A one stop place to post about VT transfer portal news outgoing or incoming. Players graduating or players ending their playing career all together.
https://247sports.com/college/virginia-tech/Season/2020-Football/Transfe...
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This link goes directly to the VT transfer portal page:
https://247sports.com/college/virginia-tech/Season/2020-Football/Transfe...
So far we've got:
DeJuan Ellis > UMD
Joe Kane > TBD
Robert Porcher IV > TBD
Nathan Proctor > Played at Iowa Central C.C. this season and now looking to bounce back up it appears.
I'm sure there will be plenty more to come but hopefully we can avoid losing many major contributors this time around.
I'm only adding players leaving the 2019 squad prior to the 2020 season. I'll have a graphic up like for NFL I do later this week.
Man, I remember us being really excited about these two. Too bad.
I don't want to lose any QB's or O-lineman/D-lineman. You are only 1 play away...
With 3 freshman starters on the O-Line I think it's highly likely we'll see some attrition there. D-Line not sure who else would leave as it seems like quite a few guys were getting reps.
Technically we already have one OL in the portal (Kane) and one DL (Porcher, plus Proctor if you wanted to count him).
One of my sauces prior to Pitt game named a QB who was planning to enter the portal. Frankly, I thought it would be announced the day after our last regular season game. Since that hasn't happened, I don't know if it means he's having second thoughts.
Hopefully not a QB from the two-deep
Realistically you're going to have 1 QB transfer in and 1 transfer out just about every season. It's just the nature of college football these days. After Willis, we still had 3 guys who were pretty highly rated out of HS with multiple years of eligibility left + Kadum with 4 years, so it was always pretty likely at least one QB was going to transfer after this season. With the way things shook out this fall, I think the writing was on the wall, and I don't think anyone should be too surprised by this. Always disappointing when the visions of grandeur that we have for certain incoming recruits don't play out that way though.
Reading between the lines here....QP is on his way out the door. No one would bat an eye if it was Kadum, Braxton isn't going back to back transfer portals (unless sitting this year allows him to instantly move). Hendon goes into next year as the starter/competition with Braxton so I highly doubt it's him. I don't think we can be too upset about it if I'm correct. Hendon goes into next year as a R-Jr, then if all goes well we sign DD in December. That allows either Hendon to be a SR starter and DD to start his sophomore year, or if HH goes to the draft and DD is ready it goes from there.
Love QP and hope he remains a Hokie. Realistically, though, while he has NFL measureables, is there any real chance he develops enough to be an NFL quarterback?
Question from me not being that intelligent regarding playing football: since QP was primarily a runner as QB in high school, would it make sense for the coaching staff to try to convince him to make a position switch to running back (or tight end)?
There is no basis for the speculation on QP. He is only going into his 3rd season and transferring would result in sitting out and not developing as much. He knows this and likes VT. Patience
IF he is interested in transferring, I would think a senior transfer would make much more sense.
Right? And the 2nd string QB is always one play away from becoming the starter.
He's second string today. What happens when Burmeister is eligible? Does Hooker become second string and Q moves to third? There are many possible scenarios. Anything is possible.
I won't be too surprised if that is what happens.
I think if Hooker moves back to QB2, Fuente might actually get run out of town...unless dude comes in and lights it up, but on his first INT folks will lose their shit
I think HH will be QB1
QUINCY ISNT LEAVING.
While everyone, including me, is high on Quincy's upside at QB, he has a LOT of growth before becoming an NFL-level QB. Logan Thomas was much further along at this same point in time.
QP is an elite runner at his size. I would love to see him as an H-back and let him go. He would have a bright NFL future in that role.
Logan barely played as a redshirt freshman. Tyrod senior season. Just give QP time
It's so clear now... The secret to being in this quarterbacks room is dual initials.
HH
BB
KK
DD
The writing on the wall is in sharpie, QP out /s
No wonder RW had his struggles...
Deshawn McClease made a prophetic tweet today
If he leaves I bet it's for the NFL. This was his fifth year in college and has the degree already.
I would be surprised if he leaves. Just had his best season yet, but still a ton to prove before making the league.
He's got his degree and he's set on trying to make it in the NFL. A 6th year only risks injury and other setbacks.
Also there's a WR that's on the way out but wouldn't shock anyone once announced. I'm sure it's been hinted here somewhere
Well, so much for all these returning starters next year.
Has his Twitter background always been the NFL logo, or did that change coincide with this tweet? I'd hate to lose him, major contributor down the stretch.
Is the receiver you're hinting at one of the 3 starters or one of the redshirts? Really hoping neither of those categories.
NFL just happened.
Was expected to be in a bigger role just never materialized. Not top 3
Well damn, with all the Farley / Hazelton / Deablo talk it never even crossed my mind that we could lose McClease. Was really looking forward to having him next year. Wish him the best.
Hoping Holston recovers fully and he and King and Gary / Steward can step up next year.
King, Gary, Bell and incoming JC RB Marco Lee could still be really good assuming McClease, Holston, and Steward really don't come back. Any word on Terius Wheatley? He did good on jet sweeps and seemed to have promise but I don't recall him getting to really play running back. Is Cole Beck still with the team?
Is there talk of Holston and steward not coming back? I assumed both were.
Hearing Holston might be hanging up the cleats. Injuries just not worth continuing.
904 posted he didn't think Holston would play anymore, and also rumors that Steward is not happy.
Yea, I can totally see McClease (has a degree and I doubt he improves at this point in his career), Holston (health), and Steward (bench rider) leave.
Wheatley can't hold onto the ball. You can't play RB for Justin Fuente if you can't hold onto the ball.
Likely that all of those first three come back. Clease is potentially hanging it up, and I think we see another 2 or 3 RB's transfer out. Room is being completely rebuilt
Soooo is King in the out crowd, or the rebuilding crowd?
I could be wrong but I don't think anyone has been trying to give any indication that King is in the "out" crowd.
I think it would be wise to expect 2-3 of the following RBs to not be around next year:
McClease
Holston
Wheatley
Steward
Beck
At least 3 of that group.
I've always maintained that Beck will never play a non-garbage time down at RB for VT, and I stick by that. We are playing with 84 scholarships, IMHO.
Yep. One look at his HS film and you could tell his only chance of seeing the field would maybe be as a kick returner. Maybe.
But...his speed...it's so deceptive.
Yep- everyone in the ACC has some speed on their team. Beck is not a football player and we are simply supplementing a track scholarship at this point. Not wise, IMO, but IIWII.
If I remember correctly, there was a lot of people up in arms that we didn't offer him because he was a "local" product. I wouldn't be surprised that CJF wasn't trying to promote a little Blacksburg "charity", so to speak. I think that it was a bad move, but see that it hurt us over all.
I think that might have been a very small part of it. The major part of it was that we did need some bodies late, but not necessarily a track guy. It was a gamble due to needing bodies.
I don't think CJF does charity. Beck had offers as a RB from half the ACC?
I don't think that is true. Not real offers anyway.
He had a bunch of G5/FCS offers and several P5 offers (mostly ACC and one SEC) reported by 247 (link). Do you have any reasoning behind why you think they weren't "real offers"?
Fuente is offering 150 kids for 14-15 spots in 2020. You think they are all real/commit-able?
You're implying something about Beck's offers that can't be proven one way or another. We have no way of knowing where he was or wasn't a take aside from the one school where he wound up signing.
Even if you assume that every school that offered Beck was only bringing a class that was roughly 10% of the offered schollies, that in and of itself doesn't mean that Beck was in the other 90% for every school that offered him.
In my opinion, not all of his offers were commit-able. This opinion is backed by the fact that 1. Schools send hundreds of offers out for 25 spots max each year, and 2. Beck did not play a snap anywhere for VT when they had 4 free games to do so. He was a late offer/take to begin with and if healthy this year would have been behind Clease, King, Gary, Steward, Holston, Wheatley, Bell at minimum. So yes, I don't anticipate him to play a meaningful RB snap at VT and no I don't think those BC and UNC offers were commit-able to name two. If he played HS ball in Blackburg, Montana he would not have gotten a late VT offer.
UVA, UNC, and Pitt all badly wanted him
Part of the McClease potentially leaving is probably due to King getting much more reps next year. Seriously doubt King is going anywhere.
Come on, seriously? DeShawn McClease, as a RS Senior is going to bounce after starting most of 2019 and getting the most carries because or King? 1. What indication did you get this year that the coaches trust King to carry the ball 25 times? and 2. What indication have we gotten from McClease the past 4 years that he is an undisputed #1 back that is above splitting time? This is out of control. We will literally have zero depth if everyone that doesn't get 80% of the snaps in a game leaves. It's insane
I think if McClease leaves it will hurt next years team, but I also think it would be understandable. He wont improve his draft stock next year (which might already be non- existent) and playing another year of football in college and taking those hits would actually probably degrade his draft status. He might just be done with football.
That would make much more sense. I love DeSean but he is too small to play RB in the NFL with his skillset. Now if he came back with some promise that they will feature him in the passing game to improve his stock, that might be a viable option.
I can't fathom why he wouldn't come back unless he just leaves football. He would play a big role even if not the primary role. I can't see an NFL future for him, unless I am way off base.
I think the rumor is he's just done with football.
Correct.
The rumor is that he's giving up football altogether. But even if he weren't, his role with definitely decrease next year. King will be ready for a bigger load, and those goal line carries that he got this year will likely go to Lee/Gary. His counting stats are almost guaranteed to be worse next year
Add on to the fact that being a 6th year running back at his size could lead to injuries (which he's struggled with his whole career), this is definitely the best time for him to take a shot at a professional career
This year (2019) is McClease's 5th year at VT. He received a medical hardship waiver for an additional year of eligibility. That doesn't mean he has to exercise it. If he wants to give the NFL a shot it may be the best time for him to do that. NFL RB's have very short careers even when drafted.
That being said, I would love to have him on the team next season because it seems like he's getting better and better at being successful in Fuente's offense. He could also wrap up a Masters degree.
If every guy with skills similar to Farley, Hazleton & Deablo is thinking of leaving early, it's going to be a very crowded draft.
I think Farley may be the exception. He has skill that not many athletes possess. However, he is still raw and I believe his draft stock would be greatly improved with another year. But, I have no doubt he would get drafted. Another healthy year could launch him into a day one pick.
So he has skill most don't possess, but is raw and his draft stock would be improved with another year (which I mostly agree with).
How does that make him an exception to what I wrote?
There aren't enough people with Farley's skill to crowd the draft. There are enough people with more experience to shove him down the draft board. I would not view him as somebody at risk of not being drafted which is what I assume you were insinuating (bubble guys so to speak).
We largely agree on your assessment of Farley. But take off the O & M glasses. There are probably at least 10 underclassmen in college football with a "comparable" skill set. Plus graduating seniors.
That makes for a crowded draft - which was my point.
I guess that is where we differ. Without O & M glasses I think he has a skill set including speed, length, and coordination when attacking a ball (super fast hands) that is unique and he is an all-American talent. He doesn't tackle well yet but has shown extreme improvement.
Here's a few underclassman CBs off the top of my head who are in a comparable league to Farley:
CJ Henderson
Jaylon Johnson
Josiah Scott
Cameron Danzler
Harrison Hand
AJ Terrell
IMHO Kendall Fuller was a much better natural CB prospect than Farley is right now and Fuller went in the 3rd round. Yes, he would have went higher without the injury concerns, but still. Farley should return, unless he gets a legitimate- not fake- 1st or second round projection from reliable NFL people.
I agree Fuller was a more natural prospect, but for what my opinion is worth (not much) I actually like Farley to have a higher ceiling. He's only played CB for 2 seasons now, and, man, he has come a longggg way. To your point though, I would add that Farley has his own injury concerns. Knocked out of the UNC game, missed the UVA game, obviously missed an entire season earlier in his career with a torn ACL.
I think he would benefit a lot from another season (just look at how much he improved this season from last season), but I actually wouldn't be shocked if his injury history actually pushes him toward entering the draft, to lock-in some life-changing kind of money. No matter where he gets drafted, a 4-year rookie deal is worth at least $2M. Hoping he comes back though.
As a frosh, Fuller was much better than Farley. And much more versatile. Granted that Farley was coming off a major injury and was learning a new position, but Fuller was still the better overall CB at the end of their Soph yrs.
Injuries are what really hindered Fuller. Remember he didn't even run, etc at the combine. He would likely have been a 1st rd IMO without the knee injury.
Fuller also had injury concerns in the draft. Believe he had just come off surgery and had missed majority of the season. He was a considered a top 2 round talent.
Patterson?
I hope not. He got some decent time this year and I want to see how far he can take us in O&M.
Phil...not Quincy
Eh, I can apply my comment to either of them. I agree I'd be less surprised about Phil transferring than Q.
My guess without knowing anything would be Grimsley
Sounds like he's had a rough time with his mom's health and all. I hope he stays, but if he decides to be closer to her, I can't blame him.
That was my guess as well. His replacement on punt returns by Robinson was long overdue, and his play otherwise was unremarkable. I know he has skills, just seems like he/we haven't figured out exactly the best way to use them.
But, man, does Hezzy love to punish people in his first year. That edge has disappeared after the FSU game, though...
Yeah makes sense, but one's gotta know when you got a chance and when you don't. McClease won't get drafted this year.
wouldn't get drafted next year either. if he ever has a chance this is the year. would lose reps to king next year and lose #s. if he came back it would only benefit VT with having senior leadership and a dependable guy around with some experience.
Without inside knowledge I'd expect multiple WRs to transfer. Grimsley, Patterson, and Simmons seem like obvious candidates to me due to their PT
I've "braced" myself for these 3 names heading into the off season. Anyone above those, WR wise would be a disappointment.
Isn't Patterson going to be a junior? Hope if he transfers that he already has his degree
Phil Patterson was a redshirt junior this season. I would imagine he is graduating in December or May.
His banner on his twitter page is "NFL" - best of luck to him in the pursuit!
Holy hell I cannot take another offseason of transfers and torment, especially after losing to F%CKING UVA.
Better get used to it. Coaches are starting to figure out how to use the portal to their advantage
Agreed - new reality every year. Kids who aren't going to make a difference can leave and essentially be recruited over by the coaches. Clearly there are pros, but everyone panics because it's a familiar name.
Southern Methodist immediately spring to mind.
I hope we've learned to use it to our advantage too.
Best get used to it the portal is gonna be big till they try to limit it potentially
Yeah we lost some guys to transfers but we've also brought in some good transfers too (Jerod, Willis, Hazelton, Burmeister, Hoffman, etc)
did you know that hazelton and willis were roommates and workout buddies while they were sitting out for a year?
Evans wasn't a transfer.
yes he absolutely was
This gif... I can't stop watching, it's hilarious!
Are we talking the same Jerod? Because Jerod Evans was no more of a transfer than a high school kid is.
He used up his eligibility at JUCO. He had to go somewhere. JUCO grads are not subject to transfer rules, correct?
I'm not sure what your point is, he wasn't a transfer to us because he went to JUCO after leaving the Air Force Academy? He had two years of eligibility when he joined us, he played one and he elected to forego the other.
I think I am going to try something new. I'm going to ignore recruiting and transferring and just check the program come August. This shit is not worth us getting all worked up about.
That's what I usually do, ignore most of the transfer/recruiting threads, not worth the heartburn. Game threads, too.
It's simple really.
Get moderately excited about guys who commit, get slightly more excited when they sign their LOI - and not worry at all about guys who leave. They all leave eventually - in the blink of a figurative eye - and get replaced by someone else. It's inherent in college sports. And life.
Dude, that is the move for sure. I barely pay any attention to recruiting. This season I hardly recognized half of our players because of it lol. But it certainly removes you from possible, meaningless agony over what these kids do.
Good luck to Mclease if he leaves...that dude can block for a little man...he was always picking up the blitz.
I saw a post on the free side of 247 that stated Farley leaving is very unlikely.
He wants to stay and get pointers from Torrian Gray, DeAngelo Hall, Macho Harris, Brandon Flowers, Corey Moore, Kam Chancellor, and Bruce Smith when they are hired next week as co-defensive coordinators.
Don't worry guys, they're also going to keep Justin Hamilton as co-defensive coordinator in waiting.
Damn two coaches for entire offense. Bold strategy Cotton.
Based on what I hear on this board, reducing to two would be better than what we have now.
I'm sure that Michael Vick and Kevin Jones will tweet their willingness to join the staff any day now.
Chad Morris and Tony Elliott is all you need
No OL or TE coach?
I mean...we didn't have either in the 2000s...
I thought that's where the DL and QB coaches came into play
No haven't you seen Clemson's offense cmon Chad and Tony can do it all
Saw Will Pritchard is giving up football on his IG - best wishes to him. Injury related
https://247sports.com/college/virginia-tech/Article/Virginia-Tech-Hokies...
also reported on 247
That sucks. I'm assuming he's had one too man concussions based on that. Good luck to him in the future. I'm guessing this is one of the way "the numbers work out" so to speak. Unfortunate circumstances, but at least he can get a degree with his scholarship and it doesn't hurt the team.
That portal link is quite an eye opener. Pretty much every team has multiple players with a foot out the door. If a coach was so inclined you could create a very highly ranked recruiting class of just portal players. Top flight SEC schools have 5 star players leaving...
Problem is, most of those players come with significantly less than 4 years of eligibility, and most would have to sit out a year anyway. Also, does anyone know if transfers count towards your limit of 25 signees for a given cycle, as I'm pretty sure JUCO recruits count? If so, it's not a sustainable practice, as unless you're bringing in majority sophomores you'll be well short of your 85 scholarship limit after only a few years.
Yes they do count.
A reverse one and done model could be set up by a crafty school. Basically always have a group of upper classmen waiting out a year to play one final season or two. Rinse and repeat. The limitation on numbers don't seem to be a disadvantage.
FORMER 5 star players....
I think if a coach did something like that we'd have to call the team SMU.
Still agree that he was talking about Coastal Carolina.....who had 10 entries into the portal yesterday.
oh yeah. youre right. now I feel dumb, does he have some ties to them? he is by far the biggest brock Hoffman supporter. tweets before every game #freebrockhoffman
Was reading about how UMD already had 5 in the portal, and that Sean Savoy hasn't been on the team for some time now.
Know it's not about VT, however figured it was interesting considering they were one of the biggest benefactors of our portal situation last year.
Plus at least one early jump to the draft. Said it when he was hired, Locksley won't have success there.
Yep, they cast a wide net for transfers. They got a few solid starters/contributors out of it, but a lot of duds as well.
This seems like an appropriate time to post Josh Jackson's end of season statline.
98/207 for 1,274 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Also keep in mind that four of those touchdowns come from the Howard game.
He also made one solo tackle, which is nice.
was it against UVA to save a touchdown though?
I'm hearing Josh wants to transfer and play at the FCS level next year
Bitter is reporting John Harris into the portal. I liked his game, but it has to be a good thing that we have solid starters so young for him to want to transfer for PT.
He was passed on the depth chart
n
Yep- OL depth is one of the key things that separates good teams from bad ones. In the transfer portal era, we are going to have 5 starters and a prayer because solid 2 deep guys like Harris are bouncing. The drop-off is going to be huge- even next year. It's sad. Harris has 2 years in the weight and film rooms. A true fresh is going to be light years behind that. Our OL depth for 2020 just took a huge hit.
I don't see how our depth will be an issue next year compared to this year's.
Hoffman will become eligible, which will allow either Hoyt or Hudson to slide over to the Guard spot, while Hanson can provide depth for the other Guard spot. Cannon seems versatile enough to be 3rd string at either spot.
Center depth with Hoffman and either Hoyt or Hudson should be the same or better than this year.
Tackle depth is Darrisaw and Tenuta starting, with Jackson, Culver, and Dzansi providing depth.
There would be no true freshmen in the 2 deep, allowing Clements to redshirt.
Good post. Hoyt has been here forever. And we need to account for injuries as well. Bottom line- IMHO Harris can play at this level- he is not one of these "well he was never going to play guys"- I don't believe that. He's versatile, strong and would have helped us next year. If he truly wasn't going to see the field, we should be damn good next year.
Additionally, Aiden Brown could theoretically switch back to OL as depth at DL has seemingly gotten a lot better
Pertaining to your comment about we should be damn good next year if Harris wasn't going to be seeing the field, I would actually have to disagree somewhat with that analysis. If we are damn good, I would expect second and third teamers to get significant reps in these hypothetical blowouts, ie., everybody plays.
Wasn't Harris the guy that chose us over Clemson?
I think Jesse Hanson was the one who had all the Clemson family, but chose us, even with a late offer.
I don't think Harris was going to be in the 2-deep. Even without Hoffman stepping in to push for starter reps at Center we have Hudson and Hoyt who would seem like they'd play @C over Harris.
Was he productive? dont seem to remember him having a very good game the time he did start, and if it was purely recruiting reasons, why did cannon get the rotation role with nester/lecitus smith? it looks like to me he was at best the 4th option at guard this season, and will likely get jumped further once hoffman is eligible next season.
He was a RS Freshman that played in real games this year. He would likely be in the 2 deep somewhere next year. If VT has 10 lineman ahead of Harris coming back next year, we should go undefeated. But in reality that is not the case. Around game 3 someone will be injured and we will have a thread on here about how we can't block inside because we are playing another true freshman at OG. Our level of attrition the past 2 years - regardless the reasons- is killing us and will continue to rear its ugly head.
Would've been 3rd string at best, like he was this year. Hudson and Hoyt ahead of him at center, Hoffman, Cannon, Nester ahead of him at RG. Hoffman would also probably be the 2nd string center and LG if anything happened to Hudson or Lecitus. Harris was BURIED on the depth chart
Alot of speculation in this post, and where did you have Cannon on the depth chart last December? Buried, I'm guessing. I'll bookmark this post when a couple of OL go down and everyone on here is complaining that we couldn't run the ball last game because of the true frosh that had to play on the line- like way back in 2019.
I certainly would have liked to keep Harris, because I think he is a good depth piece and could be a good player, but we are actually carrying a lot of OL on the roster for the first time in awhile. As far as scholarship allotment is concerned this is actually not a place where losing a couple guys creates a dire situation. That does mean there are other position groups that could be in trouble with a couple transfers.
"there's a lot of speculation in this post, so i'm going to counter it with some speculation of my own"
Fair point.
i do try my best to stay away from unfair points
They don't play by anybody's rules, not even their own.
I was actually the first one on here to say that Cannon was making noise at RG back in August sooooo
You really think Hudson holds Hoffman off @C ?
uh, that's a bold statement. And one not really relative to Harris being buried on the depth chart. One of the side effects of having great freshmen is that players who get passed by those freshmen may decide they don't have much PT in their future and look to transfer.
So let me get this straight.. you think playing FR all over the line was for recruiting reasons and not for 'best chance to win / projected starters were injured or ineligible' reasons? Because somehow it's going to help recruiting to have the OL positions locked up with underclassmen?
Don't know if I,l get that graphic up this week. Finals week and Mickey Christmas on Friday. Sorry.
That incredibly small 2020 class might not be so small now
I can't imagine how hard it is to make numbers work with the portal. I mean these kids aren't for sure gone. They can pull a nevermind in an instant an now your squeezed with scholarships/spots.
You pull the scholly....if they put their name in the portal, they have to understand their spot is now up for grabs.
I don't disagree with this just saying that managing rosters must be a nightmare.
You pull an SEC football or major hoops and sign them and figure out the numbers later- or "cut" guys- unpopular, but necessary if you want to win at the highest level.
sad but true
What's never discussed in the portal threads is this happened in the past. With an 85 scholly limit, how else did Beamer sign 20-30 guys a year, every year. There's always been attrition, and the numbers have always "worked out".
Tinfoil hat time... Fuente tossed the UVa game so he could recruit this week instead of gaming for Clemson!!!
The boldest of strategies
lol
You need more than tinfoil for a conspiracy that deep... better make a youtube vid about it with pointing arrows
Rivenburg and Mihota weren't on scholarship.
We need like 8-9 to exit stage left to even get to 13ish commits
Counting all current commits, I have us at 85 scholarships for next year, although if my numbers are wrong, I'd be happy to adjust.
We have 4 QB, 10 RB, 11 WR, 4 TE, 13 OL, for 42 on offense; 15 DL, 8 LB, 18 DB, for 41 on defense, and 2 specialists.
21 WR/RB- even in Fu's scheme is insane. We need to thin that a bit.
Nevermind. I are dumb. Here is some mayo.
I for one am interested to see how The Portal is handled in NCAA 2021
I NEED NCAA 21
As long as it's not a microtransaction/lootbox-fest, I agree.
Just gimme dat dynasty mode in online and offline and inject that shit into my veins. I havent taken a day off work/school for a video game in years since the halo series but I would take a few sick days if they dropped a new ncaa football and basketball series