Virginia Tech made it a trifecta of transfer commitments on Monday as the Hokies landed Eastern Michigan All-MAC Second Team LB/DE James Djonkam.
COMMITTED‼️ @CoachPryVT @jcprice59 @Coach_Marfo pic.twitter.com/n5lxEvu2QI
— Da Ginger Freak (@Jamesdjonkam55) January 7, 2025
Djonkam chose the Hokies over significant interest from Michigan State and West Virginia, with all three schools being linked with hosting him on visits. He is the 14th transfer addition in this class including the third today joining WVU OT Lucas Austin and Mercer All-SoCon DT Arias Nash. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
He is the fourth transfer addition from the Commonwealth of Virginia, joining Clemson S Sherrod Covil Jr, Hampton DL Jahzari Priester, and Tennessee WR/RB Cameron Seldon.
Djonkam, a Northern Virginia native, started his career in the JUCO ranks before working as a backup from Arizona State in 2022 and 2023. He had a breakout 2024 season at Eastern Michigan with 98 tackles including 11.5 for loss with three sacks in only ten games while earning an 83.1 defensive grade for the season from PFF.
While Djonkam played linebacker at EMU, his commitment graphic lists him at defensive end which may be a better fit for him after generating 19 pressures as a linebacker while earning a 91.2 pass rush grade from PFF on only 72 pass rush snaps. He also has great size at 6'3'' and 245 pounds that lends more towards him playing defensive end rather than mike linebacker. This wouldn't be the first time Tech has done that either after moving Aycen Stevens from inside linebacker to defensive end as his physical development evolved in Blacksburg.
It will be interesting to see whether Djonkam ends up at defensive end or linebacker, with DE appearing to be the first spot. Given his pass rush success at EMU and Arizona State (83.4 PFF pass rush grade in 2023), he could definitely earn a starting job on the edge and provide significant upside there.
If he ends up at linebacker, it's fair to expect him to push Jaden Keller for the starting mike linebacker job.
Regardless of where Djonkam ends up, I wouldn't be surprise to see the Hokies add another defensive end and another linebacker.
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