Virginia Tech held its first junior day recruiting event of the 2016 cycle yesterday. The Hokies drew a bevy of both Virginia and out of state talent to Blacksburg, earned the verbal commitment of 2016 defensive back Kareem Felder and as any good host should, served Carol Lee donuts. The high school prospects in attendance shared insights about their visits on Twitter. This is a social media recap.
2016 Stonewall Jackson athlete Reggie Floyd was in attendance. Floyd was 2015 Virginia Tech signee Tim Settle's teammate at the Manassas, VA high school.
Finally at Tech
— Reggie Floyd (@_ImThatDude20) February 7, 2015
Speaking of Settle, he was in Blacksburg too, with his friend and 2016 wide receiver prospect Eric Kumah.
Vetch with @Eric_Kumah11 this weekend
— Tim Settle (@tim_settle) February 6, 2015
Tech showing love
— EK3 (@Eric_Kumah11) February 7, 2015
The Hokies are recruiting Kumah hard. Kumah has visits planned to Wake Forest, NC State and Maryland in subsequent weeks, and this time he's eyeing an April decision date.
Wide receiver Steven Smothers was also in Blacksburg. The 4-star Franklin (Reisterstown, MD) product is a name I hadn't heard before yesterday, but it seems like he is friends with 2016 commit Kareem Felder, and both train with Next Level Nation (5 UP football).
Blue chip wideout Tino Ellis gave his Virginia Tech visit a passing grade.
Virginia Tech was by far my best visit so far!
— Tino Ellis (@IamTinoEllis) February 7, 2015
Ellis and Virginia Tech wideout Cam Phillips were teammates at DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD).
Me and my bro Cam Philips with me on my V Tech visit pic.twitter.com/8GCySLzqSV
— Tino Ellis (@IamTinoEllis) February 7, 2015
As of right now, Ellis' recruitment is a Virginia Tech–Maryland race.
Hanahan Hi (Charleston, SC) wideout Samuel Denmark was also on-hand in Blacksburg and enjoyed his visit.
VT visit was fun today pic.twitter.com/IvdTDq1bwg
— Samuel Denmark #2 (@Sammyboy_33) February 8, 2015
Paramus Catholic wide receiver Donald Stewart made the trip from New Jersey with his teammates (more on that below). As of right now, neither 247Sports or Rivals report a Virginia Tech offer for Stewart.
Virginia Tech visit was great #Hokies #VT pic.twitter.com/16rPiD0Aq1
— Donald Stewart (@Donald_Stewart8) February 7, 2015
Wide receiver will be a focus of Tech's 2016 class. The Hokies didn't sign a wideout in 2015 and it's encouraging to see Tech get after some talented targets early in the process.
The Hokies left a lasting impression on running back C.J. Freeman.
Might be making my decision sooner then I thought
— CJ Freeman (@WhoThat_CJ) February 7, 2015
Freeman was 2015 Virginia Tech signee Mook Reynolds former teammate at Northern Guilford (Greensboro, NC).
Lloyd C. Bird (Chesterfield, VA) standout athlete Jalen Elliot appreciated the simple things.
Can't beat free donuts... Thanks
— STATECHAMPUNO (@Jae_Uno_) February 8, 2015
Virginia Tech signed five offensive linemen in 2015 and will again try to stock the cupboard along the trenches this cycle. Josh Ball and Jay Jay McCargo, two big, in terms of size and importance, in-state targets made the trip to Blacksburg.
Ending to my day with coach Beamer! with the Ring. #Sandman16 #HokieNation pic.twitter.com/hojawrQ3TB
— Josh (@joshball515) February 7, 2015
I had a good time at Virginia Tech's Junior Day yesterday! #Sandman16 pic.twitter.com/c3iKvBzDi1
— Jay Jay McCargo (@jjmccargo72) February 8, 2015
Kareem Felder's commitment gave DBU its second verbal of the 2016 cycle (Myles Wolfolk), and even though the scholarship numbers indicate the 2016 class will be small (around 20), I still anticipate Tech to sign about 4 defensive backs.
Cornerback Troy Pride Jr. (Greer, SC) and his mom left Blacksburg impressed.
Great Day at Tech pic.twitter.com/xD0gY7zCyS
— Troy Pride 5 (@GHSIsland5) February 7, 2015
All of the VT coaches were AWESOME and transparent today! #aparentsdream
— Angela P (@arstp4) February 8, 2015
Lake Taylor (Norfolk, VA) cornerback Wayne Davis was in Blacksburg and received a scholarship offer to DBU.
If yall already didnt know #VirginiaTech offered this morning #DBU #12 #blessed
— Wayne Davis (@Waynedavis1_) February 7, 2015
According to 247Sports, Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee among other schools have previously offered.
Jovonn Quillen, who recently stated Tech was his "dream school", upped his towel game in Blacksburg.
#HokieNation do yAll like my new towel pic.twitter.com/RIAzZouZaf
— JoVonn Quillen Jr 1 (@JovonnQuillenJr) February 7, 2015
Quillen, who is also Marshawn Williams' cousin, plays quarterback for Hampton and projects to be either a cornerback or free safety at Virginia Tech.
Virginia Tech also hosted some stud defensive linemen. The marquee name on campus was 5-star defensive tackle Rashan Gary, another Paramus Catholic player. Paramus Catholic is where 2014 Virginia Tech signee Billy Ray Mitchell played high school football.
Interviewing the nation's top DL for 2016 Rashan Gary of Paramus Catholic. I'm the one on the right. 10:30 AM CBSSN pic.twitter.com/enH2i4PIk0
— Tom Lemming (@LemmingReport) November 20, 2014
Gary isn't a small dude and has offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Florida State, Florida and Michigan among other schools. In fact, Michigan recently hired Chris Partridge, the former Paramus Catholic football coach, as its recruiting operations coordinator.
Defensive end Nick Coe picked up a Hokies offer on his visit. The Asheboro rising senior is rated a 4-star prospect by Rivals.
4-star Camden defensive end Ron Johnson considered the trip a success.
According to 247Sports, Johnson has offers from Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Miami among other schools.
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