Five top prospects that doomed Brent Pry at Virginia Tech

After losing 45-26 to Old Dominion on Saturday to start the season 0-3, Virginia Tech announced Sunday it is parting ways with fourth-year coach Brent Pry.

[Virginia Tech Head Coach Hot Board: Top candidates to replace Brent Pry]

Pry went 16-24 with the Hokies and despite coming over from Penn State as a defensive-minded coach, Virginia Tech has struggled on that side of the ball this season allowing nearly 38 points per game in losses to South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Old Dominion.

Pry’s first two recruiting classes were ranked No. 41 nationally, the Hokies moved up to No. 31 in 2024, then they were No. 38 in 2025 but have fallen to No. 70 so far this recruiting cycle. With only 11 commitments, Virginia Tech is tied with Colorado for the second-fewest among Power Four programs. Only Missouri (10) has fewer.

Here is a look at five highly-ranked prospects that chose Virginia Tech that doomed Pry’s short-lived era in Blacksburg:

4-star OL Gunner Givens (2022)

The Daleville (Va.) Lord Botetourt four-star offensive lineman grew up watching Virginia Tech football and cheering on the Hokies so in the summer before his senior season, Givens committed over Penn State and others.

It was a major pledge for the Hokies and the only four-star in Pry’s first recruiting class as he kept Givens committed once he got the Virginia Tech job.

But over three seasons in Blacksburg, Givens played in only five games and made a marginal impact. He has since transferred to Vanderbilt.

3-star DB Mansoor Delane (2022)

Delane actually had tremendous success at Virginia Tech and finished with 54 tackles, 11 pass breakups and four interceptions last season for the Hokies. But then he hit the transfer portal and ended up at LSU.

Pry’s inability to keep Delane had a two-fold negative effect. First, losing someone of Delane’s caliber dramatically hurt the Hokies’ secondary. Secondly, his brother, Faheem Delane, was a four-star safety in the 2025 class who was also high on Virginia Tech but chose Ohio State instead.

3-star WR Chance Fitzgerald (2023)

The top-ranked prospect in Virginia Tech’s 2023 class, the Nolensville, Tenn., standout receiver who saw his recruitment take off in his senior season had Michigan, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma involved late but he chose Virginia Tech.

Fitzgerald made little impact during his time with the Hokies and mainly contributed on special teams before transferring to Vanderbilt. He doesn’t have any coaches for the Commodores yet this season.

4-star LB Gabriel Williams (2024)

The Washington (D.C.) St. Vincent Pallotti standout chose Virginia Tech over USC with Miami, Penn State, Maryland, UCF and many others involved. It was a major recruiting victory for Pry and his coaching staff to land a four-star regional linebacker.

Williams is still early in his Virginia Tech career but last season he played in only two games and had one tackle before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Clemson in November. It was reported that Williams was cleared in August to get back on the field but he has not recorded a tackle yet this season.

4-star WR Keylen Adams (2024)

The other four-star prospect in Virginia Tech’s 2024 class was Adams, who had Alabama and South Carolina as his other finalists but the Virginia Beach (Va.) Green Run standout chose to stay in-state and play for the Hokies.

While he’s still young and has plenty of opportunities ahead, Adams has not recorded a catch this season for a Virginia Tech offense that’s averaging just 19 points per game. Adams was the top-rated receiver from the state of Virginia in 2024.