Virginia Tech had an eventful weekend. The Hokies secured their first spring transfer portal commitment when defensive tackle Kody Huisman from North Dakota State pledged to join the team. After losing several players to the portal earlier this offseason, the Hokies finally added to their roster.
Amid a weekend in which five former Hokies were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, head coach Brent Pry landed another transfer: cornerback Caleb Brown from Hawaii.
Brown, a 6-foot-1 defensive back, played high school football at Lithia Springs in Georgia. He originally committed to Kennesaw State, spending two seasons there before transferring to Butler Community College. Brown later moved on to Hawaii, where he played in 13 games in 2023 and appeared in 10 more during the 2024 season.
During the winter transfer window, Virginia Tech added multiple defensive backs, including corners Joseph Reddish and Isaiah Brown-Murray. With junior Dante Lovett solidified as one starting corner, the rest of the group—including Brown, the other transfers, three freshmen, and returning players—will battle for the other starting spot.
Welcome to Blacksburg, Caleb.
Although most of Virginia Tech’s 2025 starting lineup is established, the Hokies were in need of more experienced depth. After spring practice, several depth-chart players entered the portal, opening the door for new additions.
Last week, the Hokies picked up Kody Huisman, a former North Dakota State defensive lineman who will compete for a starting job. On Saturday, they added Caleb Brown, and not long after, Georgia Southern’s Elhadj Fall announced he would also transfer to Virginia Tech.
Fall brings size and experience to the defensive line. At 6-foot-3 and 290 pounds, he adds valuable depth inside for new defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes. A Marietta, Georgia native, Fall redshirted in 2022, then played all 13 games in 2023, recording 19 tackles, five tackles for loss, and four sacks. He earned Freshman All-American Honorable Mention honors from College Football News.
He followed that with another 13-game season in 2024, registering 20 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks across over 400 snaps. He has two years of eligibility left.
With Aeneas Peebles and Josh Fuga heading to the NFL, Fall and Huisman will challenge projected starters Kelvin Gilliam Jr. and Kemari Copeland, as well as Gerard Johnson and others, for playing time at defensive tackle.
Welcome aboard, Elhadj.
Virginia Tech also had success in the 2025 NFL Draft. Cornerback Dorian Strong was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 177th overall pick in the sixth round.
Strong, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound corner from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, spent five seasons with the Hokies. He made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2020, playing in 11 games with five starts. Over his career, he totaled 53 appearances—mostly as a starter—and notched seven interceptions.
Despite injuries in 2022, Strong bounced back in 2023, earning All-ACC recognition and a second-team All-American nod from Action Network. He started every game in 2024.
Here’s what Coach Brent Pry had to say about Strong:
“Dorian is a true competitor in coverage. He brings great physical tools and plays with relentless effort. He takes pride in every snap, whether it’s contesting catches or wrapping up tackles. He’s got excellent awareness and is a technician at the position.”
Best wishes, Dorian. Hokie Nation is behind you.
