Virginia Tech football gets a massive return on defense for 2024

It was reported by Andy Bitter of Tech Sideline earlier this month that linebacker Keonta Jenkins was going to return to Virginia Tech for 2024, taking advantage of a COVID year. Monday, the Jacksonville, Florida native made it official on his X account that he's returning for 2024 to strengthen a defense that has a lot of their key players returning and some key additions from the transfer portal.

Like the other players who made their announcements on returning to Blacksburg for 2024, Jenkins mentioned in his announcement that there is unfinished business the Hokies have under second-year coach Brent Pry and his staff.

In 2023, Jenkins had 50 tackles, 30 solo, two forced fumbles, and an interception in Week 4 at Marshall. He had a season-high 12 tackles against Wake Forest on Oct. 14 and had six in the Military Bowl in a victory over Tulane University in Annapolis, Maryland.

Middle Tennessee State transfer Sam Brumfield will be joining Jenkins on defense this upcoming season. Transfers Kelvin Gilliam of Oklahoma, Aeneas Peebles of Duke and Kemari Copeland of Western Iowa Community College will also be added to stregthen the Virginia Tech defensive line.

After finishing the season 7-6 following a 1-3 start to the season, the Hokies are looking to build off that momentum going into 2024 and if there is one thing that has happened over the last two months, it's that the defense that was already turning into a good unit is going to be much better with Anywaun Powell-Ryland and Josh Fuga returning along the line with the transfers and Mansoor Delane and Dorian Storng coming back in the secondary.

There is a lot to look forward to for Virginia Tech in 2024 and with each passing week, the excitement continues to grow stronger and stronger.