Hokies Cornerback Dorian Strong Announces He’s Returning In 2024

By: Andy Bitter | Senior Staff Writer
Dorian Strong is coming back for another year with the Hokies. (Jon Fleming)

An All-ACC season and an All-America nod weren’t enough for Hokies cornerback Dorian Strong to try his hand in the NFL quite yet.

Strong announced on social media Thursday night he’s returning to Blacksburg in 2024 for what will be his fifth year of college. 

Strong had one of the best coverage seasons in Virginia Tech history in 2023. Opponents completed just nine of the 32 passes thrown in his direction (28.1%) for 83 yards. He had three interceptions and broke up seven passes, posting an NFL passer rating against of just 14.1, tops among qualified ACC cornerbacks.

His efforts earned him only a third-team All-ACC selection that felt like a slight, given his stats, though he was chosen as a second-team All-American by the Action Network.

“I don’t take it personally,” Strong said last week of his All-ACC standing. “Because at the end of the day, I know what I bring to the table, and regardless of what people think about me, like, who cares? I know every ACC team I played against, I got their respect after. Coach [Derek] Jones come here and told me what the coach said about me. I know I got every single team we played’s respect. And the teams that I didn’t play, shoot, they just got lucky.”

Strong’s return bolsters what was already a solid Hokies secondary, which has to deal with the departures of veteran safety Nasir Peoples, who exhausted his eligibility, and nickelback Derrick Canteen, who entered the transfer portal.

He and rising junior Mansoor Delane form one of the top returning cornerback duos in the ACC and possibly the country, with a next wave of corners like Dante Lovett, Braylon Johnson and others coming up the ranks.

Print

Tech Sideline is Presented By:

27 Responses You are logged in as Test

  2. 5th year! I loved my 5th year at VT…a Super Senior! Would have loved to “stay home” even longer.

  3. wow, just wow. The locker room is healthy! I can’t remember the last time I was this excited in December for the next season.

  6. If Tuten comes back the offense could be one of the best in the nation. Never thought I would say that about any VT team.

  7. This is a strong step in the right direction. Very, very happy that I’ve already renewed my 2024 season tix.

  9. Great news for Hokie fans. Let’s hope for a monster season setting up a big NFL deal for Mr. Strong.

    1. if (when) he repeats his 2023 stats/grades his nfl stock will be great. i would like to see him add a few good pounds but thats just me

  11. Welcome Home!
    Great to see you staying for another year. Will be great to see 44 on the field. BTW, maybe practice defending the pass against the Bad Boyz 4. Could make both you and the BB 4 even better in the long run.

    GO HOKIES and surf the green wave curl to Victory in the Military Bowl. Hang Ten!!!

  14. I like the way next year is shaping up ! If Tuten will get on board that would be HUGE ! Let’s go !!

  17. Is Delane coming back? Cause the rumors were that if his brother wasn’t coming to Tech then he was going where his brother was going.

    1. his brother is ’25. i don’t believe mansoor’s 2024 location is a factor for his bro .. or vice versa

      maybe a re-class would impact?

      1. Agreed. And I’m guessing that Delane thinks that after another year in college, he’ll be ready to turn pro.

Comments are closed.