The college football transfer portal is barely a week old this spring, and already the chaos is in full swing. In what’s quickly becoming a fierce, fast-paced recruiting sprint, Virginia Tech has taken an early blow—and it came from the SEC.
The Hokies were lining up a visit from one of the portal’s most coveted offensive linemen, Maryland’s Terez Davis. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound freshman entered the portal and immediately drew national interest. Virginia Tech moved quickly to schedule a visit for Monday, hoping to get in front of the rising star before he made a final decision. Unfortunately, they were just a step too late.
On Saturday—just two days before his planned trip to Blacksburg—Davis visited Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss and committed on the spot. The Rebels didn’t wait around, and Davis didn’t either. Just like that, Virginia Tech lost out on a major addition to its offensive line.
Given Davis’ résumé, it’s easy to see why he became such a hot commodity. In his freshman year with the Terrapins, he appeared in 10 games, logging 300 snaps while surrendering just one sack and two pressures. That kind of poise and production made him a prime target for teams looking to strengthen their trenches.
For the Hokies, it’s a disappointing miss. Head coach Brent Pry noted after the team’s spring game that he was impressed with the offensive line and secondary, but there’s no denying that more depth—and long-term potential—is needed. New offensive line coach Matt Moore is in the early stages of building a front that can compete in the ACC not just this season, but beyond. Davis would’ve been a cornerstone piece.
Still, all is not lost. Virginia Tech has several more transfer targets lined up for visits in the coming days. The challenge now is clear: get these players on campus before another powerhouse program swoops in.
In the high-stakes world of the transfer portal, timing is everything—and this time, the Hokies came up just short.