Jordan Bass
Pitt linebacker Jordan Bass has committed to Virginia Tech. (Nick Brown)

Jordan Bass
Linebacker
Pitt
6-4, 230
2 years of eligibility remaining (Jr.)

Virginia Tech picked up a commitment on Tuesday from Pitt linebacker Jordan Bass. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Bass originally chose Pitt over Virginia Tech as a recruit out of Phoebus High School in Hampton, Va. A safety with a big frame, he was recruited as a linebacker for both the Hokies and the Panthers. He was the No. 5 prospect in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the No. 176 prospect overall in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports.

He’s the second former top-five talent from that class to come back home and join Tech this offseason along with Tennessee’s Cameron Seldon, a Northumberland product who will play wide receiver in Blacksburg.

Listed at 6-4, 230, Bass played the star linebacker position for Pitt. He was on the field for 114 defensive snaps as a sophomore after appearing for 115 plays as a true freshman in 2023. In two seasons, he racked up 25 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and one sack.

Pitt’s star linebacker is similar to the same position in the Virginia Tech scheme in that it always aligns to the wide side of the field. The difference is that Pitt’s star linebacker occasionally aligns inside the tackle box depending on the alignment of the offense.

Bass was behind fellow sophomore Kyle Louis in 2024, and Louis grew into one of the best linebackers in the ACC this year. Meanwhile, in nearly the same number of snaps, Bass improved as a sophomore. Here are his PFF grades from his first two seasons at Pitt:

Overall: 56.5 in 2023, 67.4 in 2024
Run Def: 55.4 in 2023, 67.3 in 2024
Pass Def: 58.8 in 2023, 60.1 in 2024

Thanks to his familiarity with the position, as well as the departure of Keonta Jenkins, he likely projects as a star linebacker for Virginia Tech. He would bring a more physical presence to the position than Jenkins, which could mean more blitzing. It could also mean the Hokies elect to use a nickelback in more obvious passing situations.

Tech is currently slated to return Kaleb Spencer (Jr.) at that spot. Gabe Williams will also be a redshirt freshman, but he suffered a serious injury against Clemson and will likely miss an extended period of time. As a result, Bass fills an immediate need for the Hokies.

Bass is Tech’s 15th commitment overall and the eighth defensive commitment of this transfer portal cycle. He is the first at linebacker, though the Hokies added James Djonkam (Eastern Michigan), who will play on the edge.

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

Jordan Bass links:

247Sports On3 Rivals Pitt bio