Former Virginia Tech cornerback lands in the Big 12 Conference in the transfer portal

After one season in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech cornerback Derrick Canteen decided to enter the transfer portal after the Hokies, 55-17, win on Thanksgiving Weekend over the University of Virginia. Like some of his other outgoing teammates in the portal, he stayed with the team and played in the Military Bowl against Tulane University in Annapolis, Maryland, finishing with a tackle against the Green Wave.

Once in the portal, he received multiple offers, but Monday, he announced on X that he has committed to the University of Cincinnati in the Big 12 Conference.

This season for Virginia Tech, Canteen finished with 43 tackles, 23 solo with one forced fumble and one interception. He had a season-high seven tackles in the Hokies loss to Marshall and he had six the week before in a loss at Rutgers. He had five tackles in a win at Boston College on Nov. 11 and he had an interception against Wake Forest.

Canteen, who played at Georgia Southern before coming to Virginia Tech, is going to be a big boost to the Bearcats defense in 2024 for a team that struggled in the Big 12. They finished 3-9 overall and 1-8 in conference play as they look to turn things around next season.

He played in 12 of the 13 games this season, missing the Nov. 4 game at Louisville and was a big part of the success the Virginia Tech defense had over the final eight weeks in ACC play. As conference play went on, they dominated the teams on the schedule they should have, but like every other team in the ACC, they struggled in slowing down the top three teams, Florida State, Louisville, and North Carolina State.

Virginia Tech returns Mansoor Delane and Dorian Strong next season as we wish Canteen the best of luck in Cincinnati.