Virginia Tech football: Hokies flip offensive tackle from Big Ten

 

Virginia Tech Football: Hokies Flip Offensive Tackle from Big Ten Rival

Virginia Tech scored a significant recruiting victory on Monday when offensive tackle Tyrell Simpson announced his commitment to the Hokies. Head coach Brent Pry and new offensive line coach Matt Moore played key roles in flipping Simpson from Rutgers, where he had been committed since May 31.

Simpson, a towering 6-foot-7, 310-pound lineman from Leland, North Carolina, originally pledged to Rutgers, a Big Ten program, but ultimately chose Virginia Tech after reconnecting with Moore, who had previously recruited him while at West Virginia. The Hokies’ success in flipping a commitment from a Big Ten school is notable, especially given Simpson’s impressive physical profile and potential to contribute early in his college career.

Simpson is expected to stay at offensive tackle, rather than moving inside to guard—a common shift for high school linemen at the college level. He joins Buddy Wegdam, another offensive tackle who committed to Virginia Tech the previous week, giving the Hokies two quality tackle prospects in their 2026 recruiting class.

Virginia Tech isn’t finished on the offensive line front either. The Hokies recently hosted two top targets on official visits: Thomas Wilder from Virginia Beach and Adrian Hamilton from Washington, D.C. Wilder, a four-star recruit and one of Virginia’s top 10 prospects, is also expected to remain at tackle in college. Both players are high priorities for Tech’s 2026 class.

Simpson drew strong interest from other programs beyond Rutgers, including the Kentucky Wildcats of the SEC. However, his close relationship with Moore proved to be the deciding factor in his decision to commit to the Hokies.

Virginia Tech fans have reason to be excited, as the team continues to build a strong foundation up front.

Welcome to Blacksburg, Tyrell Simpson.