Virginia Tech Football: Hokies Set To Host Transfer Cornerback This Week
Virginia Tech has been one of the hardest hit programs in the country when it comes to departures in the transfer portal and they have a lot of holes to fill. One of the biggest holes on the team right now is the secondary. Virginia Tech is losing Mansoor Delane, Jalen Stroman, Mose Phillips, and Dorian Strong from the team and will need to find replacements. One of those replacements could be South Alabama defensive back Jordan Scruggs, who announced on social media that he is going to take a visit to Virginia Tech this Thursday.
Will be at Virginia Tech this Thursday! pic.twitter.com/qPXswQJCNg
— 𝚂𝙲𝙾𝙾𝚃𝙰 🛴 (@JordyScruggs) December 15, 2024
Last season for the Jaguars, Scruggs totaled 69 tackles and one interception. Pro Football Focus gave Scruggs an 80.2 defensive grade in over 600 snaps for South Alabama last season, including a 79.9 coverage grade. He has offers from UTEP, Jacksonville State, New Mexico State, and Miami (OH). I think he could play either the nickel position or on the outside for the Hokies if they were to land him and he has the potential to see playing time.
One of the Hokies best players found him a new landing spot yesterday. Former Virginia Tech left tackle Xavier Chaplin decided to go to the SEC and play for Huge Freeze at Auburn. Our own RJ Schafer broke that down yesterday:
"The 6-foot-7, 323-pound tackle started all 12 games for the Hokies this year. He was an All-American in 2023, and has long held the title as the cornerstone of Virginia Tech’s offensive line, and now he will man the Tigers’ offensive line which allowed 2.3 sacks per game in 2023.
Chaplin will replace Dillon Wade, the Tulsa transfer which originally came to Auburn as a guard, but due to Mississippi State transfer Percy Lewis’s struggles, Wade got some time at left tackle. Now the Tigers will have a full time tackle who has an extra amount of experience at the position.
Chaplin spent three years in Blacksburg, redshirting his first year and starting all thirteen games as a redshirt freshman.
According to PFF, Chaplin only allowed two sacks in the past year, despite recording over 300 pass block snaps on the season. PFF also ranked him as a top-ten tackle in the ACC in the 2024 season. Chaplin is ranked as the best left tackle in the transfer portal by On3 Sports, overall he is ranked as the 9th best player in the transfer portal, trailing players like Eric Singleton Jr, KC Concepcion, and Ahmad Hardy.
The Hokies fell short in the 2024 season, highlighted by wins against Boston College, Georgia Tech, and Stanford. The losses were too much to overcome though. The Hokies became bowl eligible in the final week of the season after taking down Virginia, continuing the dominance of the rivalry."
Related Stories:
Virginia Tech Football: 2025 Transfer Portal Tracker for the Hokies
Virginia Tech Football: Hokies Open As Underdogs In Bowl Matchup vs Minnesota
Virginia Tech Football: Hokies Send Out Plenty Of New Offers On First Day of Transfer Portal Opening
Jackson Caudell has been covering Georgia Tech Athletics For On SI since March 2022 and the Atlanta Hawks for On SI since October 2023. Jackson is also the co-host of the Bleav in Georgia Tech podcast and he loves to bring thoughtful analysis and comprehensive coverage to everything that he does. Find him on X @jacksoncaudell