3 Star WR Mark Irick to commit to Virginia Tech

By: jpcvt on July 12, 2011, 1:09 AM | 2 comments

As reported by Palmetto Sports, 3 star WR Mark Irick of Calhoun County will be committing to Virginia Tech later this week. Irick is choosing the Hokies over offers from Clemson, Georgia Tech, NC State, and Kentucky. The 6-4, 187lb rising senior had 37 catches last year for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns. Irick seems to be a wide receiver in the mold of Jarret Boykin and Justin Harper, the rangy, physical possession-type who, while not having elite burner speed, will win one-on-one battles for the ball and be an absolute load to bring down.

Irick will become the 20th recruit for the Hokie's 2012 class, which has exploded over the past two weeks. Kyle Tucker reported today that Director of Recruiting Jim Cavanaugh expects to land 25 recruits for this class, so one begins to wonder who is destined for a grey-shirt and who the coveted remaining spots are being held for. While Mike O'Cain is listed as the recruiter for Irick, I'm sure that Shame Beamer's South Carolina connections didn't hurt.

Kudos to Josh Parcell for breaking this story.

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Comments

Joe Lanza

PUBLISHER



| 15 years 6 hours #

Here's the only film I could

Here's the only film I could find.

Look at how well Irick turns around, locates the football, brushes off the defender and hauls it in. I'm all for more physical receivers. Welcome to Hokie Nation Mark!

Joe Lanza

PUBLISHER

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| 14 years 12 months #

It's Official

Calhoun County standout wide receiver Mark Irick committed to play for Virginia Tech shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Irick said that he let Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Mike O'Cain, an Orangeburg native, know of his decision via phone call. The decision came shortly after it was reported at thetandd.com that Irick would likely make his commitment Friday.

"(O'Cain) just said he was happy for me and my family," Irick said. "He said he looked forward to me being at Virginia Tech."

Irick said he chose Virginia Tech, in part, because the school offered an Engineering Major. He had offers from Georgia Tech and Kentucky. Also, Middle Tennessee offered and Calhoun County head coach Walt Wilson said LSU and N.C. State had begun to show interest.

"It was a school that I felt I can go to and be better as a person and an athlete," he said. "It's a fit. They say, first of all, I need to come in and work hard to get faster and stronger. That is my plan, to get faster and stronger. Maybe, I will enroll in January instead of going in August."

Because of his size (6-4, 187) and ability to go up and get the football, Irick has been touted as potentially the next big-time receiver to come out of Calhoun County following in the footsteps of South Carolina Gamecocks' star Alshon Jeffery and South Carolina signee Shamier Jeffery. That said, Wilson said Irick is still a work in progress.
"I will be honest with you, Mark has been a progression every year," he said. "He has been different every year and I plan for him to continue to take those steps. He has all the tools. He just has to put them together.

"I think he will be more of a possession receiver (on the next level," Wilson added. "he is that kind of receiver that can give you 15-20 yards ... until he gets faster. But, I know one thing, he can give you a Red Zone threat."

A T&D Elite 11 selection last season and a third-team All-Area pick, Irick, who had 38 receptions for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, now appears poised to take his abilities to Blacksburg.

"It's just the right time," Irick said. "And, the comparisons (to the Jefferys) are exciting. (Living up to those) is something I look forward to."