When it comes to the 2025 Virginia Tech football team, it's about a lot of things, including replacing a ton of talent that left either through the transfer portal or to the NFL Draft. That left Brent Pry and his staff scrambling to put together a roster that will compete and look to win more than six games.
There are a lot of new faces in Blacksburg this year, and you're going to need a roster in hand to learn a lot of names, and a lot of them are going to have to step up and contribute right away for the Hokies. One player who could make an impact early and often is Texas State edge transfer Ben Bell, and one college football writer has tabbed him to do that in 2025.
Virginia Tech incoming transfer Ben Bell named destined for instant impact
Truth be told, Pry is going to need Bell to come in and make an instant impact this season. Gone is Antwaun Powell-Ryland to the NFL from the edge spot, and replacing those shoes is going to be very difficult to do. As long as health stays on Bell's side after he played in just four games last season for the Bobcats.
Those four games, however, were impactful for Bell, who registered 13 tackles, six for a loss, and 3.5 sacks with six quarterback pressures. Now the question is, can he do it in a Power 4 conference? Virginia Tech sure hopes so.
New defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes has a lot of work to do with a new-look defense, and players like Bell coming in and making an immediate impact is what the former Arizona Cardinals linebackers coach needs. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Bell was consistently grading out as one of the top PFF pass rushers outside of the Group of Five, according to Will Backus of CBS Sports. If Virginia Tech is going to avoid another six-win season and increase its win total, Bell and others will need to make an impact as transfers.