Amid an offseason of significant change, Virginia Tech emerged from the spring with a significantly different makeup. The Hokies sport a new offensive coordinator (Philip Montgomery), a new defensive coordinator (Sam Siefkes), and a new offensive line coach (Matt Moore).
In addition to losing five players to the NFL Draft and several more to graduation, Tech lost 24 players and added 29 via the transfer portal. In all, there are 50 new faces on this year’s roster.
While the incoming freshman class has lots of promise, many will redshirt and few will see significant playing time barring a spate of injuries.
With so many new players, expect plenty of fluidity on the two-deep. But spring practice is done and the portal window is closed, so now’s a good time to take a snapshot of what Virginia Tech’s 2025 depth chart looks like now:
Virginia Tech's projected 2025 Depth Chart
Quarterback:
Starter: Kyron Drones (R-SR)
Backup: Pop Watson (R-SO) or Garret Rangel (R-JR)
Depth: AJ Brand (FR), Kelden Ryan (FR)
Kyron Drones enters 2025 entrenched as QB1 and looks to move past an injury-riddled 2024 season. He did sit out the end of spring to have a procedure, but head coach Brent Pry indicated he’d be back in early summer.
Davi Belfort transferred to UCF after the spring game, so Tech added Oklahoma State’s Garret Rangel in early May to compete with Pop Watson for the backup role. Rangel may fit the Philip Montgomery mold a bit better, but they’ll battle it out on the practice field.
Running Back:
Starter: Terion Stewart (R-SR)
Backups: Jeremiah Coney (R-SO), Braydon Bennett (GR), Marcellous Hawkins (R-SO)
Depth: Tyler Mason (R-FR), Jeff Overton (FR), P.J. Prioleau (R-SR)
While there isn’t a running back with Bhayshul Tuten-level talent on this team, the depth at this position is significantly upgraded. Bowling Green transfer Terion Stewart is a tackle-breaking workhorse and figures to get the majority of the carries. But the carries will likely be split a bit more evenly this year. Summer and fall practices will dictate how much.
Don’t dismiss the possibility of holdovers Jeremiah Coney (32 carries in 2024) and Tyler Mason (10) grabbing more of the workload than last year. But Pry has brought in Braydon Bennett (Coastal Carolina) and Marcellous Hawkins (Central Missouri) to add more outside-the-tackle variability. The graduate transfer Bennett could make for an intriguing one-two punch with Stewart.
Wide Receivers:
Starters: Ayden Greene (JR), Donavon Greene (GR), Cameron Seldon (JR)
Backups: Tucker Holloway (JR), Keylen Adams (R-FR), Isaiah Spencer (JR), Chanz Wiggins (R-FR)
Depth: Takye Heath (R-SO), Devin Alves (R-JR), Micah Matthews (FR), Jayden Anderson (FR), Shamarius “Snook” Peterkin (FR), Cameron Sparks (FR)
For a team that completed just 134 passes (10.3/game) to its wide receivers last year, a 13-man receiving room seems a little excessive. But with expanded rosters and an understanding that very few players stay put anymore, it’s a necessary move. Only five wideouts caught more than one pass last year, and it’s unlikely the game day depth will go beyond six this year, so things will shake out pretty quickly.
Ayden Greene looks poised to take a big step forward this year. The Hokies dipped into the portal to take Donavon Greene (Wake Forest) and Cam Seldon (Tennessee) ostensibly to play outside and slot, respectively. That’s half of the six right there.
Beyond that, there are equal parts promise and question marks. Tucker Holloway, who made his name as a punt returner, is coming back from a knee injury. Keylen “Brodie” Adams is an exciting talent who, himself, is coming back from an injury that prevented him from playing this spring. If healthy, he’ll be in the mix. Takye Heath and Chanz Wiggins are both players that have shown the coaches flashes in their time here, so this summer will be make or break for them.
Keep an eye on Jacksonville State transfer Isaiah Spencer, who grabbed 35 passes for 660 yards last year, is a good route runner and has more experience at the slot than Seldon.
The remainder of the room includes a slew of freshman who will benefit from a redshirt year as well as Devin Alves, who recently switched to WR from the defensive backfield.
Tight End:
Starter: Benji Gosnell (R-JR)
Backup: Harrison Saint Germain (R-JR)
Depth: Zeke Wimbush (R-SO) and Ja’Ricous Hairston (R-SO)
This position is arguably the most settled one on the team, with redshirt juniors Benji Gosnell and Harrison Saint Germain returning and likely to get the lion’s share of the playing time. Gosnell started every game last year and caught 32 passes (tied for second on the team). Saint Germain played in every game and grabbed four.
Wimbush and Hairston, both redshirt sophomores, played in every game last year as well, mostly on special teams, and provide solid depth.
Offensive Line:
Starters: Johnny Garrett (R-JR), Layth Ghannam (R-SO), Kyle Altuner (R-FR), Brody Meadows (R-JR), Tomas Rimac (R-SR)
Backups: Jaden Muskrat (GR), Montavious Cunningham (R-SR), Lucas Austin (R-FR), Aidan Lynch (R-FR), Tommy Ricard (R-FR)
Depth: Hannes Hammer (R-SO), Gavin Crawford (FR), Carter Stallard (FR), Nathaniel Wright (FR)
From the most settled position to the least, we come to the offensive line. Of the 60 available starts made in last year’s regular season, 57 of them no longer wear the maroon and orange. But for a team whose sacks allowed (34) ranked 11th in the ACC last year and first downs per game (18.5) ranked 15th, perhaps a fresh start is a good thing.
New offensive line coach Matt Moore arrived from West Virginia, and four linemen joined him from Morgantown. He also has familiarity with several other players on the roster via the recruiting process. With over a dozen players, a new position coach, a new offensive coordinator, and scheme, this depth chart will be as fluid as water for some time.
Johnny Garrett, Layth Ghannam, and Brody Meadows all have experience on the Tech line and figure to slot in “somewhere”. Former Mountaineer Tomas Rimac is a sure bet for the top five as well. Rimac arrived on campus immediately as the team’s best lineman. Center Kyle Altuner may have the early nod at that position. Moore will certainly play around with combinations throughout the summer.
Beyond that, there should be more quality depth this season. Montavious Cunningham played in all 13 games for the Hokies last season and will be in the mix for plenty of playing time. Jaden Muskrat was a late transfer addition from Auburn, who gives depth and position flexibility. Tommy Ricard played in three games late in the season for the Hokies while keeping his redshirt, and will push Altuner at center. Lucas Austin, another WVU transfer, redshirted last year as well and will continue to be coached up by Moore.
Defensive End:
Starters: James Djonkam (SR), Ben Bell (R-SR)
Backups: Aycen Stevens (R-SO), Keyshawn Burgos (SR)
Depth: Jason Abbey (R-SO), Deric Dandy (R-FR), James Jennette (R-SR), Zeke Chinwike (FR), Sherrod Henderson (FR)
It’s entirely possible that the Hokies’ starting ends will be Eastern Michigan transfer Djonkam and Texas State transfer Bell. There’s plenty of competition still to be had here, though, and the competition figures to raise the collective level of this group. Senior Keyshawn Burgos and redshirt sophomore Aycen Stevens will play plenty regardless of who starts.
Beyond that, there’s quality depth. Remember, with defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes’ new scheme, there’s more variability in defensive end usage. Expect some of these players to be almost a hybrid of defensive end and outside linebacker, and for Tech to use multiple fronts throughout the game based on matchups.
Defensive Tackle:
Starters: Kelvin Gilliam (R-SR), Kemari Copeland (R-JR)
Backups: Emmett Laws (R-FR), Immanuel Hickman (R-SR), Kody Huisman (R-SR), Arias Nash (SR), Elhadj Fall (R-JR)
Depth: Jahzari Priester (R-SO), Andrew Hanchuk (R-FR), Gerard Johnson (R-FR), Christian Evans (FR)
The defensive tackle room is nearly as crowded as the wide receiver room, and Siefkes was not shy about mining the portal for new talent since taking the job. Holdovers Kelvin Gilliam and Kemari Copeland will begin the offseason as starters. Exciting redshirt freshman Emmett Laws seems sure to figure in the mix heavily as well.
But the Hokies plucked five tackles away from other schools: redshirt seniors Immanuel Hickman (South Florida) and Kody Huisman (North Dakota State), senior Arias Nash (Mercer), redshirt junior Elhadj Fall (Georgia Southern), and redshirt sophomore Jahzari Priester (Hampton). Hickman and Huisman appear to be most likely to be contributors of that group, but again, the competition will help promote improvement.
Since we expect to see multiple looks on the front line, this group could go five-to-six deep.
Linebackers:
Starters: Jaden Keller (R-SR), Caleb Woodson (JR)
Backups: Jordan Bass (JR), Kaleb Spencer (JR), Michael Short (JR), Antwone Santiago (R-JR)
Depth: Will Johnson (R-SR), Noah Chambers (FR), Brett Clatterbaugh (FR), Brennan Johnson (FR), Gabe Williams (R-FR), George Ballance (R-SO)
The linebacker position has been a sore spot for the Hokies for quite a few years, where either there wasn’t enough pure talent, the talent didn’t match the scheme, or both.
Tech tried to address that by pulling a trio of linebackers out of the portal: Jordan Bass (Pitt), Michael Short (UNC), and Antwone Santiago (Temple). Jaden Keller and Caleb Woodson are the incumbents, with 18 starts between them last year, but figure the three newcomers to press them early. Santiago, in particular, feels like a player with a lot of promise on this year’s squad. Bass, a highly-touted prospect coming out of high school, had 14 tackles last year for the Panthers, but has battled injuries and off-field issues. Short saw his usage increase during his tenure in Chapel Hill.
This is another position where the increased competition could be really helpful. The players who adapt to Siefkes’ scheme and needs at the position will obviously have a leg up.
Defensive Backs:
Starters: Dante Lovett (JR), Thomas Williams (R-SO), Isaiah Brown-Murray (R-JR)
Backups: Krystian Williams (R-SO), Caleb Brown (R-SR), Knahlij Harrell (FR)
Depth: JoJo Crim (FR), Jahmari DeLoatch (FR), Joseph Reddish (JR)
After the departures of Dorian Strong (NFL) and Mansoor Delane (LSU), the Hokies found themselves a bit thin in the defensive backfield. Rising star Dante Lovett and Thomas Williams will man the corners to start the season, with newcomer Isaiah Brown-Murray (42 tackles and an interception at East Carolina last year) a sure starter at nickel.
The Hokies got some much-needed experience at the corner spot with redshirt senior Caleb Brown (Hawaii). Krystian Williams, who played the last four games of 2024 and preserved his redshirt, will also be in the two-deep at corner.
If there’s a position group that could see a true freshman get meaningful snaps, it could be here. Knahlij Harrell is an impressive youngster, as is JoJo Crim.
Safeties:
Starters: Tyson Flowers (R-JR), Quentin Reddish (SO)
Backups: Isaiah Cash (GR), Sherrod Covil Jr. (SR), Christian Ellis (SR)
Depth: Noah Jenkins (R-FR), Sheldon Robinson (FR), Luke Stuewe (FR)
Due to graduation and the transfer portal, Tech lost all but one game starter at safety after 2024, leaving this position severely depleted. Though sophomore Quentin Reddish (the one starter) returns after a promising first season, the Hokies hit the portal hard here. Tyson Flowers arrives as a day one starter after playing two seasons at Rice. Flowers had 38 tackles and two picks last year.
The Hokies also added senior Sherrod Covil (Clemson), graduate Isaiah Cash (Sam Houston State), and senior Christian Ellis (New Mexico) to shore up the room, allowing the younger players at the position time to develop. Cash and Ellis have had the more productive careers thus far of the trio, and both bring versatility to the position.
The multiple look approach Siefkes employs will also be at play at safety, with his scheme and the ability of the players to execute it influencing the size and usage of the rotation.