Virginia Tech Football: 4 narratives Brent Pry destroyed in 2023

Virginia Tech can't recruit in Virginia

If there was one thing that needed to fixed from the Justin Fuente era, it's getting the talented recruits in Virginia to remain in-state. Relationships between the football program and local coaches were burned, the top recruits were leaving the state in droves, and simply put, not many wanted to even consider coming to Blacksburg post-Frank Beamer. If there is one thing that Pry and his staff focused on big time, it's the recruiting and mending fences in Virginia. It appears that happening and happening rather quickly.

No more proof is needed than with what has happened in recruiting and the commitments they got on Early Signing Day on Dec. 20. Virginia Tech signed four Top 15 in-state recruits and one just outside the Top 15. Four-star defensive lineman Gerard Johnson, ranked sixth in Virginia signed, as did three-star defensive back Joshua Clarke, the No. 14 recruit in the Commonwealth, three-star wide receiver Chanz Wiggins, ranked No. 10, and four-star wide receiver Keylen Adams who was ranked fifth according to 247 Sports. Three-star defensive back Noah Jenkins was ranked 19th in Virginia.

Pry and his staff had made it known on social media that they are making an effort to get out and see high school kids in the state and visiting coaches. On Sept. 1, the night before the season-opener against Old Dominion, Pry took a helicopter to see a recruit play. This past week, the Virginia Tech coaching staff hosted local coaches in the Maryland area to come watch bowl practice and form even tighter connections. Recruiting in Virginia appears on the way up and going up quickly under Pry.