Virginia Tech players entering the transfer portal sending strong message

Generally, when a player enters the college football transfer portal, their playing days at the school are over. Through the early process of the transfer portal this month, the opposite is happening for Virginia Tech.

Five players have officially entered the transfer portal, but three have expressed their desire to remain with the team through the Military Bowl on Dec. 27 against the University of Tulane. It is an odd decision, but one that head coach Brent Pry is looking forward to and should take pride in.

Virginia Tech transfer player sending a strong message

If a player is entering the transfer portal, why would they risk playing in one more game for the school they are leaving? It’s kind of like when a player announces they are skipping a bowl game to get ready for the NFL Draft, why risk an injury before being drafted four months later?

Wide receiver Da’Wain Lofton, cornerback Derrick Canteen, and defensive lineman Johnny Dickson have all entered the transfer portal but said that there is “unfinished business” with the Hokies and they will remain with the team through the end of the month.

Those players deciding to remain with Virginia Tech through the bowl game sends a very strong message that Pry and his staff are building a very strong culture in Blacksburg.

It’s not surprising that the culture that is being built as in two seasons, Pry and his staff have taken a program from rock-bottom following the Justin Fuente era and turned back into a bowl team in 2023 after going 3-8 in Year 1 under Pry.

Year 2 didn’t start great at 1-3 in their four non-conference games, however, a huge turnaround happened once ACC play began and they won five of their eight games to become bowl-eligible and earn a valuable extra month together of practice and one more game before the attention shifts fully to 2024.

Usually, when a player enters the transfer portal, it signals the end of their career at that school and they look to begin another chapter somewhere else. Still, in Blacksburg, the transfer players deciding to stick around through the Military Bowl is sending a strong and very promising message about finishing the job as a Hokie. It also says a lot about what they think of the coaching staff and that’s a good sign for future recruits.

The Hokies shouldn’t be missing too many players for their bowl game against Tulane, but you can make sure you can end your season with a guaranteed win no matter who plays at Bet365 and DraftKings. All you have to do is sign up, deposit $10 or more and then bet $5 or more at each Sportsbook. You’ll be guaranteed to win $300 in bonus bets ($150 at each sportsbook)! Sign up with Bet365 and DraftKings today.