Discuss and share any Virginia Tech related recruiting topics from January 2016 [0] that don't warrant their own thread [1]. Please do some digging to share original content (e.g. embed the original tweet, not a link to another post with said tweet), add context / relevant information and respect the Community Guidelines.
[0] If someone would like to make this thread from month-to-month, let me know, I am apt to forget.
[1] New offers, commitments, decommitments, etc... deserve their own thread. Please read the brief best-practice tips at the top of the recruiting forum.
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3* DB de-
committedfrom Houston yesterday as pointed out belowSenior Year Hudl
Isn't this a very good sign? He just decommited from Houston yesterday.
looking into it it sounds like he wants to take all his official visits... don't know but PURE SPECULATION Herman said if you want to take more official visits you will have to decommit
Ouch, that sounds a little harsh but I can understand I guess. I would think that the coaches would ask the athletes to only commit if they know they are sure. Saying something like "We would love to have you on our team and know you can contribute and be successful here. That being said if you would like to look at all your options we understand and encourage you to do so so you can make the best decision for yourself. All I ask is that if you decide to commit to us that you do so once you are 100% that you want to be here."
Kinda sounds like the Boston College AD's philosophy...which has worked out really well for them.
This. Herman is doing great things at Houston. The absolute best way to completely derail that is start throwing around ultimatums to recruits.
He seems to be more of a safety than corner based on his film. He plays a lot of zone and comes down to lay the lumber. The kid plays mean and definitely would embody the LPD with the way he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty
We offered a Michigan commit as well
helping you out...
Senior Year Hudl
3* WR currently committed to Michigan.
Has a plethora of offers-> Penn State Miami Vandy Purdue South Carolina Tennessee and more
He has a lot of OV scheduled in the coming weeks as well, might not be too firm on Michigan
just committed in December.. but yes has visits with Miami 15th, Vandy 22nd & Penn State 29th
He will have taken 4 official visits after Penn State's so he would have 1 left.. does VT make that last visit
When would he come? there are only 3 weekends left before signing day,
He can always back out of one of those OVs and replace it with us.
I don't know how reliable this guy is, but it doesn't look like we have much of a chance with him.
Agreed. this late in the process who knows and a full OV list.
Appreciate the help! I'm still stuck at work and I can't focus long enough to make a decent post.
+1
I really like his film. He runs crisp routes and is very good off the line of scrimmage. He seems to have pretty decent hands. I would say his only negative is that he doesn't have the greatest top end speed as he seems to get caught from behind quite often.
Virginia Tech University...
via GIPHY
oh well, they'll learn...
So you wanna talk about the weather? /s
I love the idea of a monthly post to keep the recruiting posts from becoming huge. I generally read and post on mobile and huge numbers of comments get slow on my phone.
Hey now don't mock the weather!
But really it's about to get a lot more chilly these next few weeks across the country. I've always wondered if that impacts a recruits visit. Having sunshine and 60 degree temperatures in january
I would think it's case by case. Hopefully a recruit isn't surprised that it's cold in southwest Virginia in January but who knows. I wonder if the coaches try to out more emphasis on having the OVs during warmer periods of the season?
I actually live in southeast Michigan, and the weather is not that different from the 'Burg. 33 degress where I am at right now and 34 in the 'Burg.
Give it two weeks... early look has lows scraping -11 when I get back around the 17th
Winter is almost over here in Coastal SC, four full days of 35 or below. Not ok.
So Bud keeps talking about 'long' DBs as in tall, big DBs. For someone who knows what they are talking about, is he trying to build a Backer/Nickel hybrid to go along with his Whip/nickel hybrid so he can jump from Bear to nickel to dime without changing personnel, or do those positions require different skill sets?
'long' DB's are good for the inside leverage trail technique we employ in man coverage on a regular basis. 'Long' doesn't necessarily require you to be tall, it essentially means long arms. Usually, this will lead to taller db's being recruited but not a requirement.
This CB is class of 2018 and we're his first offer.
University of Virginia Tech is 10x worse than Virginia Tech University...
I think Tyrod said it so not that bad...
I convince myself that Tyrod said it that way just to troll UF fans for a few more seconds
Kids these days with their University of Virginia Tech and Virginia Tech University, never reveled in the glory of EIEIO
http://www.vtmag.vt.edu/winter04/letters.html
Old McDonald had a school?
E I E I NOPE
I've never heard of that one before! Glad I clicked on the link.
Fire up the TKP t-shirt machine.
I'd probably buy one!
In 1980, the Collegiate Times had a contest to rename the school because we were changing to Va. Tech as the official name. The winner was EIEIO- Eastern Institute of Enlightment and Intellectual Outgrowth. They actually made tee shirts with the name. LOL great memory.
#sauces tell me his grades aren't good enough to end up in Blacksburg without prepping.
Was browsing his twitter after the announcement (great time to remind everyone DON'T TWEET AT RECRUITS!) and he seems to want to follow that coach to Bishop Sullivan. You'd also be shocked the grades that a highly ranked athlete can get away with. Speaking from experience.
Same #sauces said that Bama actually didn't accept his commitment.
So \_()_/
EDIT: Damn, the shruggie guy doesn't work on here.
It took them a year to not honor his commitment?
RollTide?
hhhRRoollllllll Tiiiiiiiiiide...
only thing cool about Alabama, I wish we had a call like that like ."Seewoouuuuiiiiiieeeeeeeee!"
You can use it all the time:
Got someone else who they liked better???
Good to see Nick Saban figured out how to use twitter
where's his mother?
Yeah, but that's fine. If he's interested in VT, we are interested in him. A commit from Yulee and a year at Hargraves would be completely acceptable. And who knows, there are about 5 commit every year who may not make the grades a couple of them do.
Hargrave got rid rid of PG Football, school isn't doing well financially he would go to Fork Union. But also important to consider several Alabama Defensive staff members are now at Georgia
What she said.
Bud Foster, Fuente, and Guerry just followed 2017 DE out of Episcopal High School on Twitter
Doesn't look like he has an offer from the good guys yet
Twitter
HUDl
4 Star WDE I'm sure the coaches will take a look at this kid right now Rutgers seems top of his list
Link to 247
When I see Rutgers at the top of anyone's list having formerly lived in New Jersey.
Maryland, Penn State and Michigan will all have summer football camps at Old Dominion this year. ODU is trying to strike a deal with Ohio State too.
Jesus.
Is the solution to some way get the big ten to make rules similar to the ACC or for the ACC to get rid of its rules?
B1G is doing what it is allowed by its own rules, yet the ACC prohibits. No way the B1G gives it up; we need either the ACC to change or the P5 need to set consistent rules for everyone.
Solution is for the NCAA to grow a pair and regulate it.
Do camps need to be regulated beyond regular recruiting regulations?
Right, doesn't seem like a big deal to me other than that we can't do it.
...regulated beyond regular recruiting regulations.
That's a mouthful! :-)
THAT'S! what she ...
There seem to be a lot of rules around college football that (1) are inequitable among all teams/conferences and (2) seem to serve no purpose, at least on its face.
"Well, f**k a duck!" - Donny Donowitz
I didn't think I could hate these schools more than I already did. Well, as we all know, Hate Keeps You Warm. Happy Winter, folks!
#GoACC
Does Fuente have any opposition to hanging 100 on a team like ODU?
Javoni Haskins seems primed for a decision.
Does this seem like good news or not? I saw his officials were earlier this year so not much to go on.
As of right now, if he picks VT I would be shocked. (And if he does, it meant Tech's staff did a hell of a job reeling him in.)
Do you think he chooses WVU?
WVU or Miami
So dead period end on the 14th (and the billion dollar powerball is drawn, coincidence?), who gets the first in home visit from Fuente?
Just a guess (or maybe just really wishful thinking) but I would say Dickerson would be a candidate to meet with the coaching staff soon after the dead period ends. One last push to try and convince him to consider the good guys.
i'm going with tavante beckett and possibly dominique ross.. need to keep beckett and flip ross that would be 2 big LB signings for sure. Bud Fuente and Scott have to get nity grity
Dickerson is so far down the river it would be a pointless meeting IMO.
Not sure who Dominique Ross is but flipping Pine (also a LB) would be quite the coup.
Agree on Dickerson. Are we still on Malcolm Pridgeon? Consensus top 10 JUCO OT.
Ross- is currently committed to UNC, but he is very close with Rick Wells and both are taking an OV the 22nd so we have a decent chance. Also went to same school as Ford (Trinity Christian Academy) so have to thing that is another plus for us. Hudl snipet
Pridgeon- has gotten a ton of offers so his recruitment is all over the place. No idea here.
apparently he wants to stay close to home, we are relatively close
I think Ross could be the best of the bunch at LB. IMO
Pridgeon was set to sign with Baylor on JUCO signing day Dec. 15th and then announced he wouldn't sign anywhere until he visited VT.
Which means he was going to have to delay his decision an entire month minimum due to the dead period. I think that says a lot.... although he has gotten some CB's to Baylor lately. Would be so huge if we landed him, considering he's a higher ranked JUCO prospect than Evans (top 5 overall).
"i'm going with tavante beckett and possibly dominique ross.. need to keep beckett and flip ross that would be 2 big LB signings for sure. Bud Fuente and Scott have to get nity grity"
When I look at Emmanuel Belmar's film, I get real excited. He's a missile at 6-2, 220.
J Haskins getting a visit tomorrow.
It sounds like Dickerson ship has sailed....
Dickerson sailed a long time ago
Recruiting is gonna be a lot better this season after I win the powerball and force (and fund) the Athletic Department to hire like 50 support staff for recruiting.
via GIPHY
I've let all you all down.
I can't keep up with the offers flying out the door on Twitter today. Sadly most of them say
Yulee and Devon hunter are visiting Maryland as a "package deal"
#throwupnow
Ewww. I believe it's well know about Maryland "crabs for footballers, that's what Maryland does!" and we are not talking famous Jamious crabs either
Yulee tweeted that
But VT already offered both of them right?
VT offered Hunter when he was in like 8th grade
Ok, Hokies! Time to party and get some recruits!
Quick semi-META question:
Can we put (and maintain) a table at the top of this thread that summarizes everything? 4 columns - Name, Position, high school and status (status = targeted, offered, committed, or signed)? We could also add columns for rating.
I like to know where we stand with recruiting, but there's no 'easy look-up' on TKP. For example, if I wanted to figure out how many LB's we're recruiting, and who they are, I'd have to search through a bunch of comments across different threads.
This will give you a pretty good idea. There's also tabs showing who is actually committed atm.
http://virginiatech.247sports.com/Season/2016-Football/Targets
Great Idea Bar, I 2nd his post
Has anyone done the roster voodoo math yet, how many spots do we actually have open after spring enrollees?
The numbers will always work out.
http://247sports.com/Bolt/Dylan-Powell-decommits-from-Purdue-42829885
Looking solid with a visit on the 22nd
Excellent
Uggh, he's visiting GT on 1/29. Please don't go to GT.
BAD OMEN HERE NOT USING THE TURKEY EMOJI
... or English, not that this is normally a requirement on Twitter.
When it comes to teenagers on Twitter, it's time to turn in the grammar police badge.
DB Nygel King will be visiting on January 22nd.
Smashing!
Long just committed. All American Punter!!!
BOOM!!!! I love how fast this staff gets it done!
PUNTING IS WINNING!!! #Next4thDownQB
He is quite possibly the best punter in the country. I wouldn't mind having a guy that could win a Ray Guy as my punter for 4 years after what happened in 2011.
I'm stoked to have a good punter, but its not like he is going to play much with our new offense right?!
#EnFuente
Per his Twitter Solomon Kindley from Jacksonville FL
Got an offer tonight.3* 6-5 330 OT/DT
he did meet with coaches as he was with jaquan bailey and his brother when VT coaches stopped by.. he doesn't have an offer yet but could be receiving one soon.
Who knew there was that much talent in Jacksonville and that VT went down there that much to get it.
Apparently he does not have a commitable offer
Could you provide some #sauces to this?
Side note: Maybe get a profile picture. It makes your post stand out more and wrongly or not gives them more credibility plus it just looks better.
Just because someone posts something without linking in a verifiable source, it doesn't mean that you have to respond every time with #sauces. That's called noise around here and it doesn't add anything to the discussion at all. If we only talked about verifiable information straight from the actual person involved, we'd rarely have anything to talk about. Whether it's a commitable offer or not, it's showing that we have interest in a player nobody has heard about and that's where the discussion originated.
A one liner about it not being a commitable offer brings nothing. He could add a few words like, "I read on blank" or "according to blank" I'm not looking for cnn links with in depth Analysis just say something to add context.
Usually when someone references a paid site around here they get flack, and no I'm not looking for an argument on Rivals or 247. 247 is reporting that he doesn't have a commitable offer yet at least. And my lack of profile picture is fine
I googled Hokie Ben and this is what came up. I now assume you are a dog.
Well now. Since he didn't have a profile pic before, I think you just found him one.
I can't say I'm mad.
Not really, we love info from a paid site. The issue we had was with a certain Decepticon or if someone just posts a link with no context. I don't have access to the info you must. So I'm glad your sharing it. But personally I like some context others may not and that's fine also.
I think it's more just tone and tenor here. Saying "Hey, that's cool where's the #sauce?" comes across a lot better as you are interested in the material and would like to find out more. Our decepticon friend may have scared people off as it was a little brutal reading through it. I just enjoy the discussion and all you beautiful bastards. So all around cheers!
I can understand that.
I will comment briefly in an attempt to not derail the thread in an unnecessary meta tangent. I also don't have time to wade into this fully today and have no desire to do so. I hope the thread remains dedicated to interesting information.
Point of clarification: mentioning 24/7 doesn't garner flak. We appreciate the reporting those guys do, and they know their stuff. The fights we've had recently (no need to relive that BS) is when people post paywall-only links (expressly against Community Guidelines) or copy-paste info from behind paywalls (also expressly prohibited).
The originally CGs were written with "don't steal articles" in mind but clearly this is an evolving issue as the community has grown and it has become less clear who knows whom and who gets their information from what source (unless you're up here saying "I totally got this from [insider content somewhere]"). TKP should not be a forum that regurgitates others' premium content in any regard. We are all hungry for information, but we must adhere to the rules. If you've got your own knowledge of something, awesome! Please share that any time.
That said, I will defer to Joe for further clarification or comment. It's his site, I just enforce his rules, and deal with Decepticons from time to time.
And VTG leaves the thread.
I disagree. Saying "apparently" means he's been told or heard that information. Whether it's from TSL, 247, Rivals, Scout, ESPN, or his neighbor, it's what he's heard. Take words for what they are, just words. And information on an offer matters far less than a commitment itself where, if sources contradict, the weight of the source can play into determining the truth. Every bit of context is there. Under a comment about a recruit, he posts that it's apparently not a committable offer. You just want a source to go with it, as you seem to want with most posters to provide lately. The comments are for discussion of the forum posts. He was presenting it as a further discussion on the topic that was presented on the recruit receiving an offer.
I'm with fireman here. We don't need concrete sources (i wish #sauces would die already by the way), but when making a contradictory post, which appears to have merit in this case, it helps to know what information it's based on. If it's confidential, say so. If it's hearsay, say that. If it's behind a paywall, and it's not divulging too much information to be against community guidelines, tell us the source. I don't think fireman was being accusatory in this sense, just wanting more information.
So heres a dumb question to add to the discussion:
Whats the difference? Or more directly, what exactly does a non-commitable offer intail?
Is it like, "Hey were offering you, but were not really offering you, were kind of asking you out to the prom as a backup if our first choice says no" - is that kind of what it is?
Think of it like the bachelor. All of those chicks have an "offer" but they will all be "recruited" simultaneously while the guy evaluates who would be the best fit and with whom he has the most mutual interest. So, that but with football.
Team JoJo!!!
My understanding is that sometimes it is a "you can be a preferred walk-on and could earn a scholarship right away if numbers work out" situation or it could be a "hey, we're interested and if the dominoes fall in your favor, you have a scholarship." Usually it's related to numbers and where they fall on the coaches' recruiting board. Non-commitable offers tend to be for recruits who are borderline and filling a spot if they miss on another recruit above them. As we get closer to signing day, you'll probably see more of these as coaches cast out safety nets.
In this situation, it seems the young man interpolated assistant coaches stopping by to see him as an offer, when apparently that was not the case.
that said, it seems that interest in this player is legitimate and we may end up with room to offer later on.
This is different than a "non-committable offer," a term that was introduced to most of us in the 2013 QB recruiting cycle with Jacob Park and David Cornwell. Bama "offered" like ten QB's but they had to come to camp so Saban could see them personally and he would choose which one he want to allow to actually commit. Cornwell got the call, UGA did the same for Park and Mason Rudolph picked Okie State instead of VT, leaving us with Andrew Ford. That's where "committable offer" became a thing to most of us, but it also leaves us considering that we wish we got our 3rd choice, Mason Rudolph, instead of our 1st, 2nd or 4th choices.......
Hands down the most exciting January for recruiting since I started giving a shit about recruiting.
Yeah, the coaching change has added a new twist to this. Usually, we are left with a handful of guys we have recruited for 18 months left to make a decision + a few new names. Now, we've got a few of those guys who we have known about.....and about 30 new names that we know very little about.
It's a bit chaotic.....but interesting. I like recruiting, it's the season of hope.
Apparently VT offered a 4* WR, Nico Collins. He's a 2 time all state player, from Alabama.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3898215/highlights/293032377/v2
A 2017 4-Star CB from Miami, Florida.
Damn, that kid's offer list looks like a CVS receipt.
1lb bag of peanut butter M&Ms, Pepto and condoms?
sounds like you're stocking up before the big snow. What for? I don't know nor do I really want to.
If Jaquan Yulee commits to VT I bet he ends up as a DT, for some reason we never have big ILB's and that is what causes us to fail against the run, Miami got an early enrollee Shaquille Quarterman who plays ILB, ranked number 2 at the position by ESPN, he is a 4 star like Yulee but is 6'0 240, whereas Yulee is closer to 260, that is DT size for us. Until we start getting bigger inside linebackers our run defense will suffer, I almost hope we don't get Yulee because he won't work out for us just like a lot of the other big recruits we get, we use smaller guys and in some cases it helps, others it hurts like the run D but oh well I'm not the coach just ranting. I hope this changes.
It's not that Bud and Co. Wouldn't take a big LB they just want them to have speed also.
And at 250 plus it won't be the speed they are looking for. It's not looking good for us as far as Yulee and Hunter go, they both really seem to be high on Maryland and now Beckett has crystal ball votes for there as well.
Man what a pity party. Other than Woody Baron all of our Defensive tackles are 290+, and our ends are getting bigger too. Also FWIW Chase Williams and Jack Tyler are about the same as AM, as were good ILB. Not sure why you think big time recruits don't work out Corey Marshall, Teller, McMillan, Fuller, Hodges, Eckanhem have all had realtively successful careers at VT
Clay Dean, DT 240. Harry Lewis, DT 260...what about that genius!?
Dean weighs more like 260 and might be asked to GS anyway. I don't know enough about Lewis to comment maybe his frame will allow him to put on more weight, either way he is a Freshman and likely wouldn't play until the 2017 season that gives him over a year and half to put on weight
Our DT for next year
Woody Baron -275
Nigel Williams-300
Ricky Walker- 285
Settle- 340
Sobczak- 310
Other than maybe Baron we have good size 3 deep
I realize DT will be good, as usual, DE I also have no problem with...these aren't positions hurting us. I don't care about CB or safety either (even though that was another weak point last year). ILB is what kills me, but as I said in my first post, I'm not the coach, just stating my opinion and ranting. Until we use big time recruits for what we recruit them for we won't be getting too many of them. Of that list you gave me yeah those guys have worked out and been successful but other than Fuller and Ekanem the others all got position changes, I know they did good, but it further proves my point, Yulee could possibly see a position change. I know my opinion will cost me turkey legs, but it's what I've seen and how I feel.
If Yulee sees a position change it will not be to DT period. Defensive end maybe. And the depth on the secondary isn't really on the coaches, Fisher was lazy and transferred/ Reavis got kicked out/ and Fuller got hurt. I doubt many schools could lose that many players and not struggle other than the Alabama's of the world
Reminds me of another 4 star LB that got moved to DE, Melvin Keihn.
Keihn had already been surpassed on the depth chart when he transferredl, think he was only a 4* on rivals too
Wasn't that rumored to be partly to do with Reavis being kicked out
Mckenzie tweeted something like that
Exactly. Except it is is nothing like Keihn (who had no position).
I think what cost you legs was the "what about that, genius!" remark. But I could be wrong.
You have a legit concern about LB, and maybe Fuente did too. Perhaps that's an area he hopes Galen Scott will help the team, recruiting-wise etc.
Yeah the pity party remark was a little immature also, not saying I was right in saying something back. We're all Hokies and have a right to be concerned without name calling or smart remarks just because someone sees something differently or disagrees.
This pretty much sums up my reaction reading your two comments.
You're alright!
I understand what you're saying, and it's a common misconception about the types of players VT would like to have. But 300lb high school players with burst and Bruce Taylor sized LB's that can run are not that easy to find. Guys with that top-end size/speed combo are highly recruited by everyone, Bruce was a 4* Lb, Settle was a 4* DT, Ricky Walker was a 4* and Yulee has an offer from Nick Saban and everyone else.
So you're right in the sense that we often have to take undersized kids when we miss on the Josh Sweat's, Korren Kirven, Da'shawn Hand type guys and that is a legitimate concern. Luckily, the DL recruiting has gotten a lot more competitive with the top guys lately and I think we all hope we can land some LB's to match them.
Not sure how stating facts is a pity party, remember mobile quarterbacks running over us not just with AM at ILB, but also Williams? 2014 and 2015 facts are facts if you call it a pity party go ahead.
Not saying I disagree with your assessment, but nearly every team including NFL teams struggle against running Quarterbacks. Effective ones are nearly impossible to stop regardless of scheme.
I was thinking the same thing. If they could be shut down, they would be immobile quarterbacks.
What facts? 3 deep 4/5 of our tackles have good size and whomever replaces Dadi and Marshall will likely have at least 20 pounds on them if not more. Plenty of our 4* and 5* star players have done well, sure some like Fisher and Caleb haven't but that happens at very school, Derrick Green at Michigan is a perfect example. Williams did fine at Mike, the run game took a huge hit when he was injured especially in the Miami and besides every team is struggling with mobile QBs
Corey Marshall - 6'1", 258lbs (DT)
Wyatt Teller - OG
I'm not sure what you are expecting. The transitions referenced here were all successful moves that would have been unsuccessful if left at the original position. It's not just VT that is looking for speed and skill at linebacker. If they don't have the speed VT needs, then they won't have the speed the NFL needs either, so it could be argued we are actually optimizing these kids' football careers.
What it boils down to is competition and supply/demand problem for elite linebackers.
I never said I was expecting anything other than I was just ranting, it was at the bottom of my first paragraph that started this big discussion. I said I hope it changes, meaning we have linebackers that are bigger, but again I also said I was not the coach and just ranting. I acknowledged that the moves were all successful but used it to back up my statement that if we get someone who is normal linebacker size they will most likely be moved to DE/DT IMO.
Who all visited this weekend?
https://twitter.com/vtscoop247/status/688885349523828736
I don't think anyone. He is referring to the visitor list for next weekend which is a big weekend for official visitors.
If the weather holds
It's going to snow like a B on Friday.
Yeah the news this morning described the snowfall accumulation outlook as "significant, with the potential to be historic" in the DC area. That doesn't bode well for our big recruiting weekend. That being said, it looks like a coastal storm, so maybe it won't be too bad in the mountains.
Gotcha. Makes sense.. Hopefully the snow holds off
probably not news to some people but Pine is 100% off the big board.
Sorry if I am pessimistic but I get the wildest feeling that even though our coaches has been hard at work, I am not expected any kind of surprises and just sign who we already have on board.
I do like the change in recruiting but I don't see the payoff till our play on the field is more encouraging to recruits.
I expect a Clemson-esque boost in recruiting if we get back to winning consistently with a more attractive offense. The results for Clemson were almost immediate, the offense was enticing to recruits who wanted to have fun, put up numbers, and win games. We should see a similar boost if that is the case.
Yes this is possible but I think it will take 2 years of positive upswing until we are able to really make a dent. Plus adding additional recruiting positions would help.
I doubt that, at the least we get Hewitt
It's pretty hard to judge them just based off of a few months of recruiting for this class. I think anybody that expected them to come in and start landing 4*s right off the bat for this class had pretty unreasonable expectations. They kept the existing class pretty much intact and added two jucos in positions of need. Now they're just trying to get a few under recruited guys that they think will fit their system to fill out the class.
JF and Co. were not recruiting the same kids at Memphis that we were here. Its tough to come here in December and start recruiting highly rated kids and trying to form a quick relationship when those kids have been recruited by other good schools for years. Its also not like Fuente came in here and had an abundance of notable un-committed prospects that still had a connection to VT. The last staff already missed on most of our top targets months ago.
I think we'll start to see results in the next class. It seems like they're already getting offers out to some highly rated '17 prospects, and they now have a full year to recruit these kids. But i do agree that on field results need to get better to change our perception with recruits.
Nail on the head! my thoughts exactly but you did a better jobs laying it out.
I, for one, really needed this. It's good to stay grounded and hungry. We can hope for the world but let's be happy with what we get.
So we are coming down the home stretch.
Right now we have 11 verbals
OL Dzansi
OL Kearns
DT Clay
ATH Quillen
ATH Patterson
P Long
OL Hopple
ATH Floyd
LB Beckett
LB Belmar
OL Jackson
We have 8 guys that are already on campus:
QB Evans
QB Jackson
CB Ladler
WR Deablo
WR Kumah
WR Denmark
OL Moore
DE Taylor
That's 19 guys if the current verbals stay with the Hokies. How many more commits should we expect? I'm not sure how many scholarships we have to offer.
Also, which recruits do we have a good shot at?
But can't guys already on campus count towards last years class also? As they say the numbers always work out.
The numbers always work out. There are a handful of guys the staff is still pushing extremely hard for, so hopefully we can land a few of em.
Dzansi also won't take up a spot until 2017, assuming he enrolls at VT after FUMA
I forgot about that. That makes 18.
We also gain a scholarship with Trey Edmunds leaving. I don't know if they'll offer a scholarship to a walk on already on the team, or a recruit.
My guess is that we probably can take as many as 8 but it's more realistic to think we will have unfilled scholarships this spring. We should be able to make sure some walk-on's are taken care of.
I'd assume since he is EE for next year he will count for this year's numbers
There's three guys on campus now, I think another 8 coming on friday, two guys they are still pushing for visits, and two guys who have visited we are in play for. Figure we land half or so of those guys gives us about 26-27 assuming no more offers go out seems pretty manageable especially with attrition
They will make room for Simms, Pridgeon, and Haskins (although I just don't get a feeling that Haskins will be in the mix.) I expect Eron Roberts to commit (good fit/doesn't have other big offers.) When I look at the numbers for Tennessee, I don't know how they fit JaQuan Bailey unless they don't land any of their big fish targets. I am hopeful that they can close Pigorme, Durr, and Marshall.
The combination of Maryland losing Dwayne Haskins, Pigrome missing his official to us, and having an official with Maryland this weekend all make me feel like we're gonna miss on him. Which is unfortunate because I really want him.
Pigrome will be on campus in a few hours, and apparently has a great relationship with Wiggins
Best news I've heard since all those OV's got cancelled. I heard some were rescheduled, but haven't looked into it too much.
edit: I've noticed you are very informative in regards to recruiting and I appreciate your contributions.
Most were able to get rescheduled, some like Pigrome have to come mid week now which isn't ideal, unfortunately two of those who didn't reschedule are Pidgreon and Johnson
I'm not sure Pridgeon was going to happen anyway. I expect he ends up in the SEC. Bama?
Florida and Baylor boards on the recruiting sites both seem confident they land him, and he is visiting OSU this weekend. So who knows
If I was Baylor, I wouldn't feel so confident. If he wanted to go there, he would have done so already.
Not that it means that much but I saw Watkins crystal balled Durr to the good guys this morning.
Apparently both Minnesota and VT feel good about landing him
Looks like we offered an ATH committed to ODU out of New Jersey today. He seems to be a playmaker when the ball is in his hands.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2285581/highlights/315703396/v2
I like the idea of doing ODU. Just a little thank you for all of your Big hospitality.
What are the chances Rick Wells flips from Florida?
Just saw Vance Vice and Holman Wiggins eating in West End with a bunch of recruits. There were about 5 or 6 recruits along with Isaiah Ford. They seemed to be hitting it off nicely.
This group then made there way to the basketball game tonight. They were joined by Thomas Guerry, Chuck Cantor, Terrell Edmunds, Mook, Billy Ray, and a few others. Noticed McClease talking VT up to Pigrome and Dylan Powell's dad video taping the crowd.
Yeah, I saw them there as well!
Yeah. Adonis Alexander sat behind us with Tremaine Edmunds (the Edmunds boys are great kids btw) and he said 'whats up with all the recruits here'... was glad to hear it.
I was not glad to here Adonis outright cheering for Louisville. It was not in good taste.
Cheering for Louisville???? Why?
Found this odd as well. He was putting up the "3 ball sign" every time Louisville hit a 3...so a lot.
When somebody is prodigiously nailing 3s like they were doing last night, it's hard not to get caught up in it
Yup, you got it BMW... Got to the point of being obnoxious. My wife was getting ticked. I think Tremaine asked him 'why you rooting for Louisville'.
We must have been close because I was just across the aisle from Mook. But I believe that was Terrell.
He is from the Indianapolis area, correct? That is not that far away from Kentucky so maybe he grew up a Louisville bball fan? Either, not a cool thing to do especially when hosting visiting recruits.
I believe you have your Adonii confused. Williamson is from Indianapolis (and isn't here) and Alexander is from Charlotte.
Yep, sorry about that. Too many Adonii to keep track of. It really doesn't make sense then...
He likes how they treat recruits on official visits?
Dylan Powell is on his visit.
He's the most get-after-it OL I've seen in a while, hope he likes us more than Stanford.
Another Michigan decommit, this time DT Jordan Elliott. Any chance on him?
That's quite a few the last two weeks.
"Harbaugh didn't climb trees or spend time in my bedroom, so I must not be important!"
But he did get...
Seems tame in comparison. Pretty soon, Michigan recruiting is going to devolve into a contest to see who can make Harbaugh do the weirdest thing.
Sounds like a great show to air on the Big Ten Network.
He's from Texas and he decommitted five days after his official to UT. I'd say he's a heavy UT lean with less than 7 days until NSD.
A lot of these Michigan "decommits" are kids that were borderline going to make the grades to get in apparently. I think it's unlikely that VT would be able to take them either
Coaches are looking ahead to 2019 for an in-state RB.
http://virginiatech.247sports.com/Bolt/Virginia-Tech-extends-a-2019-offe...
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4362088/devyn-ford
Dude is flat out FAST! And he makes quick direction adjustments in tight spots. Sweeeetness!
Simms says VT and Oregon "stand out"
http://www.oregonlive.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2016/01/keith_simms_4-sta...
First we have Harbaugh's antics, now ND is getting their crazy on...
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/2546496...
Chris Pine visiting VT today. He wasn't supposed to visit, right?
Could we flip him? That'd be a great get for Fuente.
Tavante Beckett and Jovonn Quillen are representing the 757 in Blacksburg.
I'd really like to see both of them signed.
+1 agree
I believe that's Chase Pine in the back left.
Looks the same to me.
Who are the white guys, and are they both screened intentionally to hide their identity?
Left is Hopple right is Kearns, def. sure about the left, just not the right, maybe I am wrong haha
Edit: Saw this picture from a different angle and I was right about both of them.
And front left, #55 jersey, is Hewitt
Does not look 290. But thrilled to have him.
From left to right in that photo it's Tomon Fox (UNC commit), Emmanuel Belmar (Fox's teammate at Collins Hill HS), Fuente, Coney Durr, and JaQuan Bailey. If Fuente managed to flip Fox it would be very impressive. Also, Fuente taking these kids to the airport — that's full service recruiting.
Love it! First class hospitality!
FWIW, Bailey has been CB'd to us by three different people this afternoon.
Also, Tomon Fox doesn't even have an offer from us per any recruiting site I can find. I'm new to following the recruiting cycle and I'm not sure if this is weird or normal for this close to Signing Day. He doesn't have an offer but he took an official on the last weekend. Hopefully someone can explain this to me.
He is teammates with Belmar so I wouldn't be surprised if he has an offer, but not publicly. I'm hearing from #sources that Fox, Durr, and Bailey will all likely sign with the Hokies on Wednesday.
Fuente is putting in work, and I have a feeling that the work is about to pay off big time.
Thank you, sir. Have a leg!
I love your #sources! +1
http://virginiatechfan.proboards.com/thread/2806/whispers Is hinting at is as well, which is a free site
I would be super happy if we flip Fox away from UNC.
Tech only has like 55/56 official visits than can pay for so I doubt a guy had an official without having an offer from VT.
I figured but wanted to see what people with more information than myself had to say about it.
We are getting those 4 with Fuente. And Eron Carter. Rodgers...
I am trying to hear something about Ross and Pine. Anyone have anything?
Pridgeon is not coming....which would have been nice.
Pridgeonand Rodgers look like similar players. {edit: confusing Pridgeon and Pigrome}Beckett, Belmar, Carter and either Ross or Pine would be a very good LB haul after losing out on Simms.
Fox and Bailey really help at DE.
{so still waiting in Pigrome, Ross, Pine and Powell}
Man things are about to get good.......!!!!!
I can't wait for this live-stream on NSD. Such an awesome idea and I get the feeling that this going to be an exciting time of the year perennially thanks to Fuente.
All this would be scary great if it happens, especially if Pine and Ross are also added.
In regards to Chase Pine.
Expected nothing less. Kid was back and forth on his OV. Seemed like he didn't want Pitt to pull his offer for visiting so he'd do it last minute have fun and still commit to Pitt.
#Diva