Jorden and Jayden McDonald, twin brothers and longtime members of the Virginia Tech football program, have officially entered the NCAA transfer portal. The announcement came Thursday, marking the end of a four-year run in Blacksburg for the former Salem High School stars. Both are redshirt juniors and were coming off injury setbacks in 2024. Following spring practice, neither player had secured a spot within the two-deep depth chart at their respective positions, prompting their decision to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Jorden McDonald, who plays defensive end, and Jayden McDonald, an inside linebacker, both saw the most significant playing time of their collegiate careers during the 2023 season. Jorden recorded 101 snaps on defense that year, contributing three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He showcased some of his potential during that time but struggled to gain momentum going into the 2024 season.
In 2024, Jorden’s involvement on defense sharply declined. He played only 20 defensive snaps across games against Old Dominion and Rutgers and didn’t see action on the defensive front again until the Hokies’ bowl game against Minnesota. While he contributed on special teams in the first four games, he disappeared from the rotation until resurfacing in Week 9, suggesting he may have been sidelined due to injury or lack of role clarity.
Jayden McDonald had a standout season in 2023, logging 316 defensive snaps and earning a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 68.9 — the highest among Virginia Tech linebackers that year. Despite that strong showing, Jayden’s 2024 season was cut short. He played just four defensive snaps in the first two games and made no appearances on defense or special teams following Week 2’s matchup against Marshall. This sudden drop-off could also be attributed to lingering injuries or shifting team priorities, ultimately resulting in his removal from the active rotation.
The decision by both McDonald brothers to enter the portal reflects the difficult position they found themselves in as upperclassmen unable to secure consistent roles in a competitive environment. With the depth charts now set after spring practice, Virginia Tech seems to be moving in a different direction. As of now, the Hokies have nine scholarship defensive ends and ten scholarship linebackers, indicating considerable depth at both positions and possibly limiting opportunities for the McDonalds to play significant snaps in 2025.
The transfer portal provides a fresh opportunity for players like Jorden and Jayden to reset their careers, especially after injury setbacks and limited playing time. Under current NCAA rules, athletes can transfer once without penalty and are immediately eligible to compete for another program. This has led to increased player mobility and the chance to revive careers that might have stalled due to injury, scheme changes, or competition.
For the McDonald twins, a new program may offer the playing time and system fit they need to make an impact. Both have shown flashes of their abilities, and with a change in scenery, they could find themselves contributing more meaningfully elsewhere.
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