So far in April, recruiting has been booming for first-year Virginia Tech football coach James Franklin. After beginning the class with defensive lineman, the Hokies last week went on a heater on the offensive side of the ball.
It began with running back Kelvin Morrison committing to Virginia Tech, followed by tight end Braxton Salster from Alabama, and wide receiver Anthony Roberts. Three offensive players and now, the Hokies are closing in on potentially adding a fourth in a week, but this time, they are facing a potential roadblock from a former coach who moved on from the program following the 2025 season.
Virginia Tech battling USF and Kansas State for three-star RB who set commitment date of Wednesday
Three-star running back Stanley Smart from Georgia is set to make his decision on Wednesday. It is down to the Hokies, Kansas State, and South Florida. The Savannah, Georgia native plays for Benedictine Military School, and had several offers to choose from, but the 5-foot-10 speedster is high on all three schools.
However, there seems to be a connection with South Florida and running backs coach Elijah Brooks, who joined Brian Hartline's staff after the coaching change in Blacksburg. New Hokies' running back coach Norval McKenzie has a connection with Smart from his time at Georgia Tech, but with Brooks in the mix, it's hard to ignore the recruiting battle brewing for Smart.
It's not too often that Virginia Tech can go into the state of Georgia and pluck a running back over the Bulldogs, Yellow Jackets, and other power programs. Now, they are in a battle with not only Kansas State, but also USF and Brooks. Virginia Tech already has Morrison on board in the Class of 2027, but landing Smart would give them a solid foundational piece for the future in the running back room.
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