Virginia Tech Supercharges Defense with Key Transfer Portal Haul Ahead of 2025 Season
Virginia Tech football is wasting no time fortifying its defense for the 2025 season — and it’s not just a tweak, it’s a full-on transformation.
With a new era underway, headlined by recently hired defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes — who replaces Chris Marve after a December coaching shakeup — the Hokies are in rebuild mode on the defensive side of the ball. Following significant departures from their 2024 defensive roster, both to the NFL and the transfer portal, Virginia Tech is aggressively reshaping its lineup with experienced reinforcements.
Despite some promising progress in spring practices, head coach Brent Pry made it clear that gaps remained. This past weekend, the Hokies took a major step toward plugging those holes, reeling in two pivotal transfer commitments.
First up is Caleb Brown, a standout cornerback from Hawai’i. Known for his coverage skills and playmaking ability, the Alabama native racked up 24 tackles and seven pass breakups in 2024. Brown brings both talent and experience to a secondary that’s been searching for a reliable presence.
But perhaps even more vital is the addition of Elhadj Fall, a powerful defensive tackle from Georgia Southern. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 290 pounds, Fall is a disruptive force up front. He earned All-Sun Belt honorable mention honors in 2024 after tallying 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks over 432 snaps. With two years of eligibility remaining, Fall is expected to immediately bolster the Hokies’ defensive line depth.
He joins an increasingly deep unit that also includes recent tackle transfers Kody Huisman (North Dakota State), Arias Nash (Mercer), and Jahzari Priester (Hampton). This reinforcement effort follows major defensive losses to the NFL, including edge rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland (Philadelphia Eagles) and Aeneas Peebles (Baltimore Ravens).
Fortunately for Pry and Siefkes, the Hokies still have talent in the pipeline. Kemari Copeland and Kelvin Gilliam, the latter a December transfer from Oklahoma, are poised to make an impact as Virginia Tech looks to build a dominant, battle-ready defense.
With a flurry of smart, strategic additions, the Hokies are clearly serious about turning their defense into a force to be reckoned with in 2025.