While offensive line is the top priority for Virginia Tech in the spring transfer portal window (you can read more on those targets here), the Hokies are also looking to potentially add a couple more pieces elsewhere including at defensive end along with maybe another safety for depth reasons and/or just a high-end player at any position who they get traction with.
Here are some of the non-offensive line names we are keeping our eyes on for the Hokies.
Florida DE/LB Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr
There are going to be a couple guys on this list who you may remember if you follow VT recruiting heavily. One of them is 757 native and former four-star DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr who chose Florida over the Hokies during the 2020 cycle.
Since then, Powell has developed into a quality DE/LB hybrid who is ready for a prime starting role at DE after playing well for the Gators last season with 29 tackles including 6 for loss, 3 of which were sacks, plus 3 forced fumbles and 1 pass deflection.
What may be most notable is the fact that Powell closed out the regular season well having 20 tackles including 5.5 for loss with 3 of them being for sacks plus 2 forced fumbles in his final 5 regular season games. He also had at least 1.0 tackles for loss in 4 of those 5 games with the only exception being a game with 0.5 TFLs.
The 5 opponents that the Gators faced in that stretch: national champion Georgia, top 25 teams Florida State & South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt.
Not only has he put some good stats while at Florida given that he was working in a rotational role last season, but he's also graded out well according to Pro Football Focus. He graded out at a 71.5 overall last season including an impressive 84.5 pass rushing grade.
Powell has two years of eligibility remaining and has shown the potential to be the type of pass rusher that the Hokies are looking for in this window. He's also proven he can produce in the SEC and it would be crazy for Virginia Tech to not have him as their top priority given what we know.
Of course, Powell seems likely to be one of the most popular players in the transfer portal given his growth and production to date. However, if the Hokies can bring him back to the Commonwealth to represent VT, it would be a huge recruiting victory for Brent Pry.
North Carolina DE Bryson Jennings
Virginia Tech cleaned up most of the top defensive line talent in Virginia in the 2022 class, but the Hokies were unable to pull in Richmond four-star DE Bryson Jennings even with a late push following Brent Pry's hiring.
However, the Hokies get a second chance now with Jennings entering the transfer portal after redshirting during his only season in Chapel Hill with all four years of eligibility remaining.
Now Jennings is not a surefire day 1 playmaking DE like Antwaun Powell-Ryland would be, but there are few players of that caliber who enter during the spring transfer portal window. Jennings has loads of upside with the size and athletic traits that you want in a big time DE prospect. There's also plenty of opportunity for Jennings to come in and not only compete immediately for playing time, but also improve the long term outlook on the edge.
There is a family connection here as Bryson's father is former Virginia Tech TE Bryan Jennings who played for the Hokies from 1993-96 with 35 catches for 462 yards and 4 touchdowns during his career.
Sometimes, when you see a player struggle to breakthrough at a Power 5 school, the next move is a step down a level. However, given that Jennings was only at UNC for one season, this seems more like a move to find a better fit for the type of player that he is making a Power 5 move more likely including VT.
If Jennings does drop down a level, one place that could be a school to watch is Liberty given that two of his uncles previously played for the Flames.
Rhode Island S Antonio Carter
Rhode Island safety Antonio Carter has emerged as one of the most popular defensive transfer portal players to enter during the spring window with the following offers so far.
- ACC: Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Virginia
- Big 10: Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin
- Big 12: Baylor, West Virginia
- Pac-12: Oregon State, Washington
- SEC: Kentucky, Ole Miss, Texas A&M
- AAC: USF, SMU
- Conference USA: Middle Tennessee State
- Mountain West: UNLV, Utah State
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Carter has been a popular player in the transfer portal accumulating double-digit Power 5 offers to date. He has been a very good starter for the past 2 seasons at URI with his 2022 being his best season to date as he had 60 tackles including 4.5 for loss with 1 sack plus 1 interception, 11 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries.
He has two years of eligibility remaining so he could always land at a school where he'd be the third safety for a year before stepping into a starting role. That would likely be the pitch for Virginia Tech with the Hokies having Nasir Peoples and Jalen Stroman pretty solidified as their starting safeties at the moment though Carter could obviously make a run at changing that if he were to choose the Hokies.
Tech does have a big need for a quality third safety who could be a bridge to the next wave of young DB talent that the Hokies are bringing in this offseason. Carter would fit that role well for 2023 while getting a year to adjust to competing at the Power 5 level before taking on a starting job in 2024 if he were to choose the Hokies.
Tech is among the heavy hitters involved in pursuit of Antonio Carter who is likely bound for the Power 5 after two quality years as a starter at Rhode Island
UL Monroe DE Anthony Campbell
One of the most popular defensive linemen in the transfer portal currently has been UL Monroe DE Anthony Campbell.
The Florida native has put together an impressive offer list so far including the following schools.
- ACC: Virginia Tech, Miami
- Big 10: Indiana, Penn State, Purdue
- Big 12: Cincinnati, TCU, Texas Tech, West Virginia
- Pac-12: California
- SEC: Auburn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss
- AAC: North Texas, USF, UTSA
- Conference USA: Western Kentucky
- Sun Belt: Marshall
That's an impressive offer list that becomes surprising when you mention the fact that Campbell wasn't a starter for UL Monroe last season having 13 tackles including 3.5 for loss with 1 sack. It's also unclear if he has one year or two years of eligibility remaining though the interest seems to hint that he more likely has two years remaining.
Part of the hype seems to be given the fact that he has graded well in his limited reps including by Pro Football Focus who gave him a 72.9 overall grade last season with his rush defense and pass rush grades both above 69. His tremendous size at 6'7'' and 271 pounds also seems like a factor as that type of size is something that can't be taught.
Campbell feels in many ways like an upside play with the Florida native showing promise at UL Monroe and many schools believing they can be the ones to unlock his full potential.
Georgia DB Marcus Washington Jr.
After spending one year as a reserve redshirting at Georgia, former four-star, top 150 overall recruit Marcus Washington Jr chose to enter the transfer portal in search of an earlier opportunity to earn significant playing time.
Washington has already received interest from several programs including Virginia Tech as the Hokies look at adding another DB post-spring practice.
According to Chris Hummer of 247 Sports, Washington is working to set up an official visit to Blacksburg. Additionally, Washington is planning to take an official to Louisville this weekend followed by a trip to Colorado after that.
Washington is an interesting target as he seems to profile more as a cornerback than a safety where the Hokies have lots of depth with Dorian Strong, Mansoor Delane, Derrick Canteen, Cam Johnson, and Antonio Cotman Jr leading the way. Washington did spend some time at Georgia's STAR position this past season so he does offer some versatility in the secondary.
FIU S Demetrius Hill
Safety seems to be one of the transfer portal priorities for the Hokies as they look for more experienced, quality depth behind starters Nasir Peoples and Jalen Stroman.
One target who has emerged is FIU safety Demetrius Hill who was offered by the Hokies on April 26th.
As a redshirt freshman this past season, Hill had a quality season with 95 tackles including 3.5 for loss with 1 sack plus 1 interception, 2 pass deflections, and 3 forced fumbles. In the process, Hill earned Freshman All-American honors from The Football Writers Association of America and College Football News.
Hill fits the profile of what Virginia Tech appears to be looking for at safety in a younger, experienced player who could be a quality backup at worst next season and then smoothly transition into being a quality starter for the year after albeit with some competition from other young guys for that job. He also could fit right in as a strong safety especially with guys like Jalen Stroman and promising incoming freshman Braylon Johnson profiling more as free safeties.
