For the second time in two days, a Virginia Tech football transfer was named to a watch list for the 2024 season. On Monday, defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles was named to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award along with edge Antwaun Powell-Ryland. On Tuesday, another key defensive player was named to a watch list.

Linebacker Sam Brumfield, a transfer from Middle Tennessee State, is one of seven ACC linebackers among the 51 players on the prestigious Butkus Award watch list, given each season to the nation’s top linebacker. He joins fellow conference linebackers: Clemson’s Barrett Carter, Miami’s Francisco Mauigoa, North Carolina’s Power Echols, North Carolina State’s Sean Brown, Stanford’s Gaethan Bernadel and Syracuse’s Marlowe Wax. Semifinalists for the award will be announced Nov. 4, finalists Nov. 25 and the winner Dec. 10.

This season, the focus of Virginia Tech’s transfer portal has been heavily on the defensive line, and rightly so considering how much talent was brought in, but Brumfield is a big addition at linebacker. Defensive coordinator and head coach Brent Pry hopes he ends up being the top linebacker to fill a big void on the Hokies.

Last season, he played in 12 games for the Blue Raiders, playing 642 snaps and leading them with 81 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. He finished the season with a 73.0 rating from Pro Football Focus after eight quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.

There is no doubt that Brumfield will strengthen Virginia Tech’s linebacker group and give them a very good player at the second level. The Hokies should put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and cause them a lot of problems, and a major key will be Brumfield and the many players in the secondary.