Virginia Tech running backs Jeremiah Coney and Braydon Bennett plan to enter the transfer portal, per reports.
Coney, a redshirt sophomore, played in 23 games over the past three seasons and rushed the ball 50 times for 254 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. The highlight of his career so far was his game against Syracuse in 2024, where he rushed for 94 yards in the absence of Bhayshul Tuten.
Jeremiah Coney will have two years of eligibility left.
Braydon Bennett, a graduate student, transferred to Virginia Tech last offseason after five years with Coastal Carolina. Bennett suffered a season-ending injury in the game against Wofford. He is currently working to secure a medical redshirt for 2025, which seems likely since he appeared in less than four games this past season. He only had four rushing attempts as a Hokie before the injury.
During his stint as a Chanticleer, he appeared in 44 games and amassed 1,954 yards on 321 carries, averaging six per carry. Bennett found the end zone 25 times on the ground. As a receiver, Braydon Bennett caught 77 passes for 771 yards and four touchdowns.
Bennett was never able to find any serious traction in VT’s RB rotation. Meanwhile, Coney seemed like a back for the future last year but Marcellous Hawkins and Jeff Overton Jr both arriving and climbing ahead of Coney on the depth chart made a path to a significant role more tenuous at best.
While Virginia Tech will lose two running backs to the portal, they were able to keep their projected top two running backs for 2026 in Marcellous Hawkins and Jeff Overton Jr. Four-star incoming freshman Messiah Mickens and rising redshirt sophomore Tyler Mason will also provide additional RB depth.
