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Trei Oliver, the football coach at North Carolina Central, recently shared a noteworthy incident he encountered while on the sidelines during a college football game.
Oliver recounted an incident from last season where he caught a Virginia Tech Hokies assistant coach attempting to recruit one of his star players from the sideline.
The Eagles coach suggested that the assistant coach’s alleged unauthorized in-game recruiting was part of an effort to persuade a running back to enter the transfer portal.
Head coach Trei Oliver of the North Carolina Central Eagles during a game against the Jackson State Tigers at the Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 17, 2022, in Atlanta. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“Virginia Tech was actually on my sideline recruiting our running back,” Oliver revealed to reporters. “That was pretty bold. I couldn’t believe it.”
Although Oliver did not disclose the player’s name, he mentioned that the running back he was referring to eventually transferred to Virginia.
Running back J’Mari Taylor, who received first-team All-MEAC honors during his time at NCCU, is now part of UVA’s roster.
Oliver also hinted that he was aware of the assistant coach’s intentions at the time. “I knew what it was,” Oliver stated.
The “Orange Effect” helmet of the Virginia Tech Hokies before a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lane Stadium on Sept. 7, 2015, in Blacksburg, Va. (Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
Following Oliver’s accusations, Virginia Tech released a statement asserting that they were unaware of the issue but were prepared to investigate the claims.
Lane Stadium before a game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the West Virginia Mountaineers on Sept. 22, 2022, in Blacksburg, Va. (Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)
“This is the first time we have been made aware of this issue, and no formal concerns were previously brought to our attention,” the team stated. “Virginia Tech takes NCAA rules seriously and is dedicated to running our program with integrity. We are conducting an internal review and will address any findings accordingly.”
Virginia Tech will conclude their 2025 regular season with a game in Charlottesville on Nov. 29. Oliver, now a fan of the Cavaliers, will be rooting for his former player on that day and even predicted a decisive UVA victory.
“Thankfully he chose UVA,” Oliver remarked, “and UVA is going to dominate the competition.”
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