Virginia Tech sophomore defensive ends Alec Bryant and Robert Wooten both announced that they have entered the transfer portal on Monday afternoon.
The Texans released similar statements on Twitter, both which thanked Virginia Tech and said the decision was the best thing to do for their futures.
https://twitter.com/ABXCVIII/status/1414663250294329344?s=20
Wooten's statement was almost identical to Bryant's. "I want to thank VT. With a heavy heart, I have decided to enter the transfer portal. This has nothing to do with the coaches or the program. This is where I wanted to be. This was an issue that was out of their hands and mine. I accept responsibility and will move on to a different path. I look forward to seeing what my future holds."
https://twitter.com/RobjayyW/status/1414657478399254533?s=20
They are the second and third Hokie defensive ends to enter the transfer portal this offseason, joining Justin Beadles, who left in May and landed at Houston. With Bryant and Wooten leaving, all three defensive end signees from the Class of 2020 are no longer with the program.
Bryant and Wooten highlighted the class ranked dead last in the ACC and No. 76 in the NCAA, with Bryant being the only four-star in the 16-person class. While Wooten played in all 11 games in 2020, recording three tackles, Bryant did not see the field.
Their departures also mean that the top four players from Tech's 2020 class have left. Tyree Saunders, a three-star wide receiver from Jacksonville, Fla., found a new home at East Carolina. He was the third-ranked player in the class while Beadles was the fourth.
Despite the class's low ranking, the Hokies have found some gems in low-rated prospects. Keonta Jenkins and Dorian Strong, two low-rated three-star recruits, made an impact in Tech's secondary last fall.
As far as depth goes, Justus Reed, Amare Barno and Jaylen Griffin received most of the reps at end last season. The former took his talents to the NFL while the latter two return in 2021. Barno had a strong 2020, but experience is limited otherwise.
Griffin, TyJuan Garbutt and Eli Adams can help fill the void, while the return of a healthy Emmanuel Belmar, who missed the second half of last season with an injury, would be a huge help. Tech also has some incoming freshmen that can make an impact on the line in Mattheus Carroll, Cole Nelson and Desmond Mamudi.