MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Hokies wideout Jarrett Boykin scores after catching a 38-yard touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor in front of N.C. State's Jarvis Byrd.

JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams reacts after one of his three first-half touchdowns against N.C. State at Lane Stadium on Saturday. Williams had four TDs on the day.

JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech's Cody Grimm (left) and Kam Chancellor help take down N.C. State's Jamelle Eugene during the Hokies' 38-10 win in Blacksburg on Saturday. Grimm forced three fumbles.

BLACKSBURG -- Following Virginia Tech's 38-10 thumping of North Carolina State on Saturday at Lane Stadium, Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster offered a strong observation on linebacker Cody Grimm's performance this season.

"The guy has just had a phenomenal year," Foster said. "I'll stand on the table for him being the defensive player of the year [in the ACC]. Why not? Has there been anybody who's done the things he's done?"

Grimm added another strong chapter to his remarkable senior season story Saturday.

Tying an NCAA FBS single-game record with three forced fumbles on N.C. State's first four offensive snaps, Grimm set up short drives that led to 10 points in the game's first 7:05 and the 16th-ranked Hokies never looked back in the Senior Day smackdown of the defenseless Wolfpack.

"I'm just glad he grew and got a little bigger," said Foster of Grimm, who was a scrawny 175 pounds when he showed up at Tech as a walk-on in 2005. "Cody is one of those guys who's got that 'it' factor. Whatever that 'it' is, he has it and he makes the plays. He's around the ball, he's faster than you give him credit being, he's more athletic than you give him credit being. He's just a great football player and he's had great senior season."

Grimm's hits and strips enabled the Hokies to set the tone of the game right off the bat. On State's first play of the day, Grimm blitzed from the right side and sacked Wolfpack quarterback Russell Wilson, who lost the ball. Grimm recovered at the visitors' 34-yard line, and seven plays later, Tech led 3-0 on a 26-yard field goal.

On the Wolfpack's next possession, Grimm stripped the ball from receiver Darrell Davis on second-and-10. Hokies cornerback Stephan Virgil picked up the ball and returned it 3 yards to the State 25. Six plays later, tailback Ryan Williams scored the first of his career-high four touchdowns on a 4-yard run and Tech led 10-0 only 7:05 into the game.

Grimm knocked the ball out of running back Tony Baker's hands on the first snap of State's next series, but 'Pack receiver Owen Spencer recovered this one. Still, it was some big day for the smallish 5-foot-11, 210-pound outside linebacker, who played down all the buzz about his head-turning show that also included two sacks, eight tackles and a quarterback hurry.

"I would say it's more of a case of getting kinda lucky," said Grimm, who now shares the national record of three forced fumbles in a game with seven other players.

"The first one, I was coming on a blitz, and they ran a quick out [passing pattern], so Wilson was kinda sitting right in front of me. And the other two, my hand just got on the ball. I would say a little bit of luck, but I'll take it."

While State (4-7, 1-6 ACC) closed to 10-7 on Wilson's 20-yard TD pass to Spencer late in the first quarter, Tech (8-3, 5-2) was never in harm's way. The Hokies led 24-10 at halftime, then tacked on another couple third-quarter TDs in the third quarter to punctuate a rout in which Tech's 21 seniors got to fully enjoy.

"Yeah, its definitely a real memorable night," Grimm said. "All the seniors, pretty much everyone got to play, which is good. A bunch of us seniors have been through a lot, and it's good to come in and get a win, feel comfortable, and not have to worry about it down the stretch."

The Hokies, who will take a three-game winning streak into next Saturday's regular-season finale at Virginia, rolled up 397 total yards -- 200 rushing and 197 passing -- and committed only one turnover.

As usual, tailback Williams handled most of the ground work. Check out these never-ending numbers:

Williams carried 32 times for 120 yards to set a new ACC and Tech freshman rushing record previously held by Darren Evans (1,265 yards last year). It was Williams' eighth 100-yard game this season and pushed his season total 1,355 rushing yards with two games left.

Williams' four TDs tied the Tech freshman record for TDs in a game, set by Radford's Tommy Edwards against Pittsburgh in 1993. Moreover, Williams' 16 TDs ties the ACC record for TDs in a season, set by North Carolina's Leon Johnson in 1993.

The last of Williams four TD runs -- a 19-yarder that made it 31-10 with 12:25 left to play -- figures to be on highlight shows this weekend. The ox-strong Williams took off around the left side and literally dragged State freshman safety Earl Wolff the final 12 yards into the end zone.

"Man, it was ridiculous," Williams said. "I wanted [Wolff] off of me as soon as I felt him on me. It was cool, though. I guess it shows what I do in the weight room a little bit. It looked cool on the big screen, I liked it."

There were other things to like for Tech fans. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor was 9-for-17 passing for 197 yards, including a 38-yard TD pass to Jarrett Boykin and no interceptions. Boykin enjoyed a huge day, making six receptions for a career-high 164 yards.