Colorado Pass Rusher Samuel Okunlola Transfers To ACC Program

Another Colorado Buffaloes transfer has found a Power Four landing spot.

According to On3's Hayes Fawcett, defensive end Samuel Okunlola will continue his college football career in the ACC at Virginia Tech. The Hokies won only three games last season but appear to be trending well with the nation's No. 18 incoming transfer portal class (per 247Sports), which includes 26 commitments.

Colorado Pass Rusher Samuel Okunlola Transfer Portal ACC Program Buffaloes Virginia Tech Hokies Deion Sanders College Footbal — Sep 7, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) gets sacked by Colorado Buffaloes defensive end Samuel Okunlola (93) during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Okunlola, a junior who began his college career at Pitt (2022-23), was one of Colorado's top pass rushers in 2024. While playing in all 13 games, the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder totaled 30 tackles, including seven for a loss, three sacks and three third-down stops.

Last spring, Colorado defensive ends coach George Helow compared Okunlola to an All-Big Ten pas rusher he coached at Michigan.

"He's got the size, speed (and) athletic ability that you look for in an EDGE guy," Helow said. "I compare him a little bit to David Ojabo, who we had at Michigan and ended up being a second-round (pick)... He's got those types of traits: playing the game the right way, finishing in a dominant position every play, knowing how to play the run, knowing how to convert on pass, and (he's) definitely getting bigger, faster, stronger in the weight room."

Unfortunately for Okunlola, he appeared in only one game last year before suffering a season-ending injury. His presence on the defensive line was sorely missed as Colorado struggled against the run and totaled only 13 sacks.

Okunlola figures to compete for a starting job at Virginia Tech, which has landed five other defensive ends via the transfer portal this offseason.

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Colorado Transfers Who've Landed Elsewhere

Twenty-six of the 37 Colorado players who entered the transfer portal earlier this month have so far committed to a new program. Okunlola is one of 17 who will remain at the Power Four level.

Safety Carter Stoutmire — Arkansas
Wide Receiver Terrell Timmons Jr. — Memphis
Cornerback DJ McKinney — Notre Dame
Defensive End London Merritt — Clemson
Running Back Dallan Hayden — Memphis
Linebacker Shaun Myers — UAB
Safety John Slaughter — Purdue
Wide Receiver Dre'lon Miller — Baylor
Defensive Lineman Christian Hudson — Boston College
Defensive Lineman Tawfiq Thomas — Georgia Tech
Defensive Lineman Gavriel Lightfoot — San Diego State
Offensive Lineman Tyler Brown — James Madison
Defensive End Alexander McPherson — Penn State
Offensive Tackle Carde Smith — Memphis
Defensive Lineman Brandon Davis-Swain — Texas A&M
Safety Tawfiq Byard — Texas A&M
Wide Receiver Omarion Miller — Arizona State
Safety TJ Branch — UCF
Defensive Lineman Jehiem Oatis — Ole Miss
Cornerback Teon Parks — TCU
Athlete Isaiah Hardge — Tennessee
Quarterback Ryan Staub — Tennessee
Athlete Kam Mikell — Southern
Cornerback Noah King — Sacramento State
Linebacker Mantrez Walker — UAB
Defensive Lineman Samuel Okunlola — Virginia Tech