Virginia Tech’s 2025 Transfers Shine Despite Challenges

The 2025 college football season has concluded for Virginia Tech, highlighting the impact of several key transfers who joined the team. As the transfer portal prepares to open, attention turns to how these new players performed during their inaugural season in Blacksburg.

Key Performances from Virginia Tech’s Transfers

Among the notable transfers is Tomas Rimac, who followed head coach Matt Moore from West Virginia. Despite high expectations, Rimac faced challenges adjusting to different positions on the offensive line, moving between tackle and guard throughout the season. His performance suffered due to a lack of stability, resulting in a grade of just 64.3. While he was Virginia Tech’s top offensive lineman, this marked a significant decline from his previous season’s grade of 78.1. Rimac excelled in pass blocking with a score of 68.0, but his run-blocking grade fell to 61.3, both over 14 points lower than his final season at West Virginia.

Another addition from Moore’s previous program, Kyle Altuner, served as the starting center for Virginia Tech. Although Altuner’s overall grade was lower than Rimac’s at 56.3, he impressed fans with his performance as a redshirt freshman. He participated in all 12 games, demonstrating a solid run-blocking ability with a grade of 61.6. Given his potential, Altuner might transition to guard next season, as the center position is often seen as less critical on the offensive line.

Transferring from Bowling Green State, running back Stewart faced health issues that limited his playing time, with more than 20 snaps in only three games. Nonetheless, when on the field, he emerged as one of Virginia Tech’s most effective backs, rushing for 469 yards at an impressive average of 5.7 yards per carry. His overall grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF) was 71.2, with a career-high pass-blocking grade of 79.7. Stewart’s standout performance came during a critical win against NC State, where he rushed for 174 yards on just 15 carries.

Impactful Contributions and Future Prospects

Among the transfers, Marcellous Hawkins was arguably the most impactful. He finished the season as Virginia Tech’s top offensive player, achieving an overall grade of 84.5 across 11 games. Despite playing behind a less-than-ideal offensive line, Hawkins rushed for 749 yards with an average of 6.3 yards per attempt. Additionally, he contributed with 12 receptions for 74 yards and one touchdown. His most impressive outing occurred against Cal, where he recorded 167 yards on 21 carries, leading to Virginia Tech’s final victory of the season.

Defensive player Ben Bell, considered one of the top acquisitions in the transfer portal, ended the season with three sacks, 18 quarterback hurries, and 32 tackles. His overall defensive grade was 69.7, with an even higher pass-rush grade of 80.8. Bell’s best performance came in a game against Virginia, where he achieved three hurries and one sack, earning a PFF grade of 69.3.

As Virginia Tech prepares for the upcoming transfer portal season, the performances of these players will be crucial as the program continues to build and strengthen its roster. The contributions from Rimac, Altuner, Stewart, Hawkins, and Bell showcase both the potential and challenges faced during this transitional period, setting the stage for future success in the competitive landscape of college football.