Running back Bhayshul Tuten is among the Hokies’ NFL Draft hopefuls. (Virginia Tech athletics)
Selected so far:
• RB Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars, 4th round, 104th overall• WR Jaylin Lane, Commanders, 4th round, 128th overall• CB Dorian Strong, Bills, 6th round, 177th overall• DE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Eagles, 6th round, 209th overall• DT Aeneas Peebles, Ravens, 6th round, 210th overall• WR Da’Quan Felton, Giants, free agent• OL Parker Clements, Raiders, free agent• DT Josh Fuga, Chargers, free agent• WR Stephen Gosnell, Bills, free agent• DT Wilfried Pene, Patriots, free agent• OG Kaden Moore, Titans, free agent• LB Keonta Jenkins, Bills, free agent• QB Collin Schlee, Commanders, free agent• S Jaylen Jones, Chargers, free agent• DE Cole Nelson, Bears, mini-camp invitation• P Peter Moore, Colts, mini-camp invitation• WR Ali Jennings, Packers, mini-camp invitation
Monday, 11:15 a.m.: Virginia Tech football announced Ali Jennings has been invited to a mini-camp with the Packers.
— David Cunningham
—
Saturday, 11:40 p.m.: Two more announced by the Hokies: mini-camp invites for Cole Nelson (Bears) and Peter Moore (Colts).
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 10:46 p.m.: Four more free agent signing to update, per VT: Kaden Moore to the Titans, Keonta Jenkins to the Bills, Collin Schlee to the Commanders and Jaylen Jones to the Chargers.
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 8:41 p.m.: Wilfried Pene to the Patriots, per Virginia Tech.
The Frenchman is headed to Foxborough🫡
Wilfried Pene has signed a free agent deal with the @Patriots #ThisIsHome | #NFLDraft | @PeneWilfried pic.twitter.com/8gGCr197Wy
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) April 27, 2025
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 8:16 p.m.: Stephen Gosnell to the Bills, per his agency.
Congrats to @Stevegosnell12 on the @BuffaloBills signing you. A lifelong dream come true! Let’s go!!!! #NFLDraft #NFLDraft2025 #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/g5vUkdQONI
— Upper Edge Management (@UpperEdgeSports) April 26, 2025
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 8:13 p.m.: Josh Fuga to the Chargers, per his Twitter.
#BoltUp All I know is work so lets do it!!
— Joshua Fuga (@jfuga01) April 27, 2025
Buy TSL Gear from The SWVA Shop!
Tech Sideline Gear is available at TheSWVAShop.com! Choose from a variety of TSL-branded T-shirts, polo shirts, pullovers, hoodies, and hats!Visit TheSWVAShop.com to browse the selections, and check back for new products!
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 8:11 p.m.: Parker Clements has signed with the Raiders, according to his agency.
SIGNED: Parker Clements@ParkerClements0 | @Raiders pic.twitter.com/Jwa5xusvNB
— 3 Strand Sports & Entertainment (@3strandsports) April 26, 2025
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 8:10 p.m.: Receiver Da’Quan Felton appears to be heading to New York as an undrafted free agent, per his Instagram.
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 5:47 p.m.: Brent Pry weighed in on Antwaun Powell-Ryland and Aeneas Peebles:
On APR: “The thing I love about APR is his fierce, competitive spirit. He never backs down from a challenge, in practice or a game. APR is a technician with his hands. He plays with great leverage and pad level and is always around the ball. His exceptional instincts as a pass rusher make him a constant disruptor who excels at making impactful plays.”
On Peebles: “Aeneas came into our program as a transfer with no ego—he put his head down, worked hard, and fully integrated himself into our locker room. He will continue to be a culture driver at the professional level. He is a highly productive player with quick, active hands and a strong motor. He is someone who loves football and demonstrates that through an unmatched work ethic.”
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 5:19 p.m.: It’s back-to-back selections for the Hokies, who saw Antwaun Powell-Ryland go to the Eagles in the sixth around at No. 209 overall and defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles go to the Ravens with the next pick.
Tech’s five draftees are its most since it had five in the regular draft in 2018. (Another, Adonis Alexander, was picked in the supplemental draft.)
“It’s all about getting off the ball with great snap anticipation,” ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said about APR.
“He creates chaos by kind of oming at you from a variety of angles,” analyst Field Yates said of Peebles.
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 4:56 p.m.: Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry shared his thoughts on Dorian Strong being selected by the Bills:
“Dorian is the kind of player who loves to compete in coverage. He’s not only a highly skilled corner with exceptional physical traits—he’s the guy who will battle every play, contesting catches like it’s a personal challenge. He’s also a proven, reliable tackler and has a natural feel for the game with his field awareness. Dorian is a true technician that takes tremendous pride in his craft.”
He’s the fourth Hokies player to be picked by Buffalo in the last decade and the 12th overall. Offensive tackle Luke Tenuta was the last in 2022 after linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and offensive guard Wyatt Teller were both drafted by the franchise in 2018 — the former in the first round.
Edmunds played well there before moving to Chicago. What’s more, the legendary Bruce Smith was the No. 1 overall selection by Buffalo in 1985, where he thrived. Corey Moore, a College Football Hall of Famer, was taken by the Bills in 2000, too. There’s a history of Hokies in Upstate New York. — David Cunningham
—
Saturday, 4:41 p.m.: The moment Jaylin Lane got the call from the Commanders:
Hokie ➡️ Commander@Seatgeek | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/4WUlnvACG8
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 26, 2025
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 4:13 p.m.: Don’t see a link to this anywhere, but here are Strong’s takes on being drafted when he spoke to local Bills media.
Dorian Strong’s Zoom with #Bills media:
-Long wait but excited-Versatile between zone and man but says strength is press man-Played special teams all five seasons at Virginia Tech-Has played slot and outside. Feels he’s best on the outside but says he can do both.-Dad is a…
— Ryan Talbot (@RyanTalbotBills) April 26, 2025
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 3:55 p.m.: Dorian Strong is the third Hokies player selected, going to the Buffalo Bills to start the sixth round at pick No. 177 overall.
“He’s physical,” ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said. “That’s one of my favorite things about him is that he will stick with receivers all the way through the route. We talk about in-phase, can you get in that back pocket and ride the wide receiver? And he does that. And he excels in tight-coverage situations. He’s really good at disrupting routes, disrupting the ball and closing on that window when it does come his way.”
Strong is the 31st Hokies defensive back selected since 1997. — Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 2:38 p.m.: Here’s video of Lane speaking with local Washington reporters from earlier.
“I’m on Cloud 9. It’s a blessing,” he said.
He also recorded this message for Commanders fans.
Ready to hit the ground running 🏃♂️@pepsi | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/A0a9QwHHB2
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 26, 2025
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 2:35 p.m.: Tuten spoke to Jaguars team reporter Kainani Stevens about being drafted in this video, talking a bit about his experience at Virginia Tech and what he brings to the table.
“They’re going to see a dawg come out on that field and give it his all,” Tuten said. — Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 1:55 p.m.: Hokies coach Brent Pry has offered some statements on Tuten and Lane being drafted.
On Tuten: “Bhayshul has a quiet confidence about him that I absolutely love. He is an explosive athlete with a compact frame. He has elite straight-line speed but also runs with powerful legs and great contact balance which allows him to run through defenders. Bhayshul’s combine numbers were off the charts and he has tremendous upside at the next level.”
On Lane: “As good a football player as Jaylin is, he’s an even better person. Off the field, Jaylin is known for his humility, leadership, and genuine care for others. He was named the Virginia College Football Humanitarian of the Year this past season for his outreach in the community. On the field, he is a versatile receiver who can stretch defenses. His speed helps him to get separation from defenders and he is productive after the catch. He is also a proven returner who will have an opportunity to earn touches in the NFL.”
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 1:41 p.m.: Lane is speaking to Washington media right now.
Jaylin Lane addressing the media. Said he's on Cloud 9 right now. It's been a dream for him to make it to the NFL. Told himself it doesn't matter what round he went as long as he got a chance
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 26, 2025
Lane said he plays with confidence and get protect the ball as a returner. He feels like he’s gonna be a big help catching punts for the Commanders
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) April 26, 2025
Jaylin Lane said Commanders WR coach Bobby Engram talked with him after Virigina Tech's pro day.
Said McLaurin is one of his favorite receivers. Needless to say, Jaylin is pumped to catch passes from Jayden Daniels.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) April 26, 2025
And here’s ESPN’s take on the pick:
“Washington needed more speed on offense, giving the Commanders more downfield threats for quarterback Jayden Daniels. They added line help to give him more time to throw downfield and now they have someone else to run the ball down in Lane, pairing him with Terry McLaurin. Lane ran the 40-yard dash in 4.34 seconds. He played for three years at Middle Tennessee State, hurting defenses as a receiver, a returner and the occasional run before doing the same at Virginia Tech. He could provide immediate help as a returner with the speed to develop as a receiver, notably in the slot.”
— Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 1:39 p.m.: Some interesting discussion here by the Jaguars media team about the Tuten pick, with one of the panelists saying Jacksvonille was looking for somebody like Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving, who led all rookie rushers last year with 1,122 yards.
There’s a bit near the end too where they interview GM James Gladstone (who appears to be about 15 years old). He raved about Tuten’s speed, which he thinks shows up on the field and not just in timing sessions.
“Really being able to change the pace of a game is something that we’re really interested in,” he said.
Gladstone said he targeted Tuten early on as one of the guys he liked as a Day 3 pick and was happy to see the team be able to snag him. — Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 1:29 p.m.: A second Hokie is off the board, with wide receiver Jaylin Lane going to the Commanders in the fourth round at pick No. 128.
That’s now the most Virginia Tech players taken in the last three years. Tech didn’t have anyone selected in 2024 and saw safety Chamarri Conner be the lone pick in 2023. (Though Brent Pry’s first high school recruits are just now reaching the draft-eligible stage of their careers.)
Lane is the sixth Hokies player to be selected by Washington since 2015, most of any team. — Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 12:49 p.m.: It has been a minute since a Virginia Tech player has been drafted by the Jaguars. The last before Tuten? Wide receiver Ernest Wilford way back in 2004.
How might Tuten fit in with the Jaguars. ESPN’s Michael DiRocco offered this take on the Tuten pick:
“Tuten was productive as a back and kick returner at Virginia Tech the past two seasons, producing 2,963 all-purpose yards over the past two seasons. He had two kickoff returns for touchdowns in 2023, and that’s likely where he’ll have the best chance to make an impact with the Jaguars. That puts Keilan Robinson, the team’s fifth-round pick last season who was taken mainly because of his kick return abilities, in jeopardy. Tuten was the fastest running back at the combine (4.32 in the 40-yard dash). Travis Etienne Jr. is playing on the fifth-year option so Tuten could be in line for a bigger role in 2026.”
Tuten joins a Jacksonville team that already drafted Travis Hunter at No. 2 overall to upgrade its skill spots. New coach Liam Coen, who spent all of his career as an offensive coach and coordinator, is bringing in some weapons to work with in Year 1. — Andy Bitter
—
Saturday, 12:20 p.m.: Bhayshul Tuten is the first Hokies player to be drafted, going to the Jacksonville Jaguars at pick No. 104 overall early in the fourth round.
He is the first Virginia Tech running back taken since Khalil Herbert went to the Bears in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
“He’s electrifying,” ESPN draft analyst Field Yates said. “This guy’s a joystick. It’s hard to tackle this guy in the hole. He has an ability to find way to turn nothing into something.”
ESPN's Louis Riddick on #Hokies RB Bhayshul Tuten: "If you don't buckle your chinstrap against this guy, he will absolutely embarrass you. And he will stone linebackers coming down the pike trying to rush the passer. He is really the total package."
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) April 26, 2025
Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. noted that Tuten’s ball security issues are still a concern. “He’s got to take better care of the football,” Kiper said. — Andy Bitter
—
Friday, 11:29 p.m.: With three rounds complete, no Hokies have gone off the board yet.
That’s not unusual, exactly, since it’s been the case in each of the last three drafts now, but Tech a couple of players who were on that borderline of the third/fourth round who had a shot. Alas, they’ll have to wait until Saturday to hear their name called.
FWIW, here are the top available Hokies on ESPN.com:
3. WR Jaylin Lane (WR2)39. RB Bhayshul; Tuten (RB7)41. CB Dorian Strong (CB3)57. DT Aeneas Peebles (DT6)75. Edge Antwaun Powell-Ryland (DE10)125. WR Da’Quan Felton (WR11)
We’ll be back with what should be a full day of updates tomorrow. — Andy Bitter
—
Friday, 7:05 p.m.: Could Bhayshul Tuten be a possibility in Round 3? He seems to have a fan in the NFL Network’s Mike Garafalo, who likes the pairing with the Cowboys. Tuten met with them on a “30 visit” a few weeks back, as Tech Sideline reported.
From NFL Draft Kickoff on @nflnetwork: Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten has gained steam as a possible third-round pick tonight. I like the match between him and the #Cowboys, whom he visited during the pre-draft process. pic.twitter.com/aT7DqCLUK0
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 25, 2025
Speaking of Tuten, you might have heard we did a Path to the Draft series on him. If you missed any of those entries, catch up on them here:
I. One Last Run, Then Turning Pro
II. Senior Bowl Week In Mobile
III. Showtime At The Combine
IV. Pro Day, ’30 Visits’ And The Stretch Run
Obviously, we’ll have a fifth installment after Tuten gets picked this weekend. — Andy Bitter
—
Friday, 6:50 p.m.: Day 2 of the NFL Draft is about to get underway, and there’s a far better chance a Hokies player goes tonight than last night. Here is where the Virginia Tech players stand on ESPN’s “Best available” list heading into Round 2:
41. WR Jaylin Lane (WR8)99. RB Bhayshul Tuten (RB11)102. CB Dorian Strong (CB12)119. DT Aeneas Peebles (DT12)139. Edge Antwaun Powell-Ryland (DE21)
With 70 picks tonight in Rounds 2 and 3, that means there’s a decent chance a Tech player comes off the board.
The Hokies have not had a player go in the top three rounds since 2021 when Caleb Farley (Round 1, Titans), Christian Darrisaw (Round 1, Vikings) and Divine Deablo (Round 3, Raiders) were selected. — Andy Bitter
—
Thursday, 9:49 p.m.: Does the name Tyler Warren ring a bell? The Colts took the Penn State tight end with the 14th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft. He was once a Virginia Tech commit.
The Mechanicsville product, who played quarterback among a bunch of positions at Atlee High, committed to Justin Fuente’s staff way back in August 2018, a very early pledge in the 2020 class, nominally as a quarterback, though he had position flexibility that probably would have moved him to a different spot in Blacksburg.
The move was so early, in fact, that it didn’t hold. Warren decommitted the following spring and made a commitment to the Nittany Lions in July 2019. He moved to tight end immediately in Happy Valley and turned into a do-it-all offensive weapon who was a star. In 2024, he had 1,233 receiving yards and accounted for 13 touchdowns, earning All-America honors.
Oh, what could have been. — Andy Bitter
—
Thursday, 8:46 p.m.: No Hokies are expected to be taken on Night 1 of the NFL Draft, but there’s a connection to the Virginia Tech staff.
The Giants took Abdul Carter third overall out of Penn State. Carter’s recruiter back in the day?
Pry never ended up coaching Carter, leaving to take the Virginia Tech job in December 2021. Instead, Carter developed under coordinators Manny Diaz and Tom Allen.
“I like how committed he is,” Carter said somewhat ironically of Pry when he committed in August 2021. “I think he’s pretty focused. I think he’s a really good guy, a really good coach.” — Andy Bitter
—
Welcome to the Tech Sideline live blog for the 2025 NFL Draft. Get all your Virginia Tech draft updates by periodically checking back on this post, where we’ll drop news, nuggets and anything interesting we find about Hokies players as they enter their professional careers.
To get you started, here’s a look at some of the rounds where this year’s batch of Hokies are projected to go over the next three days. Remember, only the first round is Thursday night. The second and third rounds are Friday night and the final four rounds are Saturday, with undrafted players securing free-agent opportunities afterward.
Round projections are from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who annually publishes his draft preview guide, “The Beast.”
RB Bhayshul Tuten
• Projected round: 3rd-4th• Position rank: 5th (CBS Sports), 6th (NFL.com), 10th (The Athletic), 13th (ESPN), 18th (PFF)• The word: “With Tuten having clocked a 4.32 40 at the combine, there’s no question about the one-cut runner’s speed. His ability — on full display in his transcendent, four-TD performance against Boston College — would provide an NFL offense with a powerful ball-carrier who runs through tackles and has three-down potential. I envision Tuten making an impact in a Kyle Shanahan kind of system — like Isaac Guerendo did for the 49ers last season.” — Bucky Brooks, NFL.com
DT Aeneas Peebles
• Projected round: 3rd-4th• Position rank: 15th (CBS Sports), 17th (The Athletic), 17th (ESPN), 19th (PFF), 20th (NFL.com)• The word: “What Aeneas Peebles lacks in size, he makes up for in motor. He’s the kind of defensive tackle I love to root for because he’ll never give up on a rep. NFL defenses are getting more adept at taking advantage of interior defenders with first steps like Peebles.” — Mike Renner, CBS Sports
WR Jaylin Lane
• Projected round: 4th• Position rank: 11th (ESPN), 5th (The Athletic), 17th (CBS Sports), 18th (NFL.com), 21st (PFF)• The word: “He is capable of stretching the field vertically (dynamic on slot posts), although he needs work in the intermediate part of the field to better set up defenders, win body position and finish crowded catch points. Overall, Lane is missing the well-rounded effectiveness that teams want in a starter, but his balance and acceleration — especially with the ball in his hands — will give him a chance to impress an NFL coaching staff in camp. His value as a punt returner should boost his chances of securing a roster spot and getting on the field.” — Dane Brugler, The Athletic
CB Dorian Strong
• Projected round: 4th• Position rank: 10th (PFF), 14th (The Athletic), 15th (ESPN), 24th (CBS Sports)• The word: “Despite having average length, Strong gets physical early and maintains positioning to make quarterbacks second-guess targeting constricted windows. He can function well in zone because of his pattern recognition and effectiveness in run support. Overall, Strong doesn’t have ideal foot speed or twitch for what some NFL teams desire, but he is a quick, instinctive player with the competitive profile other teams will highly value.” — Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Edge Antwaun Powell-Ryland
• Projected round: 5th-6th• Position rank: 23rd (NFL.com), 24th (CBS Sports), 25th (ESPN), 27th (The Athletic), 27th (PFF)• The word: “Despite below-average length and get-off burst, Powell-Ryland was a difficult player to block on tape because of his ability to mix up his rush attack and detach from blockers (including his signature spin move). He can get pushed around as a run defender when setting an edge, and he might not be ready for early-down snaps in the NFL until he improves his upper- and lower-body strength. Overall, Powell-Ryland posted eye-popping pass-rush production with active hands to slip blocks, but he doesn’t offer ideal traits by NFL standards and inconsistent run-game reps leave his NFL role in question.” — Dane Brugler, The Athletic
A big group of Hokies are considered as candidates to sign as free agents if they don’t sneak into the final rounds. Here they are, with their position rankings by various outlets:
• WR Da’Quan Felton: 24th (ESPN), 30th (NFL.com), 40th (CBS Sports), 41st (The Athletic), 44th (PFF)• OG Kaden Moore: 34th (The Athletic)• QB Collin Schlee: 36th (The Athletic)• OT Parker Clements: 63rd (The Athletic)• S Keonta Jenkins: 75th (The Athletic)• DT Josh Fuga: 79th (The Athletic)• Edge Cole Nelson: 89th (The Athletic)• S Jaylen Jones: 89th (The Athletic)• DT Wilfried Pene: 90th (The Athletic)• WR Ali Jennings: 118th (The Athletic)• WR Stephen Gosnell: 136th (The Athletic)