The Virginia Tech Hokies saw a season ravaged by the pandemic. A majority of the team missed some amount of time due to COVID precautions or opt-outs before the season. Despite a patchwork defense and missing key offensive components, the Hokies performed valiantly. A few 2021 Virginia Tech prospects sparkled in their last college football season. Their focus now shifts to Virginia Tech’s 2021 Pro Day to solidify their NFL Draft position.
The Hokies finished 5-6 (5-5 in ACC play) but decided to abstain from participating in a bowl game. This ended a 27-year streak of bowl appearances, the fourth-longest bowl streak in college football history.
When is Virginia Tech’s Pro Day?
The 2021 pro day for the Virginia Tech Hokies will take place on March 26.
Caleb Farley
Originally slated to work out at Virginia Tech’s Pro Day, Caleb Farley will be recovering from surgery instead. On Monday, March 22, reports that Farley would undergo a microdiscectomy on March 23 surfaced. Farley possesses all the tools to be a strong NFL cornerback. He’s tall, athletic, physical, and a proactive playmaker forcing turnovers and limiting offensive movement.
[sv slug=”drizly”]
Per Pro Football Network’s Chief Draft Analyst Tony Pauline: “Farley comes with good scheme versatility to be used backed off the line of scrimmage in a zone scheme or man coverage. While he will ultimately be a good NFL corner, I believe there will be bumps in the road before he gets there.”
According to PFN Draft Analyst Ian Cummings, the best fits for the athletic and lanky corner include the Cowboys, Panthers, Eagles, and Giants. However, if this procedure causes his draft stock to slip, many teams in the second half of Round 1 would pull the trigger on Farley.
Top Virginia Tech prospects working out
Christian Darrisaw
Virginia Tech offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw will presumably be the first offensive player drafted in the first round from Virginia Tech since RB David Wilson in 2012. The two of Darrisaw and Farley could also become the second pair of Hokies to be drafted in the first round following the Edmunds brothers in 2018. Darrisaw aims to strengthen his first-round projection with a stellar outing at Virginia Tech’s Pro Day.
Heavily under-recruited, Darrisaw ranked 171st among OT prospects across the nation in 2016. Virginia Tech gave the young OT his only Division 1 offer. Darrisaw started Week 1 at LT as a freshman and never looked back. He started nearly every contest his freshman season, missing just one due to injury.
The Vice Squad forms
Darrisaw became the driving force behind an improving Hokies rushing attack, culminating in his junior year breakout. The Vice Squad — led by Darrisaw, Lecitus Smith, Brock Hoffman, Doug Nester, and Silas Dzansi — was responsible for unleashing one of the most potent rushing offenses in the nation last season. Darrisaw earned first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American honors for his imposing play in 2020.
Pauline explained:
“Darrisaw was a terrific tackle at Virginia Tech the past two seasons and showed a lot of progress in his game during the 2020 campaign. He’s a devastating run blocker who holds his own in pass protection, and I believe he offers possibilities at left or right tackle in the NFL.”
Related | NFL Pro Days 2021: List of all college pro days ahead of NFL Draft
According to PFN Draft Analyst Oliver Hodgkinson, draft fits for Darrisaw include the Chargers, Colts, and Steelers. However, Darrisaw has shot up draft boards since the end of the season.
Now ranked as the 11th overall player on Tony Pauline’s 2021 big board, it would be shocking to see Darrisaw drop out of the first 15-20 selections. Solid testing numbers at Virginia Tech’s 2021 Pro Day will cement this prospect’s place among the top picks in the draft.
Khalil Herbert
As mentioned earlier, David Wilson was the last member of the Hokies offense selected in the first round. He also happens to be the last RB to be drafted from Virginia Tech over the last nine years. Khalil Herbert looks to end the streak as he declared for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Herbert did not become a household name until the 2020 season. As a three-star recruit coming out of high school, the RB received few offers from Power Five schools. He held out until, finally, the Kansas Jayhawks presented a match, and he committed to the school. He never truly obtained a starting role, playing in rotations during his time at Kansas.
Graduating with a degree in business administration, Herbert entered the transfer portal as a graduate and took his talents to Virginia Tech.
Juice’s time to shine
Playing in 11 games, Herbert took his 155 rushing attempts for 1,183 yards and 8 touchdowns. On top of his ability to carry the football, he became a receiving threat out of the backfield. Herbert received the spotlight in the offense the Jayhawks failed to provide, resulting in third-team All-ACC honors.
Pauline stated, “He’s an explosive multi-purpose back who picks up big chunks of yardage from the line of scrimmage as a ball carrier while also producing as a pass catcher. Herbert is a scheme-specific running back who can start at the next level if he continues to improve his game.”
Featured | Ryan Gosling’s First Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft
Running backs always have a chance to make an impact in the current landscape of the NFL. Cummings believes Herbert owns some of the qualities that can help facilitate that immediate influence. On the other hand, his lack of a complete projection as a full-time NFL starter causes his selection spot to take a hit.
After an impressive outing at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, the Virginia Tech prospect can continue to improve his draft stock with competitive testing numbers at his 2021 pro day.
Want more 2021 NFL Draft prospect news? Want to do your own mock draft?
Dive into PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator and test your own drafting acumen. Continue to visit Pro Football Network for NFL news and in-depth analysis. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@PFN365) to stay in the loop on all things college football and the NFL Draft landscape.
