BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech could be without three starters when it plays Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.

Coach Frank Beamer said today that left guard Nick Marshman is academically ineligible to play, and two defensive starters are questionable.

Defensive end Jason Worilds has a shoulder injury and linebacker Brett Warren has a torn ACL in his right knee.

According to Beamer, Marshman has already graduated but was taking six credit hours as required by the NCAA and failed to pass.

The loss of Marshman would be especially difficult for the Hokies, whose offensive line has struggled all season but is coming off its best performance in Tech's victory against Boston College in the ACC championship game.