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Virginia Tech Hokies Update: Transfer Portal Moves, Baseball Dominates, and New ACC Coaching Hires

This past weekend was a whirlwind for Virginia Tech sports, with significant news breaking across multiple programs, including men’s basketball, baseball, and women’s basketball.

Basketball Transfer Portal Action The Hokies’ men’s basketball team saw some high-profile developments in the transfer portal. On Saturday, head coach Mike Young made a big splash by securing his first commitment from the portal when Amani Hansberry, a forward from West Virginia, chose to join Virginia Tech. Hansberry’s decision added a much-needed piece to the Hokies’ roster as they continue building for next season.

However, Sunday brought some disappointment when the Hokies lost out on another key portal target. Jacari White, a guard from North Dakota State, committed to Virginia over Tech and a few other schools, leaving Young and his staff to quickly regroup. The Hokies are reportedly eyeing another promising guard in the portal, as Mekhi Mason from Washington has surfaced as a potential target. Mason, who averaged 9.9 points per game in his first season with the Huskies in the Big Ten, is also drawing interest from a number of programs, including Texas, Wake Forest, and Penn State. With the transfer portal playing such a pivotal role, Coach Young will need to act fast to strengthen the roster for next season.

Baseball Continues Strong ACC Play On the diamond, the Hokies’ baseball team continued their impressive ACC run, winning their third consecutive conference series. Despite dropping the opening game on Friday, Virginia Tech bounced back with dominant wins on Saturday and Sunday, including an 11-5 victory in the series finale. With the win, the Hokies improved to 9-6 in ACC play and 22-10 overall. Sunday’s game featured an explosive offensive display, including two bases-loaded doubles from Jared Davis and Ben Watson, who each capitalized with two outs to give Tech a commanding 10-0 lead midway through the game. The Hokies will now head back home to host Troy in a non-conference matchup before welcoming Florida State for a crucial three-game series next weekend.

New Faces in ACC Women’s Basketball Coaching On the women’s basketball front, the ACC saw a couple of major coaching changes. SMU announced Adia Barnes, formerly of Arizona, as their new head coach, bringing a wealth of experience after her successful tenure with the Wildcats. Additionally, Georgia Tech introduced Karen Blair, a former assistant at Maryland, as their new head coach, replacing Nell Fortner who retired. These coaching hires are part of the ongoing shake-up in college basketball, where changes are always around the corner.

It’s been an action-packed weekend for the Hokies, and the momentum continues to build across several sports programs. Keep an eye on the transfer portal developments, baseball’s exciting season, and the impact of these coaching changes in the ACC.

Virginia Tech QB Kyron Drones to Miss Remainder of Spring Practices for Surgery: What This Means for the Hokies

In a surprising twist just as Virginia Tech’s spring practices were gearing up, quarterback Kyron Drones will be sidelined for the rest of the spring following a medical procedure. This news raises questions about the Hokies’ QB depth just days before their highly anticipated Spring Game.

When spring ball began, Drones appeared to be in good form, looking forward to a fresh start after missing most of the 2024 season. He was sidelined for four of Virginia Tech’s last five games due to injuries, forcing backup quarterbacks Colin Schlee and Pop Watson to take charge. Despite the disruption, the Hokies performed reasonably well, and both Drones and Watson were confirmed to return for the 2025 season, giving Virginia Tech two capable quarterbacks heading into the next campaign.

However, just as spring practices were progressing, Drones was held out of a few workouts, which began to raise questions about his health. With the Hokies’ Spring Game scheduled for next weekend at Lane Stadium, a sudden announcement on Saturday confirmed the concern: Drones would be out for the remainder of spring practices due to a minor surgical procedure.

Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry addressed the situation in a statement, emphasizing that Drones’ procedure was not serious, but it would keep him out of action for the rest of spring ball. “Kyron Drones is scheduled to have a minor medical procedure, and we’ve made the decision to hold him out for the remainder of spring practice,” Pry said. “Kyron has demonstrated excellent leadership and has had an outstanding winter and spring. We fully anticipate he will be ready to return for summer workouts.”

While it’s reassuring that Drones is expected to return for summer training, his absence during the remaining spring practices—and crucially, the Spring Game—opens up new opportunities for the other quarterbacks on the roster. With Drones out, Watson is likely to take on a more prominent role, and Davi Belfort could see additional snaps as well. More intriguing, however, is the chance for incoming freshmen Kelden Ryan and A.J. Brand to showcase their abilities in a high-pressure environment, possibly affecting their standing in the depth chart for the upcoming season.

While Drones’ injury may be minor, his absence shifts the spotlight to Virginia Tech’s young quarterbacks, making next Saturday’s Spring Game more intriguing than ever. It’s a chance for these players to prove they’re ready to step up—whether to support Drones when he returns or to potentially challenge for more playing time in the fall.

Virginia Tech Football Faces Major Spring Challenge: Avoiding a Quarterback Crisis

Spring football in Blacksburg could take a dicey turn for Virginia Tech if the Hokies aren’t careful. With the transfer portal looming large, Coach Brent Pry and the Virginia Tech football team have a potential crisis on their hands—one they need to avoid at all costs.

Last year’s spring transfer portal window saw quarterback Dylan Wittke enter the portal and ultimately land at Minnesota, who went on to defeat the Hokies in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in January. Despite Wittke’s departure, the Hokies seemed to find some stability at quarterback with Pop Watson emerging as the backup to Kyron Drones, who was expected to lead the offense this season. However, this spring, the situation has taken an unexpected turn.

On Saturday, it was revealed that Drones, who had already missed some practice time, would be sidelined for the remainder of spring practices, including the upcoming Spring Game, due to a medical procedure. While Pry has stated that Drones is expected to be ready for summer workouts, in today’s unpredictable landscape, nothing can be taken for granted. This development raises the stakes for Virginia Tech, as they now face the risk of an even deeper quarterback dilemma, especially with the transfer portal window opening soon.

While Wittke’s departure last spring didn’t significantly impact the team, the situation is different this time. With Drones dealing with health issues over the past few months, there’s a legitimate concern about the Hokies losing a quarterback to the portal. It’s not a certainty, but with Drones’ status uncertain, the possibility of another transfer cannot be ignored.

Enter Pop Watson, the talented young quarterback who impressed during the Spring Game last season. Watson, with his confidence and swagger, has shown that he’s capable of stepping up into a starting role if needed. Many fans have even considered the idea of Watson becoming QB1 if Drones were to leave, but that would leave Virginia Tech without a proven backup in a critical season.

While Drones is likely to be ready for the season opener against South Carolina in late August, the next few weeks are critical for the Hokies. Pry and Virginia Tech cannot afford to lose another quarterback to the transfer portal, as that would severely affect their depth at the most important position on the field. The spring and summer ahead will be crucial for the Hokies, as they navigate the uncertainty at quarterback.

Virginia Tech Football Lands Major Crystal Ball Prediction for In-State Linebacker Joshua Pittman

The recruiting race for the Class of 2026 is heating up, and Virginia Tech is making some serious moves. This weekend, the Hokies are hosting a handful of top recruits during their spring scrimmages and practices, setting the stage for a big recruiting push. Among the notable recruits in attendance is Suffolk, Virginia linebacker Joshua Pittman, who has an official visit scheduled for late May. With momentum on the Hokies’ side, it looks like Virginia Tech could be on the verge of securing a commitment from this highly sought-after in-state talent.

In a stunning development, Brian Dohn of 247Sports has logged a Crystal Ball prediction for Virginia Tech to land Pittman’s commitment, signaling strong confidence that the Hokies will win out for the 6’3″, 195-pound linebacker. This marks a significant moment in the Hokies’ recruiting efforts, as Pittman is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the state of Virginia.

Pittman’s recruitment gained traction after he received his first offer from Virginia Tech in September 2023. The Hokies have made a concerted effort under head coach Brent Pry to lock down in-state talent, and it appears their persistence is paying off. Since taking over for Justin Fuente, Pry has made recruiting Virginia a top priority, and his efforts have already yielded promising results. Pittman, capable of playing both inside and outside linebacker, would be a major addition to the Hokies’ defensive class, potentially becoming their first commitment for the Class of 2026 on the defensive side of the ball.

While Pittman has garnered interest from several other schools, including Michigan State, Syracuse, North Carolina, and a pair of ACC rivals, the Hokies are in a prime position to land him. Syracuse, under head coach Fran Brown, has made significant strides in recruiting, especially with his southern connections, but Virginia Tech remains the favorite for Pittman’s commitment.

This Crystal Ball prediction for Pittman marks the first of its kind for Virginia Tech in the Class of 2026, but the Hokies are expected to secure more commitments in the coming weeks. They recently received a commitment from wide receiver Carnell Warren in February, and with several visits scheduled, more recruits are likely to follow suit. If Virginia Tech can close the deal with Pittman, it would be a huge win for the program as they continue to build for the future.

Shocking Trade: Chiefs and Raiders Set to Swap Picks in Rare NFL Draft Deal

In a move that could shake up the upcoming NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders might become unlikely trade partners, marking a rare collaboration between these AFC West rivals. According to ESPN insider Field Yates’ latest two-round mock draft, this potential trade could have significant implications for both teams as they look to build their rosters for the future.

Yates predicted that the Chiefs might trade out of the first round, with the Raiders emerging as a potential suitor to jump back into the back end of the first round. This surprising scenario hinges on a strategic move that would see Kansas City trade down, potentially allowing them to target players they want later in the draft. The Raiders, on the other hand, could be looking to grab a key offensive piece they can’t afford to miss.

Here’s the proposed trade: The Chiefs would move back to the 37th overall pick in the second round and receive a third-round pick (No. 68). In return, the Raiders would move up to No. 31, also sending the Chiefs a late third-round pick (No. 95). This exchange allows Kansas City to slide down six spots in round one but gain an additional 17 picks later in the draft, giving them more flexibility to build their roster.

While this trade remains hypothetical, Yates suggests the Chiefs could still secure a player they would have targeted at No. 31. One possibility? Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons, a first-round talent whose injury history could cause him to fall into the second round. “If healthy, Simmons would be long gone by now,” Yates said. “But Kansas City can afford to be patient after signing Jaylon Moore in free agency. They could give Simmons time to recover and ease him into the offense.”

If the Chiefs miss out on an offensive tackle at No. 37, they could pivot to other needs, such as defensive tackle, edge rusher, running back, or wide receiver. With this deep draft class, they have plenty of options to address various positional needs, and the trade would allow them to maximize value while still filling crucial roles.

This trade proposal adds another layer of excitement to the draft, as both teams could end up making moves that reshape their futures in the AFC. Will the Chiefs and Raiders really make this bold swap? Only time will tell.