Virginia Tech immediately loses 4-star commit and others could be on the way soon

​A day after firing Brent Pry, Virginia Tech football has now lost the top prospect in their 2026 recruiting class. 

Thomas Wilder, a composite 4-star offensive tackle, has officially backed away from his verbal pledge to Virginia Tech and re-opened his recruitment. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound prosect from Virginia Beach committed to the Hokies on July 3rd.

Wilder's relationship with Virginia Tech goes back to hs days in middle school. At the time of his commitment, Wilder said that he wanted to honor the relationship that he built with the program over the years and stay at home.

"You have to show love to the ones that have been there. You can't bite the hand that feeds you. They've been showing love since I was 13, 14. Might as well go there, " Wilder said to 247Sports at the time. "It means a lot; home-based and going to Virginia Tech," he said. "You drive anywhere in Virginia you, for sure, are going to see a Virginia Tech sign on somebody's car. Growing up, seeing that a lot, seeing what Mike Vick did, Duane Brown did, I want to be the next one of them coming from my hometown."

Wilder was primarily recruited by Hokies offensive line coach Matt Moore and was one of three players from Green Run High School who committed to Virginia Tech. The other two teammates, cornerback Zaevion Cleveland and edge rusher Kamren Johnson, haven't gone official with a decision yet, but both players have suggested they are looking around.

Wilder chose Virginia Tech over Penn State and Maryland, so don't be surprised if those two schools jump back into the picture.

Virginia Tech currently has the 92nd-ranked recruiting class in the country with ten verbal commitments. Several of those pledges are likely in play, including 4-star edge rusher Andrew Rogers, who is being linked to Tennessee.