Mike Farrell had this to say about hand (via http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1470948)
"To me it wasn't that much of a question, but it did become interesting," Farrell said. "I tweeted way back in April of last year that I thought I was seeing the best player in the country in Da'Shawn Hand and more in-person evaluations have cemented that feeling. However, there were some guys who pushed up into the discussion and it will be interesting.
"But Hand is special, he's a 6-foot-4, 250-pounder whose athleticism is off the charts and can come off the edge or hold the line of scrimmage depending on where he's lined up. He played defensive tackle quite a bit for his team this year without complaint and was still dominant. And his high character just adds to the formula for potential success."
Virginia is loaded with in-state talent, and Tech is in the mix for the services of Andrew Brown, Jalyn Holmes, Derrick Nnadi, and Steven Moss along with a few prospects outside the state.
Comments
We need everyone of these guys at at least one of the junior days or the spring game. Preferably the spring game. Oh, and beating Alabama would help tremendously.
#beatbama
It will help with our quarterback prospects as well because both Park and Cornwell hold offers from Bama. Cornwell seems very interested in them so a win may go a long way in swaying him to our side.
I'm not saying it doesn't matter, beating 'Bama would be a statement win, one the coaches could use on the recruiting trail. However, we were able to land Holland Fisher, when 'Bama told him he'd be the next Mark Barron. I wonder if that potential win would matter more, or less, to in-state or out of state kids.
I wonder when hand will look to commit? He already shut down his recruiting for a bit to focus on school.
Having him on-campus for the spring game would be huge if he's looking to end the recruiting process early.
My thoughts are that he will commit by the Fall so that he's not having to go through this during his senior year and can focus on school. He seems like the kind of guy that isn't trying to ride out the free trips and attention. I'm hoping to get up to see him play this Fall as well as see Moss and Mihota since they are close by.
French and I went and watched Woodbridge-Hylton last year. There was a bunch of talent on the field (Hand, E.J. Levenberry, Evrett Edwards, Chasz Wright, Travon McMillian...). It had a crazy finish, Woodbridge kicked a field goal to go up 15-14 with 50 seconds left. Hylton returned a squib kick to win is 20-15.
I know a bunch of you on the boards here go to games, it'd be pretty cool if we could share what we see during the season.
Most exciting ending to a high school game I have ever been privy to.
Levenberry is the truth. As good as Hand looked, Levenberry was the best player on the field that night. He has a nasty attitude.
Good sign
By the looks of it, Hand may be anxious to get the recruiting process over with which is definitely a point in our favor, as it won't give other schools (read Bama) time to sway him away from us. A spring game commit would be HUGE and would probably greatly influence the rest of our class.
Quin Blanding
According to Rivals, there's no interest or offer from VT to him. What's up there?
BCO mentioned it
the other day. Something about his handlers like UVA, he likes FSU. Just doesn't seem to be a Tech guy.
His high school is a pipeline for uva (Taquan 'I get drunk and kick cars' Mizzell also goes to Bayside High). For the fsu thing, maybe there's a connection there too because EJ Manuel was from the same high school.
Thanks fellas'! Turkey legs to ya both.
Three players in the top ten from the Commonwealth of Virginia and only one from Florida. This is the year where we see how good Shane and Stinespring really are.
Also, Elijah Hood checks in at number 12, and we know Shane is already in his ear. http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2013/january/31/2014-rb-elijah-hood. Not to mention David Cornwell (Loeffler kid from Oklahoma checks in at #63.)
Stephen Moss from Fredricksburg is a big fish that is a top 100 player as well, and I hope they have a shot at Damien Prince from Maryland (who Rivals indcates that Jeff Grimes is already in contact with.)
As good as 2013 potentially is, 2014 is the year where we learn if VT will become a true national power, remain a regional one, or fall back to the pack.
Ideal haul for me Land Hand,
Ideal haul for me
Land Hand, Holmes, Walker, Moss, Prince, Cornwell, and Hood to compliment Mihota and Williams. Then go trolling for linebackers. They need linebackers.
Without a doubt this would help our program immeasurably.
Don't Forget
Andrew Brown
I think he was going for realistic, which is why he skipped Quin Blanding too. We are considered a long shot to land Andrew Brown.
KENTAVIOUS STREET
we also seem like we are in the running for another 5 star defensive end. So many good signs going into next year
We need this kid...
...if for nothing more than his name. Can you imagine a line with Street, Teller, Hand, et al? Do you know how much fun we'd having giving the nicknames? Someone needs to tweet Shane and get him on this stat.
He wouldn't be able to respond for a year...
Not til signing day 2014