Virginia Tech transfer named to prestigious Butkus Award Preseason Watch List

For the second time in two days, a Virginia Tech football transfer was named to a watch list for the 2024 season. Monday, defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles joined returning edge Antwaun Powell-Ryland on the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list. On Tuesday, another key defensive player was named to a watch list.

Lineback Sam Brumfield, a Middle Tennessee State transfer, is one of seven ACC linebackers of the 51 players named to the prestigious Butkus Award watch list, which is given to the nation's top linebacker each season. He joins fellow conference linebackers Barrett Carter of Clemson, Francisco Mauigoa of Miami, Power Echols of North Carolina, Sean Brown of North Carolina State, Gaethan Bernadel of Stanford, and Marlowe Wax of Syracuse. The semifinalists for the award will be announced on Nov. 4 with the finalists announced on Nov. 25 and the winner announced on Dec. 10.

A lot of focus from the transfer portal for Virginia Tech this season has been along the defensive line and rightfully so with the talent that was brought in, but Brumfield is a big addition at linebacker. Defensive coordinator and head coach Brent Pry are hoping that he ends up being the mike linebacker which is filling a huge hole the Hokies have.

Last season for the Blue Raiders he played in 12 games, playing 642 snaps, and led them in tackles with 81 with 6.5 of those for a loss and 3.5 sacks. He finished the season with a 73.0 grade from Pro Football Focus after eight quarterback hurries and a pair of forced fumbles.

There is no doubt that Brumfield bolsters the linebacker group for Virginia Tech and gives them a very good player at the second level. The Hokies should get after the opposing quarterbacks and cause a lot of problems and a big key will be Brumfield and all the retainment in the secondary.