After a frustrating 2024 season, the Virginia Tech football team saw a number of players leave Blacksburg in the Transfer Portal. Some key players on both sides of the ball went in different directions to continue their college careers.
One player was linebacker Keli Lawson, who left the Hokies to head to Florida and play for Scott Frost at Central Florida. Linebacker is a position that Virginia Tech returns some players to, including Caleb Woodson and Jaden Keller. Lawson is making the move to the Big 12, and ESPN tabbed him as a potential breakout player for the 2025 season.
ESPN names former Virginia Tech LB Keli Lawson a breakout candidate for Central Florida
Adam Rittenberg of ESPN named several players who could be breakout candidates this season, and no Virginia Tech players were on the list, but Lawson was. Frost likes what he has seen from the Virginia native with the Knights.
"Keli is a kid who is kind of built weird for his position," Frost told ESPN. "He's playing (middle) linebacker for us, and he's 6-5, can run like a freak, big kid, so I'm excited to see him play."
Lawson is a very athletic player who had his best season at Virginia Tech in 2023 when he registered 80 tackles, seven for a loss, and 2.5 sacks. Last season for the Hokies, Lawson saw his tackles cut in half from the previous season in 11 games with an interception. He finished his career at Tech with 144 tackles.
Lawson was a three-star recruit out of high school, and he should help Central Florida's defense rebound under Frost and new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch after finishing 82nd in the country in points allowed. To say that they have their work cut out for them is an understatement, but Lawson brings in a veteran presence that will only help. It wouldn't be surprising to see him break out in the Big 12.