so I know it was hotly debated in other threads whether or not he is a good recruiter. But he is a hot coach right now and strong on Offense. We keep Bud, so we have that going on defense.
Many speculated that this recruiting class could go down and get ugly, but I would think Fuente coming in a and Bud sticking around keeps us where we are or possibly better.
Thoughts on existing recruits staying?
Thoughts on whether or not we pick up some uncommitted or others that may have been out of our reach previously?
I know it's early, but I think his name and Bud being released have to help out.
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Patrick Jones II (DE) makes his decision next week and that should tell us something. Nick Coe (DE) committed to Auburn today.
For what it is worth, Nick Coe didn't impress me much on film.
Id love to see recruit reactions on Twitter (I'm not on Twitter)
Who knows the answers at this point, but keeping Foster likely will keep most of defensive recruits . As to Fuente time will tell . Announcing the hire this early will give Fuente some recruiting time before signing date.
Josh Jackson just retweeted this out:
Keeping Jackson is crucial, I hope he watches a few Memphis game tapes soon
I love that whoever runs that twitter account basically tweeted this for recruiting purposes
That twitter handle does that pretty frequently. They are always tweeting at recruits.
I know Denmark and Kumah have said they were staying committed regardless but Deablo hopefully will stay now. Those 3 will all be early enrollees with plenty of time to learn the new scheme like all the current players and definitely opportunity for early playing time! I feel like Reggie Floyd and Khalil Ladler will be huge for the safety and cornerback spots so I am glad about Bud staying. GO HOKIES!!!
Evan Watkins on 247 has confirmed Jackson is on board, along with a few others.
Jackson staying is HUGE!
regardless of what happens with Loeffler?
If Fuente can improve on recruiting even slightly, I think this program will rebound really quickly.
I agree, and it won't surprise me if there is some improvement.
If for no other reason, the relative certainty that he'll be here a few years.
Yeah. Basically our defense will be staying the same and we will be scoring 10 more points a game. That's a basic formula for success.
The big concern for 2016 is QB development. That's Fuente's specialty but it's our biggest weakness next year. I wouldn't mind a graduate transfer.
Nah, I don't think a transfer is necessary. If Fuente took Lynch, a 2* out of high school, and turned him into a QB that is capable of throwing 7 TDs in one half, imagine what he can do with a player like Lawson. Not to mention the rest of the talent we have on offense. I'm grinning just thinking about it.
Lawson's got a new baby in south Florida and has been seen moping on the sidelines for almost two months now. I would not count on his presence next year.
Doesn't really matter, in my book. Jackson is just as capable.
Jackson will be a true freshman next year. I agree, long term, he's projects to be about the same as Lawson. But tough to count on him for much in 2016.
Glad to have Fuente on board to groom the next QB.....whoever it is.
Agree with regard to production, but wouldn't be surprised to see him start. Fuente started Lynch as a freshman despite concerns from their fans. Ended up paying off.
Good point. But VT has more at stake than Memphis at that time.
I think I'm the only Hokie rooting for Motley in 2016. I think he's got the tools to succeed. Didn't think Loeffler utilized him well at all.
Fair point. I don't know who should start because his offensive scheme is so different. All I know is it is exciting.
100% agree.
I think Motley will start too. The wildcard is Fuente's presence and the potential impact on Lawson and/or Durkin. I still think Durkin had a chance to contribute this season and has the ability to be very good at the position.
So he transfers to sit on the sideline another year??
Yeah, that's what transfers do.
What I'm saying is where is the advantage for him then?
Moving closer to home may be a motivator, even if he's not playing.
Darren Evans had a kid in Indiana...
Lawson retweeted this a couple of hours ago:
Awesome. You guys covering twitter rock with the 411!
I'd love to get Ellis with this group.
I think the thought of the starting job being his to lose and having the chance to play under one of the best young, offensive minds in the game is more than enough to convince him to stay. But, if not maybe Fuente can do something with Motley. After all, Motley has shown he's at least a serviceable starter if not above average.
He knows that he is going to have to beat out Motley for the job. Those are some good odds I think, if he is going to throw in the towel for that competition, I don't think he would make a good QB anyways.
Somewhat related... but why the hell did we burn Lawson's redshirt this year?
I think a big part of that is why we are hiring a new coach
It seems clear at this point that it was a condition of his offer. These types of things happen all the time.
Great question.
It sure didn't go the way I thought it was going to go.
I just assumed they had a plan. Silly me.
I think Motley played a lot better than the coaches thought he would, was he great? No... He made his mistake that drove us crazy but he also did a lot of thing good that we didn't expect. So to answer you question, I think the coaches thought they were going to have to play Lawson later in the season, but Motley played better than anticipated and then Brewer came back from injury.
Me personally, I would have liked to see him get more PT than he really did since the redshirt was burned during the OSU game, but it is what it is. I think it's his job to lose next year IMO
With as much as everyone is saying Fuente will develop Lawson, I think he could also make Motley into a damn good QB too. I'm interested to see how it'll all play out. I'd assume maybe seeing them split play time during the Spring game..
I'm sure he could develop motley into a better QB but Lawson has so much more potential to be a better QB
I think this is probably why he went with Paxton Lynch his RS Freshman year instead of the previous year's starter at Memphis. They went 3-9 that year, but next two were 10-2 and 9-3 so it paid off in the long run.
I recall a ton of folks screaming at me when I said it was silly to not redshirt him. Hindsight is 20/20, but...
I had the same skepticism thrown my way when I predicted Ford as 1000 yard receiver in the preseason
excuse me for a moment...
wait...did Ford eclipse 1000 yards? I knew he hit 10 TDs on the season but I wasn't aware he broke the 1000 yard mark.
He did not. Currently at 937, so with a below-average bowl game he would hit 1k.
So early celebration by Fernley then
Premature celebration. It's a real problem.
pfft... It's called confidence.
Saw a 4* LB out of VA verbaled to Penn State, however he's 2017 class so plenty of time to pull him back. Forget his name though.
Let's see who is coaching PSU by then, Franklin is underachieving I think and the beating last night from MSU was a low point. Two wins against teams at .500 or better this year is a bad look for PSU, add in the fact Hackenburg might leave and I'm not seeing PSU get better under him.
The PSU folks love his recruiting, but the team is still suffering from the fact that they can't replace their entire sanction-induced roster in one class (lots of their most experienced players are walk-on-caliber guys who have now seen three different coaching staffs).
Hack was never well suited to running the Franklin offense, so expect the next signal caller to be better suited to delivering on what Franklin wants to do on offense, but given how bad the offense, particularly the line, has been (see the above parenthetic regarding walk-ons), they're finally going to be hitting the rebuilding ground in earnest next season.
But they have a lot of catching up to do. With Mich St and OSU being very good, and Harbaugh bringing Michigan back, as well as all the momentum those three schools have, it'll be rolling a boulder uphill for Franklin the next few years. If Franklin were to go, I'm not exactly sure what PSU would expect out of the next head coach, given the circumstances.
Former players not happy.
http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football-news/4662299-penn-state-michig...
Well of course they weren't happy with what they were watching, they lost by 39. None of them point out what it is they are so unhappy about, besides being pummeled by one of the best teams in the country
Their problems have been on offense and they just fired their OC. Defense has been great since he got there. Time will tell on the new OC hire
I think Hack is as good as gone
Dylan Rivers. Stated the reason for committing to PSU was Beamer's retirement. With Bud staying (he has stated before how much he loves Bud) and revamped recruiting staff I get the feeling his recruitment is far from over.
Dylan Rivers
https://rivals.yahoo.com/virginiatech/football/recruiting/player-Dylan-R...
No relation to Barquell
6'3"/220 LB, still 16/17 years of age...fully cultivated tough guy look...
Like
I'm from his local area and by all accounts the dude is a stud and pretty good guy. I thought he was a must have and while he really likes Penn state I think the uncertainty is what made him commit. Don't think he's a fersure commit at all
Next year Devon Hunter, Khalan Laborn, Eric Crosby, Tajh Capehart, Darnell Ewell, Tyjuan Garbutt, Luiji Vilain, Yetur Matos, Breyon Gaddy those are all names that will tell us if our recruiting has improved or not along with flipping Dylan Rivers.
Luiji Vilain across from Divine Deablo...
I understand that Vilain is a DE. But that would make our defense villainous and our offense diabolical.
Names sure are getting strange these days, huh?
I know, right? Who names there kid Eric?
Reads names...
via GIPHY
I have to believe if u are a offensive recruit. Va tech has to be looking pretty sweet right now......
Most of the top 10 recruits in the state of Va this year are defensive recruits.
Might help on that front as well.
Optimism for the future is a wonderful thing.
Even better you get to play in Foster's defense with a lead!
Especially when you're trying to win the game on points (the only way you can win) and not on field position.
Interesting concept...
I think this is huge. A lot of other threads are trying to show Buds defense is down. To me, offense plays into that. When we have a strong lead, bud runs a more aggressive get at em defense, really releasing the hounds. But when we are down or have a shaky lead, I feel like he plays a bit more conservative.
The other is on the exhaustive front. It takes a lot out of a defense mentally and physically when your offense is lethargic. You are on the field more and their isn't a spark. Remember offense is exciting, for the defensive players too. If the offense is blowing it up, the defense gets pumped and hungry, not to mention, they have more fun.
I think defensive recruits will definitely see a better offense as a plus, and now you still get Bud. Win win in my book.
Exactly. The defense can't go full speed ahead if they are on the field for 49 min. If you can't depend on the offense to at least drive the field and give the defense a rest then they get tired easily. Especially without sure backups at critical positions.
The DB recruits - Pride, Wolfolk, Ladler are waiting to see if TG comes back.
Rivers said he loved PSU campus and everything about it. Had nothing to do with Frank retiring.
Will be a near impossible flip. Unless Franklin goes.
Rivers is all about foster. Now that he is coming back for sure, I like our odds to make a push for rivers
I'm hoping they stay.
I'm partial to Troy Pride-he would represent for his state and Greer H. S. very well next year in Blacksburg.
Pride was trending towards ND before the announcement
CB Myles Wolfolk just flipped to UNC today, per 24/7.
I'm assuming he was going to do that regardless of who was named HC. Bud is still here which means Torrian will most likely be back.
Hoping that's true. Very odd to see a CB drop if the defensive staff is being kept in place. If Wolfolk was only coming to VT because of Beamer, I would have thought he'd have flipped a long time ago. Makes me a bit uneasy.
Yea I think losing TG would be the worst thing other than losing Bud (which isn't happening) with the coaching change.
It is a little unnerving. But I'm just going to assume that with no announcements regarding Torrian he wanted the sure thing so he flipped to UNC. I think it would be odd for Bud to stay and Torrian to be gone. I would imagine Bud will have the freedom to pick his position coaches.
Ah, that's too bad. He'll see Isaiah Ford next year, then, in an offense that is #EnFuente. Good luck, son.
He must realee valu his ejumacshun!!
There's been a lot of talk about whether Fuente helps us with the recruits currently in play - the lack of uncertainty, his track record, etc.
One thing I haven't seen discussed: are we now better positioned for an easier road, long term? It seems like the 757 continually produces a boatload of ridiculous skill-position athletes. Our commonwealth doesn't produce a lot of Big-10 style OLine. With Fuente's offensive scheme, are we now likely to both better recruit and better use the talent in Virginia?
This is what I was hoping to hear more about on this thread as well.
How strong has Fuente established himself, recruiting-wise, in Tennessee? I hope we can have a presence there from now on.
If there's anymore Corey Moore's in TN, that would be nice.
Any tweets or responses from current commits or possible recruits? Love the hire with Bud staying on board.
If we get Mike Locksley from Maryland, then you can probably get Tino Ellis' locker ready. Possibly Haskins as well. He would be a HUGE pickup, great recruiter.
Has he officially been let go yet? What would Fuente bring him on as? QB or RB coOC?
Locksley just seems so slimy.
Exactly.....hes a good recruiter because he does some very questionable things. I don't see him in Blacksburg.
Relevant:
I sort of doubt he'll end up as OC at VT. I fully expect Fuente to bring Darrell Dickey with him.
I posted this on another thread, but it s worth noting here......
coachingsearch.com is reporting:
"Virginia Tech: Memphis wide receivers coach Holman Wiggins and tight ends coach / special teams coordinator James Shibest will follow Justin Fuente to Virginia Tech, according to Rivals.com's Memphis site."
Interesting from Memphis site:
Coach Wiggins is a former RB, RB coach.
Coach Wiggins bio
Coach Shibest was the TE/Special teams coach for Memphis.
Coach Shibest bio
First line of Wiggins' bio. I'm not a grammar/writing Nazi but good god
Yoda may have been the editor on that one
Shibest looks like a terrific ST coach, based on his bio. Either that or he was just lucky to have great punters and kickers at each school where he coached (basically Arkansas, Ole Miss and Memphis). You also gotta like his kick and punt return defensive stats.
I'll be curious to see if having Fuente at the helm can sway Dexter Lawrence from the likes of Clemson et al.
My alma mater Wake Forest HS has become a powerhouse in the state in recent years (Bryce Love at Stanford is also a WF grad). Getting a guy like Lawrence could create a much-needed pipeline to Blacksburg.
Looking at some of the links fernleyhokie posted at http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2015/november/29/cant-wait-analasys-fuentes-offense-one-you-gurus
Its important that we keep the WRs we have and land a few more.
Related to recruiting:
Makes sense, and kudos to Whit for working this out so that Fuente can be recruiting for two weeks from now until mid-December.
He really thought this through. The new coaches get a leg up on all those schools without coaches in place.