Virginia Tech OL Christian Darrisaw Selected 23rd Overall by Minnesota Vikings in 2021 NFL Draft

Photo Credit: ACC Media

Christian Darrisaw made history tonight as the third Virginia Tech offensive lineman selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in program history being selected 23rd overall by the Minnesota Vikings.

Darrisaw joins Eugene Chung (1992, 13th) and Duane Brown (2008, 26th) in the elite group of Tech offensive linemen to be selected in the first round. Darrisaw becomes the second Hokie selected tonight after Caleb Farley was selected 22nd overall with this being only the third time in program history that Tech has had 2 players selected in the first round (2004-DeAngelo Hall & Kevin Jones, 2018-Tremaine & Terrell Edmunds).

Darrisaw had an impressive career in Blacksburg as a three-year starter who got better every season leading up to his massive 2020 breakout where he earned All-ACC First Team honors. It's somewhat surprising that Darrisaw was drafted outside of the top 20 of the first round, but Minnesota was considered a top potential landing spot with their original first rounder in the mid-teens, and were still able to land him despite trading back.

Darrisaw should be able to start from day one for the Vikings whether that is at left or right tackle with all the skills to be in the NFL for a long time with multiple Pro Bowls similar to Duane Brown who has had a tremendous NFL career that is still going on.

We will have more as this story develops.