Elite 4-star DL has Virginia Tech in the mix with SEC powerhouse programs

The Class of 2026 recruit left Blacksburg impressed ahead of his commitment this summer.
Cardinal Mooney defensive lineman Elijah Golden in individual drills during the Under Armour Next camp on Sunday, Feb. 23 at Bishop Moore High School in Orlando.
Cardinal Mooney defensive lineman Elijah Golden in individual drills during the Under Armour Next camp on Sunday, Feb. 23 at Bishop Moore High School in Orlando. | Jon Santucci/USA Today Florida Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The first vital recruiting weekend over the next month is officially in the books for Virginia Tech, and head coach Brent Pry and his staff hosted several key recruits over the weekend. It’s safe to say that not only are eyes on Pry to see how the Hokies perform on the field this year, but also how recruiting goes in the Class of 2026.

Currently, he has four commits, with four-star wide receiver Carnell Warren from South Carolina being the biggest name. More names will be added to the list as this month and the summer goes along, with players making their commitments before their senior season. One four-star defensive lineman was in Blacksburg this past weekend and left impressed with the Hokies.

Four-star DL Elijah Golden impressed with visit to Virginia Tech

Four-star defensive lineman Elijah Golden, who plays at Cardinal Mooney in Florida, spent the weekend on campus and left impressed. The 6-foot-3.5, 205-pound Golden has more trips scheduled over the next month before he makes his decision. He is the 107th-ranked overall player according to 247Sports in the Class of 2026.

Golden has three more visits scheduled this recruiting cycle, and all are major programs that you would figure have an edge over Virginia Tech. He will visit Oklahoma this upcoming weekend, then will take another SEC trip to Alabama on June 13. He’ll wrap up his visits with a trip to South Bend and Notre Dame on June 20.

Golden, who registered 10 sacks last season, is a projected impact player as soon as he walks onto a campus, and honestly, that’s exactly what Virginia Tech needs: a player of his caliber coming in playing right away. There is no doubt that the Hokies have their work cut out for themselves in his recruiting with his remaining visits left on the docket.