Photo Credit: Harley Taylor
Virginia Tech may have already added a few grad transfers this offseason including Justus Reed and Khalil Herbert but with weeks before the 2020 season is scheduled kick off, they landed another talented grad transfer in Villanova WR Changa Hodge.
Let’s Ride! 🦃 #Hokies pic.twitter.com/iWHVOwxXa1
— CH2 (@changa_hodge) August 7, 2020
Hodge is the second grad transfer wide receiver that the Hokies have landed along with Kansas grad transfer Evan Fairs. Though he may be late arriving, Hodge definitely has the talent to be a serious contender to earn the opening WR starting job alongside Tre Turner and Tayvion Robinson.
Hodge had a breakout junior season at Villanova with 65 receptions for 1,118 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. His impressive season earned him All-CAA Third Team honors with Hodge being one of only two non-senior WRs along with Rhode Island's Isaiah Coulter. Prior to the CAA, including Villanova, postponing football to the spring, Hodge was named a Preseason Second Team All-American by Hero Sports.
This is a great pickup for the Hokies as it appeared based on social media follows that Hodge had some serious, national interest in him. Given his proven production albeit at the FCS level, he would seem like the potential frontrunner to earn Tech's open starting WR job though Jaden Payoute, Darryle Simmons, Kaleb Smith, and fellow grad transfer Evan Fairs should all give Hodge some competition.
Based on our estimations thanks to the Two Deep podcast's scholarship number evaluation recently, Tech should have room to add four more scholarship players. With FCS football moving to the spring, more highly talented players are entering the transfer portal including JMU safety D'Angelo Amos with Tech being among four standing out for him.
Tech has made a big splash in the transfer portal with Hodge in what may be the first of many over the next week or two.
