Virginia Tech Reasserts Itself as Major Recruiting Force in Virginia

During the 2023 recruiting cycle, Virginia Tech may not have landed any of the top 10 recruits in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but they landed a bunch of the important 11-25 range guys that the Hokies had been missing on often prior to Brent Pry's arrival.

That cycle proved to be one where the Hokies reestablished themselves as the clear top choice and football flagship among in-state schools after the end of the Justin Fuente era left that spot open for anyone to claim. Tech also started winning some battles against bottom half Power 5 programs at a higher rate in the first full cycle for Pry compared to the end of the Fuente era.

However, to truly become an overall major recruiting force in Virginia, there were two things that VT didn't do in the 2023 class that they needed to do this cycle.

First, the Hokies needed to land at least one or two of the top 10 recruits in Virginia. One feels like a low bar in some ways but to get back to landing 3-5 of those top 10 recruits in VA, you have to start somewhere after not landing any in your first full cycle class.

Second, Virginia Tech needed to land some big time recruits out of the 757. Brent Pry and his staff had put in a lot of work throughout the 2023 cycle into rebuilding relationships in the 757 which were definitely improving. However, the Hokies failed to sign a high school scholarship recruit out of the 757 for the first time in three decades. The 757 also has become the most popular region for other big time powers from out-of-state to start raiding at will without a worry about the Hokies being a threat.

Do those two things and Brent Pry would have made it clear that the Hokies were back to being a major recruiting force throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and not just in select areas like Richmond.

Well that's exactly what the Hokies have done so far this cycle stepping up their game in the 757 and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia with some of the top in-state recruits.

Currently, Virginia Tech has 3 of the top 10 recruits in Virginia committed in WR Keylen Adams, DE Gerard Johnson, and WR Chanz Wiggins based on the 247 Sports Composite. The last time they landed three of the top 10 in-state recruits was 2017 with Devon Hunter, TyJuan Garbutt, and Dylan Rivers (though they did land 3 of the top 11 in 2018). Adams specifically is the first top 5 in-state recruit from any part of the Commonwealth of Virginia to choose the Hokies since Jaden Payoute in the 2019 class based on the 247 Sports Composite rankings.

It was quite good when Justin Fuente was landing at least 3 of the top 10 in-state recruits in his early classes coming off the 19 wins he had in his first two seasons in Blacksburg. However, it is more impressive that Pry has been able to do this given the recent struggles of the Hokies and the rebuild Pry inherited that in part led to a debut 3-8 season. Being able to land these top guys off a season like that is a clear sign of both the relationship rebuild that is proving fruitful in Virginia and the clear vision that big time recruits are confident in with Pry.

When the Hokies were firing on all cylinders under Frank Beamer, it wasn't just that Beamer and his staff were finding hidden gems and developing them into stars left and right. They also landed plenty of big time stars including at least 3-5 of the consensus top 10 recruits in Virginia on a consistent basis. That's a part of the formula to winning in Blacksburg with Brent Pry getting the Hokies back on track on the in-state recruiting front to achieve just that.

Tech still also has the potential to land a few more with the Hokies being a serious contender for the #1 guy in VA in four-star LB Chris Cole and a couple other current top 10 or just outside guys like three-star ATH Mekhai White and three-star DL Eric Mensah. It's not crazy to think that the Hokies could end up with half of the top 10 in VA by Early Signing Day which would be a tremendous accomplishment for Pry.

Meanwhile, the Hokies have clearly reasserted themselves in the 757 landing the two highest ranked recruits in the 757 currently in this class based on many rankings including the 247 Sports Composite in Adams and Johnson.

This is the first class that Tech has landed at least one of the top 2 since Devon Hunter in that 2017 class, the first time that Tech has landed the #1 757 recruit (Adams) since Tyrod Taylor in the 2007 class, and the first time that Tech has landed the top 2 757 recruits since Deveon Simmons and Elan Lewis in the 2005 class based on the 247 Sports Composite rankings.

For Virginia Tech to get back to the top, it isn't just about landing top guys from the 757, but it absolutely is an important piece given the loads of talent that has come out of that region over the years on a fairly consistent basis.

These commitments have also given the Hokies some increased buzz and excitement from those in the 757 about Virginia Tech that has been missing for a while that seems built to continue on beyond the 2024 recruiting cycle. Here's a sampling from some of the reactions to the Keylen Adams news from coaches, trainers, and other prominent 757 figures.

It's one thing for their to be social media buzz, but even when Tech wasn't landing 757 guys at the beginning of Brent Pry's tenure, there was still lots of buzz out of the 757 that Pry and his staff were having lots of success rebuilding those relationships. Now we're starting to see the fruit of those rebuilt relationships with plenty of reason for optimism that Tech can land more top 757 talent ahead of a loaded 2025 class that includes standouts like DE Ari Watford, OL Jaylen Gilchrist, Adams' teammate WR Jayden Anderson, and more.

Last cycle proved to be the one where Virginia Tech reestablished themselves as the top choice for any recruit who wanted to stay home and represent VA. This cycle is proving to be the one where the Hokies reestablish themselves as a major recruiting force throughout the Commonwealth even for the highest ranked stars in VA.