2016 Prospects Tavante Beckett, Patrick Kearns Cite Location, Coaching Staff in Tech Commitments

July 25 was quite the day for the Hokies on the recruiting trail.

Not only did the team get a chance to woo dozens of top rising seniors as part of a special cookout, but the staff also earned commitments from two of its top 2016 targets.

Both OT Patrick Kearns of Rome, Ga.'s Darlington School and LB Tavante Beckett of Chesapeake's Indian River HS took the plunge and committed on the big day.

Kearns says it was his comfort with both the campus atmosphere and Frank Beamer's staff that convinced him to pull the trigger.

"The thing about Virginia Tech was, I thought that was the place I'd like to go if I was just a student, and not only that, but they have a great program," Kearns said. "I think Coach Beamer is gonna be there a long time, through my playing days at Virginia Tech. I really like Coach Searels, he's a great coach, I think he'll be there a while too. It feels like home to me, and that's what made me seal the deal."

The Georgia product does concede that Tech's distance from his home made his parents a bit apprehensive about his choice, especially as he mulled offers from other schools like Georgia Tech and Kentucky, but the visit to campus ultimately changed their minds.

"My parents would've rather seen me stay closer to home, but I think when we got up there this past weekend, they really liked it a lot," Kearns said. "It's not like you have to fly or anything, it's driving distance for us, so that's good."

Kearns says he was confident about his decision after visiting Tech in June and considering his other options, but his parents pressed him to make one more trip to Blacksburg to be sure.

"I guess about a week prior to (committing), they were kind of my favorite," Kearns said. "But my parents wanted me to go up there one more time to see it, since it's such a big decision, just to make sure that was the place I wanted to be. It was everything I thought it was and more, so I pulled the trigger and committed."

After arriving on campus the day before the cookout, Kearns says it was his final tour of Tech's layout that reaffirmed that feeling.

"We just kind of drove around campus, just to see everything," Kearns said. "Saturday (the 25th), we went to the BBQ and hung out for a little bit, and then we went and talked to Coach Beamer in his office and, you know, and I felt ready to go. We talked a little bit and I just told him I wanted to be a Hokie and committed."

Kearns recalls the head Hokie getting "excited" about the news, and telling him "we'd really love to have you."

After making things final, he took some time to hang out with some current Hokies to pick their brains a bit.

"I got to hang out a little bit with Wyatt Teller and Augie Conte and we just talked about what life was like as a Hokie, and it was really great talking to them because they're two of the best linemen on the team, I think," Kearns said. "I ate lunch with them and I had a lot of fun."

Now he's hoping to return for a certain popular game in Blacksburg next season.

"I'm hoping to come up for the Ohio State game, maybe bring a buddy of mine, and maybe another game, but the only other visits I'm going to take will be to Virginia Tech," Kearns said. "I may take an official after the season, but that's all."

But for all his enthusiasm about the program, Kearns says he won't have the chance to join up in January as an early enrollee.

"I'd love to enroll early, but my school, being that it's a high academic institution, they won't allow us to enroll early, so that's not an option for me," Kearns said.

By contrast, Beckett says he's absolutely planning on enrolling early to get ahead of the curve both on the field and the classroom.

"I want to get ahead of the game school-wise, get a semester ahead of all the other freshman that are coming," Beckett said.

Beckett says "being close to home and the depth at my position" of middle linebacker drove his decision to commit. He was giving strong consideration to Wisconsin, but he's excited about the prospect of staying in-state.

"It means a lot, that's one thing that I really liked," Beckett said. "A lot of my family is in Northern Virginia, so for them to be able to come watch me play is great."

While Beckett has long considered Tech a favorite school, he knew the Hokies were the right fit after they made him feel perfectly at home when he headed to the cookout.

"There were a lot of people that I knew there, the coaching staff showed love, they knew about me and I felt comfortable," Beckett said.

After getting to spend time with current Hokies from the 757 like DeShawn McClease, Trevon Hill and Jaylen Bradshaw and taking a look at the team's "huge" new indoor facility, Beckett says he gave the staff the good news.

"I was in the office with Coach Beamer and Coach (Bryan) Stinespring, and I just told them that I was ready to commit," Beckett said. "They were really excited and happy, they told me they can't wait, and to keep the work up."

Beckett says the coaches have yet to determine whether he might be a better fit at backer or mike, but he's willing to be flexible when once he joins the program.

"They know how diverse I am, they know how I can play a bunch of things," Beckett said. "They know how I can play linebacker and I can cover, so wherever they need me to play, I'm willing to play."

Now Tech's staff is surely hoping Beckett can sway his teammates at Indian River to join him in Blacksburg, with an eye on 2017 ATH Devon Hunter and 2016 LB (and Alabama commit) Jaquan Yulee.

@JaquanYulee2 & @devonhunter11 Next !!! IR to VT — Tavante Beckett (@Tavante4) July 25, 2015

Yet he cautions that he won't press them to join the program if the interest isn't mutual.

"I don't want to try to tell anybody where to go, but if they're interested in the school highly, maybe," Beckett said. "I honestly think we can go all in up at Virginia Tech, but you never know. But they're definitely very interested."

Like Kearns, Beckett is planning to return to Tech several times before Signing Day, with a focus on the Labor Day matchup with the Buckeyes. Hunter says he's planning to attend with Yulee in tow, and Beckett hopes be on hand to offer his perspective both for that game and several others.

"I'm gonna be there a lot, I'll probably go to the Virginia Tech-Ohio State game," Beckett said. "You know, it's only five hours away, so I'll be at Tech. I can pick the one game and then drive up to all the other ones I want to go to."