VT’s Darrisaw and Farley go from underappreciated recruits to back-to-back NFL first round picks
BLACKSBURG, Va. (BVM) — Even Hokies fans would be forgiven if they didn’t think Christian Darrisaw and Caleb Farley would amount to high-level stars during their time with the Virginia Tech football team. As prospects, neither player particularly wowed nationally for a team that has been able to regularly get some of the country’s top recruits. As a dual-threat quarterback for Maiden High School in Maiden, N.C., Farley was certainly seen as a project athlete as he was rated a three-star prospect and the No. 37 dual-threat QB in the Class of 2017 and would start his Hokies career at wide receiver. Darrisaw was even less heralded as he was ranked a two-star prospect as the No. 135 offensive tackle in the Class of 2017 out of Riverdale Baptist High School in Upper Marlboro, Md. with Virginia Tech being his lone Power 5 offer.
However, during their time with the Hokies, the two underrecruited prospects would become team cornerstones and among the top players at their position across the country. Another chapter to their underdogs story was written on April 29 when the two teammates were selected with back-to-back picks in the first round of the NFL Draft with Farley being selected by the Tennessee Titans with pick No. 22 and Darrisaw being selected right after by the Minnesota Vikings with pick No. 23. This marked only the second time in Hokies program history that two players went in the first round of the draft with the duo joining the Edmunds brothers, Tremaine and Terrell, who were selected by the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively, in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Back to back 😏
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) April 30, 2021
Farley’s story may be more well-known than Darrisaw’s, but for good reason. Farley came to the Hokies as a quarterback, but was quickly moved to wide receiver thanks to his ability with the ball in his hands. However, Farley would tear an ACL on the first day of preseason practice as a freshman and would be redshirted. This actually worked out well for Farley as his mother had been battling cancer at the time and her health was getting worse, so the freshman was able to spend more time with her before she passed in January 2018.
The freshman would use his grief as fuel and with a position change to cornerback would become one of the top defenders in the country. In two years with the Hokies, Farley would play in 24 games with 23 starts and would record 56 total tackles, six interceptions, 15 pass breakups and 25 passes defensed. His redshirt sophomore year would prove to be the corner’s best as he would be a first-team All-ACC pick after he led the ACC with 16 passes defensed and ranked fourth in the nation averaging 1.5 passes defensed per game. His four interceptions tied for second in the ACC that season as well.
Following his stellar performance as a sophomore, Farley would famously become the first Division I player to opt-out of the 2020 season due to concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic. His reasoning for his decision was the loss of his mother and his worry of risking the lives of his other loved ones, which is as good of a reason as any. Now, he will join the Titans in Nashville.
From Blacksburg to The League
Congrats, @IAmCalebFarley 🙌#NFLDraft April 29 – May 1 on NFLN pic.twitter.com/Btq5RDx6eY
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) April 30, 2021
Though a bit less talked about than Farley, Darrisaw has a pretty compelling story himself. While he was only ranked as a two-star prospect, the big tackle would quickly become one of the Hokies most important players in the trenches. In 2018, Darrisaw would become one of only nine true freshman offensive linemen to start week one in the FBS and his star would quickly rise as he would earn 247 Sports Freshman All-American honors.
His sophomore year, Darrisaw would be fully entrenched on the Hokies left side starting all 13 games as the team’s left tackle and would earn Athlon Second Team All-ACC and
Phil Steele Third Team All-ACC honors that season. This past year, Darrisaw would start at left tackle in all 10 games he participated in and would earn his greatest recognition as a first-team All-ACC member. The 6-foot-5, 322 pound Darrisaw will now use his size to try to protect Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins’ blindside over the course of his NFL career.
The @Vikings got a DAWG 😤
Can't wait to watch @Bigdawgchris1 on Sundays.
2021 #NFLDraft April 29 – May 1 on NFLN pic.twitter.com/MDqaYr9Y1G
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) April 30, 2021
Now, with both knowing their first professional homes, the two Tech teammates will look to build on the Hokies legacy of success at the NFL level.
.@IamCalebFarley and @Bigdawgchris1 sure made us proud last night 😎#NFLDraft | #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/rAEz7t6q3k
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) April 30, 2021
With two of its players going in the first round of the NFL Draft for the second time in four seasons, Hokies coaches will have plenty of success stories to pitch current players and potential recruits. Given their starts, Darrisaw and Farley both prove that it’s not about how one starts, but how one finishes that truly matters.
Back to Back❕Congrats @IamCalebFarley & @Bigdawgchris1! Making Dreams Into Reality! #NFLDraft #Hokies 🦃
— Justin Fuente (@CoachFuente) April 30, 2021
