For those that following recruiting closely, defensive lineman Darius Fullwood's decommitment from Kentucky last Tuesday, and subsequent verbal to Virginia Tech the next day, may not have been all that surprising. The Hokies were a strong contender for Fullwood the first time around. Tech was in Dee's final 3 along with Maryland and Kentucky, and up until the day of his announcement, most pundits pegged him to pick Tech.
When he visited Blacksburg for the Techmo Bowl two Saturdays ago, it seemed possible he might reconsider his original decision. Even though he maintained his commitment to the Wildcats was firm, he noted he kept in touch with Virginia Tech wide receivers coach Aaron Moorhead.
In June, Dee talked to The Key Play about his relationship with Moorehead.
"It's a real great relationship. We talk probably every week. The past few times we've been talking, it's been about the exams I have coming up. I like that about coaches; it's more than just football. They want to be a type of father figure to me. Be able to look out for me whether it's academics, athletics, or just life obstacles in general. I like that a lot about Coach Moorehead. On top of that, he's a young coach. He kind of understands everything that I'm going through, the things I've experienced, the things like that."
Moorehead's persistence and Blacksburg's close proximity to Dee's family helped Tech sway the 6-4, 240 pound Good Counsel stud.
"I built some good relationships at Kentucky, but the more I thought about it, being closer to home started to become a big thing for me," Fullwood told the Washington Post's Brandon Parker following Good Counsel's upset of Gonzaga last Saturday. "It had pretty much been between Virginia Tech and Kentucky, with Maryland in there a little toward the end, and after thinking on it and making a visit to Virginia Tech, I realized I had the best of both worlds there with the great relationships and it being closer to home."
"I feel good and set in my decision. I don't want to be bouncing around and I hope this doesn't affect any coaches' perception of me," Fullwood also told WaPo's Parker. "I really like Kentucky. But with Virginia Tech, they were the first to offer me, it's not a far drive from my family and there's just that special connection there."
Comments
VT and Blacksburg are special. Welcome to another home for you and your family, Darius! You will grow here.
Good to know our young coaches relate to the players, a big selling point for Hokies.
After years of trying, the Hokies finally have a Fullwood. With a Fullwood, Bud is excited.
We kept getting Fuller and Fuller and now we've finally got Fullwood
One of these days we'll get a Filled, but I'd Settle for a Filly. Maybe we'll get a Full one year and an Overflow the next.
Note: Rivals.com lists seven Fullers in the 2015 cycle. One three-star guy is a DB.
Only a 3-star? Must be a second cousin or something. Or perhaps adopted.
I think it said he was at a community college in Kansas. Might have been caught the Fuller bug when Corey was running track out there.
Or perhaps Corey and a co-ed out there...I mean Fuller offspring are superhuman so the idea that he could have been born around 2010 and is eligible for the class of 2015 is not that far out of the realm of reality.
This seems the most likely explanation
Morehead leads to Fullwood. Ahhh, the irony!
We've got other coaches that also have this quality of just understanding the players because there are less generational differences. Nice job Moorehead!
i think the new coaching additions have really helped because they are younger and able to connect a little better. Moorehead really seems to get these guys, I love having him on the staff
This recruiting combination has got to be popular with the ladies as well. We can now offer Moorehead AND Fullwood.
This is football, not Tinder so I doubt it.
Everyone knows when you apply Moorehead to Fullwood, you're bound to end up on top eventually
Stick it in, stick it in
Glad to hear that the understands the perception of bouncing around. Once I think is ok. A kid can commit early maybe think he jumped the gun later on or finds something better at another school, whatever. As long as kids don't make two or more decommits before actually comitting to a final school I think it's fine. Glad he's aware of that though and it doesn't see like we would have to worry about him bouncing to another school in a month or so.
I am feeling a spontaneous outbreak of coach crush on Moorehead. He's a great coach, he's a legend (won a Super Bowl), and he has a great attitude and can connect with the young players coming out of HS. I really hope that he stays on the Hokies' staff for a VERY long time, akin to how long Beamer, Foster, Wiles, and Gray have been on staff.
We love you AMO!