In the end Bud Foster got his man. Linebacker Dax Hollifield signed with Virginia Tech over an eleventh hour surge from Clemson, the home state North Carolina Tar Heels, and academic institution Stanford. Hollifield is rated a 4-star (0.9376) inside linebacker by the 247Sports Composite.
"The reason I committed to Virginia Tech is because it felt like home from the first time I went there my freshman year," Hollifield said shortly after announcing his intent at his Shelby HS ceremony. "It's always felt like home. I love the coaching staff, I love coach Foster."
Shelby LB Dax Hollifield picks @VT_Football #NSD2018 #Hokies #HokieNation pic.twitter.com/jjkvQOXfjr— Kelsey Riggs (@KelseyRiggsWCNC) February 7, 2018
GOT DAX ❗The #LPD 💼 just got better with the addition of @ChiefDax_25Message approved by @CoachFosterVT #ExitLight18 🦃 pic.twitter.com/6YSxfS2l7w— VT Football (@VT_Football) February 7, 2018
Welcome home @ChiefDax_25 #LunchPailD 💼#ExitLight18 #HardSmartTough pic.twitter.com/xiEl7S20Gg— Bud Foster (@coachfostervt) February 7, 2018
Comments
fuck yeah fam
FIST PUMP!
YES YES YES YES
Got em! My heart was pounding watching that stream. I can't do this recruiting thing I swear. Glad this one worked out.
"See my dreams unfold, nightmares come true" -Meek
Same here, got my dog all excited
Joe, you type faster than any other human I know
Article live the same minute as the announcement! I can only imagine how many staged drafts of announcements like this you have burned!
You do know he has these written for every recruit, right? It must suck to have to delete those "Sweat commits to the Hokies" or "KJ Henry chooses VT over Clemson" headlines that he had shelved, but oh well...
We got DAX, FAM!
Probably should've added the /s lol
Well.. Joe could very well be a pre-cog 'a-la' Minority Report, but his only power is posting recruiting news, instead of predicting crimes. *ducks*
LETS GOOOOOO
HOKIES!
Dax a Fact, Jack!
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Shit, now I have all these hateful tweets, sculpted to perfection FOR NOTHING. Sad!
Wooooooo!!!!!!
I loved how half of his family were sporting VT gear under their jackets too.
...and how his Mom was nodding her head when he was explaining why he chose the Hokies. If Mom's on your side, that's a great thing.
So what was it he said that mom was nodding at?
When he said it felt like "home," maybe you guys were onto something with his comments the other day.
Particularly liked that younger brother Jack had on Hokie gear. Keep those brother combos coming. ❤️🦃🏈
The second best thing of the announcement
"You are dismissed back to third period."
NO SUPERFAN, FAM!
I kinda hope he was present with Grant
That would certainly explain a lot.
This gif is on the list of things I wish never made it to the internet, so strange.
That superfan guy is on the list of things I wish never made it to a commitment event.
Hell yes
GIVE ME A HELL YEAH!!
Can't use that tight lipped photo anymore. The boy has spoken.
BOOM. Dax and Artis have been the names we have been hearing about at Bud Foster's big targets for what seems like forever. After as much grief as Bud took after the Stephone Anthony/Travis Hughes year, and all the misses afterwards where Tremaine was really the only guy who was targeted early and sealed up, this is a huge vindication for Foster.
Rivers, Dax and Artis . We got some good linebackers boys !!
That's going to be a stout box
Could say the same thing about my ex-girlfriend.
Must....resist....the urge....
Hear. Hear. This goes a long way toward payback for Anthony in particular. Very, very similar circumstances to Dax. I remember Anthony being a VT lock until Clemson moved in at the last minute, and Bud worked his ass off to get him. (Or played his nuts off... depends on who you ask.)
KABOOM!!! Suck it Klempson.
Suck it Fedora!
I loved the comments in the chat thread on the live feed from salty Clemson fans... "have fun finishing 2nd in the ACC for the next several years" lolol... we'll get that next ACC championship and today was another step in that direction.... welcome Dax!
LET'S GOOOOO......
They are a terrible fanbase. Not only are the delusional and condescending, they also feel the need to assert moral superiority over every other team, coach, and fanbase.
I think its safe to say all fanbases on social media are terrible fanbases...ours included, imagine if he didnt pick VT
IE - Anthony Grant thread...
Good point, but I never post in threads until they're VT commitments. I just refrain from comment on kids going elsewhere bc it doesn't matter to me at that point.
This is entirely true, but I'm not basing previous statement on social media. I was born and raised in upstate SC, went to Clemson, and now work in upstate SC. They have some really good fans, but I feel like I am as qualified as anyone based on sample size to give an accurate depiction of their fanbase.
I have been in the upstate for 23 years now (minus 4.5 yrs in Blacksburg)...your previous assessment is spot-on.
Attending Clemson for a year, I would add that they are way too proud of their ability to count to 4 and spell their schools name.
Yup, maybe that's why he apparently set fire to some of their gear at some point? at least that's what some dude in the thread was saying, lol
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Go Hokies. Go Birds. What a great week so far!
great save after grant this am I know everyone was ready to lose their ishhhh but were going to be alright!
Good work recruiting team/Bud, beating out Clemson is always a win!
Thank you!!
NSFW
[ sorry, moderator's gotta moderate ]
Flutters
My first trip to the penalty box...I did it for Dax
Peoples view of NSFW vary GREATLY.
I thought that one was tame compared to some of the things my buddies and I send back and forth throughout the day. Guess I'm just a sick fuck...
Let's see what Bud can do with these 4* LB's
What's UNC fans proffered messahe Board. I want to read how this is going down.
It's a paper board where everyone who participates gets upvotes.
They don't have one online. They use actual messages so that they can listen since they don't know how to read.
Warming up over there
Salty as the sea
I mean, I know of 1 couple that stayed together after going to separate colleges, soooooo...
Read through and I don't think it's actually all that bad. What I do find funny is they have more threads related to our recruits than their own (who we get and don't get) and the MANY comments on how their academic standards are just too high to land kids from NC. WHAT?
Yeah, one poster began citing acceptance rates and how they're inversely proportional to football prowess as if it's difficult at all to get football recruits into UNC (or any college short of Stanford/Ivy League.) The reality is that 90% of universities have very similar, reduced standards for admission amongst their scholarship prospects. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but that is how I've always understood it to be.
20 years ago, UNC eliminated admission requirements due to the flack that they got in the media for accepting Rasheed Wallace (dude took the SATs a half dozen times to get a 750 combined). Even without the free grades, the have 0 basis for the "higher admission standards" statements. They literally have ad no standards fir more than 20 years.
It's not terrible. Some of them actually recognize how lucky they are to have gotten the recruiting class they did with the season they had. The class includes two guys that are about where Devon Hunter was ranked last year. If we got two guys like that in one class we would be going crazy. The negative comments are going to outweigh that though and going after him, our academics, etc... is just dumb. That comment about their standards being too high is not only insanely laughable and ironic but so pretentious and the reason I, who grew up and currently live in NC, have always hated UNC fans.
Inside Carolina is a good spot
Sounds like the Saber
There is a lot of salt to be digested at Inside Carolina.
They're literally starting a thread for each recruit that doesn't pick VT.
I mean, there's a reason this person went to UNC.
You mean ECU
Saw this gem in one of their threads related to Chatman and not Dax...
"NC kids are not smart enough for UNC Football."
https://scout.com/college/north-carolina/Board/102711/Contents/Chatman-n...
ha. ha. ha. ha. ha. ha.
We might not finish top 25, with all the croots flooding in to other programs, but this signing feels great, and this class as a whole feels like a win. I refuse to let the lack of finishing top 20, 25 diminish this successful class. In the words of a great Philadelphian scholar: "trust the process..."
Seriously though Dax was the guy I wanted VT to get...to me getting him was like getting Devon Hunter last year.
Can you tell Bud's excited?
He can really bend his body
That will help him become a better wakesurfer when Bud takes the team out to Claytor Lake over the summer...
So, does this mean I can tweet at him now?
The butthurt is strong on the clemson boards today.
They should be more butthurt about being passed by Miami for highest rated class. Granted, that's only because Miami had room to sign more players.
Link please!
You're welcome.
I typically @ every 4 star LB on Twitter and it never ends well for the good guys.
I'm not sure who this Dax guy is but I'm checking out his videos on YouTube tonight.
A lot of super salty Clemson fans in the replies to those tweets. Venables is arguably an elite coordinator but come back when you've been elite for 30 years.
I think Venables is good but he also has blue chip guys all over the damn place. I've always wondered what Bud's defenses would be like with amazing recruiting...well,....
I mean... Venables said it himself on College Gameday.
Remember when venerables was run out of oklahoma? remember when bud was run out of blacksburg?
that being said venerables is a great coordinator, oklahomas loss was definitely clemsons gain
Last season? He should be announced as the new DC for TAMU any day now....
He birthed a hat. Impressive.
I think the Dad was just going for a peck on the cheek?
Sweet reference, bro
Gotta admit, I can't complain when I go for a peck on the cheek and that happens.
the ol' hat-under-the-jacket trick!
"I don't think he's ever lied to me. Ever. I trust him more than any other coach," Hollifield told 247Sports earlier this week ahead of announcing his commitment."
That stuff is a main reason while I still believe in our recruiting. Everyone on the VT football staff has a lot of character and gives recruits the truth, not just everything they want to hear. Even if we miss out on a few top guys who just want their ears tickled and slimeball tactics (aka UNC, FSU among others). I know others on the board wish we employed the sleazy salesmen tactic from UNC and FSU but I respect that VT coaches and recruiting staff do it the right way.
Welcome home Dax!
Yes, and the truth is, Virginia Tech is an excellent choice where a Dax with a 4.3 GPA and a Quincy Patterson with a 4.7 GPA , as examples, can come to play school as well as football.
Congrats to the staff for selling that message as well.
So happy for Bud. I think missing Dax would have actually broken his will to recruit anymore.
Not sure I agree. He already had a fairly decent harvest these couple of years. He is just salivating more about what he can do with Rivers, Artis and the others he already has. Dax makes it possible to invent the future, now.
Bud put more effort into recruiting Dax than possibly any recruit he ever had. If all that came up short it would be incredibly demoralizing regardless of who else we have on the roster
It's a big win for Bud, and a big win for VT football.
Luckily, we don't need to worry about whether we spent enough energy on recruiting Dax, as it paid off.
I'm feeling generous with the Turkey Legs!
Same here and I haven't even started drinking yet!
Me either, ...granted, I'm sure you guys could tell.
Did anybody notice that Dax's twitter handle was @ChiefDax_44 - right up until his official announcement. Now, its @ChiefDax_25. Wonder if it was his idea or the Hokies? Either way, nice subtle touch.
Happy to hear the good news, met him at the UVA game in 2016 and the UNC game in the fall. Great kid, down to earth.
Random thought: Do they still shave the heads of incoming freshmen football players?
SOoooo!! Just sliding through to see how's it going? Anything exciting happen.
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BAG being smooth!!
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Fuente owns Fedora, on and off the field. Welcome Dax.
As a Hokie living in Shelby...FUCK YEA!
Me too! 704!
Former 704 here!! Then my phone number was turned into 980
:(
Did the locals get a kick out of Shelby's portrayal in "Eastbound & Down?"
Is it just me, or does he kinda resemble Kurt Cobain??
He reminds me of (and I apologize for this) one of those god awful YouTube celebrities, Logan Paul
Don't you compare Dax to that monster
I'm just saying, they look like they could be related
Crown jewel (so far) of Fuente's tenure. Not sure if Bud has ever wanted a kid more, and he showed it. Mad mad mad props to our DC, he truly put a ton of emotional and physical work into this one and it paid off. Couldn't be happier for a great man and a great coach.
FYI, Dax was in a while ago but wanted it to be a secret until NSD (I actually got reprimanded for letting it slip that one time) then half reneged a little later because his family wanted to make sure he made the right decision, then reconfirmed this morning.
Again, couldn't be happier for the staff, but mainly Bud. He's put his heart and soul into this program and deserves nothing more than to watch it rise to national prominence again. I love that man and dread the day that he decides to step down. Enjoy him while he lasts Hokies.
I was told to not say a damn word about any of it. I had to play a huge game of I dont know shit so that I didnt piss off people that I am connected to
This might need to be moderated but...
So it seems to me that:
1) you drink and know things
2) the connections you have know that you have a...social influence
3) your connections trust you not to drop too much inside information
4) you respect that boundary and have an opportunity to...connect dots discreetly
Where do you get your Hardee's coupons? Can you provide a 5$ gift card to Hot Topic? Are you a notary?
Thats huge!! Im so glad he "flirted" with programs like UNC, Stanford, Bama and Clemson
He chose us over HUGE programs and Im glad everyone knows it
FTFY!
Why did he want to make it a big secret? Feel like having him in the fold could have helped us with other recruits.
Honestly not sure. Part of me thinks that he just got caught up in the moment and wasn't actually ready to commit, which happens alllllll the time. There was also a rumor out there that he wanted to do it at the Army AA game.
Dax's dad said that he was all over the place with his recruitment and was still trying to figure it out this week.
Sax for Dax?
Any croots out there named Dex?
Lol. Stop the merry go round of vowels now though or its going to end badly.
Dox?
Dux?
Ooohhhh.
Ha Ha
Lmao, this gif should be in the Jazz Cabbage thread. Totes.
He still believes...
clicky
Such a good song...
Such an 80's song...
Originally written & performed by 'The Call', which was a great band in the 80's.
I'm a big fan of Michael Been's son's band: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
Random info you probably don't care about. But, Robert Levon Been has been performing with the Call on occasion.
Actually, that's interesting to know. I saw The Call in the late 80's in Chicago...I think it was at Park West.
So other than
Grant, who's left?
Grant is gone to FSU.
Musky had to go ahead and bring that up.
No you bunch of hosers! We had a few more we wanted today. I understood about Grant!
Please tell me I'm not watching Dax close out a 320lb powerclean on his toes.
For a highschool football player, I'm very impressed he was able to drop under that. Most guys just power clean it because they don't have the technique to drop under and don't have the front squat needed for a full clean. That is some crazy strength and explosion for a kid his age. And it will only improve under Hilgart. Wish I could say the same about his technique lol.
Annnd there's always that one guy who has to critique the high school kid's form.
No hard feelings but you're "that guy" lol.
He wasn't the only guy thinking it. And Hilgart will get him right, in large part because lifting incorrectly can lead to some nasty injuries.
Totally. Ask Sergei.
Take a leg you druck funk.
yOu take a lleg hang on ima juss gessssome cashish
I certianly see what you are saying about people being "that guy", in his defense though people sometimes see these types of videos and can think its proper technique. "That guy" could be preventing a lifting "noob" from injuring themselves. Just a thought from a skinny non-lifting leviathan.
First off, I said how crazy impressive it was that he has that ability as a highschooler and was even able to drop under it which was me praising his technique. Then yes, I made a comment at the very end about it just reiterating the original comment. This is because, as people mentioned, you can easily get hurt with that kind of weight and with those movements. I did, and still do, a lot of olympic lifting in high school and partially tore my patellar tendon because I tended to lean forward a bit out of the bottom when it got heavy.
Again, super impressive and far better form than most football players his age.
bud foster on hokiesfb instagram doing cartwheels for Dax! I don't know how to imbed it though if someone else does.
Lol man that's so awesome and it sounds like Fuente is holding the camera . Enjoy these moments Hokies !
Wiles is.
http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2018/february/7/bud-foster-does-cartwh...
The anatomy of an old man cartwheel.
(Disclaimer: I would never call Bud old to his face)
YOU'RE OUT OF WHACK!
Cam Goode faxed in his letter as well.
He did that in December.
To be fair though, he wasn't officially announced until today.
wonder if he got any other official visits in the interim?
not per ncaa rules
Posted this on another thread but it's more appropriate here.
The important part of the story is this: 'as they weighed Dax's options, one school - and one man, in particular - kept coming up in conversation. It was Virginia Tech and the teams defensive coordinator, Bud Foster.'
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article198852564.html
What are the realistic expectations for this guy? Day 1 starter?
At LB? If he does that would be impressive since he isn't at Early enrolle.
Probably not day 1 starter, but I'd say realistic shot at being in the 2 deep with potential to move to starter as the season progresses. He will, for sure, see the field early.
Bud expects and wants him to start
Big props to Coach Fuente for closing here. That is the missing piece to our "recruiting" process since 2010 or so and what is keeping us from competing legitimately with Clemson, FSU, and Miami. As Fuente continues to win, which he will, this will only improve. VT is at a point where the tradition, fans, facilities, proximity to a bunch of very good players can sustain itself in terms of 3 star type talent. Where we need to improve is landing guys like Dax late in the process regularly. And this shows we are on the way. Props to Fuente/Bud here.
So, when do we expect announcers to start noticing Dax and Rivers lining up next to each other and start calling them Field and Stream?
Not any time soon, most likely. I'm still waiting for one of the early 2000s defenses to be called the "Baquee and Buie" defense.
With this year and last year we have some LBs with NFL size. Should be good to see how they develop over the next few years.
So much UNC butthurt on twitter
at a blueblood he would redshirt.
Reminds me of Laird Hamilton aka Lance Burkhart:
I bet that offer didn't hurt the decision.
Cool to see an MV7 picture in that tweet. Vick's legacy is still making marks on our recruiting nearly 20 years later.
It kinda helps that he was one of the first successful black QBs that he's the most OP madden player of all time
But does Jack know how much that logo hurts my feelings?