We’ve heard several Virginia Tech players reveal their intentions to return in 2026 over the past week. Only a few have announced intentions to enter the transfer portal. On Friday, redshirt sophomore quarterback William “Pop” Watson confirmed he was entering the portal.
This should come as no surprise. The 5-foot-11, 201-pound native of Springfield, Massachusetts, served as Kyron Drones’ backup in 2025. Watson played in only two games, completing 2 of 4 passes for 77 yards. He also rushed for 22 yards and a touchdown.
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Watson is the second Virginia Tech quarterback to announce he’s entering the portal, following Garret Rangel. Drones’ eligibility expired, meaning the Hokies will be without their top three quarterbacks from 2025. Again, no surprise. Head coach James Franklin is looking to upgrade the position and has the means to do so. He’ll likely add at least two quarterbacks from the portal. Kelden Ryan and A.J. Brand are current quarterbacks on the Virginia Tech roster, both of whom will be redshirt freshmen in 2026. The Hokies received a commitment from quarterback Troh Huhn in the 2026 recruiting class.
Watson is best remembered for his start against Virginia to end the 2024 regular season. He completed 14 of 21 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed for 48 yards and another score. Overall, he played in five games in 2024, making two starts.
For his Virginia Tech career, Watson appeared in 11 total games, completing 36 of 63 (57%) passing attempts for 558 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
The NCAA transfer portal opens on January 2.
