The Gamecocks are the latest to join the mix for a Class of 2027 edge that the Hokies offered a scholarship to last spring.

Before coming to Blacksburg four years ago, Virginia Tech football coach Brent Pry was the defensive coordinator at Penn State under James Franklin. He has coached some very good defensive linemen during his time, even some with the Hokies. This past season, he had Antwaun Powell-Ryland who had a huge season with 16 sacks, which included a pair of four-sack games, and three forced fumbles.

A good defensive end is a player that all college coaches covert and the Hokies certainly have one at Irmo High School in South Carolina in Jaiden Bryant in the Class of 2027. The talented sophomore is starting to open more eyes and his recruitment is picking up, which makes the path to his recruitment harder for Pry. An SEC program recently offered Bryant and it will be a major player in his recruitment when all is said and done.

South Carolina offers Jaiden Bryant scholarship

Last May, Virginia Tech offered Bryant a scholarship and shortly after that, Maryland offered him. In October, Maryland offered Bryant as the first Big Ten school and now an SEC school, South Carolina, has joined in with an offer. You can expect Shane Beamer to be a heavy player for Bryant.

One look at his stats from last fall and you can see why he’s picking up interest. For Irmo, he recorded 86 tackles and 15.5 sacks on the same team as Virginia Tech QB A.J. Brand who signed last month in the early signing period. Beamer was also involved with Brand after he committed to the Hokies and even tried to get him to flip his commitment.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Bryant will likely have other major programs jump in on his recruiting, but defensive edge rushers like him are few and far between. This is a recruiting battle that will heat up and one that the Hokies need to stay in the picture with.