Discuss and share any recruiting topics for December 2022 that don't warrant their own threads. Commits and decommits warrant their own threads.
This recruiting thread is used to share information regarding VT-specific targets, PWO offers, scholarship offers, visits, camps, and general news, in addition to larger trends. In the interests of limiting load times, favor post links to tweets rather than embedding. And if you want to embed, please check the thread to see if a tweet was already embedded prior to adding it yourself.
[0]. Please do some digging to share original content (e.g. embed the original tweet, not a link to another post/website with said tweet), add context / relevant information and respect the Community Guidelines.
[1] New commitments, decommitments, portal entries, etc... deserve their own thread. Please read the brief best-practice tips at the top of the recruiting forum
[2] Scared money don't make money.
[3] Pry Marve 2024
Comments
Nice!
Gas Golf Carts vs Electric Golf Carts.....
......Discuss
Where the hell is his SCBA? Why is is a smooth bore nozzle handle but fog nozzle spraying out the end? Where in the fuck is his helmet?
I think one of the mesh tshirt guys might have borrowed it
We were all thinking it, I'm glad you said it.
I keep hearing a lot about needing to keep in-state kids home, and I strongly agree with this from a perception standpoint, and more so a talent stand point, but a quick perusal through 247 shows that UT has 3 of the top 16 players from their home state, and we have 2 of the top 16. Its not apples to apples, UT has #1, and #2, but I just thought it interesting, especially given the success they had this year. They have a relatively new coach as well, but I would have expected the in state numbers to reflect a lot more UT commits.
Maybe this is just the way of it these days. I can't fault the players, it would be cool to travel out of state and live on someone else's dime for 4 years, and the world seems smaller with the intranets and whatnot. I'm rambling. Im honestly impressed, especially in the face of a 3 win season, with what PryCo is doing. VT is a lot more fun to follow when we have success in recruiting AND on the field. Heres hoping one follows the other.
23 class is a setup for 24. Lots of strong relationships setup in the 24 class.
(Current Year) + 1 = Our Year
TKP, every year
What's different this time is our current coaching staff isn't the worst in the power 5 when it comes to recruiting....
That could be the kool-aid talking, but hopefully we really see several impact players from the state that want to join in next year
Only a matter of time until some of the same posters on here say something of the likes of:
"This year were this, and next year we'll have that, but in (insert year here)... WATCH OUT"
Fair enough, but I think the OP's point was not that 24 is "our year", but rather that it's expected to be a huge recruiting year in Virginia. Lots of high profile recruits in the 2024 class from what I've read. Hopefully the work our recruiting staff is doing now is building relationships that will allow us to be in the mix for some of these big-time recruits.
UT is and has always been a national recruiting prowess and currently sit on a differently playing field than us. We need to lock down the state to have a shot at a high 4* in three years whereas UT can just walk in and recruit with the
bagbrandWalk on from Tuscarora. Looks like he might have been previously committed to Liberty
https://247sports.com/Player/Caleb-Nitta-46134301/
6'2, 270. Center/DL in High School
Get the man some Hardees and in a couple years, who knows?
Lets GO!
HOKIES!!!!
Same HS as Bryce Duke? I'm okay with it. Maybe there's something brewing in Leesburg...
Yep, and another OL target is there as well in Westphal
Loudoun Co HS in Leesburg had a great season too (including a win over Tuscarora). They didn't lose a game all year until the second round of the playoffs.
Also think theres real smoke with Cotman
Other side? Are we looking at some new defensive commits sometime soon?
In terms of the comment below about Pry feeding Delane info, maybe Delane is doing the same thing DD tried, but actually being successful at creating excitement about the program and getting other guys to come to Tech. Probably helps if you're not trying to convince a bunch of guys from Texas to come up to VA.
Cotman who decommitted from BC is one. Then Grimes was on campus last week,so there's a few D players in the mix still
We also have a couple of DL transfer targets that we have made the short list for, although I don't know a lot about them
My educated guess is Delane's tweet is more in reference to Cotman.
Grimes, while I think we do have a chance, still feels a little more like an outside chance. However it goes with him, his dad appears to be positive about VT. And that'll be a positive in future area recruiting regardless of if Tony commits or not.
Seems to me like more downside than upside for Grimes. You'd need him to be successful to a greater degree than he has before. Not a great risk return possibility
Really like how excited and engaged Delane seems to be. If PryCo is feeding him information to keep him interested and engaged, then my hats off to them. We need to keep that young man on the team. I know he has a brother, and I love all the brothers, and his is highly ranked, but I don't think its hyperbole to say he might have the brightest future of anyone on the team.
Funny thing is, I remember that same energy on Fuentes first couple classes. The kids genuinely were excited to be a part of the next chapter.
The good news is that I don't think Pry is the kind of guy to fuck it up like the previous regime did.
Very true, and I am quite drunk on the excitement Pry is serving up. I think VT has a ceiling, but I also think VT has a natural floor as well, and an adequate recruiter and personable coach should be able to at least maintain status quo, which for us historically has not been a class rank of 76. Damn Fuente screwed the pooch there. Maintaining a class in the 30's SHOULD be expected in my humble opinion, and I would love to see us climb into the teens of possible. It's a big ask, but not impossible. Top 10 is llikely pipe dreaming.
Were they? Does it just seem like there's more excitement now (at least to me) because of the Twitter engagement that may not have been as big back then? Is there more now because these kids are all close geographically so they know each other? I dunno, feels like there's something more now.
there is definitely more manufactured excitement. With a full staff making videos, edits, etc. and all coaches being purposely engaged while on the trail, it's different and in a good way.
IMO, if anything, the fanbase was more excited earlier in Fuente's tenure than it has been and is with Pry.
To be fair, Fuente taking us to within about 35 yards of an ACC title and the orange bowl his first year was basically the height of the 2010s for our program outside of beating Ohio state in the shoe, so it was warranted excitement at the time.
So you agree? Thanks.
It's not a valid comparison. Who's to say this coaching staff couldn't have done the same thing with the team Fuente had in 2016 (granted Fuente did get Jerrod Evans here), but our whole freaking team was way better. We had how many NFL draftees on that team, including a couple of first rounders if I'm not mistaken. We had one of the best receivers ever at Tech, serviceable run game, good lines. Other than QB, we had a fairly turnkey team.
So comparing what that team did for Fuente compared to what Pry was able to do with this team is a pretty apples to cinder block comparison (not even apples to oranges how different this team was to that one).
Huh? I wrote something and the respondent basically repeated what I said - just with more words and qualifications.
I guess my real point is IMO the irrational exuberance was even higher for Fuente than Pry (even before either had ever coached a game for VT)...although honestly it was mostly variations on similar themes. Go back and look at threads from that time on various message boards. But it was cray-cray level talk with Fuente.
I guess my initial reply came across poorly? So my bad. Wasn't agreeing or disagreeing, just that the state of the program and the fan perception/expectations are different in 2022 than they were in 2016, probably because folks commenting like us are tuned in to recruiting/year round football activities while most fans are only really engaged august-December.
To be more specific, I was referring to the recruiting class and excitement about that, not the on-the-field performance and related excitement. (Note the comment I was replying to).
And I was referring to the whole package.
So you chose my comment, about the excitement around a recruiting class, in a string about recruiting classes, to respond to and decided to make it about the program in general? Uhhhh, okay.
I guess in retrospect your comments were pertaining to the recruiting class. I took them as being about both recruiting and the program in general.
Regardless, I honestly don't think there is any more excitement now than then with recruiting. I think it's just recency bias. Yes, there is more social media now than then, but nobody was using social media then like now.
As I see it, message boards folks get all tingly and see the glass fuller than it is every year at about this time. It's like the beginning of a baseball season when every fan sees nothing but possibilities.
I mean nothing this year compares to nuttiness when VT signed Dwayne Lawson (which was under Beamer, but nonetheless...). Hell, it IMO doesn't even compare to the craziness over Andrew Ford, yes, Andrew Ford, coming to VT. And folks were more pumped when Devon Hunter signed and Dylan River flipped from, ahem, PSU than with any of the signees this year, I think.
Oh yeah hype for Andrew Ford was intense. I agree, I don't think the hype this year coming from fans or players is more than other years. I'd argue it's less.
You mean "IMPACT PLAYER"
AndrewIsaiah Ford?The thing that has me optimistic is the fact this could be happening despite a 3-8 season, while Fuente had an awesome 2016 campaign to milk
Bingo. Easy to buy into hype as a coastal division champ that had Clemson on the ropes. There's excitement around the program after a 3-8 year that's a damn miracle
Looking forward to a strong late push from this staff to close on class of 23 guys
I'm also sort of hoping that we can get a jump start on the 24 class here soon
Sounds like we are hosting some big time transfer targets, trying to beef up the DL
Do we know who?
Looks like Vandy DL Elijah McAllister was one (Watkins tweeted an article). Not sure if that was today though.
The article is behind a paywall (on 247 by Evan Watkins), but the title is:
And posted around 1:40pm today, so I'm guessing he is visiting today.
Pretty sure Darian Varner is on campus too.
https://247sports.com/Player/Darian-Varner-46084522/
Pry signal is up again! DL transfer hopefully? 🙏 🤞
Virginia tight end that we just offered... would be my guess.
Flipping ain't EZ
This is a damn good finish to the 23' class, anyone know of any other last minute surprises before the 21st?
We're still high on 2 DT prospects.
Any OL? 🤔
So few in the portal right now.
Counting PWO, we added 5 this cycle
True freshman, they won't factor in next year
No, but, as others have pointed out, Rudolph may like what we actually have and want to develop them rather than try pulling guys from the portal who aren't as familiar with the blocking schemes he wants to run. So having guys who know what he wants to do and have chemistry together might mean bringing someone in from the portal is actually counterproductive.
I don't buy this at all. Show me some stats to back up this line of thinking. Plenty of good O Lines have transfers on them.
What will actually be counterproductive is for this staff to not try and win as many games as possible next year. Like it or not the O Line play has put a cap on how good this team can be, regardless of every other position group on the field (it's a big deal, FSU's failures 2017-21 were almost entirely due to not being able to develop an O Line).
I don't think this staff is dumb (hope not at least), I'm sure they want to add an offensive lineman in the portal but realize it's very difficult and kind of a crap shoot. Still, *can't* is hardly any comfort over *chose not to*. And it doesn't change that next year without way better O Line play we will be noncompetitive in games that we otherwise would stand a good chance of winning
I'm not saying this would be true in general. I'm going off of French's stuff where the zone blocking is a lot different than what we're used to. I would also assume it's different than what a lot of other programs do as well (but I may be very wrong about that). So my point is that if kids are taught a different kind of blocking, that means the kids who have already been in the program for a year are a year further along in understanding that and have been playing together. I'm also going off the statements I've seen on here that the OLine needs to work more cohesively than any other group, so turnover affects them more. I mean, sure, if you can get an incredible upgrade in ability by bringing in someone new, that can make up for cohesiveness.
Those are my assumptions. I have zero knowledge of how often OLine guys are brought in to a program from the portal and can make instant impacts. Do you have examples of OLine guys coming in and making instant impact?
I'm just conjecturing here, I mean, for all we know, Rudolph could have told Pry it takes a year to teach kids to block the way he wants them to and the OLine play would be ugly this year, but would be much better next year. Plus, would be a year and a half with the new S&C staff rather than, what, 8 months or less for the guys we had.
Given how you say you don't think the coaching staff is dumb, and our ability to pull in 5 OLine guys in this recruiting class, I have to assume there's a reason they didn't target OLine guys in the portal. I was just guessing as to what those reasons might be.
I think the key word in his statement was "might"....
Yes!
I don't know - like I said above, guessing as to why we didn't seem to target any guys in the portal.
Edit - and also the "may" in my first sentence.
Three year re-build 👏-👏-👏👏👏
Composite 4* db from Georgia
https://247sports.com/player/tyshun-white-46113530/
Bagels?
Top 13 = baker's dozen is my guess.
Maybe a nickname??
There's also only 12 in the picture
Im actually counting 15 total including the ones flying around the room
Edit: 16 if you open up the whole picture and not just look at the thumbnail/embed
If you open up the picture it says TyShun White "Bagel" so nickname seems to be it.
I feel like if your nickname is "bagel" I don't want to know how you got it.
FWIW, mine is "soup"
Just implying that nicknames often have no great story or bearing on why they exist.
Mine comes from my college roommate freestyling when drunk and figuring out nothing rhymed with my last name.
This kid could've mistakenly called a donut a bagel in front of his peers and then that cemented him forever as a kid nicknamed "bagels"
One group of my friends in college called me "Bencil"
Because of your bent pencil? Or is this a portmanteau of Ben and incel?
Just Ben + pencil. My roommate would get drunk&high then make puns. Bencil stuck because he could throw office supplies at me while making jokes about them.
Sounds like a good time was had by all. Glad it was just office supplies and not, you know, tools.
Staplers are office supplies. Wouldn't want to take a swingline to the face.
The stapler was always tossed gently. Paper clips not so much.
Looks like everything bagels - maybe he plays multiple positions/both sides of the ball on his team? Inside joke? Who knows.
Bagels=Zero, as in, if you throw his way, no completions, no yards, and no points?
TE Zeke Wimbush just decommitted from Charlotte after announcing an offer from the good guys
Adding 24/7 profile
Not sure about any relation to Brandon
edit: Committed to the good guys 12/19
Any relation to Brandon?
Rumor is he got a big endorsement from Loren Johnson.
Pry signal is up!
I'm gonna guess Wimbush
bat signal from Pry just got posted 1 minute ago
edit: glug glug
OL Commit Gabe Arena made PA first team All-State
Longsnapper griffin Armstrong committed
Carol Lee's mention in a commitment tweet?
That's what I like to see from a lineman
With our issues at long snapper, improving that position could go a long way to helping this team moving forward.
Welcome to the fold young man and may your Hokie future be merry and bright.
For sure. This signing fills a position of need.
I hope Holt can recruit well, because he can't coach a lick.
Long way to go and will be a massive uphill battle, but still in the mix for Mansoor's brother
That's wild that he's considering a top-third G5 school (Toledo), as well as 2 of the bluest bloods (OSU and USC)
Yeah seeing Alabama and Toledo on the same graphic is certainly interesting
Is this every offer he has received? I am thinking right now, Cincy, Toledo, Muhrland, and wvu are likely first cuts.
Class of 2025 right?
Yes sir.
Well we've already had one 5* DB from Our Lady of Good Counsel join a brother at VT over Bama and SC, let's do it again.
As we all know, this is home.
I know it is a long way, and a different staff, but our school does have a history of pulling brothers when we develop them and treat the family right. Good Counsel is hard to pull from, but Kendell went there when we got him and brought him to the good guys. Years to go, but with the way Pry and Co are incorporating Mansoor into the program and seem to be tapping him in on recruiting it gives me good feelings on how they're getting the family oriented structure again.
And of course Lovett's mom. How could I forget how much she and that family have bought in, especially after the Nebraska offer. They doubled down to us after that it seems like.
Apparently, Mansoor chose VT in part based on good word from Fullers. There is a Delane-Fuller relationship that could very well help VT here.
Hadn't heard that. I don't get to read everything on these boards as much as I'd like, but that's a cool wrinkle in the story. Frank and Co did great by the Fullers. Wishing Pry and Co can do the same. I appreciate that tidbit!
At 2:35, he begins to talk about his recruitment. At 3:22, he talks about the Fullers.
When they asked about expectation for position he'd play when he got here, and he started saying something about the old staff, is it bad that the first thing that popped into my head was running back?
Edit - and really cool hearing how he was doing the things the coaches were teaching him, and the stuff he gets from coach Jones!
If it pleases the Speaker, motion to make the Delanes honorary Fullers.
I have already proposed the return of DAINTs statistic, as in DAINT gonna complete a pass.
Seconded, all in favor?
Aye
It's clear that the VT has him gently in hand, guiding him home. All the other places are detached and far away.
This is Home.
If we can get him All-ACC selection (which is think is already extremely likely) and get him drafted which will also likely happen before his brother signs I think it would bode well for us
This... developing Mansoor and elevating him to the highest level is the best recruiting tool. If he thrives within the program, his brother will follow.
I wonder if Pry has some NSD flips known but they are waiting to announce to make a splash. Similar to the Media days commits and having these guys announce in waves.
Buddy from Pitt said we have been making a bit of a push for Jordan Bass. Would love to have him, but I haven't seen anything to substantiate it.
Evan Watkins is hinting at more on Twitter and I guess behind the paywall there's more info. Not asking for anyone to violate CGs, just saying that it sounds like stuff may be on the horizon.
I know the numbers always work out. But what are we now, about 6-7 over the limit? I really like the personnel turnover for the most part so far. But spring attrition is going to be interesting.
Once spring semester starts and their scholarships are locked in for the semester there will be more and probably a few more after spring ball.
Yep. How many transfers out so far? 8? And the BCS average in a year is about 15? I think VT will be fine with the numbers after the spring.
Mose Phillips, DB out of Tennessee has been CBd to the good guys by GT and VT guys on 247
https://247sports.com/player/mose-phillips-46137144/
No ranking yet
Oh, this must be from the British office /s
The only acceptable NSD photo
I read it as Moose Phillips at first and was all on board
A moose once bit my sister
No realli! She was Karving her initials on the moose with the sharpened end of an interspace toothbrush given her by Svenge—her brother-in-law— an Oslo dentist and star of many Norwegian movies: "The Hot Hands of an Oslo Dentist", "Fillings of Passion", "The Huge Molars of Horst Nordfink"...
Mynd you, moose bites Kan be pretti nasti
I wonder how many people get that reference? 😂
If they don't, they either don't pay attention, or have a giant void in their life.
They probably have some relatives who smell of elderberries, as well.
We apologize for the subtitles.
Those responsible have been sacked.
Does anyone know if/when he will get a ranking? Is it possible this will increase our ranking for overall recruiting class if he were to get 3 star rating instead of his current "unranked" ranking?
Interesting, right now we have 5 DB's, 4 WR's, and 4 ATH's (counting Dante Lovett as a DB). Most ATH's end up playing DB or WR. In this case at least one will probably end up an RB and at least one of the DB's at LB, but still we could easily end up with a class of 7 DB's, 5 WR's and 3 LB's (maybe 4 pending tomorrow as well).
I am in no way objecting to stockpiling talent and seeing who wins in competition, I'm just interested in where everyone will land. There are a ton of different weapons coming in
The good news is Pry and Co have shown they're willing to move guys to try and get the best on the field. I would imagine some of it is projected growth as well, but you're right that it does cause an interesting situation moving forward
Lovett, Krystian Williams at DB. Pennix, Thomas Williams at WR. Mitchell at RB. Woodson at LB.
That's the feeling everybody has, right?
I agree with most of that, except I've been thinking Mitchell to WR. Thomas Williams also might be more of a natural RB. Pennix can play all three positions well imo so it's more about where the staff wants to put him.
Edit: So we were both wrong about Thomas Williams, you got Pennix right, still waiting on Mitchell.
Not sure if this means anything, but seems not random the night before signing day
I'm getting excited! How effing awesome would it be if there was some really splashy flip or something! I hope we get something like that!
Right? It's hard not to be a bit hype right now, can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
There's hope, guys!!
Happy ESD everybody
Damn! Some awesome stuff out there! Getting more and more psyched!
Tell me these don't get you fired up also!
Cheetah is getting it done.
I'm digging the Chantel Lovett-Meyers videos.
I'm guessing Grimes and maybe pulling D Ford out of retirement.
Driving home the point its all about the scholarship. Papers mean its real. She's a real bonus in this recruitment cycle. Maybe our best take since MV7. Just curious, anybody know the Morgan State connection?
Here's the HokieSports ESD tracker for those of us that don't Twitter too good. Last year they got the commits up pretty quick and added a quick video of each player.
Thank you! We will get individual threads for each signee as we do every year.
We also typically start a megathread where we keep track of all the signees to see the class in one spot.
Is someone willing to take the lead on that?
I'm not taking that one on sorry, but I will be posting the Pry Pressers today.
Edit: NVM, I'm doing it
bless you 🙏
that tracker is pretty slick
Dante Lovett, first Hokie signed, 7:18 AM
Lance Williams, OT, signed at 7:30
Ayden Greene, WR, Signed at 7:40
building hype for a surprise
This is no conspiracy!
excited for early signing day...hope we get a few surprises. but what i really want today, is for pollard and kendricks to commit to coming back. that is who Price desperately needs to be recruiting right now. without them, we will be in rough shape next year.
Neither is in the portal fwiw 💁♂️
Not looking anymore, Ishmael Findlayter has signed
QB Dylan Wittke has signed
Layth Ghannam signed
😂
Pry Bat Signal up - I'm thinking....
I think one of my lowkey favorite things about the office is how the writers wrote themselves into the show as the weird bit characters. Kelly, Toby, Mose, and (to a lesser extent) Ryan. As opposed to Ricky Gervais nabbing the lead role in the original British version.
Varner!
Grimes lands at Texas A&M, couldn't be a better landing spot imo. Style over substance and less with more, fits the young man and his father's MO to a T.
I'm willing to bet big money the check was signed and cleared several weeks ago and visiting VT was a troll job. Those two had an anti-VT agenda from the jump, and think they're better than everyone else. Great attitude to have to fit into UNC, and it should work just as well in College Station
Well this is entirely unnecessary speculation.
Or at best laundry that don't need to be waved around that much
It would fit what we know about the parties involved. And yes fuck UNC and A&M
Not even, as I said I'm glad he didn't come here, we need toughness in the DB room
this u?
Abandon ship!
I mean, I tend to agree with this piece a bit, but I don't think they're driving 4 hours and spending a weekend in Blacksburg just to troll VT lol.
I don't think it's a troll job but I do think it's more of an optics thing for his dad. Tony Grimes has never wanted to come to VT and that's absolutely fine by me. I see it more as a shaking hands and kissing babies type of thing for his father than any real interest from Tony but that's just me 🤷🏻♂️ you could tell just based on how much his dad was posting on social media while they were in Blacksburg
His dad is a high school coach right?So what if his dad made him visit to check out the new coaching staff and see if it still wasn't a fit, while he did a little bit of professional networking. Not a big deal imo.Edit: his dad is not a high school coach but does work in the recruiting industry
Do transfers get official visits that the school pays for and only gets a limited number per year?
Yes
VT didn't have to invite him on a visit. The grimes (to my knowledge) didn't do anything to offend this staff. Feels like a 'Don't hate the player, hate the game' situation to me.
Nowhere in my comment did I say it was a big deal, just providing another possible perspective other than the kid just being a troll. Pops clearly knows how to play the game
That's fair, I think I misread your comment last night. Probably a business trip for dad.
I didn't see anywhere that his dad is a coach. His dad started GameDay Recruits which helps high schoolers navigate the recruiting process. According to an espn article Tony's dad, Deon Glover, felt frustrated by the whole process after he went through it with his older son. Honestly after reading a few articles I can see why Tony may have left UNC and can 100% understand a parent trying to put their kid in a position that is beneficial to them in the short term and helps them in the long term.
That makes a lot of sense
Agree, I think the interest was genuine but Grimes had USC, A&M, and Okla all involved..was always gonna be a tough battle for VT to win.
The choice of A&M leads me to speculate that NIL was a big part of the decision.
or maybe it was a football crazed town where he could get playing time immediately, connected with the coaches, and get some money? Regardless, USC has a revved up NIL program too. I don't know about OU, but I wouldn't be surprised.
I hope he, and every other college player makes as much as possible from NIL. I take the jobs for the most money. I went to grad school at the place that gave me the biggest scholarship. I don't understand why it would be different for anyone else.
It's A&M lol there's money involved, probably a lot of it... Fusion based energy can't come fast enough
The way the comment reads, it suggests/insinuates that we weren't picked purely/mostly because of the money - it could've been the money, or he might just not want to live in Appalachia for the next 2-3 years. Blacksburg ain't for everyone.
Finally, the comment suggests that there's something unethical or disingenuous about picking a school for the money. I could write pages about why this a stupid, ignorant suggestion, but I won't.
Following up to this, who is to say that there wasn't VT NIL money involved? Maybe we put together a good offer but the dude just wanted to play in the SEC, or wanted a change of scenery, or 1000 other different reasons.
I understand what you're saying, but (hypothetically), I were to get into the Harvard MBA program, but get no financial assistance, but get a full ride to the ODU MBA program, I'd likely go to Harvard because the jobs I could get afterwards may pay like multiples of what I'd get out of ODU.
While NIL is great, I'd also look at who was putting me in the best position to go to the NFL, and if it was a school that offered less NIL, I'd go with who was developing guys and getting more guys drafted.
So you'd go to A&M over VT, regardless of money.
That's not necessarily true though. For two starters that may be true, but starting at A&M is a whole lot harder than starting at VT. And it's much easier to ball out in the ACC than the SEC, (even though I don't think the gap between the two leagues is near as wide as portrayed on TV)
I don't buy this. If you're not good enough to start in the SEC, you're not good enough to start in the NFL. The ACC isn't an 'easier' path to the NFL.
Now, one could argue that the secondary coaches at VT are better than those of A&M, and will better prepare you for the NFL. I would need to do some research before having an informed opinion on that question.
Regardless, there are a variety of reasons why a recruit would choose A&M over VT. It's ignorant to assume it was just the money, and even if it was, why does it matter?
I think k the argument is that there are 2-3 NFL caliber CBs ahead of you that you don't start. The best CB, Emanual Forbes, played for MSU and didn't get on the Thorpe finalist list, so just being incredibly amazing doesn't guarantee shit in the SEC. If you weren't following, Forbes had as many pick sixes as he allowed receptions this season.
The ACC might be an easier path to the NFL, if you didn't get the chance to start on an SEC team. Some players may need development they'd never get on an SEC bench.
This is flat out wrong as an absolute statement.
This... was not an absolute statement? I'm confused.
Sorry, I should have been more specific. I was in a hurry and was focused on this opening, absolute statement:
"If you're not good enough to start in the SEC, you're not good enough to start in the NFL."
Although often true, this is simply not true as an absolute statement. It's also somewhat irrelevant because the first goal - particularly if you're not a day 1 pick is to make a team first, not start. And depending upon one's situation, it can be beneficial to that goal to transfer to a non-SEC powerhouse.
Nope - I said in another post I think Fisher is a better recruiter than developer of talent. Look at the on-field performance this year for A&M. I was just making a general point - hopefully we prove to be good at developing guys, and Coach Jones has a history of putting some guys in the NFL. I'm hoping if we get good at developing guys and getting then in the NFL, we might be a more desirable location even if we're not putting up top dollar NIL deals.
The Texas A&M defense is actually pretty good. As much as I hate DJ Durkin as a person, he's a proven DC who's had success at Michigan, Ole Miss, and now TAMU. Would be interesting to compare the careers of our respective secondary coaches, but A&M has a strong defensive staff.
Fair. I didn't pay much attention to A&M, just their record. I was also basing my statement about how loaded Fisher had the FSU roster, and how their on-field performance had dipped somewhat considerably by the time he left for A&M. I know he has good years, but it definitely doesn't seem consistent at all, and considering how well he recruits, seems like he's better at that. 🤷♂️
Wasn't he at Maryland too?
He was the head coach at Maryland when a player died. Strong recruiter, but accused of creating a toxic culture which sort of focused on a lack of empathy. A player died of heatstroke, which some attributed to the hard-nosed culture there.
Was (literally) overkill for a middling program.
Also once they noticed he had heat stroke none of the coaches knew what to do or how to handle it. It should have been 100% preventable, but they didn't have basic training for the safety of the players.
Sorry, nothing personal, but just obligatory from me: Harvard sucks!
Like I said, it was totally hypothetical. Just used them since they're the gold standard for business school (or at least one of the very top tier). I got zero skin in that game.
He didn't choose us because we had gas golf carts *ducks*
What? I can't hear you over your loud ass golf cart.
You're taking this well I see lol
Grimes would have been good from a recruiting perception. However, I'm not that mad we missed on him. The family showed some red flags the first time through, but with our overall lack of talent I'm no fool to pretend we couldn't use him somewhere. He just has the feeling of one of these highly rated guys that never makes it, I hope whatever is holding him back gets out the way for his own sake.
I'm with you on not being mad we missed him. Honestly, with all of the excitement from the guys that we did sign I had completely forgotten about Grimes. Would've absolutely taken him but one missed signing doesn't ruin this class. Good luck to him and now I am back to putting my energy towards the guys that are excited to be here 🦃
Nice
We need to back up the Brinks truck for Mines. He is going to be a fantastic coach and recruiter for us. And word on the street is he actually really likes being at VT/Blacksburg. Happy to have a good Hoo on the staff!
VT, Indiana, WVU, and NC State have all offered.
6-3 295 interior linemen has 3 to play 2
HS 3 star .8661 composite on 247 no transfer rating
Also apparently was #1 prospect from New Mexico for whatever that is worth
https://247sports.com/player/philip-blidi-46076581/
New Mexico sucks so bad it's the first place the U.S. thought of to nuke.
*Apologies to anyone from New Mexico*
They might not have the best HS football, but I'd move back it a heartbeat for the food and real pricky pear margs. Maybe that's just the radiation talking though.
👀👀 I'm currently in Los Alamos... visiting though
This seems akin to having the most teeth in WV.
Wonder if Coach Cheetah has a connection with him from his stunt at Texas Tech. Does anyone know if they overlapped at all?
"Blidi Blidi Blidi Blidi, what's up, Philip?"
Indiana with his old DL coach. Only visit he took
It appears the gas golf carts are okay
Made the top 10 for 4* WR Alex Taylor out of greensboro
https://247sports.com/player/alex-taylor-46118490/
Alex, pls
Up against Charlie Wiles
I think people forget how good he was for us recruiting. It'll be a tough pull, but at least we are in it.
Forget?? Many people on VT message boards never even realized it at the time...
Low-key, Ghannam will be the most productive member of this class.
Maybe high key, and early. Really like Lovett, Fleming and Stevens as well
Highest ranked class member performs best! Also in the news, water is wet! /s
Looks like we have another PWO. Jayson Morgan from Deep Run. 6'-8", 270. OT/DT. Specifically tagged Rudolph in the post.
Saw that, that's a huge kid hope we can develop him. A grayshirt/year at Fork Union would probably be huge for him, a la Zachariah Hoyt
Huge is right. Imagine how big he'll be once he fills out? I mean 270 at 6-8" is a husky power forward, not a lineman.
Husky power you say? I can't wait to see more husky power!
6 more months, man.
247 has now rated all transfer players.
WR Jennings, 92. 4*
QB Drones, 90. 4*
DT Varner, 89. 3*
WR Felton, 89. 3*
Average, 90. 4*, 16th highest rated class.
Does this mean 16th highest rated transfer class? We haven't jumped up to 16 overall, right?
Edit: I found it. 16th rated transfer class
These are rated the same way that incoming freshmen are rated, right? Assuming that was the case and you can directly compare the numbers to judge a transfer class and players the same way you would incoming freshmen class and players, but wanted to make sure. It sure looks good the way it is.
Who was #30?
Ezekiel Wimbush maybe? PWO, but turned down schollie from Charlotte so I'd give him a spot on the board (since there's one open).
I thought he was a grey shirt? Either way I like the flyer on him.