Roanoke Prospect Chance Hall Set to Decide Tonight

Editor's Note: Alex Koma is a 2014 Virginia Tech communications graduate (Summa Cum Laude) that's joining the team to primarily cover recruiting. --Joe

A year ago at this time, Chance Hall of Roanoke's Northside High School had no interest at all in attending Virginia Tech.

But now, just a few hours before he announces where he'll be committing, the Hokies are among Hall's top five schools.

Northside head coach Burt Torrence attributes the change to the efforts of Tech's new offensive line coach, Stacy Searels.

"A year ago, he wasn't really interested in Tech, which really shows what their new offensive line coach has done with him," Torrence said. "He really paved the way for (the Hokies) to enter the conversation."

Hall is rated a 3-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite that plays both offensive and defensive tackle for the Vikings, but the Hokies and most other teams seem to see him playing on the offensive side of the ball in college.

"Most everyone think he projects favorably on the offensive line," Torrence said. "He's started on the defensive line since midway through his freshman year, and he's only been playing on offense for a year, but he's still got great potential there."

The junior is deciding between Tech, Virginia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Notre Dame tonight, and his athleticism makes him a tantalizing prospect for schools across the country.

"He's supremely agile and really moves his feet well," Torrence said.

This agility is particularly impressive for someone of Hall's size; even at his young age, he's already 6'5" and 295 pounds. Yet Torrence still thinks there's room for him to grow.

"He's broad shouldered and in a year, he'll be 315 or 320 pounds and still be lean," Torrence said. "If he gets in a college lifting program with someone like (Tech Strength and Conditioning Coach) Mike Gentry, I can hardly imagine what that could do for him. The sky is really the limit."

As Searels tries to put his stamp on Tech's program, it's hardly surprising that he'd go after an athlete with such obvious physical gifts, but he's not the only Hokie staffer to make an impact on Hall.

"He really respects Coach (Bryan) Stinespring," Torrence said. "He's always recruited him the right way."

Even though his experiences with Tech have largely been positive, the recruiting process still seems to have worn on Hall. 247Sports reports he's received nine total offers, with overtures coming from Duke, Maryland, North Carolina and Old Dominion in addition to the five schools he'll choose between tonight.

"2014 isn't like 1999 when it comes to recruiting and it's been overwhelming for him," Torrence said. "He's a quiet young man, and the amount of contact has him really feeling burnt out. It's been going on for two years now really and it's pretty trying."

But now that his long road towards commitment is ending, Torrence thinks whichever school lands Hall will be very fortunate.

"He's a pleaser. He wants to perform well for you," Torrence said. "He understands and listens well, and you just can't ask for much more than that."