On Tuesday, Virginia Tech running back Jordan Brunson and tight end Jared Gibble entered the transfer portal. Evan G Watkins of 247Sports reported the news first.
A 6-0, 215-pound redshirt freshman from Alpharetta, Ga., Brunson played in two games at Virginia Tech over two seasons, both in December of 2020. A former three-star prospect and ranked No. 84 out of running backs in the 2020 class, Brunson committed to Justin Fuente's staff in June 2019.
Brunson's departure leaves the Hokies with eight scholarship running backs, sorted below by class:
Jalen Holston (5-11, 215, r-Sr.)
Marco Lee (5-11, 227, r-Jr.)
Keshawn King (5-11, 180, Jr.)
Malachi Thomas (6-0, 197, So.)
Kenji Christian (6-2, 201, r-Fr.)
Chance Black (6-1, 182, r-Fr.)
Jalen Hampton (5-10, 192, r-Fr.)
Bryce Duke (5-11, 196, Fr.)
At tight end, Gibble was a 6-4, 235-pound redshirt freshman from Winston-Salem, N.C. He did not play in a game in his time in Blacksburg. The former three-star from Oak Grove High School was the No. 71 player in North Carolina in the 2021 class, per 247Sports. He committed to James Shibest's tight end room and was an early enrollee in January 2021.
Gibble leaving gives the Hokies six scholarship tight ends, sorted below by class:
Drake DeIuliis (6-5, 247, r-Sr.)
Ty Eller (6-2, 236, r-Sr.)
Connor Blumrick (6-5, 215, Sr.)
Nick Gallo (6-4, 251, Jr.)
Benji Gosnell (6-5, 240, Fr.)
Harrison Saint Germain (6-4, 230, Fr.)
As a team, Tech Sideline estimates Virginia Tech currently has 90 players on scholarship, which is five more than the 85-man limit. That includes specialists like punter and 2021 Third Team All-ACC honoree Peter Moore. Brent Pry & Co. have until the fall to trim that number down.