Virginia Tech football is generating serious buzz in the 2026 season, and the excitement is spilling over into future recruiting classes. Under the leadership of new head coach James Franklin—brought in from Penn State with a major investment in the program—the Hokies are on a hot streak that has their 2027 recruiting class skyrocketing into the national spotlight.

On Friday, Virginia Tech landed its 11th commitment for the 2027 class: three-star safety Elijah Butler from Baltimore, Maryland. Butler, ranked among the top 10 players in his state, is the Hokies' third pledge in May alone and their seventh since April 23. This flurry of commitments has propelled the class to No. 14 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings—a top-15 finish that also places them at No. 3 in the ACC.

The class currently features three blue-chip prospects, with defensive lineman Joseph Buchanan from Owings Mills, Maryland, standing out as the only top-250 recruit nationally. While there's room to grow, this strong start signals a promising turnaround for a program that hasn't won more than seven games since 2019. Franklin's early recruiting success suggests the Hokies are building a foundation for sustained excellence, and fans have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future in Blacksburg.