After a furious finish to the 2026 recruiting class upon his arrival in November, new Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin had to quickly pivot to the NCAA transfer portal. In a matter of weeks, Franklin had completely flipped Virginia Tech’s roster ahead of spring practice.
Spring practice is finally here. The Hokies kicked off practice this week, and Franklin immediately went to work on the class of 2027, landing a commitment from three-star defensive lineman Alexander Taylor.
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Taylor, a 6-foot-3, 230-pounder, plays high school at the famed St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. Taylor was in Blacksburg when he made his commitment official, watching practice.
Taylor picked the Hokies over offers from Georgia, Miami, Michigan, and Auburn, among others. He currently holds 18 offers. Taylor committed to the Hokies now, despite already having an official visit scheduled for June.
Taylor can play on the edge or slide inside to defensive tackle. His length could keep him on the edge at the next level, but he has the frame to add more size and kick inside.
Taylor is the second player from St. Frances to commit to Virginia Tech since Franklin was hired. In December, cornerback Amauri Polydor signed with the Hokies, enrolled in January and is participating in spring practice.
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It’s early, but an excellent start to the 2027 class for the Hokies. And it’s another instance of Franklin focusing on the trenches. Virginia Tech focused heavily on the offensive and defensive lines in the 2026 recruiting class.
