Another Virginia Tech football domino falls following Brent Pry's firing last month

When Virginia Tech fired Brent Pry on Sept. 14, it triggered a 30-day Transfer Portal window for any players on the roster. Everyone with eligibility to enter had the chance, as only three games were played. Players who played in four or fewer games are eligible, and some players took advantage and left right away.

One of those players was cornerback Dante Lovett, who entered the next day, and some others followed over the last month. On Monday, another piece of the Hokies' secondary hit the portal when Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported that Christian Ellis is entering.

New Mexico transfer Christian Ellis to enter the Transfer Portal

Ellis came to Blacksburg after a strong 2024 for the Lobos. He played in three games this season for Virginia Tech, making seven tackles, incuding a high of four against Old Dominion last month. That game was the final one of Pry as head coach, as he was fired the next day.

His biggest impact he had this year was in the Hokies' Week 5 upset of North Carolina State in Raleigh. With Virginia Tech clinging to a 23-21 lead with less than a minute left when the Wolfpack went for it on fourth down. A pass intended for NC State tight end Justin Joly was broken up by Ellis to seal the win. It was one of three passes he defended in the game.

That was the last snap played by Ellis for the Hokies as he missed the last two games against Wake Forest and Georgia Tech before it was reported that he's entering the portal. Now that we are well beyond the four games, most decisions have been made for this window. Decisions will also be made by players after the season and once the new coach is in place, but Ellis leaving is not surprising as it keeps a year of eligibility remaining for him.