2016 OT Thomas Jarrett Hopple Surprises Staff, Becomes Hokies' First Spring Commitment

Offensive tackle Thomas Jarrett Hopple of Suffolk's Nansemond River HS has only made two visits to Blacksburg, but saw fit to verbally commit on his second trip to see the Hokies. Clearly, the team made a quick impression.

"I was just more comfortable and at home there than the other schools," Hopple said. "I like the area and the people there. Plus it's in-state, still pretty close to my family."

After stopping by for the program's Junior Day event on February 7, Hopple made his second trip this weekend to watch one of Tech's first spring practices on Saturday. Once he was there, he surprised the coaching staff with some good news.

"I was with Coach (Bryan) Stinespring and Coach (Stacy) Searels when I told them," Hopple said. "They were so excited, they took me right over to Coach Beamer's office after that so we could meet with him."

Given the team's dearth of depth at offensive tackle, it's no surprise that Searels was so excited. The Hokies currently struggle to fill out a two-deep at tackle this spring, but Hopple's pledge goes a long way towards changing that.

"They said they need tackles right now, they don't have depth," Hopple said. "Plus a lot of their starting guys will be juniors or seniors by the time I'm there."

But playing time is just one part of the equation for Hopple; he's hoping to major in engineering, and saw Tech's potential to help him develop both on and off the field.

"I wanted to go some place where they needed me, but I also wanted somewhere with good academics," Hopple said.

Hopple, rated a 3-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite ranking, had plenty of other schools to consider before he made his choice. Virginia, West Virginia and Pittsburgh had all extended him offers.

Yet as recently as a few months ago, Hopple might not have had the luxury of being picky. But after a well-timed growth spurt, suddenly coaches were constantly pestering Nasemond River coach David Cocolli about speaking with Hopple.

"Coach Stinespring had definitely been keeping an eye on him before, but things really took off for him around November," Cocolli said. "He just added 30 pounds during the season, he just ballooned up and people started getting interested."

After the sudden weight gain, Hopple stood at 6'6", 285 pounds, a frame that convinced the Hokies to offer him back in December.

But Cocolli notes that it wasn't just Hopple's current frame that drew Tech's interest: it was his potential to grow.

"He's going to continue to grow, he's not a finished product," Coccoli said. "He's got room for more weight."

Hopple currently plays left tackle for Nansemond River, and Coccoli thinks that even once he spends some quality time with Mike Gentry and adds those extra pounds, he should have the athleticism to stay on the blind side if the coaches need him there.

Cocolli notes that he could stand a little polishing on his footwork, but he has some qualities that make those failings trivial in comparison.

"He's one of the strongest players I've ever coached," Cocolli said. "And his work ethic is second to none."

Those attributes have the staff itching to get him back on campus as soon as possible. Even though Hopple just visited, the team is already hoping he'll return for the spring game at the end of April.

"They want me back this spring, but they're not forcing it," Hopple said. "I just have to talk to my parents about it."

Given Tech's depth concerns on the line, it'd be understandable for the coaches to be heavy handed in their overtures to get Hopple enrolled early. While he says he is considering the option, it's hardly a done deal.

"I want to talk with my counselors still and see if it's possible before I decide," Hopple said.

But while that decision should occupy plenty of his time, he says he's largely glad he didn't wait to take the plunge and become a Hokie.

"It's really cleared my mind, now I can focus on us having a winning season," Hopple said.