Sam Brumfield wasn’t Virginia Tech’s most significant transfer addition of the offseason, but the 2023 All-Conference USA linebacker could be the Hokies’ most important transfer addition.

Tech’s defense lacked a true Mike linebacker and their struggles on defense in stopping the run game last season reflected that as running fitness issues became one of the main talking points. Put in a true inside linebacker in Brumfield, who was slated to be at least the starting Mike LB from the moment he committed to Virginia Tech.

While he wasn’t immediately awarded the position, all signs point to Brumfield being the top linebacker, with Jaden Keller appearing to be the likely frontrunner ahead of Keli Lawson and the others in one of the few starting battles this fall camp.

Things didn’t happen right away for Brumfield, however, as he had an adjustment period after arriving this spring, mainly because he had to learn a new defense. However, things have slowed down for Brumfield after he got to know the defense, and he is more than confident that he will be ready to lead the Hokies’ defense as the starting Mike LB.

“To be completely honest, it’s slowed down a little bit for me. I came in the spring and I wouldn’t necessarily say it was a learning curve, but things were kind of coming at me quickly. But going through the spring has really helped me a lot. Right here in the summer, everything has slowed down for me. I feel a lot more confident and everything is happening so fast for me and I know what’s going on around me,” Brumfield said.