Justin Fuente has been very open that the Transfer Portal both giveth and taketh away. That could be the case specifically at the quarterback position this offseason. The Hokies lost third-stringer Quincy Patterson a couple weeks ago when the Chicago native opted to seek a transfer in the name of playing time. He didn't see a path to the field with Hendon Hooker and Braxton Burmeister both just one year ahead of him.
That means there's more depth needed (VT got down to the fourth-stringer this year, and now there are only three scholarship guys on the roster). The Hokies are in pursuit of a Mississippi state transfer - and a former four-star in the 2019 class - in Garrett Shrader.
The 6-4, 200-pounder started for MSU as a true freshman (and put up a reasonable efficiency mark of 132.5, all things considered), but has been relegated to the bench and then a position-switch to wide receiver this year. He wants to be a quarterback, and that's behind his entry into the transfer portal. He's down to a trio of ACC options: Louisville, Syracuse, and your Virginia Tech Hokies.
I wouldn't get too excited about him - this isn't a transfer-up like Brock Hoffman or Khalil Herbert, it's a guy trying to find playing time - not least of which because the word I've received is that VT is running third here. However, it's still an indication of where things are likely to go at the quarterback position: if the Hokies lose one, the transfer portal (rather than loading up on multiple recruits in a class) is going to be the way they go to build that depth. I'll keep my ear to the ground to find out if any other quarterbacks currently in the Portal become serious targets. However, keep in mind that at least for this offseason, there's a delicate line to walk between guys who are good enough to be worth taking up a scholarship slot, but not so good that they're going to avoid a place that they won't immediately see the field.
With the future of the program looking settled for at least the next year, we'll fortunately be looking more at typical offseason news rather than the chaos of putting together a fresh recruiting class after a coaching change.
That means there's more depth needed (VT got down to the fourth-stringer this year, and now there are only three scholarship guys on the roster). The Hokies are in pursuit of a Mississippi state transfer - and a former four-star in the 2019 class - in Garrett Shrader.
The 6-4, 200-pounder started for MSU as a true freshman (and put up a reasonable efficiency mark of 132.5, all things considered), but has been relegated to the bench and then a position-switch to wide receiver this year. He wants to be a quarterback, and that's behind his entry into the transfer portal. He's down to a trio of ACC options: Louisville, Syracuse, and your Virginia Tech Hokies.
I wouldn't get too excited about him - this isn't a transfer-up like Brock Hoffman or Khalil Herbert, it's a guy trying to find playing time - not least of which because the word I've received is that VT is running third here. However, it's still an indication of where things are likely to go at the quarterback position: if the Hokies lose one, the transfer portal (rather than loading up on multiple recruits in a class) is going to be the way they go to build that depth. I'll keep my ear to the ground to find out if any other quarterbacks currently in the Portal become serious targets. However, keep in mind that at least for this offseason, there's a delicate line to walk between guys who are good enough to be worth taking up a scholarship slot, but not so good that they're going to avoid a place that they won't immediately see the field.
With the future of the program looking settled for at least the next year, we'll fortunately be looking more at typical offseason news rather than the chaos of putting together a fresh recruiting class after a coaching change.
