Last season, the Virginia Tech football team had a high retention rate on both sides of the ball when it came to entering the transfer portal or declaring for the NFL draft. Brent Pry, the head coach, has had the opposite experience this season. He has seen an exodus through the doorway from Blacksburg to the NFL Draft.
Since the transfer portal opened, linebacker Kelli Lawson has entered and will make a couple more visits this weekend. What the future holds for some of the other linebackers is unclear, but one stated Thursday night that he will return to Blacksburg in 2025.
Jaden Keller was a standout linebacker for the Hokies this season, and he declared on his Instagram account that he will return next fall. In 12 games, he recorded 76 tackles, 32 solos, and two fumble recoveries. He earned a season-high ten tackles against Boston College in October, and nine in an overtime defeat at Syracuse in November and at home against Rutgers in September. He was credited with eight tackles against Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Virginia on Thanksgiving weekend.
Keller, who is from Tennessee, will most likely play Mike linebacker in the Hokies’ bowl game against Minnesota next month, with Sam Brumfield.
Other linebackers who could see play include Kaleb Spencer and Caleb Woodson.
Pry fired defensive coordinator Chris Marve and three other assistant coaches last week, and Shawn Quinn will take up those responsibilities for the bowl game with assistance from Bud Foster and Pry. Whoever takes over as defensive coordinator in 2025 will do so knowing that Keller will return for his final year of eligibility to manage the second level.
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