Several Prominent Prospects Miss BC Game, Others Impressed by Atmosphere

Last weekend's matchup against Boston College was supposed to be a huge recruiting opportunity for the Hokies. Yet, much like the team's chances against the Eagles on the field, things fizzled out a bit.

While some highly rated recruits did manage to make the trip down to Blacksburg, several other prominent targets had to cancel their trips.

2015 3-star WR Lawrence Cager, one of the fastest risers on the 247Sports Composite ranking? He says a concussion kept him from making the trip.

The same goes for 4-star DE Darrell Taylor, according to his coach, Hopewell, Va. High School's Ricky Irby. Taylor, a Tennessee commit, was planning on making the trip his official visit to VT.

Highly coveted 4-star OLB/DE Ricky DeBerry also missed the visit because of an injury the night before. His dad, Rick Sr., says a hurt shoulder scrapped his plans.

4-star running back Nyheim Hines was chased away by "bad weather," according to his coach, Garner, N.C. High School's Thurman Leach.

Even Alex Gourley, an unranked center prospect for 2016 that Tech has yet to offer, found his plans change suddenly.

"Mo Collins, a former Oakland Raider, he was really close to me, and his funeral was this weekend," Gourley said. "So I told the coaches I couldn't make it."

Mourning the six-year NFL veteran and former first round pick understandably came first for Gourley, but that doesn't mean his absence stung any less for the Hokies.

Each of these recruits confirmed that they're currently trying to reschedule with the coaching staff, but not one has made any firm plans just yet.

All this isn't to say that the weekend was a total bust, however.

3-star DE Houshun Gaines was still able to make the trip, and despite the gloomy weather and gloomier on-field results, he still seems to have enjoyed himself.

"I always have a good time there, it was great. A lot of fans showed me love," Gaines said. "And they just treated me like I was on the team already."

Gaines, who notably initially committed to Florida in a bit of mix-up, would be a major pickup for the Hokies even after some early confusion. Luckily, even Lane Stadium's diminished crowd encouraged Gaines.

"They were just being all around fans," Gaines said. "It wasn't a full house, but everybody got loud."

Gaines also got a chance to spend time with current Hokies players, including one he's already familiar with.

"I spent time with Kendall (Fuller) and Bucky (Hodges). Even Wyatt (Teller), and I met him at Junior Day, so it was good to see him again," Gaines said.

The staff also spent plenty of time showing Gaines around.

"I met with Coach Foster and Coach Beamer, but I spent the most time with Coaches Wiles, he's my guy," Gaines said. "I love talking with him."

Beyond current Hokies, Gaines also got to hang out with other prospective Tech athletes.

"(4-star DE) Jalen Dalton and (4-star OT Emanuel) McGirt sat right in front of me, so we were talking the whole game," Gaines said. "Plus I got to talk to Mook (Reynolds, a 3-star Hokies CB commit) before and after the game."

McGirt seemed to similarly appreciate the experience, and landing him would be an even more meaningful pickup for the Hokies' struggling offensive line.

"The visit was really nice, it went better than I thought it would, honestly," McGirt said. "It was good to meet the coaches and hang out with all the guys."

McGirt, who stated Virginia Tech along with Georgia and N.C. State are his main contenders, also got to hang out with some of the team's younger players, like freshmen Melvin Keihn, Greg Stroman, Travon McMillian and even kicker Joey Slye.

The sight of the 6'6" McGirt standing next to the 5'10" Slye must've been downright comical.

"He's real short, no doubt," McGirt said with a chuckle.

While the visit was the first for the coveted offensive lineman, the Hokies also brought in prospects like 2016 athlete Simeon Gatling for another look at the program.

"It was my fourth time going up, I had a really good time," Gatling said.

Like Gaines, Gatling is a North Carolina product, and that means he too got the hard sell on Tech from Reynolds.

"I went down with Mook and his dad," Gatling said. "We definitely talked, he showed me around."

Gatling has yet to be offered by the Hokies, but it would seem he's formed quite the impression of them already.

"The fanbase was so united," Gatling said. "It was cold, but the game was still intense out there."

Even still, this won't be Gatling's last visit. If anything, he plans to ramp things up to attract more attention.

"I'll be visiting Auburn, Clemson, Tennessee, going back to Duke," Gatling. "I'm just trying to get my first offer."

As for Gaines, he'll be making other visits, but he's already got another stop with the Hokies penciled in.

"I'm definitely going to take a UVA visit, maybe a Miami official as well," Gaines said. "Then I'll take my official to Tech on December 5."

Maybe he can convince some of the recruits that missed out this time around to tag along.