2021 FCS All-American S Darius Joiner of Western Illinois has confirmed to us that he is receiving interest from Virginia Tech since entering the transfer portal which was first reported by Rivals.
Update: Since entering the portal, Western Illinois All-American transfer DB Darius Joiner has picked up serious interest from Kansas, Kansas State, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Texas @JayhawkSlant @DYoungRivals @Hokie_Haven @OBWire @RickKimbrel @rivalsmike https://t.co/FBN4aKuYno
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) February 10, 2022
Joiner told us that he has been in contact with Virginia Tech safeties coach Pierson Prioleau with those conversation going well as he shared with us.
"It's good. We are going to stay in touch," Joiner said. "We talked about his story and my story, and were just getting to know each other."
Joiner has also received interest from Texas, UCLA, Kansas State, Virginia, and Kansas since entering the transfer portal. That list could easily grow over the coming weeks given how Joiner just entered the portal and seems poised to be a major target for schools during the spring transfer recruiting season.
This shouldn't come as a surprise as he had an insane 2021 season, his lone season at Western Illinois after starting his career at Jacksonville State, with 142 tackles including 7 for loss with 1.5 sacks, 3 QB hurries, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception, and 5 pass breakups. Those video game like number unsurprisingly helped Joiner earn FCS First Team All-American honors from the Associated Press, Athlon Sports, and more.
Virginia Tech has a connection to Joiner through their hiring of Dyrell Roberts as offensive analyst who had been the WRs coach and pass game coordinator for WIU previously. Having Roberts on staff gives the Hokies a vetting advantage that is crucial in figuring out whether someone would be a fit in Blacksburg while could prove valuable in providing some familiarity relative to the other schools involved in Joiner's recruitment.
Joiner would be an interesting fit as Tech has Chamarri Conner and Nasir Peoples returning to lead the way while Jalen Stroman and Keonta Jenkins have shown the upside to push Peoples. However, Joiner has proven himself to be highly productive and could be a good fit alongside Conner for a season to help set the tone for that room while also giving Tech the option of moving Conner to OLB which may be a better fit for his professional hopes similar to Divine Deablo.
Virginia Tech isn't done with recruiting the transfer portal with FCS All-American Darius Joiner emerging as a target to watch for the Hokies.
