Saturday turned out to be a productive day for James Franklin and the Virginia Tech Hokies, who added two more key pieces from the transfer portal - Ohio State offensive tackle Justin Terry and West Virginia EDGE/linebacker Curtis Jones Jr.
Jones, a 6-foot-4, 226-pound hybrid defender, brings versatility and upside to a Hokies defense that’s clearly prioritizing depth and disruption off the edge. A native of Ona, West Virginia, Jones saw the field in 11 games as a freshman at WVU in 2024, contributing mostly on special teams.
But in 2025, his role expanded - and he made the most of it. Appearing in 12 games, Jones recorded 14 tackles, including three tackles for loss, broke up two passes, and forced a fumble.
That kind of production, especially for a player still developing at the collegiate level, signals real potential.
What makes Jones even more intriguing is his brief but effective cameo on offense. Used in short-yardage situations, he logged 11 carries and punched in three touchdowns. While that wrinkle added a fun layer to his game in Morgantown, make no mistake - Virginia Tech is bringing him in to hunt quarterbacks, not goal-line carries.
Jones becomes the sixth EDGE addition for the Hokies through the portal this offseason, reinforcing just how focused this staff is on building out a deep and aggressive front seven. That emphasis became even more critical after a setback earlier in the week, when Baylor transfer Kamauryn Morgan was unable to enroll due to an admissions issue and re-entered the portal. Losing Morgan was a blow, no doubt - he was expected to be a contributor - but landing Jones helps stabilize the position group and keeps the momentum rolling.
Virginia Tech has made it clear that the trenches are a top priority heading into 2026. With Jones now in the fold, the Hokies are continuing to stockpile talent at one of the most important spots on the field - and they’re doing it with players who bring both production and positional flexibility. If the goal is to build a defense that can get after the quarterback and create chaos, this is another step in the right direction.