The recent news surrounding Virginia Tech football could have a major recruiting impact for the Tennessee Volunteers. The Hokies’ athletic department made big news on Sunday afternoon by firing head coach Brent Pry following a 45-26 home loss to Old Dominion on Saturday.
What does it mean for the Vols? It appears to have significant implications for one particular recruiting battle.
Class of 2026 EDGE rusher Andrew Rogers has been committed to Virginia Tech for just over three weeks now. The Greensboro, NC, native chose the Hokies over other teams from his Top 5, including Florida State, LSU, Auburn, and Michigan State.
Virginia Tech’s coaching change could turn the tide for Rogers, though. Rivals’ VP of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong logged a prediction for Tennessee to flip the 6-foot-6 defensive lineman on Sunday. Rogers was in Knoxville this past weekend for a visit to Rocky Top during the Vols’ Checker Neyland game against Georgia.
While Tennessee didn’t secure the win against Georgia in an overtime thriller, the atmosphere made an impression on everyone present, including both fans and recruits.
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Rogers was also able to take the game in with his current teammate and a cornerstone piece in the Vols’ ’26 recruiting class, Faizon Brandon. Both Brandon and Rogers go to Grimsley High School in Greensboro. Brandon has been one of the Vols’ most vocal pieces of the current recruiting class and played a key part in flipping five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys. It wouldn’t be a reach of an assumption to say that Brandon might play a critical role in trying to flip Rogers from VT to Tennessee after the big coaching news on Sunday.
Rivals’ Recruiting Prediction Machine has Tennessee as the overwhelming favorite at 96% in Rogers’ recruitment after Wiltfong’s new prediction on Sunday. While these are just computer rankings, it does suggest that Tennessee could be in the driver’s seat after this weekend.
It’ll be something interesting to monitor, but this could be major news for Tennessee. The Vols’ 2026 recruiting class currently lands at No. 8 in Rivals’ team rankings with 24 total commits, including five-star QB Faizon Brandon, five-star WR Tristen Keys, and four-star LB Brayden Rouse.
Rivals’ Industry Rankings have Rogers as a four-star prospect, the No. 324 player in the nation, the No. 32 EDGE rusher in the class, and the No. 17 player from the state of North Carolina.
Here’s a look at what Rogers brings to the table:
One Response
They also have an excellent receiver. We need to snag him in the transfer portal.