When the Virginia Tech Hokies sacked head coach Brent Pry in mid-September, the transfer portal was available for the whole team for 30 days. Some players stepped in, including cornerback Dante Lovett and wide receiver Tucker Holloway, but not as many as some expected.
Other players with redshirt seasons available may choose to sit out the rest of the season to maintain eligibility and then transfer once the season is complete. Christian Ellis, a senior safety, joined the Hokies this week. Ellis, a transfer from New Mexico, competed in four games for the Hokies, making seven tackles and breaking up three passes. His brief stay in Blacksburg will forever be remembered for this play:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1972138290393321492
That resulted in one of the most memorable photographs in recent Virginia Tech history.
That play resulted in Virginia Tech’s stunning road win over North Carolina State, giving fans hope that a lost season may be saved. Unfortunately, the Hokies lost a game to Wake Forest the next week and were defeated by Georgia Tech last week. Ellis did not participate in either game and accessed the portal during the Hokies’ bye week.
On the one hand, you wish more athletes had attitudes like Kelvin Gilliam and Benji Gosnell, who elected to stay and give their best for the rest of their collegiate careers. But you cannot blame Ellis. There are no NFL guarantees for his future. If other teams approached him with an offer, whether we like it or not, he is wise to consider his choices.
Good luck to Ellis in his future undertakings.
