As June progresses into its second half, college football recruiting is winding down, and many high school seniors in the Class of 2026 are starting to make their final decisions about where they will play at the collegiate level. Virginia Tech’s head coach Brent Pry and his coaching staff have been actively hosting recruits in recent weeks, but their results have been a mixed bag in terms of securing commitments.
Last week brought both good and disappointing news for the Hokies’ recruiting efforts. One major setback was the de-commitment of four-star wide receiver Carnell Warren, who initially pledged to Virginia Tech back in January but decided to reopen his recruitment. This was a blow for Pry and his team as Warren was considered a key prospect in their class. However, the weekend brought some positive momentum when two recruits, Kamren Johnson and Kamdon Gillespie, both offered commitments to join the Hokies, providing some relief to the coaching staff.
Another highly regarded recruit, four-star defensive back Andre Carter, Jr., was expected to visit the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg this past weekend, but that visit was canceled. Carter, a native of Richmond, Virginia, decided to push his commitment decision up to next week without making the trip to the Hokies’ campus. According to Tim Thomas of The Tech Lunch Pail, Carter’s final choices are between Michigan, Florida State, Miami, SMU, and Kentucky. Losing Carter without even hosting him is a notable disappointment for Virginia Tech’s recruiting efforts and continues a troubling trend of promising in-state recruits opting to go elsewhere.
On the basketball front, Virginia Tech is also experiencing some transitions. The men’s basketball team recently ended their season with a first-round exit in the ACC Tournament against California, wrapping up a frustrating 13-19 campaign under head coach Mike Young. Along with roster changes this offseason, there have been shifts in the coaching staff as well. Mike Young announced that Christian Webster, an assistant coach, would not be returning to the program.
Now, a few months after his departure, Webster has found a new coaching opportunity. He will be joining Donnie Jones’ staff at Stetson University in Florida as an assistant coach. Webster’s move south marks the departure of another Virginia native from the Hokies’ program, but it has also opened the door for a familiar face to return to Virginia Tech.
Chester Frazier, a former assistant coach at Virginia Tech, has come back to Blacksburg to fill the vacancy left by Webster. Frazier’s return has already made an impact, particularly in the recruiting arena, where his efforts are beginning to bear fruit. This coaching change could prove beneficial for the Hokies as they look to strengthen both their roster and their recruiting pipeline.
Overall, Virginia Tech finds itself at a crossroads in both football and basketball. Recruiting in football is showing some promise but also frustration, especially with key prospects de-committing or opting not to visit campus. Meanwhile, basketball is navigating coaching staff changes following a tough season, with hopes that new and returning staff members will bring renewed energy to the program.
As the recruiting cycle wraps up and the offseason progresses, Virginia Tech’s coaches will be focusing on solidifying their incoming classes and preparing for the upcoming seasons. While setbacks like Carnell Warren’s de-commitment and Andre Carter, Jr.’s canceled visit represent challenges, the commitments they have secured and coaching moves like Chester Frazier’s return offer some optimism for the Hokies moving forward.
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