Virginia Tech football: Former 4-star DB Chris Tangelo transfers to Hokies

Virginia Tech head coach James Franklin has been busy with his first fall camp for the Hokies. Recruiting has slowed down for the moment, allowing Franklin to focus fully on the 2026 Hokies.

But Franklin is always looking ahead. On Wednesday evening, Franklin landed a surprising commitment out of the transfer portal. Former four-star defensive back Chris Tangelo, a rising freshman at Vanderbilt, revealed his commitment to Tech.

This is an interesting commitment because Tangelo can’t play in 2026, but can practice with the Hokies and is eligible to play in 2027. The 6-foot-4, 201-pound defensive back is a native of Germantown, Maryland, playing his high school football at Northwest High School. He initially committed to Vanderbilt’s 2026 class, but quickly departed not long after enrolling.

Tangelo then committed to Hutchinson Community College (Kansas), but wasn’t there long before transferring to Virginia Tech. It’s unclear what exactly led to his departure from Vanderbilt.

Tangelo was ranked as the No. 227 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class by 247Sports. He was Vandy’s highest-rated 2026 defensive recruit and second-highest-ranked overall.

If the last name sounds familiar, it’s because Tangelo’s older brother, Derrick, is Virginia Tech’s assistant defensive line coach.