Virginia Tech has had a few notable departures on both sides of the ball so far in this transfer portal period, especially on the offensive line and at safety. That likely has you wondering how the Hokies will look to replace these players who in some cases were obviously expected to be big parts of the 2025 team.
So let's dive into how I think the Hokies will replace them starting with a trio of offensive transfer portal departures.
Departure: RB Malachi Thomas
Replacement: Jeremiah Coney & Portal
Malachi Thomas' departure was not a shock whatsoever with rumors for weeks that he was planning to move on to another program after this season. I think Thomas has shown he can be a Power 4 starting running back, and I can't blame him for wanting to make sure he's in the best situation to have that opportunity.
So how do the Hokies replace him? Well it'll be two-fold.
First and foremost, the Hokies are clearly looking for a transfer with 247 Sports reporting that J'Mari Taylor out of NC Central visited earlier this week. Additionally, standout New Mexico RB Eli Sanders is working to set up a visit to Virginia Tech as he has shared with me.
The Hokies clearly are looking for an instant starter like they found with Bhayshul Tuten for the past two seasons. Both Taylor and Sanders have shown the explosiveness and production that you want to see from portal running backs at lower levels, with Sanders having shown he can produce at the Power 4 level already having averaged 4.7 yards per carry during the 2023 season at Iowa State.
These two would also be one-year bridge running backs who could allow the Hokies to continue to patiently bring along their young running backs without blocking their long-term path to the starting lineup.
There are also some younger running backs who the Hokies are looking at as well including Penn RB Malachi Hosley, who has two years of eligibility remaining. I think the Hokies are focused most importantly on getting the best running back they can, but I do believe they mean lean towards a high-level bridge RB to the next wave that they are building up.
Secondly, you have Jeremiah Coney and the young backs who are the future of this backfield. Coney, in particular, showed lots of promise down the stretch of the season including with a pair of 20+ yard runs during the first half of the Hokies' loss at Syracuse. He is more than ready to take on Thomas' backup role in 2025 and push whoever the Hokies bring in via the transfer portal.
This was a situation that the Hokies were more than ready for and given what RBs coach Elijah Brooks has shown on the recruiting trail with high school and transfers, and in the development of his room; this is one spot where Tech fans have nothing to worry about it even with having to replace Thomas and especially All-ACC Second Team RB Bhayshul Tuten.
