Hokies quarterback Pop Watson has entered the transfer portal. (Jon Fleming)

Hokies quarterback Pop Watson entered the transfer portal on Friday, he announced. ESPN's Pete Thamel first reported the news.

Watson (5-11, 201) played in 11 games over three years at Virginia Tech, highlighted by two starts in the final two games of the 2024 season against Virginia and Minnesota. He completed 36 of his 63 passes (57.1%) for 558 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions in Blacksburg. He also added 81 yards and two scores on the ground on 54 carries.

The Springfield, Mass., native replaced No. 2 quarterback Collin Schlee at Duke on Nov. 23, 2024, who filled in for injured starter Kyron Drones. It was the first extended collegiate action for Watson, who was 12-for-25 for 146 yards and an interception while netting -4 rushing yards on seven sacks.

He bounced back in the Commonwealth Clash vs. UVa, though. With Drones and Schlee out, it was the Watson show, and he delivered, leading a unit that dominated the Cavaliers to the tune of 456 yards of total offense. He completed 14 of his 21 passes for 254 yards and a score to Jaylin Lane and racked up 48 rushing yards.

Watson earned a 90.4 overall offensive grade from PFF for his performance and was named ACC Rookie of the Week.

"I went out there this week and I was just like, 'Play your style of ball,'" Watson said after the game. "I think that's what got me here. â€Ļ I was like, I can do this. I've been in pressure situations and I feel like that's where I thrive."

In the season finale against Minnesota in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Jan. 3, the Tech offense struggled, with Watson going just 8-for-12 for 81 yards and totaling -31 rushing yards due to five sacks.

As a redshirt sophomore in 2025, he was on the field for 22 snaps, eight of which came in the final home game of the season vs. No. 14 Miami on Nov. 22. He entered for Drones in the fourth quarter and completed a 39-yard pass to Ayden Greene on fourth-and-11 before running it in himself on the next play from the 3-yard line.

However, after the Hokies recovered the onside kick, he was stripped by the Hurricanes' Akheem Mesidor and fumbled, which Miami recovered. He finished the year 2-for-4 for 77 yards with 22 rushing yards and one touchdown on nine carries.

A three-star prospect out of high school, Watson was the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022 and was committed to Nebraska before flipping to the Hokies.

He's the second Virginia Tech player to enter the transfer portal since James Franklin's arrival in November, joining fellow quarterback Garret Rangel. Click here for Tech Sideline's roster management page.