2016 WR Tino Ellis, DE Zack Gilbert Name Hokies in Top Groups, Plan July Blacksburg Visits

It may only be July, but some of the top prospects in the 2016 class are already narrowing their lists of suitors.

A pair of Tech's most hotly pursued out of state prospects, WR Tino Ellis of Hyattsville, Md.'s DeMatha Catholic HS and DE Zack Gilbert of Charlotte's South Mecklenburg HS, have culled their extensive offer lists in recent weeks, and the Hokies were lucky enough to make the cut in both cases.

Now Tech's staff is working to get both prospects back to campus sometime this month to seal the deal.

Ellis has long considered Tech among his favorite schools, so it was hardly a surprise to see the Hokies on the list of top six schools he tweeted out this weekend.

I have narrowed my list down to 6 schools in no order.........Decision Date July 31st #Final6 pic.twitter.com/ILdOHkGqob— Tino Ellis (@IamTinoEllis) July 4, 2015

The rising senior says he plans to visit Tech, Rutgers and West Virginia this month, while his parents recently took the short trip over to Maryland's campus without him in tow.

But despite these plans, Ellis created a stir on Twitter when he revealed that he's already picked out a college he wants to attend.

Tbh I know my decision — Tino Ellis (@IamTinoEllis) June 21, 2015

Ellis says that bit of social media reflection is still accurate, and he feels his mind is already mostly made up.

"I kind of fell for one school, so I'm just keeping one school in mind right now," Ellis said. "I haven't told many people, I'm keeping it in the dark for now."

But whether that school he has in mind is Tech or not, Ellis says he's still looking forward to taking another trip to Blacksburg.

"I'll probably go sometime in the first couple weeks of July," Ellis said. "I just want to see the new indoor facility, how it looks, and get another tour of campus."

Ellis says WR coach Zohn Burden and OC Scot Loeffler talk with him constantly about the Hokies, but they're not the only ones doing so.

"I just talked with (2016 WR commit Eric) Kumah, he told me he wants to play with me over there," Ellis said. "My old teammate (sophomore WR) Cam Phillips, he stays in my ear, (senior CB) Donovan Riley is my cousin, so I hear from him a lot too. There's lot of guys trying to get me there."

Despite those overtures, Ellis says he hasn't changed his mind about announcing his college choice in late July, most likely with a ceremony at his school.

But even once he lets the rest of the world in on his decision, Ellis says he "still would be open" for taking officials once the season gets started.

Gilbert has a less rigid timetable for making a decision.

He stresses he's open to opportunities from each one of the schools in his new top five, and even would welcome other suitors should they offer.

Wanted to thank God for the opportunity that these colleges are giving.
Here are my Top5.
#RealSouth #Exit4 pic.twitter.com/OwKSMCyhbB— Zacchaeus Gilbert (@ZackAttack_715) June 22, 2015

But first and foremost, he'd like to get down for another trip to Virginia Tech. He last saw campus for a Junior Day back in February and was planning on returning the weekend of June 20, but a "ride situation" kept him at home.

Now he's targeting a July 25 return date to spend some time with other recruits that will be in town for a team event that day, giving him "a chance to hang out" with the prospects and the coaching staff alike.

Gilbert says he's eagerly awaiting that chance, given his interest in the program.

"They play superb defense, their defensive coordinator is the best in the country, and they led the ACC in sacks last year, which is right up my alley," Gilbert said. "They've shown a lot of interest in me from the start, and they're good at both football and academics."

But for all the superlatives he's willing to offer the Hokies, Gilbert says the other programs on his list made the cut for a reason.

In particular, he has deep family ties to the Pitt Panthers. Not only is he the cousin of famous alum Darrelle Revis, but his father played college ball there before heading to the pros.

"That family really runs deep there," Gilbert said. "My dad graduated there and went on to a good NFL career. When we walked through campus together, he could point out all this stuff he remembered. Plus they're a really good business school, which definitely interests me."

Despite the familial connection he feels to that program, Gilbert admits the allure of staying in-state is a powerful one, and UNC offers plenty of positives.

"Their staff is kind of new, and they're really up and coming," Gilbert said. "I like their new defensive coordinator (Gene Chizik) since he used to be the coach at Auburn, and lots of my boys are committed there. Chapel Hill was the first school to offer me and I've been there many times."

Yet the other program just a few miles away also qualified for Gilbert's top bunch. He says the allure of Duke's academics would be tough to ignore.

"They're the best in the country at all these different things, so if I were to commit there, it would be for the education," Gilbert said. "My cousin (Fayetteville, N.C. CB) Mark Gilbert just committed there and we have a lot of similar interests, and he tells me how great it is there all the time. Football there is really on the come-up and it would be nice to stay in-state."

But for all his focus on academics, Gilbert admits that the football acumen and personality of West Virginia's coaching staff has also helped win him over.

"I really like what their staff is about, they're really bright guys," Gilbert said. "They talk with me about life after football, and they're up front with things, they won't keep talking to you if you're not interested, which is different. Plus my cousin (sophomore safety) Dravon Henry goes there and tells me about what it's like there."

But Hokies fans shouldn't worry about getting crowded out by all the other voices in Gilbert's ear. Early-enrolled freshman Adonis Alexander played against Gilbert when the two were both in Charlotte, and he's keeping the pressure on about Tech and some of its attractive new features.

"Adonis sends me pictures of their new facility all the time, it looks amazing," Gilbert said. "I can't want to see it."

Gilbert says he's unsure exactly when he'll make a choice between the five top contenders for his services, but he notes that trip to Tech could play a role in when he pulls the trigger.

"That visit could mean a lot, it could make me decide to hold off on my commitment, or even move it up," Gilbert said.