The Buffaloes’ Roster Takes Another Hit
Colorado has lost key members on its football squad this offseason. The latest departure? Defensive lineman Samuel Okunlola, who’s packing his bags and heading to Blacksburg to suit up for Virginia Tech.
Okunlola spent three seasons in Boulder, wrapping up his junior campaign before hitting the transfer portal. The Hokies scooped him up, adding a versatile D-lineman to their roster as they continue building under their new direction.
From Massachusetts to the ACC
Before landing at Colorado, Okunlola made his name at Thayer Academy in Brockton, Massachusetts. Coming out of high school in the 2022 recruiting cycle, he carried a three-star rating and ranked as the No. 840 overall prospect nationally. Not eye-popping numbers, but he showed enough potential to earn a Power Five opportunity.
Fast forward to the 2025-26 transfer portal window, and Okunlola entered as a three-star prospect once again. This time around, he checked in at No. 570 overall among portal players and No. 64 among defensive linemen looking for new homes. Virginia Tech clearly saw something they liked in his tape and development over three years in the Pac-12.
What This Means for the Hokies
Virginia Tech’s transfer portal activity has been aggressive, and Okunlola isn’t the only former Big Ten player making the move to the ACC. The Hokies also landed Penn State cornerback Kenny Woseley, who spent two seasons with the Nittany Lions before jumping ship.
The program’s new coaching staff wasted no time attacking the portal when it opened from January 2-16. While players can enter during that window, there’s no deadline for when they have to commit to a new school. That flexibility allowed Virginia Tech to take their time evaluating targets and ultimately secure commitments from players like Okunlola who fit their system.
For Colorado, this is just another name on a growing list of departures. The Buffaloes are experiencing significant roster turnover, and losing experienced depth along the defensive line won’t make things easier as they prepare for next season.
