There was a time when Virginia Tech was the top choice for many of Hampton Roads’ most sought-after high school football players.
Every year, my rankings of the Top 50 seniors included marquee players headed to Blacksburg: Kam Chancellor (Maury High), Vince Hall (Western Branch), Purnell Sturdivant (Lake Taylor), Greg Boone (Oscar Smith), Brandon Ore (Indian River), J.C. Coleman (Oscar Smith), Vinston Painter (Maury) and Tayvion Robinson (Cox).
During one successful stretch, from 2004 to 2013, Virginia Tech signed 27 local players, including seven from the Class of 2008, led by Painter.
But then the mass exodus to Blacksburg stopped as the program struggled and local players decided to leave the state.
Here are the top 50 high school football recruits in Hampton Roads’ Class of 2026
From 2019 to 2023, only five local players went to Virginia Tech, including none from the Class of 2023.
The Hokies, under coach Brent Pry, recruited well again in the 757, and Green Run’s Keylen Adams and Cox’s Gerard Johnson, ranked No. 1 and No. 4 in the Class of 2024, picked Virginia Tech.
But now there’s uncertainty again. Virginia Tech abruptly fired Pry after the program’s first 0-3 start in 38 years.
Following the announcement, dominoes started to fall as three of the top area recruits — the Green Run trio of lineman Thomas Wilder, defensive back Zaevion Cleveland and defensive end Kamren Johnson — quickly announced they were reopening their recruitment after having committed to Virginia Tech before the season.
Green Run edge rusher Kamren Johnson, left, shown tackling Tallwood quarterback Jacob Rojas last season, is one of three Stallions players who had committed to Virginia Tech, but have reopened their recruitment after the dismissal of head coach Brent Pry. (Billy Schuerman/Staff)
Wilder, rated the No. 2 senior in Hampton Roads, is a four-star prospect with more than 20 offers, including those from Penn State, Maryland and North Carolina. He is rated the No. 7 senior in the state by ESPN and No. 10 by 247Sports and Rivals.
Cleveland, ranked No. 4 in Hampton Roads’ senior class, is a three-star prospect. He is rated the No. 15 senior in the state by ESPN, No. 16 by 247Sports and No. 18 by Rivals.
And Johnson, rated the No. 9 senior in Hampton Roads, is a three-star prospect who chose the Hokies over more than 10 schools, including Duke, Michigan State, Pittsburgh and Virginia.
A fourth player, King’s Fork linebacker Joshua Pittman, rated the No. 5 senior in Hampton Roads, is still committed to the Hokies, according to Bulldogs coach Anthony Joffrion.
But for how long? And how many of the dozen or so 757 players currently on the Hokies’ roster will stay? The transfer portal allows college athletes to leave easily.
Virginia Tech’s next coach will be important for local recruiting.
“Not surprised at all, to be honest,” said Joffrion about Pry’s firing. “But Coach Pry is a great coach and great person. But college football is all about winning.”
Green Run coach Brandon Williams agreed.
“It was definitely a shocking announcement to say the least, after just three games,” he said. “But that is college football for you.”
While three of Williams’ former players decommitted this week, three other former Green Run standouts remain at Virginia Tech in Adams, freshman cornerback Knahlij Harrell and freshman defensive lineman Zeke Chinwike.
“We have a lot of respect for that staff and extremely thankful for giving our guys the opportunity,” Williams said.
“Tech is still a very prestigious school,” Williams added. “But I do think they will expect a minor setback until the next head coach is in place.”
For Virginia Tech’s sake, I hope they make the right choice.
If they don’t, they can expect players from the 757 to continue to cross them off their destination list.
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
