Virginia Tech Football Expands Mid-Year Enrollment to 14 Scholarship Players
Since Virginia Tech is back in session, the Hokies have accepted almost all of their mid-year recruits.
Dinner with our mid-years 🫶🏻#ThisIsHome pic.twitter.com/JPaFE4YYTy is a welcome home.
— January 15, 2024, Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB)
Quarterback Davi Belfort had intended to enroll early, but he will now enroll in May after completing a few high school classes.
Thus, 14 scholarship players became official members of the program today. The following is a brief overview of the group, presented in alphabetical order:
LB Samuel Brumfield (226, 5-11): In his lone season at Middle Tennessee, Brumfield led the Blue Raiders with 81 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks. Tech hopes that this plug-and-play transfer will address its mike linebacker problems. Derek Jones, the cornerbacks coach, stated, “We needed a playmaker.” “A leader was needed. He was born to play linebacker.
DT Kemari Copeland (6-3, 285, Jr.): Copeland, a native of Virginia Beach, is the only junior college recruit in the class. He attended Army and, most recently, Iowa Western Community College, where he recorded 38 tackles, 4.5 sacks, nine tackles for a loss, and a fumble recovery during a season that saw the Hokies win a national championship. Pry remarked, “He just exudes maturity and great awareness.” “He’s one of those guys that, when he sits on my couch, you can just feel he’s going to do everything he possibly can. That’s just how he’s wired.
OL Cunningham, Montavious (6-4, 315, r-Jr.): Cunningham, who began 11 games at right tackle for the Panthers in 2023, can play guard or tackle, which is helpful on the offensive line. Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of 69.9, which was higher than any player on the Hokies the previous season. Pry remarked, “I think he elevates the room.”
DT Kelvin Gilliam (r-Jr., 6-3, 296): After three years at Oklahoma, where he had 10 tackles in 19 games as a reserve and missed the final six games of 2023 due to an injury, Gilliam, a former top-150 recruit from Highland Spring, joins Tech. “I think it’ll be a good deal, the scheme they play, getting vertical, making plays in the backfield,” Gilliam stated earlier this month.
Aeneas Peebles, the DT (6-1, 286 Sr.): Peebles, a transfer from Duke, has impressive credentials going into Tech. Last season, he led the Blue Devils in tackles for a loss (9.5), sacks (5), and quarterback hurries (6). He was selected to the third team of the ACC. “He’s just been a guy up front,” Brent Pry, the head coach of the Hokies, said. “They performed admirably on defense, giving him an opportunity to show off his abilities. That, in my opinion, enhances our plan, our framework, and our actions. He can move quite well, and our tackles make up a big movement unit.
WR Keylen Adams (185, Fr., 6-2): Adams, a record-setter at Green Run High, finished his career with 4,400 yards and 66 touchdowns, setting a VHSL record for a receiver. He was named an Under Armour All-America selection after his senior year, which included 59 receptions for 1,223 yards and 18 touchdowns. “I think he’s long, but he’s still slippery,” Pry remarked. Even if he gets thin, he can still make people fall in love. However, he has excellent length, excellent ball skills, and he finds the game easy. He doesn’t become frightened or anxious. He therefore seems like a guy who could potentially assist us early on.
CB Joshua Clarke: Fr., 6-2, 180 Clarke, a versatile athlete and the only projected cornerback in the class, finished his senior year at Flint Hill with 25 tackles, four TFLs, nine pass breakups, and five interceptions. “You want to look for something like his length, ball skills, and competitive nature for the type of defensive back play that we play,” Jones stated. “He simply fit every situation.”
DE Deric Dandy, Fr., 6-4, 225: He was an edge rusher and Mason’s high school teammate at Mount Airy (N.C.), where he went after the quarterback. As a senior, Dandy totaled 110 tackles, including 11.5 sacks and 48 tackles for a loss. He had thirty-one sacks in his career. “An inborn pass rusher,” according to Pry. “Excellent bend, excellent lean, good footing, ability to turn.” Still fairly raw, but longer.
