BREAKING: Another Virginia Tech Safety Enters Transfer Portal

On Friday, Virginia Tech safety Braylon Johnson announced his decision to enter the transfer portal, with three years of eligibility remaining.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Highland Springs product appeared in 17 games over two seasons, tallying 11 tackles. According to PFF, he logged 112 snaps on defense and 54 on special teams.

Johnson began his career as a cornerback and saw the bulk of his playing time as a true freshman due to depth issues in the Hokies’ secondary. He played in 13 games that year, notching seven tackles — including three in a game at Boston College — as the team dealt with thin depth behind starters like Dorian Strong, Mansoor Delane, and Derrick Canteen.

He began transitioning between corner and safety during the following spring and ultimately made the full switch to safety in fall camp. However, despite a season-ending injury to starter Jalen Stroman, Johnson saw limited action and was overtaken on the depth chart by freshman Quentin Reddish and redshirt sophomore Devin Alves, leading to a redshirt season.

Although Stroman, Mose Phillips, and Jaylen Jones moved on from the program, Johnson’s path to playing time remained murky this spring after Virginia Tech brought in four transfer safeties — Isaiah Cash, Sherrod Covil, Christian Ellis, and Tyson Flowers. Johnson ended spring practice as a third-string safety but did record three tackles and a pass breakup in the spring game.

A former three-star recruit, Johnson was a first-team all-region selection at Highland Springs High School and ranked among the top 40 players in Virginia — as high as No. 15 by Rivals and as low as No. 36 by ESPN.

He is the son of Loren Johnson, Highland Springs’ head coach and a former Virginia Tech defensive back (1995–98). His younger brother, Brennan, a linebacker, is set to join the Hokies as a freshman this summer.