Recruiting in the Class of 2026 for Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry hasn't been what he had hoped for. Currently, the Hokies have just 11 commits, and some of those players are from the Commonwealth, but you could make the case that there are not enough.
The class is loaded with talented players from Virginia, and one startling graphic from Rivals paints not a good picture for Virginia Tech when it comes to recruiting in Virginia and the ability to keep some of the top talent at home.
Rivals' recruiting graphic is not great news for Virginia Tech football in terms of retaining in-state talent
Rivals revealed the Top 10 Class of 2026 recruits from Virginia, and of the top 10 players, only one, offensive lineman Thomas Wilder, was ranked that is committed to Virginia Tech, coming in at No. 10. What's concerning is that the Big Ten and SEC are coming into the Commonwealth and poaching players right out from Virginia Tech. I'm not saying that they would have or should have landed all of them, but more than one is certainly a better look than just one.
Michigan landed three of the top five players: running back Savion Hiter at No. 1, wide receiver Travis Johnson at No. 3, and safety Andre Clark, while Penn State and Rutgers each have landed one from the Big Ten. South Carolina and Georgia, while ACC schools Clemson and Syracuse each have one.
When Pry took over for Justin Fuente, he did so with relationships with coaches in Virginia at a low point, and he knew that one way to turn things around in Blacksburg was to mend those relationships; for the most part, he has.
Wilder is a nice addition and a big one for Virginia Tech, but to feel better about recruiting, retaining talent, and keeping it, home is a must. Letting the Big Ten and SEC come into the Commonwealth and poach recruits is not going to be a recipe for success for Pry and his staff.