Hokies' Commits, Prospects Visit for Duke Game as Questions Over Frank Beamer's Future Persist

When top high school targets and Virginia Tech commits trekked to Blacksburg to see the Hokies play Duke this past weekend, the weather was perfect, save for one dark cloud overshadowing the proceedings.

The number of questions about Frank Beamer's future has only continued to increase as the season's gone on, and his status at the school is something recruits are undeniably considering as they try to decide where to spend the next four to five years.. This week Beamer deflected talk of his future at Tech to focus on the team's matchup against Boston College, but said, "What is best for Virginia Tech, is what I'm into."

With recruits stopping by for official and unofficial visits alike, the game gave the the coaching staff the chance to make their case about the future for these athletes in person.

So far, some say their concerns have been effectively assuaged.

"I've definitely thought about it, and I wouldn't be surprised if there was a change, but it wouldn't affect my decision from going there, it would still be a good program," said 2016 WR Samuel Denmark of Charleston, S.C.'s Hanahan HS, a VT commit who took his official visit last weekend.

Others feel confident that a change at the top of the staff isn't something they'll need to concern themselves with.

"I'm pretty positive from what I've been told that he won't be retiring, but we'll see what happens," said 2016 QB Joshua Jackson of Saline (Mich.) HS, another Tech commit who took his official for the Duke weekend. "But from what I've been told, I shouldn't have to worry about that."

Jackson also acknowledges that the departure of offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler, who served as his primary recruiter after meeting him when he was in grade school, presents more complications still. He says he's not sure how he'd react if Loeffler didn't return next year, adding that he's "not trying to think about that" right now.

Those troubling thoughts aside, Jackson said he had a "great time" on the visit, which was just his second trip to Tech ever after taking an unofficial in June.

Jackson arrived on Friday, and got the chance to stay with freshman OT D'Andre Plantin.

"He spoke very highly of (the program), and of the coaches, and how it gets you ready for the next level and everything like that," Jackson said of his host.

From there, he took in his first game in Lane Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and called it among the best atmospheres he's ever experienced.

"I think that was probably the best I've seen, especially when 'Enter Sandman' came on and everybody started jumping, that was pretty sweet," Jackson said.

With the painful four OT loss, the Hokies didn't exactly get the result they were looking for, but Jackson was encouraged by how the team rebounded.

"The team was pretty upset, especially after a four overtime game, so I'd say they were all pretty upset, but a few of them came in the next day and talked to us about Virginia Tech, so I thought that was pretty cool," Jackson said. "It was cool to see how hard they played."

That's something that Denmark noticed during his time in Lane as well.

"It's not good that they lost, but just seeing the way they react after the game says a lot about the team, and everybody stayed positive after the loss, and the atmosphere was electric," Denmark said. "It was a tough loss, but overall, it was fine."

Unlike Jackson, Denmark's gotten to attend several Tech games during his recruitment, but what separated the official visit from his previous trips was more one-on-one time with the players and coaches.

"I got to spend more face time with the coaches, see a little more of the campus, and talk with more of the players," Denmark said. "It was everything I expected and more."

Denmark got to room with starting RB Travon McMillian, and he did his best to explain the staff's high standards.

"He was telling me that he liked it, that he works really hard, they're going to expect you to work really hard, but that's how it'll be anywhere you go," Denmark said. "He just likes going there."

Denmark also got to hear that message from the staff firsthand, mainly spending time with RB coach Shane Beamer and his would-be position coach, Zohn Burden.

"He told me I'd have a good opportunity to play once I get in there, since I'm coming early, and he's ready to work with me," Denmark said.

Jackson said he heard a similar message from Loeffler when the pair sat down for dinner on Friday night and then grabbed breakfast and lunch together on Sunday.

"I can maybe have a chance to play, I think that's what he's most excited about, maybe playing early, seeing what I can do to help," Jackson said. "Just clearing everything up, any questions I had, that's all we really talked about."

While Loeffler and Burden entertained two of the team's commits, DL coach Charley Wiles was busy trying to persuade an uncommitted prospect taking his own official visit.

2016 DE Zack Gilbert of Charlotte, N.C.'s South Mecklenburg HS has been trying to get back to Tech for months, but had to cancel one visit after another after getting a glimpse of campus at a Junior Day in February.

But during the Duke weekend, he finally got a chance to take in his first VT game and take an extended tour of campus.

"I thought it was a great experience and a great visit," Gilbert said. "I got to see the campus, I got to see the coaches and some of the players, how they reacted, especially after a four overtime loss to Duke, and they reacted pretty well. I really was impressed."

Gilbert also had plenty of high praise for the fan base's energy.

"I've been to a lot of games and stuff, but this was like a bowl game," Gilbert said. "It was really great in my opinion. The fans are diehard, they want their Hokies to win and I think it was a really great experience."

Gilbert got to spend the weekend with another of the team's prominent young defensive lineman, as Tim Settle hosted him and took the lead on showing him around.

He also got plenty of face time with the bulk of the coaching staff, noting that Wiles, Torrian Gray, Bud Foster and both Beamers sat down with him over the weekend, and he came away thinking that "they're all great people."
"I talked to Coach Frank and he said he really wants me to be a defensive end and play and make an impact, so does Coach Foster and Coach Wiles," Gilbert said. "They think I can be an impact player and a leader, they see how I approach things off the field as well, and they think I can be a really big impact player on defense."

With Dadi Nicolas and Ken Ekanem nearing the end of their time in Blacksburg, and precious little depth at DE behind them, the coaches made Gilbert's chance to contribute early a key part of their pitch.

"I have a really good chance to get on the field early and get really good playing time," Gilbert said. "They say I could get a lot of playing time and get work early."

While the trip represented official visits for Gilbert, Denmark and Jackson, other prospects stopped by on a less formal basis.

2017 TE Jarrett Powell of Woodbridge, Va.'s Hylton HS was among those to swing by the game unofficially, and he came away impressed by his first game in Lane.

"You could tell people are really behind their team in Blacksburg, I really liked that," Powell said.

Like the others, Powell said the team's perseverance through four grueling overtime periods stood out.

"They stayed in the game the whole time, they didn't give up, they continued to fight the whole time," Powell said.

While on the sidelines, Powell got to chat with fellow TE Bucky Hodges, as well as McMillian, who hails from his alma mater.

"He asked me how I liked it, and academically he talked about how great they are and basically he said his body was pretty sore after rushing for that many yards," Powell said.

Powell also got his first chance to get to know TEs coach Bryan Stinespring.

"He was very nice," Powell said. "He said he liked my size and how I block and am able to get open on routes."

The Hokies still have yet to offer Powell, but he says the coaches did tell him they want to see more of his film and added that "by the time the season's over, we'll continue to talk more."
"We talked about how they're supposed to be back to Hylton to visit and they talked about how they liked my game so far," Powell said.

Powell notes that the coaches didn't discuss a return visit with him, but he'd "really like" to make another trip.

As for the others, returns are less certain.

With Denmark and Jackson all set to enroll early, this could prove to be their last visits. Jackson said he's mulling another trip for the team's final home against UNC, but that remains up in the air.

Gilbert has other travel plans in mind. He's hoping to visit Pittsburgh, his other finalist for his commitment along with Tech, the first weekend in November for the Panthers' matchup with Notre Dame.

That could very well prove to be his final trip before his commitment, as he hopes to wrap up his recruitment sooner rather than later.

"This is tiring," Gilbert said.

As he starts to gather his thoughts ahead of his big decision, he says he plans to consider the results of his recent visits and some other key factors.

"Just how I'm going to live and the facility and how I get along with my coach and talk to my coach about things and how I can get my education," Gilbert said.