MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech punt returner Jayron Hosley (20) ranks fourth in the ACC with a 10.4-yard per return average.

BLACKSBURG -- Virginia Tech linebacker Cody Grimm says it still hasn't hit him that he may be a viable candidate to one day play in the NFL.

However, Grimm's superb senior season -- his 85 tackles rank third in the ACC and his four forced fumbles lead the league -- and his excellence on special teams have made such a dream far from a long shot.

"All of a sudden, you're like getting packets in the mail like about financial advisors and stuff like that, just because they think you have a chance," the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Grimm said.

Grimm said has received messages on his Internet "Facebook" site from some agents.

"They'll send you a message like 'hey, let me know when you want to talk,' " he said. "Or you'll get a packet in the mail about a sports agent company."

He said he hasn't heard from such super agents as Drew Rosenhaus, however. Grimm chuckled as he produced some levity with that thought.

"I heard [Rosenhaus] has been trying to get in contact with me, obviously. I just told him, 'Obviously, you can get 'TO' [Terrell Owens] a lot of money. Let's see what you can do with this ... let's see how good of an agent you really are.' "

Back in fray

Cam Martin, who started 26 of 28 games in 2007 and '08, has gotten limited playing time this season at whip linebacker. Martin has been slowed by a chronic bad knee, plus the fact that fellow senior, Grimm, has been playing well.

Martin did make the most of the 15 plays he got last Saturday at Maryland, recording three tackles, including a sack, a tackle for loss, plus he had a pass breakup and two big hits.

"Yeah, it's just good to get out there on the field and, obviously, perform well," said Martin, whose family lives in Martinsville. "It's a big confidence booster; it lets me know that I can still do it.

"I was surprised. I hadn't played really since Boston College [Oct. 10]. I haven't been that nervous going into a game for a while. But after the first couple plays, I got calmed down a little bit."

Returning dividends

Jayron Hosley took over the Hokies' punt-return chores after star tailback Ryan Williams muffed a punt in the Sept 5. season opener against Alabama. The freshman cornerback has been up to the task, returning 26 punts for 271 yards, including a 64-yarder for a touchdown against Marshall. His 10.4-yard average ranks fourth in the ACC.

"I think it's all about being fearless, being relentless, never giving up, never letting the first couple of guys tackle you," Hosley said. "That's all I think about, not letting these couple of guys tackle me and setting up the blocks for the rest of my guys. Just going all out, having awareness where your blocks are going to be, and setting those up for those guys.

"I know [tacklers] look at me as pretty small, but I mean you can't catch speed, and when you have speed and you can wiggle and get away from guys, break tackles, lose guys, that's all you need. Size doesn't really matter when you have heart."

Coin-flip futility

Although there are no official national statistics kept on such items, Tech is likely the only team in the country that's 0-for-10 on pregame coin tosses this season. The odds of a team losing 10 consecutive coin flips are 1,024-to-1.

When informed such luck would kill his bankroll in Las Vegas casinos, Tech coach Frank Beamer got a laugh Tuesday.

"Cody has made the calls for us all season," Beamer said. "Matter of fact, he asked last week [at Maryland], 'what do you want me to call?' And I said, 'I haven't won one yet, you're on your own, big boy.' And we lost again!"

Tech tidbits

Tech is a 21-point favorite over N.C. State on Saturday. The Wolfpack nipped the Hokies 17-16 in 2004 in Tech's inaugural season as an ACC member. Tech kicker Brandon Pace's 43-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right as time expired. ... Tyrod Taylor's 349 total yards against Maryland elevated him to fifth on the Hokies' all-time list at 5,142 yards. ... Williams needs 31 rushing yards to break Darren Evans' single-season school record for rushing yards by a freshman.