Blue-chip defensive tackle Tim Settle is the highest rated signee of Virginia Tech's 2015 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite. Tim's recruitment was all over the map before he committed to Virginia Tech. A footnote throughout the four-star prospect's recruitment has been his academic standing. Even though Settle signed with the Hokies, would he have the grades and test scores needed to enroll at Virginia Tech.
Joey LoMonaco of the Washington Post wrote a signing day feature on Settle, who had this to say about his academics.
Despite speculation by some, Settle maintained he's adamant about becoming academically eligible in time to enroll at Virginia Tech next fall.
"I don't want to hear 'prep school,'" Settle said.
"I'm going for the big shot. I know that I'll be at Virginia Tech next year, it just takes a matter of time. I'm good right now, having a great senior year academically. I have to get a better SAT score — which I will. I'm ready."
If Settle has to prep, he will once again become a recruitable athlete during the 2016 cycle.
Comments
Good for him
So if I understand correctly, he's signed his LOI but we still have to wait on his eligibility? Just curious since the school hasn't announced the signing and I'm wondering if that's par for the course in situations like this.
It's always contingent on the recruit holding their side of the bargain; academics, staying out of trouble with the law, etc, but it is binding to my knowledge (unless there is a coaching change or something). However, with January enrollees, they can change up until they step on campus since they haven't signed a NLI.
Just a quick point, the LOI is binding no matter what. Once that's signed, the one-year transfer rule is in effect.
But that can be waived if the recruit hasn't stepped on campus as a student is what I meant. Once he's on campus then that's that.
This is correct. ex. Drew Harris
We will have to recruit Settle all over again if he does prep.
Aka will commit during the 2022 cycle
I'm sure they'll announce it, if they haven't already as I'm writing this. Technically we still have to wait on the eligibility of every kid who didn't enroll early.
Gotcha. I'm just curious about the process. It seems that VT is announcing all signees within seconds of getting their LOI, but the article says Settle is a signee but I've seen nothing from the school. They have to wait on everyone, but why isn't Settle being announced?
Dunno. Could be as simple as the video guy spilling his coffee and taking time to clean it up. I'd be pretty surprised if they didn't publicize it, considering he's our highest-rated recruit.
Once he's signed, he's bound to coming to VT as soon as he clears all eligibility blocks.
Aren't there SAT prep programs that guarantee a certain score, or a certain improvement on an old score? Can we crowdfund this?
I'm guessing that would raise some eyebrows with the NCAA, but who knows
/s, obviously
that's about all it will do, apparently.
I Don't think so. They are available to anyone and are no different than study courses for MCAT's, PE, exams etc. He still takes the test himself but is better prepared. Of course, its the NCAA do there very well could be a moronic rule on them.
I think having a bunch of fans (boosters?) foot the bill for said classes is what would ruffle feathers at NCAA
When will this all be settled (sorry)?
Do we essentially have to wait until he's graduated High School to know for sure?
According to Settle, he has the grades (which means he'll graduate HS just fine) he just needs to hit his SAT scores.
Still a bit disconcerting.
Is this an NCAA SAT score requirement or VT's requirement?
There's a minimum required by the NCAA, but I'd be surprised if VT didn't have a slightly higher one.
Beamer has written in his books that VT's admission standards are higher than the NCAA requirements. He didn't specify SAT scores, but I'm sure they are.
Not sure if VT requires a higher grade/SAT combo than the standard NCAA scale, but we certainly require an extra math course beyond the NCAA core curriculum minimum.
I'm actually surprised the NCAA has an SAT requirement.
Why? It's been a fixture of college admissions criteria for decades. Only natural that it is translated into NCAA minimums.
OMG I just looked it up on a whim, and they use a sliding scale. You don't have to hit a flat target number, you have to have a score that is considered equivalent to your NCAA core courses GPA. That is crazy. So essentially if you are a good student but have test anxiety you could screw yourself out of eligibility by testing below your grade point level.
Its actually the other way around.
If you are a good student and have a good GPA you get a much lower threshold to hit on the SAT/ACT. So you get a buffer for test anxiety.
On the flip side, if you have bad grades you can (have to) make up for that by doing really well on the SAT/ACT.
Oh thank God. I was looking at it backwards. This way makes MUCH more sense. Leg, sir.
Herman Moore would have been a Hokie were it not for that.
I thought SAT stood for Starting At Tackle?
Only in the SEC.
In my opinion (and the opinion of many others more intelligent than myself) the SAT is an inaccurate way to measure whether or not a person will have success in higher education. Why should one poorly designed, outdated, standardized test be one of the major deciding factors? From what I've heard universities these days take SAT scores with a grain of salt, so again why should it be a factor in determining an athletes qualification? Case in point, my sister received extremely high SAT scores, but did not have the right work ethic and ended up dropping out of college after a year. No offense to my sister, but motivation and a strong work ethic are more important than a test score.
Sorry to rant, but I think it would be a shame if this young man who has probably worked his ass off to improve his grades and graduate did not qualify because his scores on one stupid test were a little low.
It's not the only factor, but you are kidding yourself if you don't think it's still a big factor in college admissions. The SAT and ACT are big equalizers across the thousands of different high schools. In the big picture of college admissions SAT scores can help identify schools that grade too easily, or have watered down curricula If it weren't a factor in admissions any more, the NCAA would remove it from the qualifying criteria.
I damn near aced the SAT (1520/1600) and I'll be the first to admit it doesn't reflect my ability to pay attention to stuff that I find boring. (like multivariable calculus). It does reflect my ability to work under pressure, my broad (at the time) vocabulary and reading comprehension skills, and my mastery of basic algebra and geometry. All things that are foundational tools for learning at the college level. Whether or not a student consistently applies those tools to learning new material is a whole different matter.
As far as Settle goes, there will be multiple chances for him to take the SAT and improve upon his score this spring.
"I damn near aced the SAT (1520/1600)"
You pulled that trigger. GIF had to be done. :)
Seriously, though, I agree with your opinion on the SAT, and...
Dayum, you killed it.
Glad he's getting serious about the grades. I wish him nothing but the best, and I just hope he has the same motor for academics that he has for football once he gets to Tech.
Beamer has written book? SATs are now out.....dumbing down of America. A local school district could not get many of their schools certified by the state; so they built a bunch of "Starz" labs and segregated the idiots from general population to become certified.
I've read this 4 times and still can't comprehend anything you are trying to say. You wouldn't happen to be "overly-paranoid Rob Lowe" would ya?
you know, he's right... about the listening devices hidden in our cheese.
Do you think an old, gray haired man would fool them? :-)
We need to get this Settled here before Sept. for sure , nothing like a un-Settled issue on this site. Carry On.
So who here volunteers to take the SAT for him? Hypothetically, of course.
More and more colleges are not requiring SAT's, how will this effect NCAA eligibility rules.
Yeah saw recently that vcu was doing away with SAT requirements as long as the applicant met a certain GPA.
Even if they do, that wouldn't have an effect on athletes and the clearinghouse. They still have to pass that bar in order to be eligible.
I personally never took the SAT's. Did to ACTs though. Tech (and everyone else I applied to) didn't have a problem with that. And some friends who took both indicated that the ACTs were easier so I didn't want to ruin my good scores. haha.
Here's a chart depicting SAT scores required for corresponding GPAs. As previously mentioned, VT may have a higher standard but you still have to wonder how some kids cant qualify. These requirements are awfully lenient. Hopefully Settle can get the scire he needs, we need him to anchor down the D-line in the years coming.
https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/2011-12_Quick_Reference_Sheet.pdf
Is it possible that, while Settle seems to believe his grades are no problem, he may be saying they're not a problem in the sense of he has just above a 2.00? If that's the case he may be so worried about the SAT because he has to get around a 1010 on it to qualify. If that's the case, I fear it's going to be very close.
If he has bellow a 2.3, I don't think he can play year one, can he?
It's pointless to speculate. The only hope is that Settle works hard, tries his best, and achieves what he sets out to do. Because that is the same type of work ethic it is going to take to be successful on the field, and off the field. Getting his education is more important in the long run and will serve him well, best of luck!