ATLANTA — Sophomore safety Mario Edwards, a transfer from Virginia Tech, has been cleared by the Atlantic Coast Conference to play for Georgia Tech this season.

Edwards transferred to Georgia Tech after two years at Virginia Tech. He received a waiver from the NCAA this summer but also needed the clearance from the ACC because the transfer was from one conference school to another. The required unanimous vote from the league’s 12 faculty athletic representatives came on Thursday.

"I just kept praying and hoping that this would happen." Edwards said.

An illness in Edwards’ family required him to move to be near his home in College Park. Edwards played in four games at Virginia Tech last season.