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Wake Forest offensive lineman Melvin Siani will not be with the team in 2026. He has opted to transfer to Texas after entering the portal.
Tampering allegations have since surfaced on social media. Can the Demon Deacons take legal action?
Who is Melvin Siani?
The 6-6, 300-pound tackle will soon join his third college football program. The redshirt sophomore initially signed with Temple as an under-the-radar prospect in the 2023 recruiting class.
His stock has since grown.
He took a redshirt year as a freshman with the Owls. The next season, he started nine games along the offensive front.
Siani entered the transfer portal following the 2024 campaign. He landed in the ACC at Wake Forest, where he was one of the nation’s top pass protectors in ’25.
The lineman didn’t allow a sack last season. He played nearly 900 snaps, with about half being pass attempts. He was expected to return to Wake Forest for his redshirt junior year. That is no longer the case.
Texas swooped in.
The Longhorns signed Melvin Siani on Thursday. That news came just hours after the tackle entered the transfer portal with a “Do Not Contact” tag.
That tag immediately sparked tampering accusations. Did Texas reach out prior to his transfer portal entry?
If so, that contact is technically illegal, though there isn’t much the NCAA can do had it come through a third party. There are questions, however, surrounding whether or not Wake Forest can take legitimate action.
About a month before Siani’s transfer decision, it was reported that he’d signed a contract extension to remain a Demon Deacon.
Wake Forest has inked contract extensions with the following players, sources tell @On3sports:
DL Langston Hardy
OL Melvin Siani
DB Davaughn Pattersonhttps://t.co/tze3D6wg7y pic.twitter.com/OzEmqWsP7s— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos) December 13, 2025
It is currently unclear as to whether or not the school can enforce the contract extension. It is not the first time we’ve seen the situation unfold this offseason.
Washington fought back against QB Demond Williams, who entered the transfer portal after signing an NIL deal to remain with the Huskies in 2026. That battle worked as he’s since returned to the team to honor his commitment.
Syracuse, meanwhile, is attempting to block tight end Michael Smith from returning to his former school after signing a contract to play for the Orange out of the transfer portal. That situation is still ongoing.
These contract disputes are still messy. Schools are working to gain more power as it relates to enforcement. Melvin Siani has signed with a new team despite reportedly agreeing to terms with Wake Forest.
We’ll see if any drama follows the surprise exit.