Virginia Tech’s effort to remake its offensive line has brought in a lot of new faces, and Justin Bell is one of the early ones James Franklin landed when he arrived in Blacksburg. Bell came over from Michigan State as part of a sweeping trench overhaul that added 11 new players to the offensive line room through recruiting and the portal.
Bell’s path to Virginia Tech started long before the transfer. A native of Macomb, Michigan, about an hour from Detroit, he was a three-star prospect in the 2025 class and picked Michigan State over offers from West Virginia, Indiana, Kansas and others. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 19 player in Michigan for that class, while the 247Sports Composite had him at No. 24 in the state.
His time at Michigan State was brief. Bell redshirted, did not appear in a game, and entered the transfer portal after the season.
There was already a Virginia Tech connection in his recruiting history. Bell took an official visit to West Virginia before Matt Moore left for Virginia Tech, and that previous contact helped open the door when Bell decided to move on from Michigan State.
He got to Virginia Tech in the spring listed at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds, and the latest roster update has him at 322. With Johnny Garrett expected to miss extended time because of an injury, Moore will spend the next few weeks sorting through the offensive line and building out the unit. Bell, though, is viewed more as a long-term piece than someone expected to step in right away.
In Other News...
Virginia Tech Fall Camp Is Creating A Real Starting Job Debate
Fall camp has opened a real conversation up front for Virginia Tech, where a handful of newcomers are pushing to make an immediate impression and reshape the depth chart. Redshirt freshman Stuewe, Penn State transfer Denmark and Ohio State transfer Terry are all in the mix for playing time, giving the Hokies a legitimate set of questions to sort through as they try to settle the line before the season begins.
The intrigue is not just about who can help right away, but how each piece fits into the larger puzzle of a unit still sorting out roles. Terry has drawn the most attention in that battle, while Denmark and Stuewe appear to be working toward spots in the rotation and two-deep rather than a definitive starting claim, leaving Virginia Tech with a few decisions still hanging as camp moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Just Added A New Twist To Its Backfield
Virginia Tech has added another piece to its backfield in Bill Davis, a transfer from Louisiana who brings a different kind of run-game profile to Blacksburg. Davis arrives as a physical runner with more than 1,700 college rushing yards, and he gives the Hokies a sturdier option to pair with Marcellous Hawkins and Jeffrey Overton Jr. as they keep building out a deeper, more varied ground attack.
Davis track record suggests this is more than just an extra body on the roster. He has produced steadily throughout his college career and has already shown he can handle ACC competition, which is part of what makes him such an interesting fit for this offense. If Virginia Techs run game is going to stay multi-dimensional this season, Davis could end up being one of the more important additions of the offseason. [Read more 🡒]