Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times

Tech linebacker Cody Grimm (26) hammers Caleb Porzel after he drops a pass in the first half.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Virginia Tech linebacker Jake Johnson is back. And he likes it.

After being benched for the past 1 ¹₂ games by defensive coordinator Bud Foster for inconsistent play, Johnson returned to the field midway in the second quarter of Tech's 36-9 romp over Maryland at Byrd Stadium on Saturday.

Johnson came out flying, recording sacks of Maryland quarterback Jamarr Robinson on consecutive plays. The sophomore pumped his fists emphatically after the first sack.

"After that, I was just like, 'I've still got it.' I know what I can do when I actually play to my level," said Johnson, whose seven tackles paced the Hokies' defense.

Johnson started the season's first eight games. Foster benched him in favor of redshirt freshman Lyndell Gibson at halftime of Tech's 20-17 home loss to North Carolina. Gibson got the Nov. 5 start against East Carolina and went the distance as Johnson didn't play a snap.

"It feels good to get back out there," Johnson said. "It was tough not playing. I played with so much motivation and confidence that I felt like if I wasn't going to mess up, and even if I did, I was going to go balls to the wall full speed."

Johnson said it was good to get back on the field, especially in front of a crowd that included many family members and friends.

"A lot of people came up and felt good to put on a good game for them," said Johnson, who is from Fredricksburg, Va., which is about an hour's drive away.

Offering returns

Jayron Hosley continues to pay dividends on Tech's punt-return squad. The freshman returned six punts for 86 yards, including a 24-yarder. He had a 42-yard reduced to an 8-yarder when teammate Xavier Boyce was called for a block in the back on the play.

"I thought he had a great day returning the ball," said Tech coach Frank Beamer of Hosley, who is averaging 10.4 yards on 26 punt returns. "I thought we had some pretty good blocks and I think the one we got called on us was real close. Jayron breaks some tackles and he's explosive back there. We're trying hard to block for him, too, and I think a little bit of that paid off for him today."

Aroma of end zone

Tech tailback Ryan Willliams had gone two games without a touchdown until he scored on a 1-yard run to cap Tech's game-opening drive.

"It felt good to get back in the end zone again," said Williams, whose 12 TDs broke Darren Evans' freshman school record set last season. "The smell of the end zone is like one of my favorite smells."

What's an end zone smell like?

Williams responded: "The crowd roaring, man. You just feel it, man. You just get happy, man."

Quick kicks

Redshirt freshman Michael Via made his second straight start at center for Tech. He replaced injured Beau Warren (sprained MCL), who didn't make the trip. ... Maryland's Nick Ferrara missed a 39-yard field goal to end the first half, marking the first missed field-goal attempt by a Tech opponent in 16 attempts. Tech opponents are 18-for-20 on field goals this season, with the only other miss coming by Alabama's Leigh Tiffin in the season opener. ... Tech's Matt Waldron's made field goals of 21, 28 and 33 yards, boosting his season's accuracy rate to 88.8 percent (16-for-18).

On deck

The Hokies play their final home game of the season Saturday when they meet North Carolina State (4-6, 1-5). Game time and television coverage plans will be announced today.

It will be Senior Day for the Hokies, who are 1-1 vs. N.C. State since they joined the ACC in 2004. On its last trip to Lane Stadium in 2004, the Wolfpack nipped Tech 17-16 in the Hokies' inaugural ACC season.