#13

Ja'Ricous Hairston

TE · Virginia Tech · So. · #13

Returning to Virginia Tech for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Ja'Ricous Hairston

TE · Virginia Tech · So · #13

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
Virginia Tech
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Virginia Tech3-9HC: Brent Pry · Run-leaning

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Virginia Tech121129.33--
Career121129.33--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 5 · 2025

W 23–21

at NC State

1 rec · 5 yds

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 2 on the road.

How he plays

Play style

Is the first read once you cross the 20.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Virginia Tech

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Tight end · Virginia Tech

Returning around him

  • 50% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
  • Transfer portal: +0 net (27 in / 27 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Virginia Tech · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #40 · 2026 recruiting class #30

DNA match

Player DNA

Red-Zone Weapon

The first read called near the goal line — size and catch radius do the rest.

TE

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Kris Byrd’s 2022 season.

Kris Byrd

55%match

Georgia State · 2022

#2

Jared Casey

Kansas · 2022

47%
#3

Decker DeGraaf

Washington · 2024

45%
#4

Karter Johnson

Pittsburgh · 2023

44%
#5

Damarcus Thomas

South Alabama · 2023

44%

Matches Kris on

Height

Differs from Kris on

EPA / play (adj) (higher)
Total EPA (college ability) (higher)
Yards / reception (higher)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Decker DeGraaf's freshman season at Washington (2024).

Washington · 2024

#2

Trace Bruckler

New Mexico · 2021

71%
#3

Mitchel Collier

Central Michigan · 2023

66%
#4

Chaton Mobley

Middle Tennessee · 2020

62%
#5

Matt Adcock

Memphis · 2025

56%

Matches Decker on

Yards / reception
Reception volume
Height

Differs from Decker on

TD rate (higher)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #1302

Final rank
#1827
Avg #1640.3
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #1302 this season.