Virginia Tech football PWO recruits send strong message to coaching staff

After the Virginia Tech football team beat Virginia on Thanksgiving Weekend to become bowl-eligible, the news over the next couple of weeks was just as big as the win on the field. Along with getting extra practice time and a Military Bowl game on Dec. 27 against Tulane, the Hokies got several players who had eligibility remaining to come back for another season in Blacksburg.

The commitments for next season were sending a strong message from some players about how head coach Brent Pry and his staff were turning things around quickly at Virginia Tech. Some could have declared for the NFL Draft, not taken advantage of remaining eligibility, or looked to transfer to another school, which some players decided to do.

Two months after a lot of the Virginia Tech players sent a strong message about what is happening in Blacksburg, now some recruits are doing it as well. For the second time in less than a week, the Hokies got a preferred walk-on (PWO) commitment from an in-state recruit.

Jaelyn Allen commits to Virginia Tech

Class of 2024 linebacker Jaelyn Allen from Salem, Virginia, announced on X that he is committing to Virginia Tech. He passed on scholarship offers from a number of Div. 1 schools to stay in Virginia and have an opportunity to make the roster for a program that is clearly on the rise quickly under Pry.

Allen was a high school teammate with fellow linebacker Chris Cole, who committed to Georgia and had an offer from Virginia Tech. Allen was a first-team All-State linebacker this season and a second-team tight end.

Over the weekend, wide receiver Lamar Booker committed to Virginia Tech on a PWO and the case could be made that players who were not part of the program last season and agreeing to attend Tech on a PWO are also sending a strong message. Things are rolling in Blacksburg for the Hokies and it seems like it gets better day-after-day.