Virginia Tech Picks Up Two Transfer Commits

Immanuel Hickman
Defensive tackle
USF
6-3, 296
1 year remaining (r-Sr.)

Michael Short
Linebacker
North Carolina
6-3, 230
2 years remaining (Jr.)

Virginia Tech picked up two transfer commitments on the defensive side of the ball on Monday night. South Florida defensive tackle Immanuel Hickman and North Carolina linebacker Michael Short chose the Hokies within minutes of each other.

Hickman is Tech’s third defensive tackle transfer portal commit of this cycle and fourth overall since the end of the 2024 season. Short is the second linebacker commit this spring.

The 6-foot-3, 296-pound Hickman also previously played for East Carolina. He is originally from Chesterfield, where he played for Matoaca High School. He started 16 career games for the Pirates, appearing in 31. He played in 12 games in 2023 for the Bulls before getting injured in 2024 and appearing in just two. For his career, Hickman has 84 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and five sacks.

Hickman has been a solid run defender throughout his career over 1,238 snaps. Per PFF, he graded out at 76.0 in run defense in 2023, 71.7 in 2022 and 67.2 in 2021. He has continually gotten better throughout his career, though there are some unknowns considering he was injured last year and didn’t originally find a home when he entered the transfer portal in the winter. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

Hickman’s commitment gives the Hokies 11 scholarship defensive tackles. Kody Huisman (North Dakota State) and Elhadj Fall (Georgia Southern) committed during the spring portal period, while Arias Nash (Mercer) and Jahzari Priester (Hampton) have been with the Hokies since the start of the spring semester.

Short, who stands at 6-foot-3, 230, spent the last two seasons at North Carolina. He is originally from Charlotte, where he played at Mallard Creek High School. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Short has made 23 tackles in his career, all of which came in 2024. He did not redshirt in 2023, playing in every game for the Tar Heels on special teams, while appearing just once on defense. His role increased in 2024 when he played 101 defensive snaps. That includes 29 snaps in UNC’s bowl game against UConn, with his playing time increasing as the season progressed.

He originally picked the Tar Heels over Wake Forest and East Carolina coming out of high school and was ranked the No. 32 prospect in North Carolina by 247Sports.

Short’s commitment gives the Hokies 11 scholarship linebackers, including Temple transfer Antwone Santiago, who committed last week.

For more information on Virginia Tech’s comings and goings, click here for Tech Sideline’s roster management page.

Immanuel Hickman links: 

Michael Short links: