If there’s one area where Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry has consistently found success, it’s recruiting talent from within the Commonwealth. Whether landing top high school prospects or bringing transfers back home, Pry has done an impressive job building strong ties in-state.
There’s no denying it—Pry and his staff, led by ace recruiter Fontel Mines, have done a far better job keeping in-state talent than the previous regime. But with the Class of 2025 on deck, there’s still plenty of work to be done. One of the biggest priorities? A four-star recruit who has Virginia Tech among his final eight schools.
Virginia Tech makes Final 8 for four-star Class of 2025 recruit
Four-star safety Andre Clarke Jr. out of Richmond is gearing up for a packed schedule of spring visits, and he recently announced his Top 8 schools. Virginia Tech made the cut, alongside Florida State, SMU, Miami, Syracuse, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Michigan.
That’s a stacked list of programs, and it’s clear why Virginia Tech has its work cut out in the battle for Andre Clarke Jr. The Richmond native is ranked 132nd nationally in the 2025 class, the No. 11 safety, and the No. 4 player in Virginia, per 247Sports. At 6-foot-1, Clarke Jr. has a busy schedule of visits ahead, including a key trip to Blacksburg on June 6—a pivotal date for Brent Pry and his staff as they work to keep top talent close to home.
BREAKING: Class of 2026 4 ⭐️ Safety Andre Clarke Jr. ( @AndreClarkeJr3 ) Has cut his list down to 8️⃣ schools‼️
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Andre Clarke is a 6’1 (170 LBS) Safety/CB out of Henrico, VA. Clarke ranks as the 7th recruit in Virginia and has a total of 31 offers. He currently has visits planned… pic.twitter.com/BNvDyrOgxB— Steezo (@SteezoDsgn) March 8, 2025
In addition to Virginia Tech, Clarke Jr. has visits lined up with SMU on May 2, Syracuse on May 30, Kentucky on June 13, and Miami on June 20. It’s shaping up to be an intense stretch for Hokies recruiting, with visits for the Class of 2026 also ramping up.
Landing Clarke Jr. would be a major win for Virginia Tech, especially with the level of competition in his recruitment. Losing an elite in-state prospect is tough enough—but seeing him choose another ACC program would sting even more.
