On Saturday, reports emerged that Virginia Tech quarterback Braxton Burmeister had put his name in the transfer portal. Burmeister will not be playing in the Pinstripe Bowl. Hokies running back Raheem Blackshear followed that up on Sunday with an announcement that he will prepare for the NFL Draft after playing in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Those are just two of the 15 decisions Virginia Tech players have made over the past few weeks. For the full list, click here.
Braxton Burmeister
A 6-1, 205-pound redshirt junior from La Jolla, Calif., Burmeister transferred to Virginia Tech from Oregon. Evan G. Watkins of 247Sports first reported Burmeister’s decision to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 18.
In 2020, he played in seven games, starting four, and after Hendon Hooker transferred to Tennessee, Burmeister was named the Hokies’ starter for 2021. He played in all 12 contests, completing 142-of-255 attempts for 1,960 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. Burmeister also rushed for 508 yards and two touchdowns on 116 attempts.
He posted a 9-7 record (3-1 in 2020) as Virginia Tech's starter and he threw for a career-high 254 yards against Georgia Tech in October. However, he battled some injuries throughout the season and left the Boston College game due to an injury.
Burmeister led the program to two wins over Virginia in the Commonwealth Cup, and he even caught a touchdown pass from Tayvion Robinson in Charlottesville in 2021. Should he leave, the Hokies would have a sixth different starting quarterback at the beginning of next season in the last seven years.
Raheem Blackshear
A 5-9, 189-pound redshirt junior from Philadelphia, Blackshear transferred into the Virginia Tech program from Rutgers ahead of the 2020 season. He announced his decision on Twitter on Dec. 19.
In two years with the Hokies, he was a dynamic rusher, totaling 974 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground on 189 carries. Blackshear was also explosive in the passing game, finishing with 41 catches, 398 yards and a score.
He was named the ACC Running Back of the Week twice in 2021 after performances against Duke and Virginia. He compiled 157 all-purpose yards vs. the Blue Devils and 169 in Charlottesville, two games in which he averaged 9.8 and 9.4 yards per carry, respectively.
Blackshear's departure means Virginia Tech has ten running backs on scholarship for next season, as of now:
Jalen Holston (Sr.)
Marco Lee (Jr.)
Keshawn King (Jr.)
Tahj Gary (r-So.)
Malachi Thomas (So.)
Jordan Brunson (r-Fr.)
Jalen Hampton (r-Fr.)
Chance Black (r-Fr.)
Kenji Christian (r-Fr.)
Bryce Duke (Fr.)