Charley Wiles Entices North Carolina RB Bryce Love to Visit VT

Defensive line coach Charley Wiles is spending an awful lot of time in North Carolina this recruiting cycle, and now some of the players he's been chasing in the state are finding their way to Blacksburg.

Wiles has already helped reel in CB Mook Reynolds, and he's been hot on the trail of DE Jalen Dalton as well.

But while it might make sense for Wiles to go after defensive players, like that aforementioned pair, he's also helping out the offensive staff in the state by pursuing players like running back Bryce Love of Wake Forest High School.

Love chose last weekend's Georgia Tech game as his official visit to VT, but he wasn't going just to see Wiles.

"Mook and I were talking to each other the whole time, we just had a really good time," Love said. "The atmosphere and stadium were great, it was a good trip."

Love also got a chance to spend time with another young running back to help him get acquainted with Blacksburg.

"I spent a lot of time with my host, Travon McMillian," Love said. "It was just really cool."

Love had previously stopped by the campus for the program's Junior Day earlier this year, but he wanted a look at the atmosphere of the school on a gameday.

"He came up for Junior Day and got to work with Coach Wiles a lot, but he wanted a closer look," said Chris Love, Bryce's father. "And the stadium was electrifying, the weather was great, it was a great visit."

But the Loves wanted to make sure their son learned as much as he could about the academic side of the campus as well.

"He has a 4.5 GPA, so he's very interested in academics," Chris said. "And we had a great meeting with the academic staff when we were there."

As important as the program itself may be, Chris was quick to point out where his son's priorities lie.

"The priority is always academics," Chris said. "That and finding a family atmosphere, a camaraderie."

The staff did their best to welcome Bryce into their own families to help showcase that atmosphere.

"I got to spend time with Coach Wiles and Coach Beamer, we ate with them and met their families and everything," Bryce said.

But inevitably talk did turn to what the staff thinks Bryce can do on the football field. He's listed as a 4-star all-purpose back by the 247Sports Composite ranking, and the coaches think they can take advantage of his speed on the field.

"They talked about using me as a receiver and on jet sweeps, but also running between the tackles," Bryce said.

Bryce stars for the school's track team when he's not on the football field, in addition to working with his dad on a local track and field club, so it's hardly a surprise that his explosiveness is what's attracted the Hokies.

"I think my strengths are my speed, elusiveness," Bryce said. "I can definitely catch it out of the backfield."

Chris is focused on helping his son with more than just his times on the track. He says he's also trying to take an active role in Bryce's recruitment.

"We're just trying to guide him through the process, since he's had attention since his freshman year really," Chris said. "We want to make sure he gets to see the schools he's interested in."

The Hokies are one of many teams on that particular list.

"I'm interested in the in-state schools of course, like UNC, ECU and N.C. State, but also Florida, Stanford," Bryce said. "I also like Tennessee, I'll be making a visit there soon."

Bryce says a decision isn't imminent, but he'll be making his choice sometime in the next few months.

"I'm trying to decide during this football season," Bryce said.

He added that he does want to take another trip to Tech between now and then, but with a quality high school squad to think about, recruiting is still on the backburner.

"Last year, his team went to the state championships and they've got a group of seniors that he came in with," Chris said. "They're all focused on this year, then the next level."