2015 OT D'Andre Plantin Picks the Hokies in "Year for the Offensive Line"

Offensive line coach Stacy Searels is no stranger to the state of Georgia.

He coached with the Bulldogs from 2007-09, and Frank Beamer and company bet that he'd be able to leverage his connections in that talent-rich area to help the Hokies tap into the SEC pipeline. It seems that's finally started to come to fruition.

Tech added its fifth offensive lineman of the 2015 class earlier this week when OT D'Andre Plantin of Norcross, Ga. HS committed to the Hokies.

"When I called Coach Searels he was just ecstatic, he said he told all the coaches about me," Plantin said. "He's been telling me this is the year for the offensive line for them."

Plantin, rated a 3-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite rating, has heard overtures from a variety of schools, but was ultimately deciding between VT and Illinois.

"I also gave Illinois a call after, told them I was going in a different direction," Plantin said. "I wanted to keep it classy, show them respect and let them know before I put it out there."

For the Georgia product, distance was too big of a factor for him to choose the Illini.

"The main thing for me was distance," Plantin said. "I talked with my family about it, and we agreed that this way everyone who supported me from the beginning can still watch me play through to the end."

But it wasn't just Tech's location on the map that convinced Plantin to come to Blacksburg. Searels also effectively sold him on the combination of Tech's history and an immediate need at the position.

"He definitely talked about the tradition, how they're still on a streak of 21 bowl games," Plantin said. "And he talked about needing people on the offensive line because they've got people leaving."

Plantin may appreciate the Hokies' tradition, but he was breaking away from his family's heritage a bit by signing with Tech. Both his father and grandfather played for the Clemson Tigers, yet the youngest Plantin chose a different ACC school.

D'Andre's dad, Tony, was a defensive linemen for Clemson, graduating in 1997. He even set the program's record for quarterback pressures in a game against Duke in 1995.

And Tony's dad, Tony Mathews, was a fullback for the Tigers from 1973-74.

So it's safe to say there's some history with the Plantin family and Clemson. Yet, while D'Andre says the Tigers did contact him briefly last year, he never gave serious consideration to holding out for an offer to continue the family tradition.

"I heard from them last year, but it had no effect on my decision," Plantin said.

Plantin already boasts an impressive 6'5" and 277-pound frame, so it's no surprise that Searels is excited about the commitment.

Yet Plantin's work ethic and energy also surely got the Hokies interested.

"I think I have a really high motor, I'll do whatever takes out there on the field," Plantin said.

He also feels that "pass blocking is an advantage for me," another piece of good news for the Hokies as they prepare to graduate their starting left tackle.

However, he's still looking to improve both his strength and his technique.

"I just want to hit the weight room more and work with Coach Searels on my fundamentals," Plantin said.

Plantin has yet to set foot in Blacksburg, but he plans to change that when he takes an official visit to the school on December 5.

"I'm just looking forward to getting up there and bonding with everyone," Plantin said.