Evan G. Watkins of 247Sports reports 2015 4-star offensive tackle Austin Clark has changed his commitment from South Carolina to Virginia Tech. Clark committed to South Carolina over Virginia Tech and Tennessee in June.
Clark originally committed to South Carolina in June but was on campus on Saturday on an unofficial visit. Virginia Tech coaches Bryan Stinespring and Stacy Searels visited Rockbridge Friday night for a game and committed to the Hokies on Sunday afternoon.
The Hokies are in dire need of young offensive tackles. Kudos to Searels' and Stinespring's diligence to keep a top in-state talent at home.
Mark Trible wrote an article on Austin back in February.
This good news couldn't have come at a better time for a program struggling through rough on-the-field results these last few weeks.
Comments
Huge news! Welcome to Hokie Nation, Austin!
Some much needed good news!!! Way to keep some of that in-state talent home!!!
French right now:
If I could find a gif of a clock going from 6 to 12, it would be where this text is right now.
Against my better judgement, I Googled "six to midnight gif" and found this.
Ha, beat me by a few seconds. I added some Hokie modifications - a little cheap looking but why the heck not?
It was a nice touch. I had some qualms about posting an aTm-centric gif but lacked the tech-skill to change it in a timely fashion. Also, hitting enter after typing those words into a search bar and not seeing any wieners is what I imagine successfully diffusing a bomb feels like.
Agreed. Definitely not a search I would have performed at work.
I can't tell you how excited this has made me. Jason White (the head coach at Rockbridge County up through Clark's junior season) was a great student of All-American and legendary offensive line coach Fred Selfe at Emory & Henry. Clark's feet will need to get quicker to play on the blindside, but he has tremendous upper body strength and bend, very similar to Blake DeChristopher. He can get underneath guys and turn them inside or out based on how the play needs to be run. I am very excited about this.
Ok. You got me at similar to Blake DeChristopher.
Same here. I immediately scrolled back up to take another look at his beard.
Ok I know we are not supposed to but, for the second time today I have to post a lol.
Let's talk when he has a beard
Same high school program as Caleb Farris, whose work ethic and willingness to play through pain have been valuable to the VT program during this rough period.
So where on the line do you think he'll fit best?
If you're good and want it, son, you'll be playing a big role soon, and getting a very good education in the process.
This news just made my weekend! Great get by Stiney and Searels.
Excellent news indeed! Welcome, Austin!
French: Based on HS film, do you see him working into the depth chart as a true freshman or even possibly starting? Seems much more college ready than any OL that we've recruited in a good while
He will have an opportunity. Of course, you hope that every OL can red-shirt because everyone, no mattter how strong, on the OL really needs to some to adjust to the speed of the game at the DI level. But, if he is the best option, he will play.
Wasn't Braxton Pfaff also considered to be a 4* guard by some? If yes, could this be the sign of good things to come for the run game - Teller, Pfaff at guard, and Clark at tackle? (Hoping that Gallo turns out to be a good center)
Pffaf was a 3 star I believe. Really mobile. Needed to get better at the point of attack but lots of potential. He was very effective pulling in the spring. I hope he recovers from his injury..
Today is my birthday, and this = happy birthday for TechHokie13.
Leg for your birthday! But mostly for the third-person reference of yourself.
Time to change the Crystal Balls!
Clark is a great talent the SEC tried to steal from VT's backyard. Glad he switched to Hokienation. With all the seniors on the O line , Clark should see immediate playing time. Welcome to Hokienation Clark.
My wife (USC-e fan):
Me:
Welcome Mr. Clark!
You are one funny dude. Leg well deserved!
This is a huge get by Searels.
MOAR plz!
Also, thread comments?:
So:
Now it's Super Green. Nay, Crystal Green.
The Future is looking bright! All these other recruits we are in on would be great, but Clark brings substantial talent to our most dire position situation. Way to go Searels and Stiney! Makes you wonder how we'd be doing now if we moved him to Recruiting Coordinator a couple years earlier...
It would be nice to have a time machine to get some of these guys 3 years in the future to use now. I am convinced that by getting guys like this on board we can get back to power running.
any word on Emanuel McGirt from Durham NC, did he make the trip this weekend? Would be nice to get him on board as well and get this rolling
Yes, he made the trip.
Andy Bitter to the rescue with some additional details:
Awesome that he'll be in school to work through spring and get a leg-up on the Gentrification.
The extra time in the weight room will be a huge boost. Strength and hand technique seem to be what might keep him from starting sooner than later. I could easily see this kid in next years two deep.
oh you bastard.
We flip a 4 star tackle and there's a thread that's not an argument? noice
We should all buy lottery tickets, haha.
I do whenever the my Hokies, my hs, and Giants win a football game in the same week
Hmmm, been at least a month then...Darn your luck.
Watching his tape is like watch a grown man against little boys. More pancakes than IHOP!
Awesome news. I guess Coach Searels still cares about Beamer and his job. Our Oline will be young and nasty next year. Teller. Conte. Galio. Smith. Clark??
McLaughlin has to be favored to be on the end of that OLine if he's healthy though.
So McLaughlin, Conte, Galio, Teller and Clark...that would be the start to an Oline that can open holes. I'm very optimistic about our squad next season.
perhaps smith over Conte?
The Wizard's crab dance...awesome!
leg for referencing Deadliest Catch!
Seems appropriate:
BOOYAH! Chopping lumber! A huge recruit for a big position of need. Can never have enough good offensive lineman!
Yyeeeessss!! Just what we neeed!! This is great news. A bright spot in a shitty week.
Just got in and late to the party. Sooooooo sweet!
This is almost unprecedented, and the timing couldn't be better.
But for the love of God, Austin...I needed to at least keep my Sundays tequila-free...
Brrrrr...tradition commands me. It's a shot and mexican hat dance gone wrong time!
Drunk Mexican dancing will always get a leg
This is what we need! Keep them coming!
Welcome to the Hokie nation!
OL recruits are a desperate need. Call me Ronald because I'm loving it
do like this development! Welcome aboard, Austin!
Texas Tech bell guy approves!
My sister is a cheerleader for our local high school and a few weeks ago they played Rockbridge. My mom goes to the game and all she could talk about afterwards was the big lineman that Rockbridge has and that he just looked like a man among boys. She told me we should send tape to Beamer to watch. I had to tell her that Beamer wanted him bad but he committed to USCe. Then she went on a rampage about how these big time recruits should stay in-state. Mom even knows what's up with Austin!
This was So out-of-the-woods WHAT THE?!?!
Let's Celebrate
A lot of positive comments came from some of the recruits this past weekend. Good things could be happening over next several weeks, everybody keep positive thoughts going for the future!
Indeed.
Welcome to the nation, Austin. Glad you're here. Can't wait to see you on campus.
I only break this one out for big announcements....
Haven't hit on too many O-line recruits in the last couple of years. Let's hope Clark starts the boulder rolling in the other direction! Fingers crossed.
Good, can never have enough quality lineman, both offense and defense. Teams that win (upper tier bowl games/National Titles) always have won in the trenches, letting the players on the outside thrive from that, in recently history.
Awesome. 4* guys at OL aren't exactly dime a dozen, and to have one at tackle is icing on the cake. Hope he lives up to the hype, cause lord knows this team desperately needs it. Hope he's able to bring a few more OL guys with him.
I just watched this kids video. I think he slammed every single person he was blocking into the ground. Kid is awesome. Boy would I love us to have a dominating OL. Can't win a championship without a great OL which is why I think Florida State won't win the NC this year.
I noticed that hes always down the field blocking on long plays and he also did combination blocks extremely well these are things our line has struggled with this year. I can't wait to see him in O&M! Welcome to Hokie Nation Austin Clark!
I saw this earlier and my pants got a little shorter. Come on Tolliver....
please, please, please...
I picked a bad day to wear Sweatpants.
Ok, 4th time I broke rules to post a lol.
I'm thinking Settle.
Who else are we trying to flip? Victor Alexander? Maybe Taylor or Gaines count?
Alexander would be my first guess as our next flip. Taylor/Gaines are currently uncommitted, so I don't think they count. That said, I wouldn't be upset/surprised if they decided to commit to the good guys.
I think he means Darrell, not Garrett.
Clelin Ferrell has been mentioned as a guy we have stayed in contact with since he committed to Clemson. I think he's hurt as well.
And Felton Davis III.
I saw Shane Beamer tweet a picture of him and Derrick Hopkins at Davis's game this past Friday. I like seeing the relentless fighting and change in recruiting mindset by the coaches to really try to keep talent in-state.
EDIT: Embedded tweet now that I'm not at work.
Maybe it's Richt /s
Stacy Searels like his OL big, strong and athletic. He definitely got one in Austin Clark.
does this mean there are coaches that like their OL small, weak and unathletic? /s
We did recruit TEs to play OL before we recruited them to play QB
Phew, I needed some good news, and we needed some good talent. Welcome Austin Clark!
Dude looks like a beast on the film!
"See a need, fill a need!"--Mr. Bigweld (movie Robots)
Welcome Mr. Clark. I believe you and Mr. Teller should get along great.
LOL at the gif. More importantly, the two quotes in your sig! Every time I read a post of yours I think "how fitting". While much more serious than the our play this year, they fit this season to a tee. Even better that they are from two great Hokies.
Thanks, I'm a glass half-full kind of guy. There's enough negativity in the world that I don't need to add more. I turn to my beloved Hokies as a respite from the crap we all deal with on a day to day basis. It's kind of like having kids, even when they disappoint I'm still proud and hope they learn and grow from it. I just think this team is a teenager, they are trying to figure themselves out and once they do they will achieve great things.
^This. I see so much negativity on here lately that I want to respond with this:
But, I shouldn't. Thanks for giving me the opportunity!
Go Hokies!
They tried to heed that hamster's advice, but poor Ned Betty didn't really have a choice.
My thoughts exactly. I like to use the same analogy. I'm excited to see the next couple years. These tough times are going to make for good laughs in the future.
Well, that's what I tell myself before I cry haha.
With Clark's flip we have moved up to 22nd ranking in 2015 recruits, we need some big signings to maybe move up in top 15. I believe it is still possible.
That is 4 lets look for 3 or 4 more! Gifs are greek to me! I do have a pic on how to BBQ a goat though.
This could be a monster year for us when it comes to O-Line recruiting. I wouldn't be surprised to see us take 6 high school kids and a JUCO.
6 high school kids & a JUCO?! that would be amazing but how do we have the numbers for that?
Preps, grayshirts, early enrollees, attrition.... the numbers always work out.
just being humorous. no worries
If we get Sweat, can you imagine watching those two go at it in practice everyday?
What's the news on Sweat, anyway? Knee injury and surgery, right? Anything new?
Re-set up his visits a little while ago. He will next visit Georgia on Nov. 15 (vs. Auburn), Florida State on Nov. 22 (vs. BC), and Virginia Tech on Nov. 27 (UVA game). Not sure about Oregon, so it looks like we may get the coveted last visit. No new news otherwise that I've seen... Should start coming in now that he's taking more officials.
Technically the UVA game will be his second "official" visit to see us play.
Have a leg for your great user name and avatar
Flip?
I was expecting someone to post this gif but guess ill do the honors!
This is the new commit-flip GIF. End of story.
Right. At first I thought, yeah, I'm happy, too. But then I thought this gif shows a flip.
OLINE and DLINE Recruiting - I am a really happy hokie fan right now, I can not believe all the info, predictions, commitments, etc that has been coming out for lineman for VT. Obviously this is a great way to restart and build a good foundation, and if we can just keep up this momentum through signing day I am giddy at all the young lineman we will have in the program. We already have some great young guys in the 2 deep (teller, mcglaufin, alston smith, conte, etc). And if you factor in all the guys from last year (Mihota, Ricky W, Steve S, Billy Ray, Colt, and Gallo).
Now this year we have commitments from 9 guys that are like 250 lbs and up (Burke, T Smith, Fred Johnson, Clark, Arnold, Whitehead, Lewis, Trevon Hill, and Fullwood) and seem to be in great shape to get AT LEAST 3 more, probably 5 or more: (Sweat, Settle, Dalton, McGirt, DeBerry, and Houshoun) ) and now we are making moves on Plantin, Nijman. I love this type of news and think this is a great way to trun things around