Photo Credit: Harley Taylor
According to Michael Niziolek of the Roanoke Times, Virginia Tech starting offensive lineman Doug Nester and top backup/future starter Bryan Hudson are both planning on entering the transfer portal.
Virginia Tech offensive linemen Doug Nester, Bryan Hudson entering names in transfer portal, according to a source https://t.co/VKnCyHNyiA
— michaelniziolek (@michaelniziolek) December 16, 2020
Nester and Hudson were among the headline pieces in Virginia Tech's 2019 recruiting class and have played a ton since with Nester starting this season and Hudson moving into a top backup role after starting some as a freshman at center with Brock Hoffman having to sit out.
These are significant and inexplicable losses for Virginia Tech as Nester and Hudson were key pieces for the long haul on Tech's offensive line with Nester being a potential first or second day draft pick as soon as next season while Hudson has a definite NFL future. Combine that with Christian Darrisaw likely leaving to be a first or second round NFL Draft pick and the best offensive line Tech has had had in years could lose at least 3 key pieces.
If Darrisaw heads for the NFL, Tech's offensive line will lose three of their top six guys and at least two starters with Lecitus Smith, Brock Hoffman, and Luke Tenuta leading the offensive line unit. Austin Cannon and Zachariah Hoyt could be interior guys to take a step forward should they take advantage of the opportunity to have an extra year while Silas Dzansi would likely slide back to tackle rather than end up on the interior if Darrisaw left for the NFL as seems likely at this time.
Tech could also look to the transfer portal with offensive line coach Vance Vice following offensive guard Tyler Witt, a grad transfer who was a starter at Western Kentucky for the past 3.5 seasons.
We will have more as this story develops.
