Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 73-3vs VMI | 1 | 33 | 33.0 | 0 | 33 | |
| Wk 2 | W 44-21vs Old Dominion | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 0 | 30 | Season-high 35 yds |
| Total | 3 | 68 | 25.2 | 0 | 33 |
#13
Ja'Ricous Hairston
Junior tight end for Virginia Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 251 lb · Bassett, VA · Bassett
CFB Index 32 · #143 of 156 TEsMedium-low confidenceReturning to Virginia Tech for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
68
receiving yards · 2026
3 catches · 22.7 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 rec, 33 yds, vs VMI
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 tight end for Virginia Tech. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
His career, year by yearJa'Ricous Hairston
Is the first read once you cross the 20. Ja'Ricous Hairston has been at Virginia Tech through two head coaches in two seasons. The receipt: 35 rec yds, 2 receptions against Old Dominion — Week 2, 2026.
68 REC YDS · 3 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Virginia Tech
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2025–2026
2 coaches2025
Virginia Tech
Coaching transition mid-career: Brent Pry → James Franklin. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2025Virginia Tech3-9HC: Brent Pry · Run-leaning
2026Virginia Tech2-0HC: James Franklin · Balanced, fast tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the TE cohort
Box-score percentiles
Medium-low confidence
Elite: yards / catch (100th percentile). Concern: rec yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 1.5 REC/g, 34.0 YDS/g, 25.2 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
James Franklin
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #21 of 22 ACC TEs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Virginia Tech | 3 | 68 | 22.7 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | Virginia Tech | 12 | 112 | 9.3 | 3 | -- |
| Career | 15 | 180 | 12.0 | 3 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 73–3
vs VMI
1 rec · 33 yds
Dominant 70-point win at home against VMI.
With Q. Brown — 6 rec · 109 yds · 1 TD · E. Grunkemeyer — 224 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · 6 rush yds (2 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
The first read called near the goal line — size and catch radius do the rest.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Virginia Tech
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Tight end · Virginia Tech
Returning around him
- 37% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- Transfer portal: +2 net (29 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 #27 · 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.
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).
77%match
Matches Decker on
Yards / reception
Reception volume
Height
Differs from Decker on
TD rate (higher)
The tight end room · Virginia Tech
- #85Luke Reynolds257 receiving yards · 2025
- #13Ja'Ricous Hairston112 receiving yards · 2025
- #82Benji Gosnell86 receiving yards · 2025
- #87Harrison Saint Germain28 receiving yards · 2025
- #36Brody Jones1 game · 2025
3 more on the roster · Virginia Tech team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology