Virginia Tech received some shocking and significant news this evening as center Johnny Jordan announced that he has been granted a sixth year of eligibility and will return to Blacksburg in 2022.
LETS RUN IT BACK VT!!! Excited to announce I have been granted a sixth year and will be returning to VT for the 2022 season!! 🦃🦃🦃 pic.twitter.com/v8TABBd0Zd
— Johnny Jordan (@johnnyjordan55) January 11, 2022
Jordan's return is massive news for a Virginia Tech offensive line that is losing three starters in left guard Lecitus Smith, center Brock Hoffman, and left tackle Luke Tenuta.
Jordan started three games at center for the Hokies this past season while playing in every game for Tech as the top backup interior lineman for VT. This came after starting 16 games from 2018-2020 for Maryland including four starts in 2020 for the Terps on his way to earning All-Big 10 Honorable Mention honors.
This is shocking news for the Hokies given that Jordan didn't seem to have a path earning a sixth year in any way. However, it appears that some sort of appeal happened on the basis that Jordan only played in four games in 2020 and if it would have been a normal year and not a COVID year, he would have been eligible to redshirt given that he hadn't used one to date.
Regardless, this is major news for the Hokies as center was a major question with Hoffman leaving for the NFL, and Tech being left with youth at center in Jack Hollifield and Bryce Goodner. Jordan gives the Hokies a bridge to the future while also giving them a high-level center who should be able to find his rhythm in Blacksburg in full at his natural position after not being able to earn a starting role at guard.
Jordan also gives Joe Rudolph a second veteran alongside Silas Dzansi to help build the culture of his offensive line room and build on some of what Vance Vice built up with guys like Christian Darrisaw, Lecitus Smith, Brock Hoffman, and Luke Tenuta in recent years. Most importantly, Jordan has proven that he can be a high level starting center at the Power 5 level in the past and instantly elevates the outlook for the 2022 VT offensive line.
Tech's starting offensive line is also starting to look intriguing with Jordan at center, Parker Clements at tackle, Kaden Moore at guard, and Silas Dzansi likely at guard but possibly at tackle as well. Tackle appears to be the higher priority for Tech than guard given how Dzansi has shown more potential on the interior at guard than at tackle where he's lost the starting job multiple times to younger, rising talents.
