Discuss and share any recruiting topics for August 2021 that don't warrant their own threads. Commits and Decommits warrant their own threads.
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Comments
Since July is closed, reposting here...though it is now 4:03 and I'm not seeing any decision posted!
https://247sports.com/player/dandre-martin-46057664/
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CSC2E71nhP_/?utm_medium=copy_link
GOT HEEEEM
6'3" and nearly 300lb Edge rusher??? Holy shit!
Nice. Really like the push for size of late. Hoping it pans put in the next few years
Martin looks to be really athletic for his size, played WR/TE until recently. I like that we are recruiting NFL size d-linemen
Lettttssss Gooooo
Big Time! I'm glad what I heard was true! Let's go Hokies! 🦃🦃
Welcome to the Hokies, Dre!
Major step in getting Khalan to VT. I believe academics were (one of) the major barriers. Lecht liked the tweet.
Elite talent but imo he's probably third behind Holston and Blackshear, could definitely start in '22. Still get him here for the 757 ties if nothing else.
Lol, if he comes in 100% healthy, he's one and done like Herbert. Easily would be the RB with the highest ceiling.
If he hits the ceiling that people assumed he had coming out of high school maybe. He was 4.7 per carry against ACC competition as a backup in 2019. Herbert had 7.7 with us, and hit 8.9 his last year in Kansas (small sample size, sure, 5.4 on his career). I don't think there's any reason to believe that all Laborn has been waiting for is our offensive line to unlock him.
There are a lot of reasons that he could be much better at VT, he could have matured from 2019 and started to put the work in, he wouldn't be running behind FSUs terrible Oline, he could just naturally get better as many players do as they practice and workout.
Those are definitely some potential reasons. But there are also a bunch of real reasons to think he wouldn't suddenly become one of ~10 best backs in college football from an NFL perspective.
Highest ceiling? Maybe but not certainly. One and done? Maybe but not certainly. You're getting out over your skis on this one.
I agree, he hasn't played D1 football in well over a year and didn't get much time to develop while at FSU. I'd be willing to bet he wouldn't surpass Blackshear for RB1 this season
Highly doubt blackshear is RB1
I wouldn't be surprised at all to see RB1 to be Holsten/Blackshear.
There's some irony about naming two runningbacks rb1.
I think we do something predictable where Holston is running back for first and second down, then Blackshear comes in for third down.
Sounds like what nearly every NFL team does. Anything to reduce the number of designed qb runs on 3rd gets my vote. I wanna see more of Blackshear before I make a final opinion on his 3rd down ability though.
Major step in getting Khalan to VT. I believe academics were (one of) the major barriers. Lecht liked the tweet.
Anyone know what he has been up to? how is his shape? is he eligible to play in the fall. Without going through the Spring with us, might be someone we could use later in the season and then go into 2022 with him as a major contributor.
whoa, I haven't followed recruiting in a while so I'm OOTL, but we have a chance at getting Laborn? He transferred from FSU?
I bet you're wondering: what year is this again?
Last year and a half didn't count it's still 2020, no one aged last year.........
That you, M Night Shamalayan?
Got thrown off FSU in 2019, was going to play JUCO in 2020 but didn't because of COVID.
Was a major knucklehead early in his career but appears to have made major strides in getting his life back on track.
well damn I remember him being pretty hyped coming out of HS, hope we can get him
High school film very similar to Ryan Williams.
I watched him in the playoff game between Ocean Lakes and Oscar Smith. He was the best player on the field and it wasn't close. I think he had about 250 yards rushing plus another 150 yards called back because of penalties.
🦃 put it in the bank
Is this the VTalways#1 equivalent of a bat signal?!?!?!
#ThisIsHome or #NC2VT
EDIT: this was a question, but I reread the post, and it makes sense now.
Put it in the bank. Tyler Banks
Remember the end of the 1995 UVa game? The pick 6 to seal it was Tyler's dad Antonio....still one of my all-time favorite moments in VT football history-love that guy!
Don't forget that the UVA trainer Joe Gieck tried to trip Banks as he went past.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg8D4p231Jc
Oh I didn't forget...what a gieck
wait, Tyler Banks dad is Antonio Banks? So Rayshard Ashby's uncle is Antonio Banks? How was that not mentioned before now?
Thank you for making me feel ancient on a Friday.
Based on headlines from 247, we seem to be in the drivers seat for Mansoor Delane
Edit: CB is in for the good guys from Evan Watkins
plays on the same 7-on-7 team as Cam Johnson
https://247sports.com/player/cam-johnson-46084571/
I'd like to snag him. Hope we don't get small-dogged by BC
Delane will announce on August 11th at 5PM EST
Things look good for us here IMO
Per his twitter, this will be between the twerps and the good guys (can't post at work)
🔒🦃
DQW is fast
Definitely James Mitchell or Kyle Pitts type potential with the physical tools
you absolutely, and i cannot emphasize this enough, h a t e to see it
Wait, why do you hate to see this? They were college teammates almost 25 years ago and it's cool they still have a bond in some capacity. MV obviously hopes Shane succeeds at SC and I think most reasonable Hokies wish the same for him.
I'm all for their friendship. I hate that "I played with Michael Vick and we're still close!" is effectively a recruiting tool for a school other than VT that competes directly with us for recruits
It really doesn't bother me at all. Vick hasn't been super active previously so I don't expect that to change now.
scarcity of activity increases the value of that activity. i'd rather it be at VT than USCe
They aren't mutually exclusive and the scarcity doesn't increase the value. If he only shows up to South Carolina one time in five years then there really isn't some big benefit to there recruiting. It plays almost no part in the grand scheme of things and it's silly to pretend otherwise.
What's South Carolina's mascot, again?
...Oh. Oh dear...
Super-Troopers enhance.gif
We good, fam. Looks like Ron is still on the wagon.
I can't speak for Gobble, but I hate it for this reason... I'm super happy that these guys are still friends and am very happy to see them together regardless of the situation and circumstances. I hate it because this kind of thing isn't happening at VT as well.
This staff seems to have little interest in anything related to the Beamer era, former players included.
Yup, literally having 8 former Beamer players on the coaching staff is totally ignoring the Beamer legacy...
Sorry, but you guys are making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Yea I was more bothered when Vick gave a speech at Diploma U in Lynchburg.
Yea, my words may have been a little miscalculated, and your point is certainly well taken, but I stand by what I said. Having had a long relationship with a number of former players I think it's still an issue.
I understand the initial reaction, but as more and more VT alums move into the coaching ranks they can't all coach here. I want them to succeed wherever they go.
Also, I know there were many who wanted Shane as our HC, but I think it's a BAD idea. Maybe he succeeds, but the odds say that most college football coaches eventually get fired. Can you imagine if we had to fire Shane? What does that do to the relationship with Frank?
I think Frank would rather us give Shane a chance rather than not give him a chance because we're worried about having to awkwardly fire him. We shouldn't make decisions based on fear of a bad outcome. If we believe in Shane, we should absolutely give him a shot - he's a Hokie down to the bone.
But as many point out with the current staff where is his experience that would make him a good hire for Tech? This is his first HC job period at any level. He hasn't even been a coordinator. If Shane had a different last name no one would want him hired as Tech's HC.
not sure "hasnt even been a coordinator" is true. special teams coordinator at UGA and OU and assistant head coach at OU to boot
Sometimes you take a chance on an unproven guy with a great last name that wants to be a Hokie. The name "Curry" comes to mind.
Recruiting a player, sure. Hiring a coach for a massive multi-million dollar football operation? Nope.
Not then either. A single scholarship to give in basketball you don't give it to a recruit who not even VCU offers. You give it to the 5 star out of DC metro area every single time.
Dabo Swinney.
Sure let's make Shane interim coach after he has already worked here on staff makes sense. (That's what happened with Dabo he wasn't an outside full hire)
I'm responding to the comment that it's ridiculous to consider Shane as a P5 coach because he's never been a head coach before. Shane did coach a bowl game(he won) so he has limited interim experience, if you want to take that route.
Yes that's my comment, and I stand by it. If his last name wasn't Beamer no one in Hokie nation would accept a HC hire with his experience.
Well we're about to find out.
Tbh he's pretty set up to fail. Their ceiling in a phenomenal year is 8 wins and the fan base expects 10.
He could get to 7 wins in year 3 and probably be forced out, even though that's very successful there.
Agree...but ADs know that. His career would probably be benefit - not be hurt - if he can S.Caro to bowl games and they look competitive doing it.
It's still an "if, but certainly not implausible. It's not that high of a bar to go, say, 3-1 OOC and 4-4 in conf in the SEC East. It really depends upon who you draw from the SEC West.
Getting Texas A&M with Jimbo there as your cross division rival is BRUTAL. Throw in an annual game with Clemson and a few tough out of conference games coming up like UNC and Liberty in 23 (this combo looks brutal in hindsight), us in 2025, home and home with Miami in 26/27. I mean heck, Troy this year isn't really a pushover. Who is making these schedules over there?
Fair enough. But if he makes to '25 and later, doesn't that contradict your argument?
Heck with our philosophy, he isn't even to year 1 in '25!
/s kinda
I mean if he makes it to 25 he is doing a good job, my point was more they are making a hard job even harder. You wake up as a heavy dog in 4 games every offseason, why are you adding more tough games to the schedule.
Maybe that's how you get better??
Yes. That's why I said "fair enough".
South Carolina is one of the hardest jobs in the country. The five year run Spurrier managed in the late aughts and early 2010's was the best run in their program's history and it was tied to them landing a substantial amount of the SC in-state talent during perhaps the most talent rich run in state history (when I was in high school and the five or so years before that). That run also coincided with Georgia and Florida having a few down years during that time.
Yeah and that was also during a down period for Clemson as well. It's going to be tough to lock down any in state talent with Alabama 2.0 in your backyard, then you gotta compete with everyone else in NC and GA
But #25!?!? What more do you want??
25
How does 247 come up with their composite? For example, looked at Mansoor Delane 247 ranking and then composite. Rivals and 247 have him 14th and 15th in the state of MD, but composite has him 27th in MD?
How is he ranked by Scout and ESPN?
I don't think Scout exists anymore?
No idea. If that's how it is calculated must be very low
gnomes:
get underpants>??>profit
I don't get the reference, but here's your damned leg since others seemed to...
I don't get it either. You aren't alone.
Southpark
Ahhh, now I see. Sorry, but I never laughed out loud once at that show.
I'm taking the leg back...
That's me watching South Park..."this is funny??".
South Park definitely has some questionable episodes where content is stretched, but I find it impossible to say that the show as a whole, parodying pop culture for 20+ years, isn't funny at all.
But now I am curious what you do find funny.
The early seasons were very crude but from about season 7 or so on, it was fantastic. Nothing is off limits for them and that makes it great.
I get what they're doing. I said it doesn't make me laugh. There's more to making people laugh than just being satirical - even if the satire is clever.
For those interested:
It appears the time was pushed back a couple of times today.
He picked the good guys 🦃🦃
Question: now that we've got the commit from Delane, the 22 class is sitting at 20 commits. Anyone have an idea of how many more recruits we can take with this class?
Cam Johnson, Tyler Banks, maybe even Santana Hopper.
I'd like to see DL Paul Hutson, 757 guy, huge upside, currently at IMG, but someone else mentioned he's not a take.
Kind of surprised by the lack of WRs in this class. I wonder if that'll change.
There's some more roster attrition coming that'll open up spots as well.
I would imagine that we see a RB or 2 move to WR or elsewhere since that room is heavy on bodies (likely some attrition there)
odd one, originally from 757 and former Liberty commit who played his true freshman season last year at Kansas
https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/college/article253433964.html
Is he any good?
honorable mention all-conference as a true freshman last year, made several Freshman All-American lists too -- so probably pretty good. why he's back in the portal after being at USCe for a month is unclear right now
Similar situation to Sean Savoy, needs to be closer to home. UVa, UNC, UMD and VT (I believe) are his closest options.
ODU would naturally be in the mix but he's a damn good corner and he's better than ODU.
@DC, if he transfers and gets a hardship waiver, you can pretty much pencil in him as the #2 CB behind Waller this year.
FTFY:
Hopefully not, but based on history if he goes to VT then he won't get the hardship waiver.
He did not like being coached tough, he will fit in well with Dre at UNC
lock him up
I see us dropping a TE. Gosnell might hop on board
https://247sports.com/player/benji-gosnell-46095010/
anOSU decommit
4 TE's is too many? Get him in the boat however you can.
Shoot snag Gosnell and the WVU guy. 5 TE's lets roll
Can he play defensive end? There's a load of playing time available there at this point.
I was hoping Gosnell was our Jennings backfill at DE.
Crazy how different he looks in Yellowstone
Ever spent a winter in Montana?
FWIW most recent CB is for us back in June
https://247sports.com/Player/Cam-Johnson-46084571/
Some of the Reddit chatter was that Mansoor Delane and Cam Johnson want to play together and that Cam may have been helping to recruit Mansoor. Hopefully that is all accurate.
I believe Dorian Strongs HS coach is the 7/7 coach for Cam and Mansoor.
FWIW Ryan Smith liked the tweet
✅
I hope we Cam have a good time Saturday based on this
It would make my Johnson very happy
VT just received a crystal ball for Cam Johnson from Brian Dohn!!!!!
you mean the same brian dohn who previously had his crystal ball in for boston college?
Dohn deal
Matej Sis just put one in for the good guys as well.
Boston College insider Tyler Calvaruso and Maryland insider Jeff Erman have submitted CBs to VT as well. Total up to 5 and 100% for the good guys
So we have chance, right? /s
The key question is, do FSU and PSU?
Considering FSU hasn't offered him and PSU got Cam miller I say no
(...my question was facetious.)
I don't know unless I see the (s)😂
Two Cams don't make a right
Only need 1 for LOB
Interesting - must be a back story here.
That came out of nowhere.
Well, that's interesting.
I love that his last two tweets are "committing" to a school.
Get to the SEC at all costs
Hell no, there's no bonus to go and lose
It does if you get more NIL money. There's no way that doesn't factor into this.
Yeah I was specifically talking about this recruit. Not that VT should go to SEC at all costs
Yeah I meant from a recruit's perspective as well. I'm sure that was a factor for him but if so I disagree with his thought process. It's not like his draft stock is going to be raised just from being in the conference and their staff's track record isn't any better than ours
I'd say our staffs track record is much better than theirs.
VT has 2 1st Rd picks in the NFL draft in 2 of the last 4 years. I don't know how many Missouri has but somehow I doubt they have four players total drafted in the first round in the last four years.
Wat?
Not super surprised about this nevertheless still a big loss
Why aren't you surprised?
He's been waiting on bigger offers to become a take. If he was a take at UNC he would probably be there, but wouldn't surprise me to see him bounce on Missouri too if he gets a bigger one.
Hilarious that anyone would think UNC or Mizzou is a "bigger" offer than VT. Even if you go on recency bias VT has had a much better record in the last 5-10 years
He chose poorly
Well I guess we can't have good news without bad
Seems very much out of nowhere, and a big loss. But I feel somewhat okay knowing we've got McCray, Rudolph, Keller, and Johnson all coming in. (And even then, would feel better without the events in May happening).
Really liked him as a recruit, and idk if we have any LB commits in the class now. Tyler Banks just became even more important.
Better now than come to VT for a year, ride the bench, enter the transfer portal, and have a meltdown by 40% of the fanbase!
I hate to say it but this whole recruiting class is very likely to be up in the air if Burmeister gets injured this season. If BB goes down and our record tanks I don't see Fuente and staff making it to next year. The next coach would have to sell them all over again.
And a happy Sunday to you as well
Recruiting doesn't really work like this.
WL doesnt necessarily inform the current recruiting cycle, but a head coach getting canned less than three weeks before early signing day sure does
Always tough to see a recruit flip but this staff is doing a good job in this class, maybe look for another 4 star guy. Maybe we need to focus getting a defensive End
😉
Banks is a LB recruit for us, but I don't think we stop there
So for those "in the know," who is the staff hoping to finish off the class with? Hopper, Banks, and maybe Gosnell? Anybody else we should know about?
I doubt Gosnell ends up at VT
Well hes not a take anywhere else
Seems odd a 4* isn't a take anywhere else... Off field stuff?
UNC and USCJR are filling up their boats real quick and Clemson is not gonna offer
We also received a commitment from John Love, Kicker from SC yesterday, per twitter is a scholarship offer. http://twitter.com/johnlove97/status/1426711398093045766?s=20
Whats going on over at Rutgers (eyes looking emoji)?
schiano understands jersey. he's got a strong presence, and is an incredibly personable guy. tells it like it is but in a way that makes you want to hear it -- that really resonates well with families in this area. Rutgers did the best they ever did under him, Rutgers actually has a pretty good track record for putting talent into the pros which might have been surprising given how awful they've been on the field in years past, and Rutgers now has a stuff with pretty good recruiters on it. For a really long time, NJ has hemorrhaged a ton of really good talent elsewhere, and for pretty understandable reasons, but it's getting really difficult really quickly to do that without a fight. Schiano flipped Tyreem Powell from tech not that long ago.
Oh no, I wasn't alluding to anything. Just pretty remarkable.
My GIF was a joke relating to the Sopranos actors and staff who spent big money on Rutgers sports, which led to an investigation of a marketing company, and Schiano leaving for the NFL.
Schiano is back, recruiting skyrocketed, of course there's nothing going on behind the scenes.
i'd be interested in reading more about that -- my understanding was that TB front office wanted a culture change after Raheem Morris and doubled his salary plus paid his contract buyout at Rutgers. too good to say no.
You could say they made him an offer he couldn't refuse
I almost legitimately and unironically said "they made him a godfather offer"
Ahhh, thanks for clarifying. I didn't know all of that. Yeah, when a school does a 180 in recruiting, you really have to wonder if there isn't some Schiasty things going on.
I know we get all on our recruits for using the correct name for the university (e.g. VPI&SU, Virginia Tech vs University of Virginia Tech or Virginia Tech University, etc).
the official NJ state twitter account just clapped back at a Rutgers player on his transfer portal announcement tweet and i'm weak.... can't stop laughing at this!
Yea I'm good with that. They got it trending on Social media, if that leads to even one more person getting a life saving vaccine it's good content.
yeah that's not at all where i was going with this, thanks
It be like that
but it do?
Yee
I don't have access to the twitters at work, but isn't that account known for trolling and chiming in with funny replies from time to time?
yes and lots of dunking on Delaware
quick scroll and yes its a funny account
It's a jersey thing you wouldnt get it
No OP but I, for one, am happy to not get anything Jersey has to offer.
i'd leg you for the snark but you wouldn't want it anyway
Correct, thanks for understanding
via GIPHY
I guess Peyton will be having a hard time finding a new school.
Benji got a rivals prediction to tech😎
Benji Gosnell?
Yee
Yee
Yeet!
ya gotta start using full names lol
4-star TE? Sheeeeeeeeeeeesh
https://247sports.com/player/benji-gosnell-46095010/
Interesting, and from someone with a solid track record of VT commits.
Shibby isn't Vice but he's developing a solid track record. Keane and Mitchell in fold. I honestly think both Gallo and Lawson both have a high probability of making it to the league as well...if Gallo gets drafted, I think that speaks more about his ability as a TE coach rather than Keane (who was a Wiles recruit) and Mitchell (who was a high-level recruit who wanted to stay close to home).
Holloway is fast:
Here's another view:
Were these filmed on Razors?!?!
I'm stoaked about our skill guys down the road...Payoute and Holloway on the outside, Loften in the slot, Lawson at TE and Brown in the backfield is going cause a host of issues for ACC teams outside of Clemson.
There's not really a whole lot of "down the road" left for Payoute unless he sticks around for all six years of his eligibility. He and Holloway are four classes apart
Isn't Payoute only a R-freshman due to COVID rules?
Yes.
I'll be surprised if we see too many current players at skill positions (across CFB not just here) stick around into their fifth-sixth years just because it's available. Payoute could play at a high level this year and next then go into the 2023 NFL draft. If that happens and Payout plays two years and goes pro at age 23, there's a realistic chance that he and Holloway play snaps in four games together in the 2022 season before Holloway redshirts.
edit: i see the argument that payoute has a lot of eligibility left, yes that is true. i just think that there is more to the equation than "eligibility" as players will be weighing their eligibility against their real world age vs remaining athletic prime, against already having graduated, etc etc.
I think it goes the exact opposite now with NIL deals, for instance why rush to a job that may or may not be available versus an extra year doing something you love while also making some $$ on the side now too. I think it will help with fringe people not leaving early for the draft as often now either. But only time will tell
time definitely will tell. I don't think there will be too many players making so much from NIL deals that it will outweigh a pro contract plus other endorsements as a pro, and you're less likely to get drafted at 24 or 25 than you are at 22 or 23, and getting drafted at 24 or 25 means probably one fewer crack at a free agent contract in the NFL since your drafting team has your rights for four (or five) years plus a few franchise tag years. You could be a 24 year old rookie and not get a shot at unrestricted free agency until 30, by which point teams won't want to give you a ton of guaranteed money anyway.
Me think Holloway gets burn as a true freshman if shows up physically ready.
If he comes in for the spring semester, his odds are greatly improved.
i see sizes online anywhere from 6'2" 180 to 6'3" 170. if it's the latter, he will need to add a good bit of good weight. i'd feel much better about counting on him as a true freshman if he does enroll early
Definitely agree. I'm personally very high on Holloway - he comes off very precocious in his interviews, an unusual level of maturity for a teenager. I think he's going to have an elite work ethic and be an awesome locker room presence.
In terms of on-the-field, I wouldn't be shocked if he gets a fourth star by the end of the year. The kid has elite speed but what's holding him back is his weight. He's smaller than Tre right now.
Are we expecting Lawson to move to TE? He really does not have the build for it and needs to grow into a WR body still...
I don't know who he was playing against but he was flying
Daequan Wright (VT commit TE/Jumbo WR) has been off to hot start down in Georgia as well.
Running shouldn't look that easy, good lord
Listed at 6-4 230lbs as well.
Bucky Hodges esque
six-foot-twenty
fucking killing for fun
Spread, spread, Delaware
He's coming, he's coming, he's coming
He'll save children, but not the cavalier children.
Nah, Bucky would have dived to make the catch with no yac
This guy more than any of the others except maybe Orji worries me. He is so big, fast and athletic I would think he will continue to be recruited by SEC teams. Really hope we can keep him on lockdown, he looks to be a good one.
Only so many QB spots in power 5 and they are taken early - always a risk, but it's still a limited and highly competitive deal every year since most schools take a QB commit very early in the cycle
I realize that the competition might not be the highest level in the Holloway clip, but damn he looks fast. His HUDL tape shows a lot of fades and 50/50 balls, but I don't think I saw speed like this. And look at that stat line. Wow. Exciting stuff. Too early for a recruit ranking bump?
Combo that with Wright and you have to like the athleticsm and size we have coming in at the skill positions - many positions really.
Now we just need Orji or Farrell to be the guy who can get them the ball!
Its all in the the stride😎
Tucker went from the 12 to the other 25 in about 6 seconds. I don't think he even got to full speed til about the other 30 before being tripped up.
VT Commit Devin Ferrell and Milton will be playing North Cobb tonight on ESPN2. 7pm
St Frances and Cam Johnson will be on tomorrow at noon on ESPN
Watching this game, Cam Johnson reminds me so much of Caleb Farley. Long, incredibly quick, and has a quick jump on the ball. Dude is going to be so good
Paul Hutson III at IMG was on ESPN today. Played in Norfolk for Maury a couple of years ago. Might be a take, but he's probably going elsewhere. But that's not the story! No!
They played a "school" called Bishop Sycamore (BS). BS played on Friday against a school from PA, drive 8hrs back to Canton, and got trounced 58-0. BS is an online only school. And somehow got on ESPN today.
Mansoor Delaney got a low 4 star on ESPN. His composite will probably jump to around a .86