It’s clear that Virginia Tech’s new offensive line coach, Matt Moore, is already proving his value. Hired on December 23, Moore wasted no time making an impact.
Tomas Rimac, a three-year starter, quickly announced he would follow Moore to Blacksburg. Rimac, who has one year of eligibility left, is set to start for the Hokies in 2025. He wasn’t the only West Virginia offensive lineman to enter the transfer portal after the coaching shakeup at WVU. Among others, center/guard Kyle Altuner, a former four-star recruit, also committed to Virginia Tech.
But Moore wasn’t finished yet. Over the weekend, the Hokies hosted Altuner and his former WVU teammate and roommate, Lucas Austin, on an official visit. Despite a snowstorm hitting the New River Valley, Austin decided to join Moore, Rimac, and Altuner in Blacksburg.
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Who is Lucas Austin?
Austin is a 6-foot-6, 287-pound tackle from Sterling, Illinois. He redshirted last season with the Mountaineers and has four years of eligibility remaining. While Rimac and Altuner are interior linemen, Austin is expected to play tackle for the Hokies.
Virginia Tech has openings at both tackle positions for 2025. Johnny Garrett is a likely starter for one spot, while Layth Ghannam may be ready to step into the other. Austin has a strong chance to break into the two-deep depth chart when he arrives on campus.
The Hokies were already in need of offensive linemen before the transfer portal opened, but the departures of left tackle Xavier Chaplin and center/guard Braelin Moore, both two-year starters, made the need even more pressing.
Bringing in Matt Moore has been a major boost for Virginia Tech. Not only do the Hokies now have one of college football’s best offensive line coaches, but his arrival has also attracted talented players to the program.
Welcome to Blacksburg, Lucas.
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