If there was any doubt, and there shouldn't have been, whether or not Virginia Tech football coach James Franklin could recruit or not, well, there isn't. As many obsessive Penn State fans would even admit, Franklin can recruit with the best of them across the country.
The last month-plus, the Hokies' new boss has been on a recruiting heater with the Class of 2027, rising the program into the Top 10 rankings at 247Sports, but they will certainly finish well within the Top 20. The commitments have been rolling in, and on Sunday, Franklin and his staff picked up three commitments from four-star recruits. Some of their previous commitments are collecting four stars right now.
There are still a couple of weeks remaining in the busy visiting period, with more recruits expected to make the trip to Blacksburg. There are a couple of recruits who are considered priority recruits that would be a huge game-changer if Franklin can get a commitment. Even long after the visits end this month, there are going to be some big announcements over the summer. With that said, there is still one more priority recruit who is an important target that could really make or break the Class of 2027 for the Hokies.
One Class of 2027 recruitr James Franklin must secure a commitment from at Virginia Tech
Let's be honest, getting a commitment from the No. 1-ranked player in the Commonwealth in edge Chris Whitehead in the Class of 2027 is almost a must. Franklin needs to keep the in-state talent in the Commonwealth, and Whitehead is his first test as head coach at Virginia Tech.
The 6-foot-4.5, 230-pound defensive lineman who plays at Lloyd C. Bird High School is the 38th-ranked player nationally, the seventh-ranked edge rusher, and, as stated above, the top-ranked recruit in the state. This is also a huge test for new defensive line coach Sean Spencer.
Whitehead holds nearly three dozen offers, mostly from some of the top programs in the country. He visited Virginia Tech on May 29, but has upcoming visits to South Carolina and Ohio State. He previously took a visit to Lane Kiffin and LSU back in April.
Had a great ov with @HokiesFB ‼️‼️ cant wait to come back for a game !! @SpenceChaos @coachjfranklin @LCBfootball @CoachGerardJ @bird_athletics pic.twitter.com/7uZ6ZumluL
— PRIME /ATH (@chriswhiteheadz) May 31, 2026
When Franklin was hired, it was widely thought that he would quickly make an impact in recruiting for the Hokies. That has been the case as he has landed some big commitments in the Class of 2027, including four-star quarterback Peter Bourque from Massachusetts. However, Whitehead is a totally different player who would be a game-changer in the class.
Virginia Tech has struggled to keep the in-state talent in the Commonwealth, and this is a major test for Franklin, Spencer, and the Hokies need to pass. The Class of 2027 already has some big commitments along the defensive line, but Whitehead is a game-changer for the outlook for the future and someone who can come in and make an immediate impact, potentially as a freshman. The next couple of weeks are going to be huge in terms of what Whitehead decides.
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