Elijah Butler became the latest Virginia Tech commit on Friday. (Nick Brown)

Elijah Butler 
Safety, Class of 2027 
St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Md. 
6-3, 190 

Virginia Tech and James Franklin added a commitment from Elijah Butler on Friday on a Rivals livestream.

"Coach Franklin, he's a great coach and he can develop his players well," Butler said after committing.

The three-star prospect from St. Frances Academy in Baltimore was pursued as both a wide receiver and a safety. He'll likely play the latter in Blacksburg. Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brent Pry and safeties coach Anthony Midget were his lead recruiters.

He's the No. 10 player in Maryland by On3 and No. 12 by 247Sports. The 247Sports composite rankings lists him as the No. 435 overall recruit in the country.

Butler's top-six schools included Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Maryland, Oregon and Virginia Tech. He had official visits lined up to Auburn, Tuscaloosa and College Park over the next month.

He also had an impressive group of Power Four offers, including Boston College, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Purdue, Syracuse, Texas A&M and Wisconsin.

As a junior in 2025 at Mt. Zion Prep Academy, Butler recorded 63 tackles, eight pass breakups, three interceptions, two TFLs, one sack and one forced fumble. On the offensive side of the ball, he tallied 23 catches for 555 yards and five touchdowns.

Butler is the Hokies' 11th commitment in the class of 2027 and the fourth from Maryland, joining Joseph Buchanan, Brock Frisby and Alexander Taylor, his teammate at St. Frances.

Virginia Tech's first full recruiting class under Franklin currently sits at No. 14 overall, per the 247Sports composite rankings.

Elijah Butler links:

247Sports  Hudl  On3