Offensive line coach Stacy Searels is no stranger to the state of Georgia.
He coached with the Bulldogs from 2007-09, and Frank Beamer and company bet that he'd be able to leverage his connections in that talent-rich area to help the Hokies tap into the SEC pipeline. It seems that's finally started to come to fruition.
Tech added its fifth offensive lineman of the 2015 class earlier this week when OT D'Andre Plantin of Norcross, Ga. HS committed to the Hokies.
"When I called Coach Searels he was just ecstatic, he said he told all the coaches about me," Plantin said. "He's been telling me this is the year for the offensive line for them."
Plantin, rated a 3-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite rating, has heard overtures from a variety of schools, but was ultimately deciding between VT and Illinois.
"I also gave Illinois a call after, told them I was going in a different direction," Plantin said. "I wanted to keep it classy, show them respect and let them know before I put it out there."
For the Georgia product, distance was too big of a factor for him to choose the Illini.
"The main thing for me was distance," Plantin said. "I talked with my family about it, and we agreed that this way everyone who supported me from the beginning can still watch me play through to the end."
But it wasn't just Tech's location on the map that convinced Plantin to come to Blacksburg. Searels also effectively sold him on the combination of Tech's history and an immediate need at the position.
"He definitely talked about the tradition, how they're still on a streak of 21 bowl games," Plantin said. "And he talked about needing people on the offensive line because they've got people leaving."
Plantin may appreciate the Hokies' tradition, but he was breaking away from his family's heritage a bit by signing with Tech. Both his father and grandfather played for the Clemson Tigers, yet the youngest Plantin chose a different ACC school.
D'Andre's dad, Tony, was a defensive linemen for Clemson, graduating in 1997. He even set the program's record for quarterback pressures in a game against Duke in 1995.
And Tony's dad, Tony Mathews, was a fullback for the Tigers from 1973-74.
So it's safe to say there's some history with the Plantin family and Clemson. Yet, while D'Andre says the Tigers did contact him briefly last year, he never gave serious consideration to holding out for an offer to continue the family tradition.
"I heard from them last year, but it had no effect on my decision," Plantin said.
Plantin already boasts an impressive 6'5" and 277-pound frame, so it's no surprise that Searels is excited about the commitment.
Yet Plantin's work ethic and energy also surely got the Hokies interested.
"I think I have a really high motor, I'll do whatever takes out there on the field," Plantin said.
He also feels that "pass blocking is an advantage for me," another piece of good news for the Hokies as they prepare to graduate their starting left tackle.
However, he's still looking to improve both his strength and his technique.
"I just want to hit the weight room more and work with Coach Searels on my fundamentals," Plantin said.
Plantin has yet to set foot in Blacksburg, but he plans to change that when he takes an official visit to the school on December 5.
"I'm just looking forward to getting up there and bonding with everyone," Plantin said.
Comments
His dad graduated from college in 1997? Wow I feel old
That was 17 years ago. And with that, I feel old too.
Damn, that is when I graduated from Tech.
That's when I graduated from VT, as well...and I have a daughter who is a freshman at UGA.
I got stuff in my fridge older than you.
I like the fact he called Illinois because he wanted to be classy. that makes me think he's got a good head on his shoulders. so glad he went with us.
I was going to make note of this, too. Very classy, very mature. I like his attitude. Sounds like a great pickup for us.
Also, THREE posts in one day about O-line recruiting? Where am I, Bizarro World?! Searels is doing some work and I love it.
#choppingwood
Couldn't agree more. This is exactly the kind of person and player we want to recruit.
Fab 5?
Its not just that we're getting OLine players....
Whats important is that we're getting highly rated and highly respected OLine players. Suddenly we're in the mix for not only a few 5* defensive players, but now we're also in the running for a lot of 4* OLine players. This has the makings for a recruiting class that completely turns the tide on us winning the battles in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and it really couldn't come at time where we could need it more.
22200?! jebus I remember when you broke 10000 regardless this whole recruiting offensive linemen thing is new to me. This is good right?
he gets a leg every time he rates some modes, its in his benefits package
If only. I'll put it on the list for the next collective bargaining session.
Ron Swanson will always get a leg
Both revenue programs are in the middle of potentially historic recruiting cycles. I don't know if I have enough clean pairs of undies to make it through football's signing day if the dominoes start falling.
Too easy...
Wow. Big man! Great work, Searels!
Can't wait to see him Plantin people on their backs! (...I know, low hanging fruit).
I'm not even kidding this is called a Pancake Plant:
2008: 3 OL signees
2009: 2 OL signees
2010: 4 OL signees
2011: 1 OL signees
2012: 3 OL signees
2013: 4 OL signees
2014: 4 OL signees
2015: 5 OL commits
I like the way this is trending.
We still have to develop them! I love the trend, but I mean 2010 had 4 commits... and that's our current senior class at oline and they haven't exactly set the world on fire. Yet the difference is all the depth! 13 in in three years?! Goodness golly gracious this is super duper news!
I'm always excited to see when we land a player from Georgia. I've seen so much talent here at the 6A level, it's ridiculous. Guys like Plantin (who I think may be under-starred), get undervalued because they sit and wait their turn behind the other D-1 prospects older then them during their Soph./Jr. years, and ofter end up being collegiate stars at "lesser" schools than VT (and the rest of the Power 5 conference schools) due to not being publicized enough. There's plenty of talent here in Georgia that we could be getting 3-4 potential impact players a year from the state if we just had more eyes here looking.
Just to follow this up with an anecdote...
My daughter graduated from McEachern HS last year and during her junior year my wife and I were at one of the football games when a guy tapped me on the shoulder. After asking if I was a VT scout (I was wearing a warm VT jacket), but before I could answer, he started telling me about his son who was rotating in at DT for McEachern as a freshman...basically trying to get me to take a look at his son if I happened to be a scout. When he paused, I told him that I wasn't a scout, but was there because my daughter was a junior cheerleader...and I knew of his son since a freshman getting playing time was a pretty big deal. We kept talking about his son (and the team) anyway for the next 10 minutes or so.
What's stayed with me since then is simply that to recruit a state that's rich in talent like Georgia, you simply have to show up and the players (and/or or their parents) will come to you. If I would have said "Why yes, I'm a scout" that's something that would have stuck with the guy and his son from that point on. That's how you get players from here away from the SEC...just by being here. The kid in the story, by the way, is Julian Rochester...currently a Junior, Julian has offers from UGA, FSU, Alabama, LSU, Miami, Ohio State...heck, all the usual suspects.
How many recruits commit before they even visit? I doubt he will change his mind after visiting Blacksburg, but I still found this interesting.
his next best offer was illinois. illinois!
not saying he won't be a good player for us, but picking VT seems like a no-brainer in his situation (even if he hasn't visited yet).
That picture is either old or his info is a little inflated because I do not see 277 LBs there. Which is great because that means he has the frame to pack on a few more. Mr. Plantin, meet Mr Gentry.
Are you doubting his size?
See, now you've done it and he's gonna hunt us all down.
The problem with that picture is there's no normal sized person standing next to him. Put an average sized 5'10" 185lb guy next to him and you'll get a better sense of how massive he is.
"Also, THREE posts in one day about O-line recruiting? Where am I, Bizarro World?! Searels is doing some work and I love it."
Love the comment and the trend! Lets go for 8! Only 3 more!