Trio of Virginia Prospects Bond During Visit to See Hokies' "Up-Tempo" Spring Scrimmage

Even though they share the same state, Jordan Williams and Brailyn Franklin had somehow never met each before this weekend, when they crossed paths on the sidelines of Lane Stadium.

The Hokies have been hot on the trail of both of the in-state prospects over the last few months, but their meeting while visiting for a spring scrimmage Saturday gave them their first chance to strike up a conversation, and Justin Fuente and company are surely hoping that it isn't the last time the pair spends time together in the stadium. The momentous meeting all came within the context of an intimate gathering of a handful recruits in Blacksburg last weekend, as the Hokies worked to show off their spring practice sessions for one of the last times before this weekend's spring game.

For his part, Williams told The Key Play that he enjoyed the meeting, and he's beginning to understand why the Hokies are interested in the 6'3," 200-pound frame athlete from Haymarket's Battlefield HS. Nevertheless, when Franklin told him what position he plays there, Williams couldn't help but be surprised.

"He was just telling me that it was nose tackle, and I was like 'Nose tackle?'" Williams said, with some degree of incredulity in his voice. "Because he's got a pretty small frame, and after the trip on the ride home, I was watching his highlight tape and I was very impressed. He was very quick. I don't think he'll be able to play at nose tackle, he'll probably be more like an end, outside linebacker, but he's a tremendous athlete. If he does decide to go to Virginia Tech, he'll have a huge impact."

Franklin remembers meeting the defensive end from Cox HS in Virginia Beach as well, but he focuses less on how the 6'5", 250-pound prospect looked, and more on their chance to snap a particular selfie with Bud Foster and Charley Wiles.

"Me, Jordan Williams, Coach Foster, Coach Wiles we all got a picture and I put it on Twitter," Franklin said. "People were loving it, saying, 'Go ahead and commit right now, I'd love to see you in the maroon and orange,' stuff like that."

Me and my manz @_blessed_23 J.Will, @coachfostervt ,& @coachwiles had a great time together today in Blacksburg,Va pic.twitter.com/HtTsQHdqby— DeuceBoog1e (@prettiboi_23bra) April 16, 2016

But Franklin also recalls meeting another in-state prospect on the field on the day: 2017 DE/OT Tyran Hunt of Courtland's Southampton HS.

"It was really cool meeting those other guys, because they're really motivated about what they do and Virginia Tech itself," Hunt said.

Williams says no introductions were required for him and Hunt (he says, "Tyran and I are really close, we've gone on visits and to camps together), but agreed that the small group gathering gave him a unique glimpse at the environment around the team.

"Having a few people there, you definitely got the attention you wanted and attention you were looking for," Williams said. "But I feel like either way, I would've gotten the attention that I wanted, because they're a program that's made me a priority on their list. And I definitely feel like Coach (Zohn) Burden and all the people there, we have a great relationship, and no matter the number of people there, I'd always get attention from them."

Beyond his chance to spend time with other recruits, Williams also relished the chance to watch the scrimmage itself. Though the Hokies have only rarely let outsiders get a look at what Fuente, Foster and company have cooking for the new season, Williams got a glimpse at the progress the team's made this spring.

"The scrimmage was definitely great to be able to watch," Williams said. "The quarterbacks were free, they didn't have on their yellow jerseys, they were getting hit, so it was definitely exciting to watch."

Based on what he saw, Williams noted that DT Tim Settle was the prime beneficiary of Fuente's blessing to go after the QBs

"Tim Settle, he had a scoop and almost-score, but got tackled at the three-yard line," Williams said, laughing at the thought of the rotund redshirt freshman nearly finding the end zone. "He had two batted balls. He had a great scrimmage, he was all over the field, he was even close to a sack at one point."

Though he'd likely also find himself on the defensive line at Tech, Franklin says he kept his eyes trained on the receivers and defensive backs the most, but did watch the DEs and LBs some as well. For Hunt, what immediately stood out is the factor that's on the lips of every Hokies fan this spring: the speed of Fuente's offense.

"The tempo, the new offensive scheme they're bringing in is much more up-tempo than last year's, and they're playing more physical and aggressive on defense, and I really like that," Hunt said.

But he also made note of Tech's injury woes, which are limiting the Hokies from dividing the squad into first and second teams for the spring game itself.

"They scrimmaged, offense versus defense, rotated in some of the lineups and a lot of their players were injured, so it was really good to see the team depth and people coming in," Hunt said.

It doesn't seem that things were all business on the field, however.

"Coach Fuente and Coach Foster's kids were there, running around, playing around, it's like that down there," Franklin said. "It's real friendly."

When the scrimmage wrapped up, the Hokies took plenty of time to give each recruit some more individual attention. Williams broke off with the other defensive linemen, and sat in on a position meeting with Charley Wiles to see how his would-be position coach teaches the game.

"I love the scheme that they run," Williams said. "We were sitting down watching film in the meeting room with Coach Wiles, and being able to see the different stunts and things that they do with the tackles and the ends, that was great to see.

"I think it's definitely a scheme I could see myself in, making plays, becoming a great playmaker and causing disruption to the quarterback and the offense."

Williams also carved out time on the trip to study up on Tech's academics, and the Hokies were able to help him learn more about the school's sports medicine program, since that's the major he's considering right now.

"A big part of that trip for me was getting to sit down with their academic staff, because I already know what Virginia Tech has to offer football-wise," Williams said. "Academics are huge for me and my family, so them being able to sit me down with a teacher that was going to help me in my major and she was also an athletic trainer with the football program, it was definitely great.

"She was able to answer all my questions, tell me about classes I'd need to take in order to prepare for my major, just answered all the questions me and my dad had, it made a big difference Virginia Tech-wise."

Franklin also brought his dad along for the trip, giving him his first chance to see Blacksburg and get comfortable with the coaches.

"I got to sit down with Coach Wiles and Coach Foster and Coach Fuente," Franklin said. "They were just explaining to me, as they did before, that they want me and they'll do anything to get me there. They love my playing style and everything, and they talked to my dad and told him the importance of me coming there and how they'll take care of me."

Hunt made sure to take some time to meet with the coaches separately as well, especially since he's only just getting to know the new staff. Bryan Stinespring offered when he was still with the program, and Hunt has since visited Blacksburg on four occasions — a camp last July, the team's loss to Georgia Tech two seasons ago, the Ohio State opener and even Frank Beamer's last home game against UNC — but this was his first visit with Fuente in charge.

"When the new staff came in, I had doubts about how they were gonna compare to the last, but it went really well," Hunt said. "I had good contact with most of the staff, I got one-on-one meeting with all of the coaches and it was really good."

VT was beyond lit. really enjoyed The new staff #HokieNation pic.twitter.com/yxFyymYCLl— Tyran Hunt (@tyranjhunt) April 17, 2016

He says spent lots of time with OL coach Vance Vice, since the Hokies see him as an OT at the next level, and loved how "he really believes in the team and how they're going to take over the ACC." But it was his time with Fuente that really left a mark on him.

"The thing that stood out to me the most about him was his intensity, his vision ultimately to turn the team around and really bring the Fuente era to Virginia Tech and Blacksburg itself, I really like his vision," Hunt said.

Now, Hunt is hoping to bring his family with him for another trip to Blacksburg "so they can see the new Fuente era themselves," and is planning on visiting again "if not for the spring game, then hopefully the season opener."

Williams is similarly unsure about any future trips to Blacksburg. But he's "definitely" hoping to get back to Tech before he announces his decision, which he currently expects will happen on Sept. 24.

He's also hoping to get to Southern California, Georgia, Virginia, Clemson and "possibly" Florida and Notre Dame before that date, and he expects that some of those will be officials visits. In particular, he wants to use an official to see USC, given the "great relationship" he's built with Clay Helton's new staff there.

"That date just gives me a lot of time to take some officials if I need to," Williams said. "I'll probably not take all five, just in case I do decommit, which I'm most likely not going to. But it just gives me time to take three or four officials, figure out the school I want, and if I do decommit, take an official to a school I'm thinking about."

But based on the word around Tech's spring game, Williams regrets that he likely won't be making the trip down this weekend to check one school off his list.

"If we'd known that the spring game was this weekend, we probably wouldn't have made this trip and come down for that, because it's supposed a lot of fun," Williams said. "A lot of Virginia guys going there. Kam Chancellor, DeAngelo Hall, all those guys, it'll be exciting."

Indeed, Franklin will be one of those in-state prospects on hand for the trip, and he's inviting his whole family up from Texas for the weekend.

"My dad, my stepmom, my mom and my little brother and my two little sisters, even my girlfriend and her family are all coming up," Franklin said.

Franklin says he's put a focus on what his family thinks of any given situation, and while he's "very comfortable" at Tech currently, he's anxious to get a sense for what they think of the school.

"If I'm going to commit to a school, I want them to meet my family, not just me," Franklin said. "Because, for me, I'm gonna play, but I also want my family to be able to see everything and have my coaches be in touch with my family because that's how it's been all my life. My high school coach, he's in touch with my family all the time."

Blacksburg is a long haul from the Lone Star State, but Franklin made it clear that "they don't mind" the trek at all, and likely wouldn't mind making it on a more regular basis if he chooses the Hokies.

But, like Williams, Franklin says the buzz around the game suggests that they won't be disappointed with what they find when they arrive in Lane Stadium.

"I think it's going to be like a game atmosphere," Franklin said. "Because if the weather is how it was (Saturday), the turnout will probably be like an actual football game. That's what coach told me, so that will be really exciting to see, to be honest."