The firings of Brent Pry and Deshaun Foster by the Virginia Tech Hokies and UCLA Bruins opened a door to small seismic change for both programs. Whenever a coach is fired or retires, their players are granted immediate entry into the transfer portal, if they desire. Which players from the two programs have hit the portal already?
Dante Lovett, CB, Virginia Tech
After Pry’s firing, you’d expect the number of players leaving Blacksburg to increase slowly. While the Hokies were not loaded with talent, the metaphorical cupboard wasn’t bare either. The talent pipeline from the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) to the school remains strong and fruitful. Dante Lovett presumably leaves the area he called home.
After three years and a coaching change, Lovett hit the portal to find a better situation. Initially, a three-star prospect from powerhouse high school DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.), Lovett played 29 games for the Hokies, tallying 36 tackles, one interception, one tackle for loss, seven pass breakups, and one fumble recovery.
Lovett will redshirt the remainder of this season and will gain attention from several schools. For example, schools like Florida State and Texas A&M have contacted the cornerback and started an initial conversation.
How does a cornerback who didn’t start garner attention from many Power Four programs? For many of the interesting teams, it’s not what Lovett did at Virginia Tech; it’s what Lovett can do for them.
At roughly six feet and 200 pounds, Lovett possesses the type of build that defensive coordinators salivate over. At 200 pounds, he looks slightly larger than most corners, but not bulky, as the extra size would weigh down a player. Instead, Lovett’s frame suggests that he could still add five or ten pounds and not lose the quickness associated with the position.
Additionally, his build and corner cover skills would raise another question. What position could he play, and what type of defense fits his skill set? At 200 pounds, playing off the corner would be a waste. Instead, a scheme prioritizes man coverage, and a fight at the line of scrimmage works.
If teams ran a 4-2-5, Lovett could operate in multiple spots, but the corner or the star (extra defensive back) looks to fit. That fact should not rule out safety, as Lovett should be able to occupy either spot given his presumed strength advantage over many wideouts and speed if he needed to cover a tight end.
With options seemingly flowing in, where will Lovett land?
Tucker Holloway, WR, Virginia Tech
Over a week after the firing of head coach Pry, Tucker Holloway became the second Virginia Tech player to enter the transfer portal, making the announcement on Thursday, Sept. 25. The Hokies’ playmaker was enjoying something of a breakout campaign as a pass catcher, snagging five receptions for 82 yards through four games, setting a new career high.
A star wide receiver who also played cornerback at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, Holloway joined the Hokies as part of the program’s 2022 recruiting class. He saw action immediately and was so impressive on the Virginia Tech special teams unit that he earned the No. 25 jersey as a true freshman against Duke.
While he leaves Blacksburg with 13 receptions for 149 yards with a rushing score to his name, Holloway will be mostly missed for his contributions as a return man. In his first season with the Hokies, he led the ACC in punt return touchdowns before pacing the conference with 12.9 yards per return in 2023.
Set to be an integral part of the Hokies’ roster in 2024, Holloway suffered an injury that ultimately cost him the season. Now, he enters the transfer portal with two remaining years of eligibility. With family ties to the Liberty Flames, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him heavily lined to the CUSA team over the next few days.
Footnote: At the time of writing, no UCLA players had entered the transfer portal following head coach Foster’s firing. This article will be updated when more information becomes available.
