Virginia Tech added a late portal commitment from Colorado's Samuel Okunlola. (Nick Brown)

Samuel Okunlola 
Defensive End 
Colorado 
6-4, 250 
2 years remaining (r-Sr.)*

Virginia Tech and James Franklin received a commitment from Colorado defensive end Samuel Okunlola on Wednesday. Hayes Fawcett of On3 first reported the news.

The Brockton, Mass., native spent the last two years in Boulder, where he tallied 31 tackles, six TFLs and three sacks. Two of those sacks came against Arizona's Noah Fifita in the third quarter of a 34-7 win in Tucson on Oct. 19, 2024.

However, after playing 452 snaps in 2024, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the Buffaloes' opener vs. Georgia Tech on Aug. 29, 2025. He should qualify for a medical redshirt and have two years of eligibility remaining.

In his career, he's accounted for 49 tackles, 12 TFLs, eight sacks and one forced fumble. A chunk of that — 18 tackles, six TFLs, five sacks and the strip — came as a redshirt freshman at Pitt in 2023.

Against Louisville that season, he racked up four tackles and a strip sack on Cardinals quarterback Jack Plummer, which he recovered to set up a Panthers touchdown drive. He was named ACC Rookie of the Week after that performance.

Okunlola was originally a four-star prospect out of Thayer Academy, according to Rivals, who ranked him as the No. 2 player in Massachusetts and the No. 23 edge in the country. He received three-star status from 247Sports and ESPN, who had him fifth and sixth, respectively, in the state.

Along with Pitt, he officially visited Georgia and Colorado in his original recruitment. His other Power 4 offers included Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas Tech, USC, Virginia and West Virginia.

With Baylor defensive end Kamauryn Morgan decommitting from the Hokies due to an apparent admissions issue, they needed another edge player with some experience, and the coaching staff found that in Okunlola, who has played 768 career snaps, per PFF.

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

Samuel Okunlola links:

247Sports  Colorado bio  ESPN  On3  Pitt bio