Tech's coaching staff is running a full court press to get prospects down to Blacksburg the weekend of July 25-26, and they're putting a special focus on recruits in the Virginia Beach area.
The weekend will provide the coaches the chance to hold workouts for some prospects, but it will also help them show off their camaraderie at a barbeque with all the recruits to wrap up their visits.
So far, the team has gotten a number of prominent prospects to commit to making the trip down, but two from the "757" will undoubtedly get plenty of attention on the trip.
2016 WR/S Phillip Patterson of Bayside HS and 2017 ATH Devon Hunter of Indian River HS will both be heading up to Blacksburg from the beach for the gathering, and area recruiters Bryan Stinespring and Zohn Burden will both be keen on showing them around campus and helping them get comfortable with the other coaches.
The visit could prove especially meaningful for Patterson, who's rated a 3-star recruit by the 247 Composite ranking. Not only has he named the Hokies among his top six final schools — along with Penn State, Duke, ODU, UNC and Wake Forest — but he's also set a decision date for August 1, immediately after his scheduled trip to Tech.
I am truly blessed to announce that I will be making my college commitment at Bayside High school on August 1st @ 1:00 in the Gym #BeThere— Phil Patterson (@og_patt) July 10, 2015
"I felt like I was getting closer relationships with all the coaches, and I didn't want to stall it out anymore," Patterson said. "I want to make my decision before the season, rather than still shuffling around to schools during the season."
While Patterson has had a chance to see most of the other schools in his top group, he has yet to visit Blacksburg. With his first visit to campus coming so soon before his scheduled decision date, he plans to try and take in everything about Tech in one fell swoop.
"I want to see the stadium and all the facilities, but I want to learn about more than just football, I want to see about their academics too," Patterson said.
Stinespring and Torrian Gray first took the lead in recruiting Patterson as a safety back when the team offered him in January, but recently it's been Burden leading the charge in getting Patterson to visit Tech.
"I make sure to talk to Coach Burden twice a week, at least, just to talk," Patterson said.
Patterson has had good reason to develop closer ties with the wide receivers coach in recent days. Although the Hokies initially offered him with the intention of playing him mainly at defensive back, Burden agreed to alter his offer this spring to include a shot at seeing time at wide receiver.
"At first they just wanted me as a DB, but then he said I had a chance to play both sides of the ball," Patterson said. "Now they're looking at me mainly as wide receiver, but I don't prefer one or the other."
With Burden established as Patterson's likely future position coach if he were to become a Hokie, he says he's looking forward to spending some quality time with him in late July.
"I know want to spend lots of time with Coach Burden when I'm there," Patterson said.
Patterson says he won't be working out at all when he heads to Tech, as he's still nursing a hamstring injury, but will mainly be aiming to take in the atmosphere on campus.
But Blacksburg won't be the only visit he makes ahead of his decision. He headed to Tennessee on Wednesday, with a trip to Georgia possible after that, and he says he hopes to see the rest of his top six schools before August 1.
"Hopefully I can get to UNC, Penn State, Duke and ODU coming up here," Patterson said.
Patterson says his top six schools all remain neck-and-neck at this point, but he hopes these upcoming trips will change that.
"It'll probably be that once I get on all these visits, I'll be ready to make my decision," Patterson said.
Like Patterson, Hunter is also planning on heading down for the weekend of July 25-26, even if the rising junior's decision is a bit farther off in the future.
But unlike Patterson, the trip won't be Hunter's first to Blacksburg.
Hunter, who's rated a 4-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite ranking, has camped with the Hokies for the last two seasons, stretching back to his days as an apprehensive rising freshman.
"I remember the first time I went down there as an eighth grader before starting high school," Hunter said. "I was just so nervous, and the coaches really calmed me down."
When he went back to Blacksburg last summer as a seasoned rising sophomore, Hunter officially got a scholarship pledge from the Hokies.
"When I got the offer, it was really special because it was one of my first," Hunter said. "They're definitely one of my favorite schools."
Hunter says he's gotten to meet with Frank Beamer on each of trips to camp, but it's been Stinespring that's been the constant in his recruitment.
"Coach Stinespring is the first one I met with the Hokies, he always just tells me to stay humble," Hunter said. "He's been there from the beginning."
But Stinespring's hardly the only one keeping tabs on Hunter. The team has been recruiting 2016 Indian River LBs Tavante Beckett and Jaquan Yulee (who's now an Alabama commit) for a while now, and stopped by the school this spring to see the pair and check in with Hunter at the same time.
"The whole defensive staff just came to my school, Coach (Bud) Foster, Coach Gray and Coach (Cornell) Brown, which was cool," Hunter said.
With coaches on the defensive side of the ball showing interest in Hunter so far, it seems the multi-talented rising senior would be bound to stick in the secondary if he picked Tech, but Hunter admits that nothing is set in stone just yet.
"I'm not sure where I'd be with them," Hunter said. "I know the defense wants me bad, but Coach (Aaron) Moorehead used to tell me when he was there that the offense wanted me, so we'll see."
Hunter says that uncertainty isn't unusual among the schools that have offered him.
"Lots of schools have offered me as DB, but some have been on offense, some want me to do both," Hunter said.
Hunter plays all over the field for Indian River, starting at both wide receiver and safety, but he says he's not confined to any one position.
"They just try to put me in spots where I can make plays," Hunter said. "I like having the ball in my hands. And on defense, I'm a competitor, I like lining up against the best player on the field, or even playing some linebacker."
This season was Hunter's first playing both wide receiver and safety, and he says his performance this coming year could change his future at the next level.
"I'll probably end up on defense, but it depends on this year," Hunter said. "If I have a really big year at wide receiver, that could change."
No matter where he ends up playing, there are dozens of schools interest in earning Hunter's commitment. He says he has "no favorite right now," but he is "interested in lots of schools," including Clemson, UVA, Maryland, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Miami and Florida State in addition to Tech.
In addition to his visit to Tech this month, Hunter says he's also wants to get to Florida, Florida State and Miami in July, with trips to Penn State and Georgia possible later this summer.
Hunter is also fresh off his second visit to Tuscaloosa, meeting with Nick Saban and the rest of the Crimson Tide back in June.
#ROLLTIDE pic.twitter.com/1xemYzf4Sp— Devon Hunter (@devonhunter11) June 13, 2015
"I went down there with my teammate Jaquan Yulee, just getting to meet the staff and working with the coaches, it was great," Hunter said.
But while Yulee might be one voice in Hunter's ear selling stock in Bama, a pair of Tech's 2015 signees are keeping on him about the virtues of VT.
"I'm friends with DeShawn McClease and Trevon Hill, I work out with them, and they tell me about how it is down there all the time," Hunter said.
Those overtures, combined with plenty of attention from the coaching staff, have Hunter eagerly anticipating his visit later this month.
"The coaches tell me all the time how much they want me on campus, so it should be a great experience," Hunter said.
Comments
Devon Hunter to DBU, yes please!
GO Bayside!
Is that jimmy Fallon?
Yes sir
a WR who can also play safety? I'd like to see him lay someone out while picking up yards after a catch.
Both guys look really strong, time to bring out the Hardees coupons!
Am i the only one who tends to write people off when i see the "elite" schools on a recruits offer list? Feel like any time theres a good sec school or @$!# fl state you can count on them not commiting to tech.
odds are pretty low on a guy like hunter, but if we don't offer there is no shot. hopefully being on him so long and having a good reputation with DBs will make a big difference. I think it kind of depends on what positions we are talking about with the elite guys too.
Yup the odds are low but doesn't mean it can't happen. Just that we shouldn't expect it to happen. Alabama, FSU and such are definitely more likely to get a recruit over us but snagging one every now and then makes the effort worthwhile
Recruits who had offers from SEC teams or FSU/Clemson who chose VT since 2012 class: Joel Caleb, JC Coleman (Vandy), Trey Edmunds, Ken Ekanem (Vandy), Drew Harris (ugh), Mark Irick, Jarontay Jones, Chris Mangus, Donaldven Manning, Donovan Riley(Vandy), Davion Tookes, Devin Vandyke, Kyle Chung, Brandon Facyson, Holland Fisher, Kendall Fuller, Bucky Hodges, Carlis Parker(Vandy), Daniel Reid, Wyatt Teller, Isaiah Ford, Kendrick Holland, Shai McKenzie, Travon McMillian, Vincent Mihota, Raymon Minor, C.J. Reavis, Ricky Walker, Marshawn Williams, Jahque Alleyne, Mike Arnold, Austin Clark, Chris Cunningham, Tremaine Edmunds, Darius Fullwood, Trevon Hill, Duwayne Johnson, Dwayne Lawson, Mook Reynolds, Tim Settle, Adonis Williamson.
To be fair he did say good SEC schools and Vandy wouldn't be on that list. Think he's talking about the Alabama/Auburn/LSU types.
Ok take out 4 players.
This is probably another rabbit hole that we shouldn't go down...again... The truth is the recruiting is something with little sense or logic involved because the things these 17/18 year old kids want varies so much. Some want to be with friends, some prefer to be close to home, others want to be set up for a future in the NFL, and there are some that just want a degree and football is how they will pay for it. That's why it's not worth it to get upset regardless of what school a kid picks, because all they are doing is taking the route that they think will give them what they are looking for.
A lot more than 4 kids on that list didn't have offers from the schools he's talking about.
Ya thats an impressive list. I wasnt trying to be the negative nelly i have just noticed that when theyve got that long list of offers we tend to get burned. Im all for still offering to the big talent obviously as theres no other way to get it. I just try not to get my hopes up as my spirit only has so much it can take from losses during the football season without additional "losses" regarding recruiting. I have no idea how the coaches who put their time,sweat,blood,tears into these kids bounce back from being rejected. My hats off to them!
McRitch may have exaggerated when he said counting them out all together, but this list is meaningless without the context of how many recruits we don't get. Its not that we cant ever get any, its that if a recruit has 4 offers of us alabama, fsu and clemson, no one in their right mind would say we have a 25% shot
I was going to say. Pretty every good player is going to have offers from the majority of the good schools. What would really be interesting to find out is how many of those dudes were top targets for SEC schools, because some can be fall back guys if their top targets commit elsewhere.
You would expect to get a little better than 1 out of 5 instate prospects who put you in their top 5, and do little worse than that out of state, for an average of 1 out of 5 top prospects who put you in there top 5. Thats why there is a top five. That 4 misses for every hit, which seems like a lot when you miss, but are the odds, and when we get those numbers we are competing evenly with the "elite" schools. We don't get into as many top fives as Bama or FSU, especially out of state, which keeps us from getting the overall talent, and will only be corrected by getting into the playoff picture regularly, but it seems like we do get our share of those who do put us in the top five. 1 out of 5.
and so far this year the top 10 VA recruits will be heading out of state.. We're getting beat by Duke, UNC and I can deal with the SEC/Ohio State schools. But Duke really... they have had 2 good seasons and the recent ACC title game. It's been 4 years since VT was in the ACC title game and that's not a pretty stat, which also could be why we're missing top recruits.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. We really don't have room to be losing recruits to Duke. Alabama, FSU, Clemson, Ohio State, and probably now Penn State are more than enough.
It's really upsetting how there is no question that kids in Alabama, Florida, and Ohio are locks to stay in state. Why can't we have that here?
Really I can point to several Ohio kids and Florida kids on the roster. As for other teams hitting Florida ( which has what 5 FBS teams) plenty of talent leaves. No state is locked down and won't be locked anymore recruiting doesn't work that way anymore.
Edit: 3 kids from Ohio and 6 from FL.
We've lost plenty of kids to other schools, including TTUN. Some kids grow up dreaming of playing for Ohio State which helps in recruiting, and winning is big as well; but a 17 year old kid makes decisions based on often unfathomable reasons. Personally, what I think is key is getting 50% of the top guys but finding the 3* talent that can be developed into great college players.
The kids in Alabama (to a lesser extent), Florida and Ohio are not locks to stay in state. Just take a look at the rosters of Michigan, Mich. St, Notre Dame, Pitt, Kentucky, WVU and a few others if you think Ohio kids stay in state. And you can look at almost any roster in the eastern half of the US and find Florida kids.
really like all the comments above after mine, they're all very true..
The only glaring thing I see is that if a 5* in state player doesn't stay in state the schools like FSU, Duke,Oh State, ect ect have 0 problems getting out of state 5* kids.
VT has been struggling with the top recruits lately for multiple issues, but all it takes is a 10 win ACC title game season to get up on the up&up. I have a ton of confidence that we will get back to Charlotte this year!
Not sure that is "all it takes". We had that in the past and never did well with those type of players.
How great is it that there's High Definition footage of high school recruiting tapes now. Makes it much easier to see the little moves and things they do that make them stand out.
It's apparently the new thing to do in football recruiting. I think Auburn may have been first and several teams are following suit.
Yeah, I just wanted to get in a jab at UT.
Ol' Bruce got crucified for having recruits over to his house for hot dogs, and now it's completely legal. Sucks for UT that they changed the rule right after they lost a really good basketball coach but sorry, not sorry.
Yeah, I got it. Gave you a leg... Here, have another.
EDIT: meant to reply to GoKart... fail
I'm sorry if this strikes people in the wrong way but, Virginia isn't the end all for football talent.
I have been chanting this for years but Virginia Tech will not be a national contender with out expanding their recruiting reach. I am from NJ and I was recruited quite heavily for my sport but I liked the idea of trying something new and not staying home. Don't get me wrong, Rutgers, and where I am from are basically two different states. In my mind it was still NJ though. Sort of like Blacksburg & NOVA.
It seems as though we are trying are best to obtain the mid atlantic and eastern southern states, with little regard for anything else. I know expanding beyond this region costs more, creates less likely rewards but if you don't win on the main recruit you at least make inroads for the future such as the Florida recruits(Brandon flowers - jayron hosely). I think the staff needs to get out of their comfort zone and start to take chances. I am firm believer in the "no risk no reward" mantra.
If Mike Vick, wasn't from VA, where would VT be in regards to national standing today? I am guessing no where near what it is today.
While i don't completely disagree with what you are saying, Michael Vick would also be a prime example of why we should continue to focus primarily on in-state talent. If the coaching staff had said "Oh, we missed out on Ronald Curry, we better look out of state for a QB prospect" chances are good that that national standing would also not exist. I do agree that there should be an open mindedness about recruiting on a broader scale, but I think the staff has done a pretty fair job of that too. The players you named from Florida, plus players like Facyson and Bonner (Georgia), Darren Evans (Indiana), Durkin (Ohio), Malleck (NJ) and others show a willingness to look outside the normal circles. Still Virginia is a very fertile recruiting ground, the fact that the Alabamas and OSUs are coming here proves that. In state recruiting is crucial as a power base if nothing else.
Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I also think there is a "set amount" for recruiting in the budget. My suspicion is that VT cannot afford to chase marginal prospects that require multiple plane rides just to find out they are going to another school. I can only imagine the frustration at the cost and travel time to recruit players like Adonis Williamson or Eric Whitehead when they are unable to get on campus. It is resources you could have spent elsewhere, visiting more prospects closer to home.
Also makes it doubly important that Adonis and Eric eventually make it to Tech however winding their path may be.
social Media has changed the landscape since the Vick recruiting days. Out of State schools feel closer because of it. I firmly believe that our on field product will help us with the top 10 in the state of VA once our offense gets their shit together. The next step is coaching stability.....can type...no more!
AGR...are you a Brother?