Jahzari Priester committed to Virginia Tech from Hampton. (Nick Brown)

Jahzari Priester
Defensive tackle
Hampton University
6-6, 294
3 years remaining (r-So.)

Virginia Tech picked up a transfer portal commitment from Hampton defensive tackle Jahzari Priester on Friday. He will be a redshirt sophomore in 2025 with three years of eligibility remaining.

Priester went to Western Branch in Chesapeake where he did not begin playing football until very late in his high school career. A very raw prospect, he ended up at Hampton, where he redshirted in 2023. He was in the two-deep as a redshirt freshman in 2024, getting on the field for 167 snaps. He played well despite his overall inexperience, registering 16 tackles and two sacks.

Listed at 6-8, 250 by Hampton, Priester measured in at 6-6 and around 290 during his recent official visit to Virginia Tech. Primarily a basketball player until his senior year of high school, he has a 6-foot-9 wingspan, and the Hokie coaching staff believes he has a lot of upside.

Recruited as a defensive tackle by Virginia Tech, it’s also possible that the offensive coaching staff will press for a move to offensive tackle due to his traits.

The addition of Priester gives the Hokies seven scholarship defensive tackles, a room headlined by redshirt senior Kelvin Gilliam. He's the fourth transfer portal addition of the offseason for the Hokies and the third on Friday, joining running backs Terion Stewart (Bowling Green) and Marcellous Hawkins (Central Missouri). Clemson safety Sherrod Covil Jr. committed on Wednesday.

For more information on Virginia Tech’s comings and goings in the portal, click here for Tech Sideline’s roster management page.

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