Virginia Tech football: In-state 4-star OT Junior Saunders commits to Hokies

What a day for the Virginia Tech Hokies. Coming off their second big recruiting weekend in a row, the Hokies began the day receiving commitments from four-star WR Cam Wade and four-star CB Bryce Woods. Head coach James Franklin wasn’t done. Later on Sunday evening, four-star offensive tackle Junior Saunders became the latest to announce his commitment to the good guys.

A 6-foot-6, 270-pound prospect from Woodberry Forest School in Madison County, Virginia, chose the Hokies over Virginia, N.C. State, Tennessee and South Carolina. He held over 20 reported offers. Saunders will join former high school teammates Sheldon Robinson and Buddy Wegdam in Blacksburg.

The Hokies have prioritized Saunders for a while. He’s also a consensus four-star recruit, with 247Sports listing him as the No. 6 player in the state for 2027, and the No. 32 offensive tackle in the country.

Here are some of Saunders’ highlights in a game from his junior season at Woodberry Forest.

“It was everything,” Saunders told Brian Dohn of 247Sports, via Evan Watkins. “Family bond, I think talking to Coach Franklin was really key. It just felt like home.”

Saunders also has a strong relationship with offensive line coach Matt Moore.

“Coach Moore is very promising for my future,” he said. “He showed me how he wants me to be developed. He wants me to be the next big thing.”

The Hokies beefed up the offensive line in Franklin’s first class (2026), and that trend is continuing for 2027. Saunders joins four-star interior offensive lineman Kaden Buchanan (Lebanon, Tenn.) and three-star offensive tackles Luke Braham (Morgantown, W.V.) and Dylan Latell (Girard, Ohio).

After Saunders’ commitment, Tech now moves up to the No. 6 spot nationally in 247Sports 2027 team recruiting rankings. And the Hokies aren’t done.