A once-proud program, Virginia Tech has fallen on hard times recently. The program, whose past included placing several players at a time in the first round, did not have a single player drafted last April. That is most definitely going to change, as almost a handful of Hokies grade as top-100 selections.
The top of the board is littered with cornerbacks and receivers.
Viriginia Tech NFL Draft 2025 Preview
#1 Mansoor Delane
Mansoor Delane really impressed me as a sophomore and then took his game to another level last season. He’s a legitimate shutdown corner who can play in man coverage or line up off the line of scrimmage. He’s smart, explosive and athletic.
#2 Dorian Strong
Taking his game to another level is exactly what Dorian Strong did in 2023. He’s also an explosive corner who does a great job making plays with his back to the ball and positioning himself against opponents to defend the pass.
Both Delane and Strong measure over six feet, and both will run the 40 in the low 4.4s.
Virginia Tech has two receivers, both super-seniors who transferred into the program, with contrasting styles.
#3 Jaylin Lane
Jaylin Lane, who came from Middle Tennessee, is a shorter (5-foot-9) playmaker who can score from any place on the field. He’s super quick and can be impossible to cover.
#4 Da'Quan Felton
Da'Quan Felton, a sixth-year collegian from Norfolk State, is a bigger possession wideout who uses his 6-foot-4.5, 215-pound frame to outmuscle defenders and win out for contested throws. He won’t time all that well before the draft, but he plays fast.
#5 Xavier Chaplin
Keep an eye on redshirt sophomore Xavier Chaplin, an offensive tackle who is destined to be the next big-time blocker to come out of the Virginia Tech program.
One final note: after spending a season as the backup at UCLA, quarterback Collin Schlee transferred to Virginia Tech, where he’ll again be the backup signal caller.
Schlee’s recent choices are a bit head-scratching. He looked like a legitimate NFL quarterback his last two seasons at Kent State and seemed poised to make a run-up draft board after the 2022 season.
Yet holding the clipboard for most of the following two seasons won’t help Schlee’s draft stock.
Virginia Tech's 2025 NFL Draft projections by Tony Pauline
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