meet his responsibilities on a couple things meeting-wise, study hall-wise," Beamer said. "Plus, [freshman] Jarrett Boykin is coming along, getting better every practice."

Oglesby on verge

Beamer predicted that Josh Oglesby is close to becoming more of a factor in the running game. The redshirt freshman has carried four times for seven yards in the first three games and is the No. 3 tailback.

"I think he's going to be good, and I can't wait for him to break out in a game situation and kinda go with him," Beamer said. "I think the more and more he practices good and the more and more we get him in there, all of a sudden he's going to bust out of there. I think it's going to happen."