With a massive snowstorm forcing a bevy of top recruits to scrap their travel plans to Blacksburg last weekend, this week represents Justin Fuente's staff's last, best chance to show off Tech's campus ahead of signing day.
Since he came on board in December, Fuente and company have kept up a grueling travel schedule to shore up Tech's 2016 recruiting class, making stops to see prospects all over the country. However, they've consistently tried to convince recruits to come to them before making their final decisions, and the last two weekends in January were supposed to give the staff two chances to welcome recruits to Southwestern Virginia.
But Winter Storm Jonas threw a wrench in the works, forcing roughly half a dozen recruits to postpone their visits to this week instead. While the Hokies surely would've liked to have spread things out a bit more, it means that campus will be positively packed with prospects giving Tech one final look before signing day.
In all, just over two dozen 2016 prospects confirmed to The Key Play that they'll be visiting Blacksburg this week — recruits marked with an asterisk are current Tech commits.
| Name | 247Sports Composite | Position | High School | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JaQuan Bailey | 3-Star | DE | Raines | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Tavante Beckett* | 3-Star | LB | Indian River | Chesapeake, Va. |
| Emmanuel Belmar* | 3-Star | LB | Collins Hill | Suwanee, Ga. |
| Eron Carter | 2-Star | OLB | Palatka | Palatka, Fla. |
| Coney Durr | 3-Star | CB | Dutchtown | Geismar, La. |
| Silas Dzansi* | 3-Star | OT | C.D. Hylton | Woodbridge, Va. |
| Reggie Floyd* | 3-Star | S | Stonewall Jackson | Manassas, Va. |
| Jarrod Hewitt | 3-Star | DT | Venice | Venice, Fla. |
| Thomas Hopple* | 3-Star | OT | Nansemond River | Suffolk, Va. |
| Patrick Kearns* | 3-Star | OT | Darlington School | Rome, Ga. |
| Tyrrell Pigrome | 3-Star | ATH | Clay-Chalkville | Pinson, Ala. |
| Dylan Powell | 3-Star | OG | Hannibal | Hannibal, Mo. |
| Jovonn Quillen* | 3-Star | ATH | Hampton | Hampton, Va. |
| Dominique Ross | 3-Star | OLB | Trinity Christian Academy | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Rick Wells | 3-Star | WR | Raines | Jacksonville, Fla. |
While the bulk of the visitors will arrive Friday and stay the weekend, three chose to make the trip Wednesday and stay through Friday — WR Rick Wells of Jacksonville, Fla.'s Raines HS, ATH Tyrrell Pigrome of Pinson, Ala.'s Clay-Chalkville HS and OG Dylan Powell of Hannibal (Mo.) HS.
All three were planning on visiting last weekend, but had their travel plans rearranged due to snow since they're not exactly local to Blacksburg.
So far, Pigrome says the visit is "going good," and that he's gotten the chance to take several tours of campus and spend time with some current players, including attending Wednesday night's basketball game against Louisville. Next, he'll head to Maryland for an official visit this weekend.
Ocho Pigrome looks good in VT gear. pic.twitter.com/I30bN7fIPW— Clay-Chalk Football (@CCHSfootbal) January 28, 2016
Powell says the trip is giving him a chance to evaluate "how comfortable I am" on campus, but he also has a busy schedule. He'll depart Blacksburg this morning to head to Stanford for a visit this weekend, and he says he hopes to make a final decision by Feb. 1.
Wells will also leave today, and he'll have plenty to think about following the trip as he weighs whether or not to remain committed to Florida. The trip will be his second time visiting with Tech's coaching staff in three weeks, after WRs coach Holmon Wiggins and DL coach Charley Wiles paid him a visit on Jan. 14.
The Hokies are also chasing one of Wells' teammates at Raines, DE JaQuan Bailey, and they're employing a similar strategy to lure him to Tech. Wiles, Wiggins and Fuente all had an in-home visit with Bailey on Jan. 26 that he calls "excellent" and now he's "excited" to return to Blacksburg.
The new family pic.twitter.com/HHnXMUJLD5— JaQuan BaiLey #9 (@j_bailey9) January 27, 2016
Bailey's visited Tech a handful of times now, but he says he has no plans to commit on this upcoming trip to Blacksburg. Instead, the former Florida commit says he'll likely wait for signing day to announce his choice of Tech, Tennessee or Iowa State.
Like Bailey and Wells, OLB Dominique Ross will also be making the trip from Jacksonville to Blacksburg. A player at the same Trinity Christian Academy that WR Isaiah Ford hails from, he also earned a visit from Wiles last week ahead of his Tech trip.
"He was talking about building a pipeline from Trinity to Virginia Tech and he was talking about getting me up there," Ross said.
However, one thing Wiles didn't touch on with the North Carolina commit is what position he might end up playing if he became a Hokie, and he's looking forward to hearing more on the subject from Tech on the official visit.
"I hope to learn how I'll fit into the defensive scheme, and how they'll use me," Ross said.
Ross says the trip will be his second to Blacksburg following an unofficial visit last offseason, but there's still plenty he wants to see in the area.
"I want to look at the education side of it, see the campus life, see how it is to be a student there," Ross said. "The first time I went, it was when the students were out of school, so I didn't get to see it with people around."
OT Thomas Hopple, a longtime Tech commit from Suffolk's Nansemond River HS, says he's looking for the same sort of experience on his official visit, as he wants to "just see what a college weekend is like in the offseason."
Hopple says he's gotten a visit from both Fuente and OL coach Vance Vice since the staff shakeup, but looks forward to meeting the rest of the coaching staff.
The new coaches have also paid a bevy of visits to ATH commit Jovonn Quillen of Hampton HS. Most recently, Bud Foster visited him on Jan. 26, but Quillen says he's seen "just about everyone" on the new staff, including Fuente earlier this month.
Overall, the brief chat left him feeling like Fuente is a "good guy" and "the perfect fit for VT," and now he's anxious for one last trip to Blacksburg before he puts ink to paper next week.
"I just wanna have a good time and hang out with the players," Quillen said.
Comments
Here's to hoping we sign all of them.
This made me laugh.
The effort that Fuente & Co. are putting into recruiting is really great to see. Let's finish out this class as best we can, and keep laying that groundwork for the future.
OMG. "Real deal" vs "value meal."
Get the TKP t-shirt design software fired up...
I'm glad the term BM will be associated with LOLUVa football for the foreseeable future.
I know stars don't matter but.....
Do we have any 4-star players committed? usually we have at least one or 2.....
WE have four that are already enrolled...
Composite?
No we don't..
http://virginiatech.247sports.com/Season/2016-Football/Commits
Edit: I see you're using espn. That answers its own questions
Well I guess it depends what site you go too, all stars are hogwash anywya until theses kids are competing against other div I talent it is all guesstimates...
Keep in mind that ESPN is pretty stingy with their 4 & 5 star ratings. They actually scout & evaluate game film in addition to assessing camp performances before rating someone at that level.
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He's actually right though. ESPN has severely stepped up their recruiting evaluations the last couple of years.
They have gotten better but generally it seems like people put the most stock in Rivals or 247
Agreed, me personally I think 247 is the best with ESPN being a close second but back in the day when 247 didn't exist and ESPN was still lazy about their rankings I mostly only followed Rivals. Now it seems like 247 has past Rivals by and ESPN may be on their way too as well.
I'm man enough to say
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All I can say about Rivals is Budd Thacker. He committed to VT as a 2 star DT. When he flipped to Florida State he suddenly became a 4 star. It seems to me that so often kids are boosted based on where they end up.
A lot of times I think it is more that the guy's film hasn't really been evaluated there are only a few guys who evaluate prospects in the entire country for these recruiting sites and once you get past the high 3*+ I don't think much evaluation goes into them. Being offered by a bigger school will kick start that evaluation process a good example might be Silas Dazansi, he wasn't rated at all on 247 and was a 2* on rivals whose only offer was from Delaware state (and had been pulled) after he committed to VT and his senior film was examined he was bumped up to a high 3*.
So you're saying Rivals is a good barometer except when it isn't? And the real experts who are actually held accountable for their recruiting "analysis" are better barometers? And that other than the no-brainers, Rivals, etc. are really just an echo chamber stating the obvious and jumping on the bandwagon ex post facto?
First of all, that's what every scouting service does... you just described scouting in general. Not unique to ESPN
And yes they are stingy about 5 stars but NOT about 4 stars. The composite has about 340 4 stars. ESPN has easily more than that. Like Ladler being 60th overall in his state but only 50 florida players are in the espn300. Or Kyree Cambell being a 4 star at 10th overall in VA but only the top 5 VA players are espn300. Just between Texas, Florida and Cali there are an additional 55 4 stars outside of the espn300. I would guess overall they probably have close to 390 4 stars.
That is NOT being stingy with 4 star ratings. That is being more generous than the overall industry. Check the facts
To back up your statements, ESPN has 10,937 recruits in their database. 9 are 5*, 497 4*, 602 3*, 808 2*, 35 1* and the rest are unranked.
Thanks I couldn't find an overall list. That many 4 stars is insanely generous , especially in comparison to the 3 stars.
That 497 includes more than 50 JUCO players, which the composite 340 doesn't. That's still a HUGE difference
interesting, I was wrong - they're just stingy with 5-star ratings, not 4
that being said we still have two guys enrolled already who were ESPN 300 (Dealbo & Jackson)
a ton of guys get rated by 247 & rivals based on camp performances alone
so to break it down...
247 composite = 1 (Jerod Evans)
247 = 2 (Evans, Floyd)
Rivals = 2 (Evans, Ladler)
ESPN = 5 (Ladler, Dealbo, Jackson, Kumah, Denmark) - Evans wasn't rated by ESPN.
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/216835...
Yes he was.
weird, he didn't come up when I searched for him a while ago
Fwiw, Evan Watkins just CB'ed Pigrome to us.
THANKS AY-AY-RON
Good news there. He's gotten 3 additional CB projections to us this morning.
FWIW he is heavily trending towards us on 247, he's received a 3 more CB's since Watkins. Good sign none the less.
Tyree Rodgers?
Tyree is already in Blacksburg. He arrived late Wednesday night.
BRING ON THE CROOTS! OH YEAHHHH!
Some catchup on other names we have discussed this December/January:
-K'Von Wallace, 2* safety from Highland Springs who was/is a Cincy commit was offered by VT in early January. He also picked up offers from Clemson, Mich St and OSU in the last few weeks. Visited Clemson this week, Ohio State this weekend. Looks like VT is out of the running. (But that guy came out of nowhere)
- Dae Williams, 2* RB/LB prospect from Texas who was a SMU commit got a VT offer in December. He committed to Louisville last week.
- Jordan Johnson, 3* OG prospect from JAX, visiting GT this weekend. Looks like we are out of it, which is surprising because Dylan Powell looks unlikely with Stanford offering and we seemingly could use another OL guy.
- Malcolm Pridgeon, high 4* JUCO OT whose recruiting changed dramatically when VT offered in December, couldn't make it to VT because of the weather, is going to OSU this weekend. UF, Bama and aTm lurking.
- TaDarryl Marshall, 3* athlete from Alabama, went to his presumed favorite, Kentucky, last week. Chose to go to Illinois instead of VT this weekend. Looks like we are out.
- Latrelle Williams and Jovani Haskins both picked Miami.
- Tomon Fox, 4* DE out of GA, high school teammate of Emanuel Belmar, seems to be sticking with UNC and not visiting.
Others?
Your just full of good news this morning.
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Just Kidding, thanks or the added information, but none of those are likely to go to the good guys based on your info.
Leg for Bubs
Fox is visiting or at least that was what the recruiting services are saying it is always fluid, he is teammates with Belmar. Rodgers, an ODU commit, was offered yesterday and immediately got on a plane and flew to Blacksburg so that is encouraging, he goes to Rutgers after us. Marlon Character is also visiting, Auburn commit. Chase Pine is scheduled to visit, a VA pitt commit, but there seems to be a lot of doubt if he actually shows. There is also a OLinemen in New Jersey Hennesey (sp) that Vice has been to see a few times and people think will get an offer if Powell or Johnson fall through
Keith Simms is the only other name to know, Bud loves him and has reportedly recruited him more intensely than anyone but Hand, he is down to ORegon and VT and announcing sometime this weekend.
Edit:Per mod request it looks like Character didn't make it. Looks like he is the only non VT commit not to make it
Simms already took an official visit to Virginia Tech. He told OregonLive.com he was down to Virginia Tech and Oregon.
Simms "reported" how hard Foster has been recruiting him many times over on Twitter.
We couldn't confirm with Rodgers that he was at Tech, but it seems likely.
Pine won't be visiting any other schools this weekend according to Pittsburgh Sports Now.
Pine and Wallace are two interesting cases of "we need to recruit VA better."
Maybe we do need to recruit VA better. But if you fill Pine's spot with Simms and you fill Wallace's spot with Durr, it doesn't matter where the kid comes from.
I'm not sure I'm from the "we need to recruit VA better" camp, but it's frustrating when a kid from a pipeline HS goes from Cincy offers to Clemson/MSU/OSU and we aren't in play.
He was originally scheduled to visit on the 22nd, so we were in play at least somewhat
Definitely frustrating when we obviously have great talent evaluation. Also frustrating how the visit must be cancelled to due weather, and doesn't reschedule. Then a couple days later offers fly in and visits are to be made.
In Williamsburg at least there are two kinds of people. Those that live and breathe Virginia Tech and those that are tired of the people that live and breathe Virginia Tech. There's obviously exceptions, but going through school it definitely becomes annoying when everyone around you is all about a team.
Highland Springs coach is VT alum so it's a shame that we didn't put out offer to him until a few weeks ago. You would think VT coaches would trust the word of one of their former players about a guy like Wallace or Dortch. I'd have taken Dortch strictly as a return man. I don't care what recruiting services say, Wallace is the best skilled player to come out of Highland Springs, better than Macho Harris. VT has to develop that pipeline back to that school. Missed out on WR Felton a few years back to Sparty.
We'll see... Macho was a five star, multi year starter, and All-ACC impact performer. It's a big miss, but the jury is still out.
All depends on where he goes. Macho was blessed with perfect situation as VT was in need of CB when he arrived. I'd put Wallace at WR myself. He's not going to start at WR at Clemson next year. With all OSU loses out wide, he might be able to see the field for them. Cincy, I'd assume he'd play as a freshman in some capacity. Interesting to see where he lands. Hopefully we'll talk about this next year. If its more like 4 years before his name comes up, that might mean that I won't want to talk about it, lol.
Speculating that VT ignored the coach at Highland Springs talking up Wallace... maybe the coach wasn't selling him that hard to VT, and saw him as a G5 level player? Or maybe we were busy locking up WR / FS prospects higher on our board? The kid had very few P5 offers until a month before signing day. That says late bloomer or academic risk to me - someone who got his act together senior year either on the field or off.
Also worth mentioning is that recruiting was certainly falling off under Coach Beamer - not just winning recruiting battles, but actually evaluating and offering prospects, and that Wallace was offered after Fuente came on board. So maybe that bodes well for the future.
I was thinking the same thing. Heard a guy on Richmond local radio yesterday who covers high school sports for the local newspaper. He said Wallace didn't start until this year (I believe) and just got all those offers in the past 30 days. Prior to that he had Cincinnati and JMU offers.
Really was hoping Coach Pat's Twitter handle was @CoachNards
Just read on TOS that Pine is here this weekend and as a result Pitt revoked his schollie. Don't know if they were just joshin' around - can anyone confirm?!?!
I heard they is some push back about that decision but haven't really seen it for sure. But if there's smoke there is usually fire. Poor play by Pitt if it's true
Pitt probably told him that would happen if he visits elsewhere, so I don't think its a poor decision. Coaches need to know if someone is in, if there's a chance that someone is out, then the spot is better used for someone else. There was an article http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/01/college_coaches_explain_why_a... that gives Fuente's viewpoint on committments, which is not too different from what we're hearing about Pitt.
He is on campus according to multiple reports. Don't know about Pitt revoking his schollie.
Can't embed link from Pitt Sports Twitter handle right now
The tweet is embedded below
I didnt see that as TOS, just the pitt controbutor saying it may cost his scholarship
Seems to me some drama is happening in the background with the he will/he won't/wait he is in Blacksburg.
Sure Pitt isn't happy about him taking an OV so close to signing day.
It would appear that Pine changed his mind yesterday and is visiting.
Hopefully we can pull off the flip.
Beckett - Belmar - Simms - Carter - Ross - Pine
I'm not sure which LB's we will end up with once the music stops, but it's encouraging.
By NO means is this a concession (I feel really confident we're gonna get a few of these other guys), but I just went and watched Eron Carter's tape.
I've been kind of dismissing him as an oh-by-the-way, a 2-star, a depth player. Not so. Kid has got a Motor. Sound tackler, good lateral speed, instincts and timing impressive. And smart - 3.8GPA, 1470SAT. If he really is 6'2", 230, I'm glad we found a place for him.
Anyone got any intel? I'm sure there's a reason we're his only P5 offer (I think?) - but could he be a real sleeper in this class?
Well are you just a barrel full of fun information this morning!
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Nice weather in Blacksburg this weekend...Sunny 51/31 on Saturday and mostly sunny 59/41 on Sunday
Knowing Blacksburg in the winter, winds will probably be 1000 mph, too. Gotta love it, and in a strange way, I kinda miss it.
winter winds + ice, snow, hurricane, and a massive rain storm. Hi of 83F and a lo of -60F
Weather wins the recruiting weekend...
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Any chance of co-eds tanning on the Drill Field?
FTFY
Does anyone know what the limit is based on the availability of the scholarships? I know we had some attrition, at least one transfer and last I checked only had 16 committed. I'm wondering how many total we can sign in this class.
The numbers always work themselves out
Difficult to say. I would say we have room for 5-7 more in this class. Some commits might prep / grayshirt. There will be attrition and maybe a couple more transfers for kids buried on the depth chart. It's all very fluid.
#TREKtoTECH
10 hard commits. 8 of them from VA.
Hopefully Fuente and staff kill it this weekend.
You mean like the conductor of a Death Train might do?
OT Thomas Hopple, a longtime Tech commit from Suffolk's Nansemond River HS, says he's looking for the same sort of experience on his official visit, as he wants to "just see what a college weekend is like in the offseason."
Get this man a Redbull Rail and two slices of Benny's pepperoni.
As an OL, he should get familiar with the Taco Bell on Main
We want to make sure our lineman are actually available for an entire game
A virgin Red Bull Rail. Can't be breaking any laws.
They call that a Red Bull.
How about a diet virgin Cuba Libre?
Not so fast my friend! There is definitely about 1.5 oz of sprite or coke in a Rail
Any word on possible punter or are going with Joey Slye or Mitchell Ludwig?
My shot in the dark, no source guess is that unless we pick up another scholarship punter or walk on, it'll be Mitchell Ludwig. He was listed as a punter all of this past season after being listed as a kicker and doing some kickoff work his first two years on the team.
Just give it to Rogers, he'll put them all in the coffin corner every time and I'm not talking about the punts.
ESPN's national recruiting director thinks we're on the right track:
Divine Deablo confirmed godsend.
He definitely looked like the real deal when I watched him match up against 3* 2017 CB prospect Madison Cone. Cone played locked down all season except that game.
Certainly encouraging. I hope we can finish strong
Dang, that sounded good.
Tyree Rodgers has cancelled his OV to Rutgers for this weekend according to 247. Evan put in a CB for him to VT.
WOOHOO! Speculative dance party!
247 reporting that Character has cancelled his OV
Very unfortunate.
In somewhat related news, his HS is currently on lock down because there is apparently a man on the school's campus with a gun. Hoping everyone is safe.
Could have something to do with this...
Hope what they say isn't true— Marlon Character Jr. (@riptrizzle) January 29, 2016
#BreakingNews: Grady H.S. is on hard lockdown. The City of Atlanta Police Department is searching for a man with a gun spotted on campus.— 11Alive News (@11AliveNews) January 29, 2016
wow
So I guess you could say our new coaching staff has Character issues?
I'll be here all week, be sure to tip the wait staff.
Alex never reported Character was visiting.
Next time if you're correcting your misinformation, edit or reply to your original comment so the thread is easier to follow. (Or just don't pimp and post information from elsewhere.)
BREAKING: HokieBen's response has just come in
No need to be rude
If it's rude to enforce the limited set of rules TKP has in place, then so be it.
Thanks for the info, Ben.
1. If you want up-to-the-second recruiting info, support the people who are doing the work and pay for it.
2. Follow the community guidelines with regards to downvoting, or you will lose your account privileges on TKP.
There's probably a better way to make your point without coming down so ridiculously harsh. TKP is supposed to be a better community than that. Sure, mistakes will be made, but let's not be mean about it when it is.
I couldn't agree more. Not everyone here is a seasoned vet of TKP. I think a simple "Hey, next time, to avoid confusion, if you see you made a mistake just correct your mistake below the original comment" would work just fine.
cds7c has been registered here for a long time. He is a seasoned vet.
In my response to him, I reiterated the bottom line of what I recently wrote (http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2016/january/22/meta-recruiting-discus...) and he pushed back on. And I wanted to make it clear what would happen if the rules weren't followed.
At the end of the day, there are certain things not up for debate on TKP. Up until now I thought people would respect the time and energy we / I put in to deliver the level of content on TKP and adhere to the guidelines, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
To be honest, it's frustrating and after national signing day I am going to take a solid break from day-to-day operations of the website. After that break I am going to take a good look at the community, how it's evolved (both good and bad), our content distribution model, and my commitment level among other things then make necessary changes.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Joe, French, Mason, Mark, Alex and everyone else who puts what is clearly a lot of time into this site without pay and a lot of times without recognition. I don't want TKP to change and I for one am not looking for ESPN up to the minute information. I'm looking for a place to "meet" other Hokies, a place to get great information not rumors, a place where I can ask a stupid question and get great information about people who know about any topic you can think of. I know this is not easy for them to do everyday, and as we have grown it seems some people just want more, I say to them donate money and watch what Joe can do with it to make this site better.
Off my soapbox, but Joe please don't change what this site really is at its heart.
Edit: This site and its members are one mostly great family. I feel like I know many of y'all that may place me in a room by myself but I don't really care I love you guys.
I'm looking for a place to "meet" other Hokies,
You kinda hit the nail on the head about why I like this community with this one phrase. Personally, I don't come to TKP for up to the minute recruiting rumors, but rather the funny gifs and overall good conversation. I also come for the Yuengling at the TKP tailgates, but that's another story. Other than the occasional Shockwave appearance, you're all good kids.
Agreed.
I'd also like to see everybody ease up a little bit on the recruiting. It's not thought provoking. We can nearly script every post on a recruit. At the end of the day, these kids may or may not be difference makers, and nobody knows for sure until we see the results on the field. So, instead of talking about how fast so and so looks in a highlight video, or talking about what restaurant some recruit was seen in, let's at least talk about the recruits intelligently, like how they seem to fit into a system or something similar.
I get zero benefit out of regurgitated stalker information from some pay site. And, for those that do want that much information, go there to get it (the site deserves your money and attention if you're that interested in their information).
I'm done ranting, and I apologize if I've offended the die hard recruiting stalkers. Thanks again Joe and staff for all you do. Let's all continue to think about contributing something to this site that can't be found elsewhere.
It's pretty easy to not click on a recruiting related post.
I guess that's where I'm just hard to please because I do enjoy knowing general recruiting information. What I don't need to know is what some blow hard's crystal ball status is. You're right though that we can all choose what to engage in.
Side rant: CB will always be cornerback in my mind, so when used for crystal ball, I get confused.
Your board, do as you will.
I can only state that Ben has brought TONS of value to TKP in regards to recruiting this year. I can't speak to each of his posts, but he doesn't seem to post things that aren't easily gleaned for free from 247 or rivals or Twitter. But his value is in not only opening the discourse about recruiting but in augmenting as well. If he is doing something untoward, I hope he would be personally contacted and corrected.
TKP has become much better in regards to recruiting this year, in large part because of the stepped up interviews from TKP staff. But the posters are also better informed and people like Ben who are really into it are here to encourage the discussion. I hope that continues. Interviews with actual recruits are great but those kids have learned to be pretty guarded. The fun in following recruiting is often in the gossip like qualities. That has to come from the organically from the people and Ben has been a big part of the essence of that this year.
TKP has evolved and, in my mind, becomes better each year. But I understand that the evolution carries with it a responsibility to address certain issues in a conscious and consistent manner.
Many of HokieBen87's posts has been insightful, others reflect information lifted from other sources. The former is encouraged, the latter is against policy.
For what it's worth, I didn't want to single out HokieBen87 as you have. When I posted Meta: Recruiting Discussion (http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2016/january/22/meta-recruiting-discus...) its intent was to address multiple posters.
I want to be clear on this. You don't even want other Virginia Tech related sites mentioned in the comments section? Even if content cited is free and not behind a paywall?
I'm confused by this as well. Mostly because speculating recruiting and discussing those such things are what fill TKP most of the offseason.
Don't share information from behind a paywall. Feel free to share everything else. Try your best to track down and share said non-paywall information from the original source.
The irony here is thick and delicious. I'm asking TKPers to respect other people trying to make a living on the internet (when, for the moment, we give our content away for free), and in the process I'm alienating parts of TKP's user base. (As I mentioned above, this is why I will taking a hard look at the evolution of the community here, TKP's content distribution model, and my commitment level). I picked the wrong hill to die on.
I hope this is clear, because I'd prefer to be done discussing it.
Appreciate the feedback, but you're confusing frankness with meanness.
I'm thinking he probably meant the remark from Logan, which was a little harsh.
I was just trying to lighten the mood because the downvotes were flying and nobody was happy. I'd be happy to take it down if it really did offend anyone, though. Never my intention to hurt anyone's feelings.
You're cool by me, just thinking Ben may have been reacting more to you than Joe.
I thought it was hilarious, an all-time Chappelle skit (but aren't they all).
You did, you shouldn't, and obviously.
This all got very serious very quickly.
Powell set to announce Tuesday:
Dear Dylan,
I just thought you should know that Tuesday is my birthday. That is all.
Thanks,
Logan
I can't believe we're only going after 2 and 3 star guys! It's completely and utterly ridiculous that Fuente hasn't done more with the month that he's had! .........................something, something Marcus Vick /s
I believe Latrell Williams was a 2 star when he was committed to South Florida then when he followed Ron Dugans over to Miami all of a sudden ESPN has him as a 4 star by their ratings. I can't help but think the 2 and 3 stars we are going after are truly legit. I see your comment as sarcasm but sadly that is some peoples reactions, it's just a shame that Fuente and our staff find this talent "under the rocks" just to lose it to bigger schools who originally had no interest in the kid until they saw we offered.
This time of year, the p5 schools are looking for the overlooked players, guys who didn't start in HS until late or didn't make it perform well on the camp circuits. Mine the ODU, USF, SMU, Cincy commit lists.
It's telling that we are working against Clemson, MSU, OSU, Miami, Stanford, UMds for these kids.
I'm at the point of looking at film and judging for myself, and listening to folks like this guy http://sonofacoach.com/, who actually says what he sees in particular recruits.
The majority of the high school recruits who play at a high level in college and ultimately make it to the NFL are not identified in the top tiers by the recruiting publications.
And before someone says, "but 4 and 5 star players have a greater chance at success", I would point out that recruiting is not a random draw from a pool of players with particular star ratings, and that success is not random. Recruiting is all about individual evaluations. Coaches recruit the best players they find. They don't offer recruits that, for whatever reason, they don't think will make it in their program.
For example, there are a couple prospects from Va that have offers from top schools, but not from VT...and some fans are going nuts over that..."if coach X wants him, we should too!" Do we really want our coaches offering kids they don't think will make it?
So I would say, look at the film and see what you like or don't like. Then decide if you are excited about the particular prospect. There are some guys on that visitor's list that have great film, despite their star rating.
Ummmm this isn't the gif I picked ha.I can't fix it for some reason? But instead of that one just imagine a crowd applauding.
Well said. Well SAID!
Thanks for the link too. I've never seen that site.
I think you should leave the gif. It makes me giggle.
i think it's great! and i've probably been both of those guys
Heard from #sauces that Chase Pine decided to visit at the last minute and that Pitt may not keep his offer because of his decision to visit when he told them originally that he wasn't.
This would be great news, if true. He and Simms would be a great get for our LB corps.
If that's true, it's quite a kick in the Nards for Pitt.
That would be interesting especially reading his last retweets.
I don't believe anyone has reported anything more than wild speculation about the latter.
I cant imagine they would actually pull his offer
Me neither. Crazy. I know schools sometimes tell recruits they don't allow OV's after a commitment but I can't see PItT enforcing it right now if so. Not smart
How are you not going to keep your promise to a kid because he is looking at other schools?? Obviously not fact yet but still.
Hope there is some truth to this. Not that Pitt may pull his scholly, but that he is actually in Blacksburg. Would go a long ways just to have him on campus, at least giving us a chance.
And Simms had multiple CBs to Oregon yesterday so a position of need
Pitts tweeter just confirmed Pine is at VT this weekend visiting. I'm on my phone and can't embed tweet
There is this and a few others. Searching through seems to confirm that PantherLair reported it on their site.
Also there's a lot of talk of a big recruit also on campus but wanted to keep it on the downlow. Any idea who that may be.
Pretty sure that is supposed to be Pine isn't it? With all the pressure from Pitts coaches seems like the logical choice
Probably but I want to believe a surprise of some sort. Pine is great but I want them all
I've heard from #sources that it was Drew Harris.
Alex and the rest of TKP staff:
While on the subject of recruits, do any of you have updates on the 2 guys that committed last year but had to prep? Are they eligible/still interested in Tech? I can't recall their names, and I'm too lazy to search the threads. Seems like they went to a prep school in NY? Any info would be great, thanks!
Mike Arnold commited to FSU awhile back, not sure what's going on with the other guy think he was a DT
I think you are thinking of Whithead and the other Adonis. IIRC they went to a JUCO and not a prep school and can't transfer for 2 years. It's probably safe to assume that they won't ever suit up for the Hokies.
Adonis Williamson, CB and Eric Whitehead, DT. Both from Arsenal Tech in Indy. Neither made grades, Whitehead went to Nassau CC and IIRC Williamson went to ASA.
Could have sworn I read that one of them was headed somewhere else with looser academic standards. Anyone?
Thanks, fly. I think you may be correct as to the 2 I was asking about. Seemed like they had an uphill battle if they were ever going to be Hokies. 'Preciate the reply!
Every time I see this thread title bumped with a new unread comment all I can think of is this:
Dozens of recruits on campus. Literally, dozens.
"Brother?"
Great. Great show.
Noticed the helmet on the table in the left picture. Doesn't look like the same helmet from tOSU.
It doesn't. And me likey.
I'm going to have to disagree, I don't care for it. I used to think that chrome helmets were cool a couple of years ago, but sometimes the chrome paint looks kind of cheap; I think those helmets in particular don't look very clean. The OSU game helmet was fine with me though.
Agreed. I wouldn't want the chrome to become the norm. I wouldn't mind seeing that satin finish similar to what MSU wears.
With Simms picking Oregon over the good guys... how about going after this kid? Had a Bama offer + similar size (6'3" 230lbs) to Simms.
247 page - http://247sports.com/Player/Riley-Cole-55369