Report: Kalil Pimpleton to transfer

As first reported by Andy Bitter of the Roanoke Times and shared last night with HokieHaven subscribers, Virginia Tech wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton is set to transfer from Blacksburg.

The 5-8, 170-pound freshman played in four games this year (against East Carolina, Old Dominion, Boston College, and North Carolina), and recorded his only statistic with a four-yard rush against the Tar Heels. He intends to complete this semester at Virginia Tech, and transfer to another Division-1 institution, where he'll have to redshirt according to NCAA transfer rules, then have three years to play.

Pimpleton has not publicized his reasons for leaving the football program, but the emergence of other freshman receivers may have him seeing a tough path to the field. Hezekiah Grimsley has two catches for 20 yards, while slot Sean Savoy is a starter and the team's second-leading receiver with 37 catches for 447 yards and four touchdowns. Given that Savoy plays the same position as Pimpleton, reps may have been hard to come by for at least a couple years.

As a recruit, Pimpleton was listed as a 5-7, 155-pound three star and the No. 20 player in the state of Michigan for the 2017 class. He hailed from powerhouse Muskegon High School, where VT had also offered Penn State-bound 2018 offensive tackle Antwan Reed. The high school quarterback was one of three players from the Sunshine State on the Hokies' roster, including quarterback Josh Jackson and running back Terius Wheatley.

Penn State and Michigan State - where Pimpleton has connections - seem like likely destinations should those programs offer him a transfer opportunity, while Mid-American Conference schools closer to home are likely if major programs don't emerge as options.