Looking at the projected 2025 defense for Virginia Tech Hokies football
Doug Bowman
Virginia Tech returns several key pieces for its 2024 defense, including DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland and CBs Dorian Strong and Mansoor Delane.
This off-season, they added one of the best defensive tackles in the conference in Duke transfer Aeneas Peebles. This should be a pretty good unit.
But, as we did recently with the offense, what about next season? The 2025 season. Projecting a roster multiple portal windows away is a difficult proposition these days, but it's the same exercise that's happening behind closed doors in the Merryman Center anyway. Contingency planning is a must, and you have to start somewhere.
So, let's start with the basics. Who is eligible to return in 2025? And how might that drive personnel decisions in the next 12 months or so?
As you'll see, similar to the offense, there is an interesting subplot to follow in 2024 with the underbelly of the roster competing for prime positioning for 2025.
Defensive Ends
C.J. McCray (RS-SR)*
Keyshawn Burgos (SR)
Jorden McDonald (RS-SR)
James Jennette (RS-SR)
Khurtiss Perry (RS-JR)
Jason Abbey (RS-Soph)
Ishmael Findlayter (RS-Soph)
Deric Dandy (Soph or RS-FR)
Gerard Johnson III (Soph or RS-FR)
Zeke Chinwike (FR)
*Hokiesports lists McCray as a RS-SR already in 2024. But he could have an extra year since he spent the fall at Marshall as a "true freshman" in 2020, which did not count. I think. Maybe. Who knows?
Tech will lose their ace pass rusher, Powell-Ryland, following this season. As it stands, they'll return plenty of experience, especially with McCray (potentially), Burgos, and McDonald.
The question will be if any establish themselves as a certified No. 1 pass rusher in 2024, or if Tech needs to look for an APR-level DE in the transfer portal. Burgos seems most likely of the three to take that leap, but 2024 is a big year for all three.
If all three of those veterans return in 2025, there may not be much playing time available for the younger group of Abbey, Findlayter, Dandy, and Johnson.
That's especially true if Perry, the Alabama transfer, solidifies himself as a solid swing option between DT and DE this year.
If that's the case, Tech's top four DE spots for 2025 might be locked up by veterans.
Defensive Tackle
Kemari Copeland (SR)
Kelvin Gilliam Jr (RS-SR)
Khurtiss Perry (RS-JR)
Malachi Madison (RS-JR)
Andrew Hanchuk (Soph or RS-FR)
Emmett Laws (Soph or RS-FR)
Christian Evans (FR)
While shoring up this position for 2024, the Hokies also factored in plans for 2025.
Copeland, Gilliam, and Perry were each added this off-season to bring playable depth to the current roster with an eye toward much bigger roles in 2025.
This might be the biggest depth chart side plot on the entire roster in 2024. Peebles and Josh Fuga will depart after 2024. Does some combination of Copeland, Gilliam, and Perry play well enough to make DT less of a priority for the portal heading into next year?
The Hokies are high on young players like Hanchuk and Laws. If the Copeland-Gilliam-Perry trio can answer questions this fall, the Hokies may decide they're just fine with what they have at DT.
Inside Linebacker
Keli Lawson (RS-SR)
Jaden Keller (RS-SR)
Jayden McDonald (RS-SR)
Will Johnson (RS-SR)
Caleb Woodson (JR)
Kaleb Spencer (JR or RS-Soph)
Aycen Stevens (RS-FR)
Brett Clatterbaugh (FR)
All eyes are on the Jaden/Jaydens this season. Tech landed Sam Brumfield to shore up the mike spot for this season. But his eligibility is up in December, so there is a starting spot available for someone in 2025.
Keller and McDonald will be plenty experienced. The question is if Tech feels they can be plenty productive at the spot as well.
That's the situation at mike. At the will linebacker spot, Keli Lawson will look to deliver on his potential with a big 2024, but he could get some competition from Woodson, who is dabbling at will and star, and Spencer, the Miami transfer.
If Lawson doesn't lock down the position with a strong 2024, one of those options could seize the position.
Regardless, Tech should have a couple of very experienced options at the linebacker spots next season.
STAR Linebacker
Caleb Woodson (JR)
Kaleb Spencer (JR or RS-Soph)
Gabe Williams (Soph or RS-FR)
Noah Chambers (FR)
The STAR spot splits time with the nickel cornerback, which is why you see low overall numbers here.
As mentioned, Woodson and Spencer could flip over to will by this point anyway.
The future of this spot, and the pecking order among those three, will likely be very obvious by the end of 2024.
Cornerback
Mansoor Delane (SR)
Dante Lovett (JR)
Braylon Johnson (JR)
Jonathan Pennix (RS-Soph)
Thomas Williams (RS-Soph)
Krystian Williams (RS-Soph)
Joshua Clarke (Soph or RS-FR)
Knahlij Harrell (FR)
Let's be honest: It's unlikely Delane will return in 2025. His goal is to get to the NFL after this season. And if not, - warning: speculation ahead - he's got a brother committed to attend Ohio State next year, sooooo….
Anyway. The Hokies will have at least one starting spot available after Dorian Strong's eligibility expires.
All eyes are on Lovett and Johnson as the current favorites, and they're both likely to play a ton of snaps in 2024. That makes you feel pretty good about Tech's chances to fill at least one starting spot through traditional player development, if not both.
Behind Lovett and Johnson, that young group of Pennix, Williams & Williams, and Clarke could also make some moves this season, particularly if any of them set their sights on being a potential No. 3 cornerback/nickel option in 2025.
Safety
Mose Phillips (JR)
Devin Alves (RS-JR)
Cameren Fleming (RS-Soph)
Quentin Reddish (Soph or RS-FR)
Noah Jenkins (Soph or RS-FR)
Sheldon Robinson (FR)
The biggest question heading into 2024 may also be a big question heading into 2025. The best case scenario is for Phillips to take major strides this season and lock down one spot.
From there, perhaps a cornerback slides over to a new position or one of the young safeties also emerges alongside Phillips.
