Virginia Tech could be looking at an overhaul in its safety room in 2025.
Starting safety Mose Phillips plans to enter the transfer portal, he confirmed on social media Monday. The sophomore started 11 games in 2024, finishing in a tie for third with 65 tackles. He had one pick and four pass interceptions.
Unlike most of the portal entries so far, Phillips was a noted recruit on Brent Pry's watch, added late in the 2023 class out of Tennessee and getting on the field almost immediately. The 6-foot-2, 193-pounder played in 11 games in 2023, starting twice and making 27 tackles.
Coaches had praised Phillips as a key piece on the defensive going forward, touting the leadership role he took on this fall.
Phillips will have two years of eligibility left.
He's the second projected starter at safety with portal plans this cycle. Jalen Stroman, who missed nearly all of the 2024 season with a shoulder injury, went in earlier Monday. Jaylen Jones, meanwhile, exhausts his eligibility.
Tech has promising freshman Quentin Reddish coming back after he made 18 tackles in 11 games as a reserve this year. Other safeties on the roster -- Devin Alves, Braylon Johnson and Cameren Fleming -- have only gotten a handful of snaps in games, however, while Noah Jenkins redshirted.
That's nine scholarship players either to enter the portal or announce their intentions: Phillips, Stroman, running back Malachi Thomas, offensive linemen Xavier Chaplin and Lance Williams, linebacker Keli Lawson and defensive linemen Khurtiss Perry, Ishmael Findlayter and Malachi Madison.
For more information on Virginia Tech’s comings and goings in the portal, click here for Tech Sideline’s roster management page.