Virginia Tech addressed its pass-rushing shortcomings in a big way Thursday, getting a commitment from defensive end Antwaun Powell-Ryland out of the transfer portal. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Powell-Ryland, who made his announcement on social media not long after a midweek visit to Blacksburg, is a 6-foot-3, 233-pound edge rusher who spent the last three years at Florida. He came on strong as a starter late last year, finishing with 29 tackles, six tackles for a loss and three sacks.
@HokiesFB @CoachFerb pic.twitter.com/QFtBLefwrC
— Antwaun Powell-Ryland (@TwaunPowell) May 4, 2023
Originally from Portsmouth and having attended Indian River High, Powell-Ryland was the No. 4 in-state prospect and No. 184 overall player in the 2019 class, a four-star recruit the Hokies pursued but didn’t land.
He redshirted in 2020, appeared in 12 games as a backup in 2021 and moved into the Gators’ starting lineup for the final five games of 2022, playing outside linebacker in Florida’s 3-3-5 scheme. All three of his sacks came in those final five games along with 11 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
That’s welcome news for a Hokies pass rush that managed just 23 sacks last year, which ranked 96th nationally. Powell-Ryland figures to be a defensive end in Tech’s 4-3 scheme, a spot where it bid adieu to senior TyJuan Garbutt, who led the Hokies with 6.5 sacks.
Cole Nelson and C.J. McCray figured to be the top options at defensive end exiting the spring, though they’ve combined to make just three career starts. No returning player on the Hokies’ roster had more than two sacks last year, and the group was further thinned out by Kyree Moyston recently entering the transfer portal.
His addition puts the Hokies at 83 scholarship players when accounting for the summer arrivals, giving Tech two more potential slots to fill with transfers. For a full breakdown of the program’s offseason roster movement, click here.
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Wow! This looks like it’s becoming a trend. Let’s Go…. HOKIES!!!
Awesome! As this continues to happen, some of these VA kids with pick Tech first vs coming through the portal. #GoHokies!!!!
If Deion can do it so can Pry! Go Hokies!
Awesome news! Great pick up! You will love VT and the great atmosphere! Can’t wait to see how many sacks you get this year! Thanks for coming HOME! Go Hokies!🏈🏈
Great pickup! Now we need two OLs of that caliber and the upcoming season can be special!
Needed this land big time!! I still think we haven’t done enough to address the offense.
Big time player at a position of need. Winning in recruiting creates more wins in recruiting and on the field.
Great work by the the Tech staff to bring in this important DL “puzzle” piece. High performing on the field and in the classroom. Proud to have him back in VA.
Encouraging! Hoping this is just the beginning of seeing much improved recruiting classes. Maybe Pry is up to the task!
What we needed … now stay healthy and disruptive. Congrats to Prye and the staff for landing this great player that happens to be from Virginia. 🙂
Huge pick up!
These transfer ins that come from the Commonwealth orinally make me wonder. Keep working, coaches. Good job.
Make you wonder if it was Fu? Me too
I smell bowl eligibility. The best portal player available and he’s now a Hokie. Welcome aboard Mr. Powell!
Oh stop that! Yer serious? We can start hoping again? Where are my heart pills…
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol
Big get! Pry getting it done!
Big get. Position of need. Two years left. Great job coaches
Are athletes allowed to transfer TO Tech from Florida? I thought it only worked the other direction
I’m probably most impressed by the recruiting job getting him to commit to VT, as it seems that he was being pursued by a LOT of schools, some with much bigger names than VT. Good get.
I agree…………….big win for Pry no matter how he turns out.
That’s what we need!
agree. don’t know his story. can see why he picked Hokies (great school, big opportunity, close to home). why did he enter the portal?
do some Hokie fans feel that the sVT program is second tier, and the only reason a power 5 school players would transfer to a 3-8 program is a relative, home or family.
How about the foundation of the program is strong and a hell of alot of great coaches and atmosphere.?? The previous staff didnt offer that recruits.
This cannot be spurred by my question, as it takes the third of three reasons listed for choosing Tech as an opportunity to question other fans, then repeats the two reasons I listed prior as if an answer to their own question. I was wondering why this player entered the portal at all.
This is great news with regards to filling a position of need! Do we know why he wanted to move on from UF since it seems he was starting to show results on the field for them? Regardless, so glad he has 2 years to give us.
Definitely looks the part.
His high school video is truly impressive. He delivers with authority.
Nice
Wow, that sounds like A1 transfer portal goal, good cred in the SEC, from Virginia with 2 years left? Something’s got to be wrong somewhere, maybe he eats pineapple on pizza or something. I see a lot of little changes that seem to be going in the right way, this is clearly a top #2 or #3 thing that needed to happen for VT and it happened.
Hopefully no baggage.
Yeah, it’s got me wondering too. But 1) UF’s defense is a mess 2) Maybe he’s past the stars in the eyes stage and is getting practical, easier trip for friends and family to get to Blacksburg 3) Even though Pry won’t be his D coach, a defensive minded team(?) 4) Big fish in small pond may still get you to the NFL.
I mean it does sound kind of sensitive, coaching changes? who knew that might happen? but fingers crossed this is just a pragmatic choice.
My understanding is at least part of it is wanting to play a traditional 4-3 defensive end spot as opposed to an outside linebacker that he was when Florida went to a 3-3-5.
heard florida coach is another fuente model, not real friendly and supportive…..nothing but business.
I think your correct. My Boss is a former Florida and Memphis football player (he finished at Florida). The upload I get from him is both Dan Mullin and Billy Napier are alot alike except Dan had a very uneven personality and definitely was not a very good in-game coach. Both guys are hungry for university and media exceptance and seemed to immediately push existing players to the back of the room in favor of getting their recruits and players up front and infused into the program rather than embrace and nourish the talent investments already in the program. Alot times kids can fall out of favor simply because of scheme or simply because they don’t share enough geographical commonality with coach or the other players. So as we might imagine, many kids get isolated and exhiled out of the program in blink of eye and have to seek new life.
The QBs Florida had the last couple of years carried the team. This year will be real testament to whether Billy is truly a good coach and decision maker b/c 1st Round Anthony Richardson is now gone.
Pineapple on pizza wouldn’t bother me any. Excited by this one!
Hawaiian Pizza = best pizza
Hawaiian Pizza = best pizza>>>>
Pineapple and Spam. Hawaiian original. My fav – but have to settle for ham around here.
Pineapple on pizza = rooting for uva – it shouldn’t be done!
Yes, this is great news. Our recruiting this year appears to be an improvement. Actually a great improvement. However this year’s recruiting affects the win/loss column this upcoming season, I am keeping an open mind. That said, our staff seems to be pushing all of the right buttons.
Very welcome news. Really love that a 757’er is coming back home. Very telling to me on the investment leadership in the coaching department is making in the state. Welcome back to Virginia Antwaun, hope you crush it at VT.
Really hope this sends a message to the current in state recruits that VT is the place to be for home grown talent to go. Get some wins with local kids and the message will flow with the staff we have in place today.