High-three-star EDGE Joshua Pittman commits to Virginia Tech, feels 'home'
The King's Fork High School (Suffolk, Virginia) standout ranks as the No. 13 prospect in the state of Virginia and as the No. 54 edge defender in the 2026 cycle.
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Pittman has been a frequent visitor to Blacksburg, and he was most recently at Virginia Tech on March 29. He plans to play his college football for head coach Brent Pry, newly-hired defensive coordinator Sam Siefkes, outside linebackers coach Shawn Quinn, inside linebackers coach Xavier Adibi, edges coach Jireh Wilson, assistant head coach/offensive recruiting coordinator/wide receivers coach Fontel Mines (who played a big role in Pittman's recruitment) and the rest of the staff.
"I chose Virginia Tech because it felt like home." Pittman said. "Ever since they first started recruiting me, they always made me feel like a priority at all times — never a dull moment in Blacksburg!"
Pittman has built strong bonds with Pry and the rest of the Virginia Tech coaches. He feels like he is truly wanted by the staff and that he is a good fit in the defense.
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"My relationship with Coach Pry is very genuine, and (same with) all the other coaches as well," Pittman said. "I know they want the best for me, and I wanna give my all to them!"
On Pittman's visit last month, he was able to meet Siefkes for the first time in person and was educated about the defensive scheme and how he would fit in the system. Siefkes was hired by the Hokies on Jan. 27 after spending the previous two seasons in the NFL as linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals.
"We got the chance to meet the new defensive coordinator (Siefkes) and I learned how I will be used in the new scheme as an outside linebacker/edge type guy," Pittman said about his most recent visit. "Also, I got to watch practice and see how they run things at practice!"
Pittman will return to Blacksburg for his official visit to Virginia Tech during the weekend of May 30 through June 1, which he is looking forward to. He does not have any other trips scheduled, as he is locked in with the Hokies.
As an in-state prospect, being able to suit up for Virginia Tech in the future is special for Pittman and his family.
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"It means a lot to be Hokie," Pittman mentioned. "I'm following in a lot of great people's footsteps. I can't wait to make a name for myself on the next level!"
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Pittman has received additional scholarship offers from Duke, Indiana, James Madison, Michigan State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Wake Forest, West Virginia and others.
The plan for Pittman at Virginia Tech is to play as an outside linebacker/edge defender who can rush the quarterback, set the edge in the running game and drop into pass coverage when needed.
"They are recruiting me as linebacker/hybrid type guy," Pittman explained. "I would describe my game as fast-paced in the pass game — I can use speed and power (to rush the quarterback). I am very firm in the run game — nothing is getting outside of me. I am also a great open-field tackler!"
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Pittman is just the second commitment in Virginia Tech's 2026 class thus far. He joins three-star wide receiver pledge Carnell Warren.
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Pittman isn't the only coach who wants prospects to be familiar with what their college experience will look like before making any life-changing decisions. Florida coach Billy Napier paints a clear picture of life in Gainesville and the challenges and perks that come with it. 'We present our product in a way where we're selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it's been before,' he said. 'And I think that's one of the reasons we've been able to keep it together.' Florida's 2023 recruiting class remains mostly intact, and from Napier's perspective, hungrier than ever. Compared to other SEC teams, the Gators have had more success with retention. Napier doesn't think it's a coincidence. 'We told them when they came in, you know, look, it's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows here. We're in this thing for the long haul,' Napier said. 'I think a lot of this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We're going to continue to do that, and retention is more important than it's ever been.' Coaches scrambling to prevent transfers and maintain consistency isn't exclusive to the SEC. The approval of the House settlement is a double-edged sword when it comes to retention, and Power Four schools and beyond are feeling the effects. Third-party NIL deals are no longer the only negotiation tactic schools need to worry about. Complex contracts are becoming common and legal risks grow for athletes and programs alike as college football increasingly resembles the pros. Some deals are being negotiated solely by athletes as young as 18. As a redshirt senior, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn is used to the process. 'I wouldn't say I was nervous (to negotiate) because this is my third year of having to do that,' Quinn said. 'You've got to kind of stand your ground with what you feel like is your worth. 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'And I think that's what helps us keep a good culture, is try to start with: Let's retain first, and then whatever's left, let's go build the best team we can for those guys,' Lashlee said. North Carolina State's Dave Doeren doubled down. 'A guy that's been on a team three years, that's playing well and earned it on the field should make more than a guy coming in the door. I think that's a proper way to do business,' Doeren said, though he warned that might not be the case across the board. 'Right now, common sense is not prevailing in college football.'
a day ago
Coaches race to master art of retention amid NIL, revenue sharing and transfer portal challenges
Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention. Its importance is clear to Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who has seen all but five players from his 2023 recruiting class leave for different programs. 'Here's what it's not because of: the way they're treated, because of the way they're developed, because of the way they're taught," he said. "That's not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances, but you'd have to ask those guys.' More than 3,000 Bowl Subdivision players reportedly entered the transfer portal this past spring, which would average out to about 22 players per team. For the Razorbacks, 10 starters will be back and one of them is senior defensive lineman Cam Ball. He has remained with Arkansas his entire career, a somewhat rare occurrence for an NFL hopeful these days. 'I'm just a loyal guy. I'm loyal to the state of Arkansas; Arkansas has been loyal to me," Ball said. Arkansas, like many schools, is also trying to scare up more money from donors as it faces the financial ramifications of the $2.8 billion House settlement; last fall, the athletic director said the school needed some $12 million more annually to 'be in the NIL game from a football perspective.' Besides the money, the Razorbacks have to find talented players; Ball grew up in Atlanta, just barely within the regional footprint in which Pittman prefers to recruit. 'We have to go outside our state," Pittman said. 'In-state recruiting has changed over the last three or four years because of NIL. So you have to think about the talent — who it is versus what pay is expected. So that's been a little bit more difficult in our state.' Pittman isn't the only coach who wants prospects to be familiar with what their college experience will look like before making any life-changing decisions. Florida coach Billy Napier paints a clear picture of life in Gainesville and the challenges and perks that come with it. 'We present our product in a way where we're selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it's been before," he said. "And I think that's one of the reasons we've been able to keep it together.' Florida's 2023 recruiting class remains mostly intact, and from Napier's perspective, hungrier than ever. Compared to other SEC teams, the Gators have had more success with retention. Napier doesn't think it's a coincidence. 'We told them when they came in, you know, look, it's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows here. We're in this thing for the long haul,' Napier said. 'I think a lot of this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We're going to continue to do that, and retention is more important than it's ever been.' Coaches scrambling to prevent transfers and maintain consistency isn't exclusive to the SEC. The approval of the House settlement is a double-edged sword when it comes to retention, and Power Four schools and beyond are feeling the effects. Third-party NIL deals are no longer the only negotiation tactic schools need to worry about. Complex contracts are becoming common and legal risks grow for athletes and programs alike as college football increasingly resembles the pros. Some deals are being negotiated solely by athletes as young as 18. As a redshirt senior, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn is used to the process. 'I wouldn't say I was nervous (to negotiate) because this is my third year of having to do that,' Quinn said. 'You've got to kind of stand your ground with what you feel like is your worth. 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"And I think that's what helps us keep a good culture, is try to start with: Let's retain first, and then whatever's left, let's go build the best team we can for those guys," Lashlee said. North Carolina State's Dave Doeren doubled down. 'A guy that's been on a team three years, that's playing well and earned it on the field should make more than a guy coming in the door. I think that's a proper way to do business,' Doeren said, though he warned that might not be the case across the board. 'Right now, common sense is not prevailing in college football.'
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a day ago
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Coaches race to master art of retention amid NIL, revenue sharing and transfer portal challenges
Whether it was an ACC, SEC, Big Ten or Big 12 coach taking the podium at media days, one theme remained consistent: In an era where revenue sharing and NIL opportunities can swiftly steer athletes toward the transfer portal, programs across the country are racing to master the art of player retention. Its importance is clear to Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who has seen all but five players from his 2023 recruiting class leave for different programs. 'Here's what it's not because of: the way they're treated, because of the way they're developed, because of the way they're taught," he said. "That's not the reason. It could be playing time. It could be finances. Probably the majority of it is finances, but you'd have to ask those guys.' More than 3,000 Bowl Subdivision players reportedly entered the transfer portal this past spring, which would average out to about 22 players per team. For the Razorbacks, 10 starters will be back and one of them is senior defensive lineman Cam Ball. He has remained with Arkansas his entire career, a somewhat rare occurrence for an NFL hopeful these days. 'I'm just a loyal guy. I'm loyal to the state of Arkansas; Arkansas has been loyal to me," Ball said. Arkansas, like many schools, is also trying to scare up more money from donors as it faces the financial ramifications of the $2.8 billion House settlement; last fall, the athletic director said the school needed some $12 million more annually to 'be in the NIL game from a football perspective.' Besides the money, the Razorbacks have to find talented players; Ball grew up in Atlanta, just barely within the regional footprint in which Pittman prefers to recruit. 'We have to go outside our state," Pittman said. 'In-state recruiting has changed over the last three or four years because of NIL. So you have to think about the talent — who it is versus what pay is expected. So that's been a little bit more difficult in our state.' Pittman isn't the only coach who wants prospects to be familiar with what their college experience will look like before making any life-changing decisions. Florida coach Billy Napier paints a clear picture of life in Gainesville and the challenges and perks that come with it. 'We present our product in a way where we're selling the degree, the alumni network, the Gator-made program, and you have to be up for the challenge of trying to get Florida back to where it's been before," he said. "And I think that's one of the reasons we've been able to keep it together.' Florida's 2023 recruiting class remains mostly intact, and from Napier's perspective, hungrier than ever. Compared to other SEC teams, the Gators have had more success with retention. Napier doesn't think it's a coincidence. 'We told them when they came in, you know, look, it's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows here. We're in this thing for the long haul,' Napier said. 'I think a lot of this is how you pitch it in recruiting. We're going to continue to do that, and retention is more important than it's ever been.' Coaches scrambling to prevent transfers and maintain consistency isn't exclusive to the SEC. The approval of the House settlement is a double-edged sword when it comes to retention, and Power Four schools and beyond are feeling the effects. Third-party NIL deals are no longer the only negotiation tactic schools need to worry about. Complex contracts are becoming common and legal risks grow for athletes and programs alike as college football increasingly resembles the pros. Some deals are being negotiated solely by athletes as young as 18. As a redshirt senior, Louisville linebacker TJ Quinn is used to the process. 'I wouldn't say I was nervous (to negotiate) because this is my third year of having to do that,' Quinn said. 'You've got to kind of stand your ground with what you feel like is your worth. If you're comfortable with their offer, then sign. Then you have some guys that'll leave and go to schools to get more money and stuff. That was never really like a big pusher for me, to go out and get more money because I feel like I'm in a good situation here at Louisville.' Quinn's loyalty could be the most convincing negotiation tactic of them all. While programs use revenue-share dollars to sway prospective transfers, coaches have begun to reward loyalty. 'To some degree, it's capitalism that you get what you earn. So the guys that go out and play well are going to get more than the guys who haven't proven it yet,' SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said. 'Everybody on the team's not going to make the same. Fair doesn't always mean equal.' But he also said the Mustangs are not going to add players 'making a whole lot more than those guys who have already earned it here.' "And I think that's what helps us keep a good culture, is try to start with: Let's retain first, and then whatever's left, let's go build the best team we can for those guys," Lashlee said. North Carolina State's Dave Doeren doubled down. 'A guy that's been on a team three years, that's playing well and earned it on the field should make more than a guy coming in the door. I think that's a proper way to do business,' Doeren said, though he warned that might not be the case across the board. 'Right now, common sense is not prevailing in college football.' ___
