Virginia Tech Football 2024 Positional Breakdown: Linebackers

This offseason, the focus of the transfer portal for the Virginia Tech football team was on the defensive side of the ball. Most of the additions were along the line, but the Hokies also addressed the need at linebacker.

Middle Tennessee State transfer Sam Brumfield came in from the portal to fill a big hole that was there and if all goes well, he'll slide in and play the mike. Last season Tech was 68th in yards allowed per carry and Brumfield should help drop that. After that, Virginia Tech is filling in around there and experimenting in camp with rotations. Continuing our preseason position look for Virginia Tech, we'll check in with a preview of the linebackers.

Virginia Tech Linebacker Positional Breakdown

Sam Brumfield

One of the more under-the-radar transfer portal additions, Brumfield is a key addition to the second level after racking up 81 tackles last season for the Blue Raiders, he should slide into the Virginia Tech lineup without a problem. Last season he only played two games against Power schools so it will be an early test to see what the 5-foot-11 Mississippi native can do against those schools.

Keonta Jenkins

Want versatility in a linebacker? Jenkins is your guy. Likely the starter at the star, he had 10 tackles for losses last season, one interception, two forced fumbles, and three quarterback hurries. After beginning in the secondary, he has settled in as a linebacker and he must make more of an impact this season, especially with stopping the run.

Keli Lawson

Last season, Lawson had 2.5 sacks, six pass breakups, and even more impressive, he led the team in tackles with 80 despite playing in just eight games while also forcing a fumble and an interception. He finished double digits in tackles three times in 2023 with a season-high 14 against Purdue. He had 12 tackles against Marshall and 11 vs. Rutgers. Lawson is athletic and can be one of the better linebackers in the ACC this season if everything falls into place.

Jaden Keller

In April, ESPN named Jaden Keller a breakout candidate for the Hokies this season, and I agree with that. He had a very good spring and it didn't go unnoticed on Pry.

"He's had a great spring. If I had to pick a top three or four guys, he'd be one of them."

- Brent Pry on Jaden Keller

Over the last two seasons, he recorded 47 tackles, 21 solo, and a sack. Another very good athlete at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, the Tennessee native is someone who could see a lot more time this season in the rotation and make a big impact.

Jayden McDonald

Another good player at linebacker is McDonald who started eight games last season and made an impact. A three-star recruit coming out of high school, look for him to get more time this season and make a much bigger impact.

Some other young players in camp are Gabe Williams, Will Johnson, Aycen Stevens, Miami transfer Kaleb Spencer, and Caleb Woodson. This is a group that will be accounted on to make plays and be better against the run of the Hokies are going to have a chance to go where they want to in 2024.