Virginia Tech football recruiting: Hokies flip ATH Tyrell Grant from Syracuse

Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin wasn’t busy flipping only former Penn State commitments. On the first day of the early signing period, Franklin worked his magic again, flipping 3-star athlete Tyrell Grant from Syracuse.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Grant plays at Nansemond River High School in Suffolk, Virginia. Grant was in Blacksburg recently on an official visit, and the Hokies did enough to convince him to change his commitment.

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Grant is the No. 31 player in Virginia for 2026 and the No. 82 athlete nationally.

Franklin said in his press conference on Wednesday that on his first night as VT’s coach, he made a point of talking to all the top players in the state. Grant was one of those players, which helped set in motion a visit to Blacksburg.

After his first visit to Virginia Tech, Franklin extended an offer to Grant, and the rest was history.

Grant is a two-sport star, also starring in track & field. On the gridiron, he played quarterback, but that’s not where he’ll play for the Hokies. While some schools did pursue Grant as a quarterback, he profiles as a safety for the Hokies. Grant was a prolific dual-threat quarterback at Nansemond River. He initially committed to Syracuse back in June, which was the only official visit he took.

Welcome home, Tyrell.