Hokies Competing with Fellow ACC Schools to Sign Jalen Dalton

Few things get Hokies defensive line coach Charley Wiles salivating more than a long, athletic defensive end with room to grow, so it's hardly a surprise that Tech is going all out to recruit Jalen Dalton of Clemmons, North Carolina's West Forsyth High School.

Dalton — rated a 4-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite — is already physically imposing at 6'5" and 235 pounds, but his athleticism is what sets him apart from the rest.

"He's just extremely athletic, a kid that also plays basketball, he can really play in space," said Bill Oakley, the assistant head coach at West Forsyth. "I remember one game last season he just plucked a ball right out of midair and took for a touchdown. It was incredible."

Dalton's athletic ability has helped him wreak havoc on the line for the Titans.

"His length helps tremendously and he's got great change of direction ability," said Adrian Snow, West Forsyth's head coach. "We just line him up at DE and let him rush the passer."

But when asked to describe his abilities on the field, Dalton is hesitant to use the same soaring rhetoric his coaches employ.

"I hate talking about my strengths and all that," he said. "I'd rather talk about what I need to get better at. I really want to improve my pass rush moves, using my hands more."

His coaches agree that he does still have room to improve as a player, but stress that he's still really young for his grade.

"He'll need to be stronger and bigger to play in the ACC," Snow said. "He's still a pup. He'll only turn 17 in the first week of the season, so he has time to improve the finer points of his technique."

Yet Oakley feels that his potential is what has excited college programs as much as his established abilities.

"He's got interest from the ACC, SEC, all over, and I think a lot of that is due to his potential to put weight on," Oakley said.

Dalton does indeed have plenty of suitors. He's fielding offers from 22 different schools, including UNC, Florida, Florida State, and Alabama.

However, he's still giving Tech plenty of consideration.

"It's fairly close to home for him, it wouldn't be a big ride," Snow said. "And Charley Wiles is awesome. Jalen likes him, his family likes him. As much as he could visit (West Forsyth), he's been there."

Dalton echoed that sentiment, and added that he's spoken a lot with the man in charge of Tech's defense as well.

"Coach Wiles and I speak a lot, I'm very fond of him," Dalton said. "We talk once a week over the phone or on Twitter. But I've also gotten to talk to Bud Foster a lot. He speaks well of me, and that just gave me a good impression of him."

Dalton has gotten to Blacksburg a couple times now, most recently visiting for Tech's Junior Day on February 8, and he plans to see the campus again.

"My mom and I want to get up there again, I think we're planning on going the week of July 28," Dalton said.

But with such a wide array of offers to consider, Dalton is looking at more than just the Hokies.

"I know he likes North Carolina so he could stay in state, he's been there a few times," Snow said.

Dalton added that he's giving a long look to the Florida schools as well.

"I've definitely looked at UNC, as well as Miami and Florida, a little," Dalton said. "I was high on FSU at first, but that's fallen off a little since."

As he evaluates each program, he puts his emphasis on examining two key areas.

"I really want to bond with the other recruits coming in with me," Dalton said. "And I want to play soon and contribute."

He plans to take a little while yet to make his final decision.

"I want to enroll early, so I'm going to decide fairly early in football season," Dalton said. "I'm visiting Miami in November, so I figure I'll announce after that in December."

Where Dalton ultimately signs could affect the position he plays.

"It seems like the smaller schools are really saying I could be at outside linebacker, but the major ones are all saying defensive end," Dalton said.

Tech is one of the schools that see him playing on the edge, and his coaches feel that's the right fit for him.

"I really see him settling in as an edge defensive end," Oakley said. "He's not so big as to go inside, and he doesn't move well laterally enough to be a linebacker. But he can catch the ball too, and you never know when a college coach could see that and decide offense is right for him."

But even with such a big decision looming, his coaches insist he's not taking anything too seriously.

"He's really jovial, a practical joker, but he does it the right way," Snow said. "He's well liked by everybody."

With a laugh, Dalton acknowledges that he's keeping a positive attitude through the grueling recruiting process.

"I like making jokes," he said. "I just like having a good time with my friends."