After what was supposed to be a year where the Virginia Tech football team was supposed to take the next step under Brent Pry in 2024 turned into a disaster of a season. It started with a Week 1 loss at Vanderbilt, and things never went well at any point in the season.
Whether it was injuries, coaching, or whatever you want to pin it on, nobody envisioned the Hokies needing to beat Virginia at home on Thanksgiving Weekend to become bowl-eligible. That's what they faced, and for the second straight year, they were able to rout the Cavaliers to get a second straight bowl under Pry.
Between the win over Virginia and the Duke's Mayo Bowl in early January against Minnesota, there was a mass exodus out of Blacksburg in the Transfer Portal. Several key players bolted and landed at other programs across the country. Some players left Virginia Tech for the SEC, and one of those players was offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin. After just one season, he's reportedly hitting the portal again.
Former Virginia Tech OL hitting the transfer portal again
According to Chris Hummer of 247Sports, offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin is expected to enter the transfer portal after just one season at Auburn. It isn't really surprising that Chaplin is looking to leave again, as the Tigers are going through a coaching change after Hugh Freeze was fired in November. He is being replaced by Alex Golesh from South Florida.
Could there be a reunion with Chaplin at Virginia Tech? Maybe. Since he left through the portal a year ago, there have been big changes in Blacksburg with Pry fired, James Franklin hired, and Matt Moore, who was hired after Chaplin left, being retained by Franklin. A redshirt junior, Chaplin hails from South Carolina, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Gamecocks and Shane Beamer get involved.