Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Despite not hearing their names called over three days of the 2025 NFL Draft, an assortment of prospective NFL Hokies have found landing spots in the pros. Teams came calling after the final pick Saturday, scooping up both offensive and defensive Tech standouts that are primed to contribute to their new squads. Through both undrafted free agent signings and minicamp invites, the new class of NFL-bound Hokies is set up for success.
After the dust settled from the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots were the first team manning the phones, signing Hokie defensive lineman Wilfried Pene to a free agent contract. The French tackle played in all 13 games as a redshirt senior this past fall, racking up 33 tackles and 3.5 sacks in the 2024 campaign. Pene will look to serve as the missing piece to a Patriots defense that tallied just 28 sacks last season, a total ranked bottom-seven in the NFL.
Shortly after Pene struck his deal, Hokies across the board would field phone calls from prospective teams. Da’Quan Felton, one of the integral members of the “Bad Boyz” wide receiver room in 2024, would be signed to the New York Giants after the draft concluded. Additionally, offensive linemen Parker Clements and Kaden Moore have found homes with the Las Vegas Raiders and the Tennessee Titans respectively. Both former Hokies are joining lines that ranked bottom-10 according to PFF, giving each a chance to contribute in a big way with their new groups.
Multiple Hokies will also be traveling to their new teams surrounded by familiar faces. Stephen Gosnell and Keonta Jenkins, who were big contributors on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball respectively last fall, were signed to the Buffalo Bills this past weekend. The signees will be reunited with sixth-round pick Dorian Strong on a Buffalo team that promises to impress in the upcoming year. Colin Schlee, who saw action at quarterback last year, will also be heading to the nation’s capital as a member of the Commanders and is primed to join fourth-round pick Jaylin Lane on the offense.
On the West Coast, defensive standouts Jaylen Jones and Josh Fuga will be heading to the Los Angeles Chargers on UDFA contracts. Fuga, who was an enforcer on the Hokies’ defensive front last season, joins a defense with household names in Khalil Mack and Derwin James Jr.
Various Hokies were also invited to minicamps across the country. In the NFC North, defensive lineman Cole Nelson will start his NFL career with the Chicago Bears while wideout Ali Jennings makes his mark with the Green Bay Packers. Over in Indianapolis, specialist Peter Moore was invited to the Colts’ minicamp, promising to bring his kicking skills to the big leagues on the heels of an All-ACC Third Team selection last fall.
For a more detailed look at which Hokies were drafted during the three days of action in Green Bay, be sure to check out the breakdown found here.