EDGE Darian Varner sets visits to trio of Power Five schools

Temple transfer Darian Varner has a busy weekend ahead.

The 6-foot-2, 260-pound EDGE has visits scheduled to Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, a source close to Varner told On3. Voted a captain by his teammates this year with the Owls, he finished the season with 35 total tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He also tallied a forced fumble.

Varner is set to visit Vanderbilt on Thursday, followed by a flight to Virginia Tech on Friday. He has portal offers from both programs. And Ole Miss is scheduled to fly him down to Oxford on Saturday. While he’s yet to earn an offer from the Rebels yet, there’s an expectation he will leave his trip to the SEC school with one.

Varner the No. 26 EDGE to enter the Transfer Portal this cycle, per On3’s rankings.

With a handful of offers from across the Power Five landscape, it’s clear schools believe his frame and skillset can make the switch. A three-star recruit coming out of Maury High in Norfolk, Virginia, he held offers from a range of FCS, Conference USA and military academies. He also received offers from Maryland and Wake Forest.

His 7.5 sacks ranked in the top 20 in the country this season. An All-AAC defensive end this fall, he nearly tied the school record for sacks in a game with his career-high 3.5 against Tulsa.

Building its defensive line through the portal is definitely a priority for Ole. Miss. The unit finished 69th in the nation in total defense, allowing 379.8 yards per game. The Rebels also struggled to stop the run, allowing 4.2 yards per carry and 161.8 rushing yards per game.

Darian Varner could be an immediate help on the line for Ole Miss. His three visits will play a major role in where he lands.