Virginia Tech wide receiver Xavier Boyce will appear Oct. 25 in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Christiansburg to face a felony child endangerment charge.

He and the mother of his infant daughter were arrested March 23 after an investigation into “internal head” injuries sustained by the child on Jan. 31, Blacksburg police said.

The charges against the mother, Olivia A. Hutchins, 20 at the time of her arrest, were dismissed last month in Montgomery County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. The charges against Boyce, 20, were sent to a grand jury, which indicted him.

Boyce, a career backup who would have been a fourth-year junior this season, remains indefinitely suspended from the team. Tech’s student-athlete code of conduct mandates an automatic suspension for a felony until the charge is resolved. A felony conviction or guilty or no-contest plea results in permanent removal from the team.

This is not Boyce’s first legal issue since coming to Tech. In March 2009, he and three other freshman football players were arrested for stealing two bicycles. Boyce received community service. 

Boyce has 11 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown in 25 career games (three starts). He caught two passes for 10 yards last season.

The Hokies begin practice Thursday and are loaded at wide receiver. They have three seniors (Jarrett Boykin, Danny Coale and Dyrell Roberts) who have contributed since they were freshmen, as well as junior Marcus Davis, who emerged last season.

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