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Virginia Tech Football: Hokies land transfer linebacker

Virginia Tech has landed another core piece.
Connor Mardian|
Oct 5, 2024; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Temple Owls linebacker Antwone Santiago (23) blocks the punt for a recovered touchdown against the Connecticut Huskies in the second quarter at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Oct 5, 2024; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Temple Owls linebacker Antwone Santiago (23) blocks the punt for a recovered touchdown against the Connecticut Huskies in the second quarter at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images

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Virginia Tech Hokies

Former Temple Owl Antwone Santiago has committed to the Virginia Tech Hokies through the transfer portal.

Santiago spent three years as an Owl, where he tallied 35 tackles including 25 last season. Per the Temple Athletics website

Santiago, was a part of the rotation at linebacker and a core member of the special teams coverage units. Santiago set a career high in tackles with four at Navy. Santiago made his first career start vs. Army at SLB, and blocked a punt at UConn that was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown by Temple. Santiago recorded a career-high six tackles and four solos at East Carolina

Virginia Tech has shifted a lot of things around in recent months, including the departures of offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen to Ohio State and defensive coordinator Chris Marve. Both were replaced by Sam Siefkes and Phillip Montgomery.

Taking the heralded defensive coordinator spot is Siefkes. When Pry first introduced Siefkes, he had this to say about the former Arizona Cardinals linebacker coach.

Pry harped on Siefkes' ability to adapt to the personnel he was given. Pry later explained that in Siefkes' two years of leading the Wofford Terrier defense, he was forced to switch from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4, all while posting top-25 defenses.

"It's multiple fronts, so 4-3 5-2 6-1, [it's] challenging stuff, whether it's pre-snap or post-snap. The ability to play with three safeties on the field or some teams doing that, that's been attractive to me for a couple of years now. And they do a really nice job with it."

A number of high-profile names have exited the squad, including the likes of Mansoor Delane, Xavier Chaplin, Jalen Stroman, Sam Brumfield, Mose Phillips, Davi Belfort, and many others littered throughout the squad. The total number of transfers is up to 31 out of Brent Pry's squad.

Santiago is bound to experience a versatile role as a Hokie as Siefkes has been known to trial a number of different of styles over his career at a number of different schools and professional organizations.

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Connor Mardian
CONNOR MARDIAN

Connor is a recent graduate from the esteemed Sports Media and Analytics program at Virginia Tech. He first found himself writing for recruiting database Rivals.com for just about two years before moving to Virginia Tech On SI. Connor has interviewed some of the highest-ranking members of Virginia Tech Athletics and looks to one day be a full-time writer covering Manchester United, his favorite soccer team.