Ten months ago, when Class of 2027 quarterback DJ Hunter committed to former Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, he picked the Wildcats over several schools. However, after Stoops was fired in the fall, Hunter has decided to de-commit from the Wildcats.
According to Rivals Industry Rankings, Hunter is the 585th overall prospect in his class and the 37th-ranked signal caller. The Buford, Georgia, standout is reopening his recruiting as he prepares for his senior year in the fall. He has heard from and is interested in several schools, and one of the schools he has heard from and got a visit from is Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech Class of 2027 QB target emerges after de-committing from Kentucky
That's one thing about Virginia Tech hiring James Franklin when it comes to recruiting: he's going to be in on a lot of the top recruits in classes. Hunter is another one who is on his radar, along with quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien, and someone that they'll make a big push for.
Along with Virginia Tech, other ACC schools that are showing interest are Florida State and Duke. Maryland, West Virginia, Auburn, Vanderbilt, South Florida, UAB, and Kennesaw State are other schools that will likely also be in the mix.
Virginia Tech has a young quarterback room in 2026, with Penn State transfer Ethan Grunkemeyer coming to Blacksburg along with North Carolina transfer Bryce Baker. Kelden Ryan and A.J. Brand return after redshirting this past season for the Hokies. Franklin flipped former Penn State commit, Troy Huhn from California, to Virginia Tech on early signing day back in December.
This is a recruitment that the Hokies are going to be involved in with several other schools, but expect Virginia Tech to be a player. The 6-foot-1, 197-pound three-star was offered in 2024 by Virginia Tech and then-head coach Brent Pry, who is now Franklin's new defensive coordinator in Blacksburg.