Expect the Hokies to have to re-recruit some of the 2016 verbal commitments.
Hampton High's JoVonn Quillen, one of #Hokies' 17 class of 2016 football commitments, uncertain regarding college decision after Beamer news— Norm Wood (@normwood) November 1, 2015
Hampton High's JoVonn Quillen on Beamer announcement [PART I]: "I didn't see it coming. It's a confusing situation." #Hokies— Norm Wood (@normwood) November 1, 2015
Quillen [PART II]: "I'll have to talk to my parents (regarding his college situation). I honestly don't know right now." #Hokies— Norm Wood (@normwood) November 1, 2015
In addition to the offer from the #Hokies, Quillen said he also has offers from Georgia Tech, Georgia, ODU and North Carolina State.— Norm Wood (@normwood) November 1, 2015
Quillen, who has been recruited by #Hokies as an athlete, said he doesn't have a timetable to make a decision on his college situation.— Norm Wood (@normwood) November 1, 2015
Quillen had previously said Virginia Tech was his dream school: http://www.thekeyplay.com/virginia-tech-football-recruiting/2015/02/8781....
Comments
We knew this was coming. That's why stability is going to be important. These recruits need to know who they are going to be playing for ASAP, whether it's an internal or external hire.
Whit is going to be a very, very busy man for the foreseeable future.
My question is how could he not see this coming? Writings been all over the wall and everything else.
Josh Jackson just basically said he thought there was no chance of this happening when he announced he was enrolling early.
I had a sneaking suspicion about the early enrollment thing being timed up with the #sources presuming that this would be the week where Frank announced.
We definitely will have some rework to do regarding recruiting.
With not a lot of time to do it.
A hell of a lot more than if the announcement came after the season, which is pretty typical. We've basically got a jump on everyone else on the coaching carousel except USCe, USCw and Miami. I'd say we're only really in competition with USCe in terms of candidates, and probably not with that much crossover. Get a timely, solid hire and we can retain the majority of our commits.
I agree with that but what is the earliest and latest a new coach will be named. Make a bowl game and it gets pushed back.
As long as we can leak info through he media we don't have to worry about the official announcement. People will know long before Whit makes it official.
Disagree. If there was a "best" or perfect time to do this, most everybody would do it that way. No matter when you do it, there are pluses and minuses (both with recruits and hiring a new coach) and they pretty much even out in the end.
And IMO VT is in competition with more than USC-E. There are reasons some people choose to work in Manhattan and pay $2,000 a month for 600 sf apt and someone else would choose to live in North Dakota. Every person has their priorities and what may seem important (or not important) to you or me might be meaningless (or critical) to an individual coach looking at jobs. Who would have thought that Arkansas AND Oregon State would be considered -- by anyone -- to be a better job than Wisconsin?
Maryland, UVA, Rutgers, Miami, USC-E (and probably a couple of others that we aren't even thinking about right now) all bring things to the table than VT doesn't. And vice versa. It depends upon what is important to someone.
VT is far from a slam dunk as the #2 or #3 job, let alone the #1 job, in the 2nd tier of available jobs.
All good points. Let me clarify. What I SHOULD have said is, "Amongst the names listed of USCe, USCw and Miami, I think USCe is the only one we will be competing with in terms of looking at the same candidates. I don't think we'll interview anyone that the Trojans will be looking at, and I think Miami will do what Miami always does and look for someone with ties to the university. Given how our opening stacks up against the Cocks, I think we will be in the driver's seat unless some X factor makes our preferred candidate prefer one of the third tier openings."
Obviously if Fuente really, really loves crabcakes, we might lose him to Maryland. But barring anything wonky like that, and just looking dispassionately at the openings on their own merit, I think we are in GREAT shape.
Maybe. If you look at the home cooked speculative lists for the other openings, you see several of the same names on most of them (particularly the hot young gun names). And if somebody decides to open their wallet, VT could easily be in direct competition with some schools that VT fans don't see as equals -- plus at least several of which we don't even know about yet.
My guess is that there have already been feeler discussions about the VT job, but not much more than this yet. I can't imagine somebody would commit to VT yet without seeing how all of the jobs shake out -- especially with all of the early movement this year -- unless they personally view VT as a slam dunk (and I don't see anyone with an emotional attachment to VT that would make this the case).
My other guess/prediction is the next VT coach will be someone who is currently not even on (or is barely on) fan's/sportswriter's radar. This is more often the case than not.
Archer always gets a leg
People choose to live in North Dakota? Sorry, I'm an oilfield guy and hate that place. Also, Williston and Dicksinson are as expensive as Manhattan.
We're only behind USCw in the coaching search. It's nice to hear that a lot of people view us as a destination job. Not actually what I was expecting, but definitely awesome to hear.
Pretty sure Josh's commitment will depend on whether Loeffler is retained.
No doubt.
I know the prevailing sentiment is new head coach equals new OC. We'll see what happens.
I am going to presume that the whole world of possible coaches is open to us, and when that coach comes in, they should absolutely have 100% power to remake the staff to their preference, regardless of what that means. I sincerely hope that Foster is retained and he can do with his staff whatever he wants on the defensive side of the ball, but, as you do, I think it'll be an overhaul to the offensive side of the ball.
Whatever the new coach needs to do, he should be empowered to do it. I just hope the new coach has plans to retain Foster & Co.
He has already signed his grant in aid paperwork. Doesn't that mean he is locked in?
Per VTGuitarman, grant in aid locks us into honoring the scholarship offer. He's not locked in until his first day of class.
Correct.
Beamer was not going to be here for the entire career of any current recruit, one way or the other. 70+ year old coaches are rare in sports for a reason. Not sure how no recruits could see it coming, even if Beamer was killing it this year.
I honestly don't think this will be a huge issue, especially once we announce who the next coach will be.
Not just Beamer. Almost every coach is potentially two years from being fired.
There's something like a ~60%-70% every 2016 recruit that spends 5 yrs in a power 5 program will play for more than one head coach.
If anyone can fail to understand just how old 70 is, it's an 18-year-old.
Let's be honest about this. it'll suck if we lose recruits over Beamer leaving, BUT The greater good is VT getting a good and maybe flashy hire to get this program back to what is was and take to even higher heights. It's also not like this kid is a 5* recruit, hope it stays with the good guys but if he leaves, we'll be ok.
As of right now according to Rivals the only other offer he has is from ODU.
But, but, but...I didn't think Frank recruited. /s
The next few years and who we hire will show at what level Frank recruited.
Changing the Top makes changes, we don't have to change the people but the people leading need to change the way of thinking
2013 Recruiting
Tech 21st
Tennessee 24th
2014 Recruiting
Tech 27th
Tennessee 7th
Tech Basketball
2013 63rd
2014 23rd
Basketball is currently in the 6th percentile of recruiting rank. Adjusted to the size of NCAA basketball teams down to FBS football that would be like Tech having a 7th or 8th ranked football class. the 2013 basketball class adjusted to football standards would rank 24th
Recruiting Points-wise we had 6 recruits each year but went from 30.46 to 46.1. A 66% increase in player recruited
Remember that Jim Weaver wanted to keep JJ after he steped down because he felt JJ was the best for the Job. And also the JJ was hired back, and fired the Head coach through an ESPN proxy, for his excellent recruiting results and that was EXCELLENT RECRUITING.
This is cherry picking stats. Tennessee has historically been a top 15 recruiting program. Being a top 15 recruiting program now after one or two down years is not improvement in the broader picture and is almost entirely related to program performance, not improved recruiting philosophy.
Second, comparing basketball recruiting to football recruiting is pointless. They're two entirely different animals. And using "percentile" of recruiting rank in basketball to football is totally misleading. There are 351 Div 1 basketball programs -- most of which aren't remotely recruiting in the same waters as VT, let alone Duke and Kansas.
But if you want to do so, a more accurate, i.e. less misleading, approach would be to compare the percentile of VT's football and basketball recruiting to other power 5 programs. If you do so, you'll likely find that football's historic recruiting performance over the last 15 yrs is in fact similar to )or slightly better than) basketball's ONE yr performance (and 3* signing isn't likely to bolster this yr's ranking).
Both sports are probably currently ranked a little above what you would expect for an athletic program with VT's resources.
Comparing Power 5 schools - Tennessee, Florida St, and Virginia Tech all peaked in football at the same time 1998-2001. Florida St has risen again with another national championship won, Tenn is on the way back. VT got so close they lost to Stanford in the Orange Bowl 40-12, 4 years ago.
Tennessee has historically been a top 15 recruiting program-with a non stop coaching changes until now that has had Tenn recruiting sliding. See the end of Tenn NFL Draft streak as proof to that
It's the change in coaching attitude that can be clearly shown
First, It's Kentucky and everyone else
2nd, if I say VT recruits a top 25 class in basketball and football you think they are on the same level. Because there are more schools in basketball, percentile is there to show the extreme difference.
Going back 15 years is pointless, 15 years ago Beamer had a nobody from rural TN become the best Center in the Country. In 2015 Nobody's don't exist that way anymore. Recruiting changed in 2008, and it has become more important.
VT's 2015 4 year recruiting rank is 29th, right above 30th UVA and right below 28th UNC. Far below Historic 16th Ole Miss and 10th aTm.
VT is recruiting the same players Wake Forest is recruiting. Our recruiting battles have been VT vs WF/UNC/ODU. My very point on the Josh Jackson excitement. We have dropped in what we look for and they are moving up.
I must have dreamed all those recruits that had FSU, Bama, anOSU, Clemson and VT as their finalists.
How many guys have decommitted from us for one of them? And the reverse? It's a little lopsided
That's not how I read what he implied, he was saying, and he can correct the record if he wants, that VT is recruiting the same players as ODU/WF and that is what the coaching staff is both ok and that is the best they can do. While ignoring the numerous members of the team who picks Tech over all these "top" programs. While recruiting can easily and should be better to ignore facts in front of us is a disservice to ourselves and the staff.
In brighter news, Denmark and Ladler said that they are solid to VT.
Our recruiting class will look way different on signing day, as the new coach will hopefully start to pull in some new guys.
Hire the right guy and this won't matter
Whit can now go out and start the replacement process. Good chance we'll know who the new guy will be before bowl season, whether we are in one or not. Plenty of time to round out a good class if we bring in the right guy.
Head Coach Bud Foster
Are the kids who signed their early enrollment paperwork last week contractually obligated to VT now? Wouldn't they have to request a release from their scholarship if they wanted to decommit? Seems like unfortunate timing for those 3-4 guys who signed.
No, they can back out at any time until they enroll. The grant-in-aid agreement locks the school in to giving the scholarship, it does not lock in the recruit to accepting it. Once enrolled, normal transfer rules would apply.
I hope we keep Deablo, Kumah, Patterson, and the others who have already signed grant papers. I bet Pride leaves for ND now that he has an excuse.
Come on kids! The man retired after 29 years of coaching football, it wasn't like he was fired. I know it is the Head Coach but this is still a good college program, good team, good talent, decent coaches, and we will def have a hire of a new HC before we are even close to signing day. Just wait and see what Whit comes up with.
He also has a deal that states he stays as special assistant to the athletic director for 8 years. Not like he'll be hard to find.
I agree with your statement but the chances of whit coming up with a man like frank is slim. the next guy maybe a great coach he maybe a lot of things but frank beamer he will not be and that could mean a lot to the kid. to play for and under a man like frank. If people feel they now need to open up their recruiting im okay with it. im hopeful that we do get a man that can bring some of the same things to the table to appeal to these people but like a lot are saying we will lose some and pick some up from here out. how the process is handled by whit and the coaches for the next 3 months is critical for the next class.
I sure hope we keep guys like Quillen, but man he had to have had SOME sort of idea it would happen soon. Let's hope we're still his dream school even without Frank.
Sorry but writing was on the wall with this. How could any of the kids be surprised. Its one the negative recruiting techniques that has been used against us for the last several years.
I think this will be a wash. We may lose some, but new coach could bring in replacements.
Yes, this. At worst, we'll go through one year of tumultuous recruiting, then get back on track
At worst. And probably at best too.
Small class this year in terms of numbers too
I am glad that Frank announced early. I hope we can announce the new coach soon after the regular season ends so that the recruits can have time to make a decision about if they want to play for the new coach. It is a major decision for these kids and all of the schools owe it to them to give them as much information as they can for them to make the best decision for them. I hope we can do that. If we lose recruits due to the coaching change, I will not blink an eye at it.
I don't want a head coach who is willing to leave his team before their bowl game. The only exception is if Lefty or Bud is made HC
Coaches leave their current position for their new school to begin things like putting staff in place and recruiting. no point in a coach staying at school A if he has work to do long term at his new school, B. Sometimes it looks like a coach is bailing on his guys, but really it's the difficult and right choice to move on quickly.
Whoever is chosen as head coach needs to be a dynamite recruiter, and have a good reputation as a coach.
If recruits hang on until the choice is made, then there's a chance of retaining them, or of bringing in some new recruits that like whoever is chosen.
https://twitter.com/hokie_haven/status/661219925344788481
Whit has contacted each commited recruit.
I feel sorry for the commenter named Grady.
Sanford and Son will ALWAYS get a leg!
I mean what? It's not he has the Internet or anything.........
Looking at the replies to this tweet was nothing but painful...
people are dumb
Seeing numerous Twitter accounts that say a lot of the commits are still committed to VT especially with Whit saying the next coach will be announced "soon" after the regular season is over.
Maybe if we hire Smart we can get Dashawn Hand to flip.