In May, four-star quarterback Oscar Rios from Downey, California, scheduled an official visit to Virginia Tech — a promising sign for head coach Brent Pry and his staff. The Hokies had previously secured a commitment from Class of 2026 quarterback Peyton Falzone, but he backed out in November, later pledging to Penn State before flipping to Auburn. At this rate, Auburn may want to wait until signing day before celebrating.
Rios, ranked as the No. 10 quarterback and 21st overall prospect in California for his class, was viewed as a major recruiting target. However, he canceled his trip to Blacksburg before ever boarding the plane, dealing a tough blow to Tech’s efforts. Ultimately, he chose between Arizona and UCLA before committing to the Wildcats on Friday night.
Recruiting for the Class of 2026 hasn’t been as strong for Virginia Tech as it was at this point last year with the 2025 class. There’s still time for head coach Brent Pry to shift that narrative, but missing out on two highly regarded quarterback prospects is far from ideal as he heads into his fourth season in Blacksburg.
With the recruiting dead period now in effect, Pry and his staff will have to regroup. No in-person visits can take place until the fall, by which time many 2026 prospects will have already made their college decisions. A few top targets are expected to announce their commitments in the coming week, and the Hokies will be hoping to secure some positive news.
So far, most of Virginia Tech’s 2026 commitments have come on defense, so adding a few key offensive players would be a welcome boost to balance out the class.
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