A Former Walk-On, Tight End Ja'Ricous Hairston Making Dream A Reality With Hokies

15 Comments

1. 

   Rockfish40 November 12, 2025 at 10:23 AM

   Always love seeing kids from Bassett, Fieldale Collinsville, Martinsville come up the mountain. These kids can all play ball. Maurice DeShazo, Jerome Preston, The Martins, etc. We need to do some digging down there again and also get out to the coal fields and do a little better.
2. 

   VTexas November 12, 2025 at 9:52 AM

   Nice article and well written, as always. I wonder some of the more personal side; his future plans after school, what is his major, hobbies, etc., etc., to get to know him more personally. But, very nice human interest story none the less. Thanks for doing it.
3. 

   hokie_world November 12, 2025 at 8:14 AM

   IF I'm correct, Sam Rogers was an exceptional when he was in HS but didn't have an FBS offer and given a PWO. He too I think had an offer from Navy. I think Sam Rogers signing worked out rather well. Sam was Mr. Hokie and the Swiss Army Knife on Offense. I hope Mr. Hairston has as much success as our own Mister Rogers. It could be another good day in the Hokie neighborhood.
4. 

   TBlount November 12, 2025 at 7:41 AM

   Southwest VS seems to spawn blue collar, hardworking family walk-on success stories. Andy, you Excel at bringing them to life for us. Thanks!
5. 

   Hokietech November 12, 2025 at 7:17 AM

   He is the kind of hard working blue collar under the radar athlete that helped pull Hokie football into a nationally relevant team back in the day. I hope he is the beginnings of more to come.
6. 

   namibiahoke November 12, 2025 at 2:09 AM

   Very touching! Thank you, Andy!
7. 

   MKD November 11, 2025 at 8:10 PM

   Thanks Andy. He will absolutely need to block well against FSU in both the run and pass in order for VT to even have a chance of winning. FSU is going to game plan just like they did for Wake, which is inside run, inside run, then deep balls to exploit our secondary. It worked to perfection against WF, so VT will have to stop the run without bringing a safety down in the box.
8. 

   sacramento hokie November 11, 2025 at 8:08 PM

   These are the small town hero stories that never age and so thankful he got his scolly to help his terrific parents out
9. 

   astrohokiebob November 11, 2025 at 5:41 PM

   He was a four year QB and offensive player of the year. Surely our coaches and coordinators have given him a chance to see how he performs... They wouldn't ignore his past experience would they?
   1. 

      hokiepro November 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM

      Are you being serious? He was basically a running bulldozer QB who could really only chuck the ball deep off tricky plays. You really think our passing game would improve? He’s not better runner than Drones
      1. 

         selhini November 12, 2025 at 8:53 AM

         I'm guessing OP is talking about trick plays.
10. 

    RustyHokie94 November 11, 2025 at 4:59 PM

    Wonderful story--another one of yours and another wonderful story of a walk on at VT for all of us!
    1. 

       Hokie PE November 11, 2025 at 5:09 PM

       Can't beat an Andy Bitter story.
    2. 

       RJHokie November 11, 2025 at 5:44 PM

       Definitely so!
    3. 

       knapnhokie November 11, 2025 at 11:37 PM

       Love the Bitter truth.. great story