The Hokies secured a verbal commitment from defensive tackle Jarrod Hewitt on Sunday according to a report from Evan Watkins.
"Virginia Tech has just been straight up with me and family all throughout this recruiting process and I've developed a great relationship with Coach Wiles over the past few months," Hewitt explained about why he chose to commit to Virginia Tech. "I love the facilities, the outstanding tradition, and you really just can't beat the campus.
"It's a no brainer," he added.
"After a long thought out process between my family and I we've decided that I'll be attending Virginia Tech to further my education and football career!!," Hewitt later announced on Twitter. "I would like to thank every school that has recruited me through this crazy process over the past three years."
The 6-2, 290 pound Venice HS (Venice, FL) standout is on an official visit to Tech this weekend.
With the man @coachfostervt #HokieNation pic.twitter.com/1BzC6ti26W— Five -Five (@HewittJarrod) January 30, 2016
The former Rutgers commitment made an unofficial visit to Virginia Tech for its October game against N.C. State.
"The atmosphere was great, even having that rain delay for about an hour there," Hewitt told The Key Play. "Even when it was raining during the game, I was impressed by how it was really packed. The atmosphere was great. It was the one of the best games I've ever been to."
Tech offered Hewitt at the end of June, and Charley Wiles did the yeoman's work to secure Hewitt's verbal over Iowa State.
Hewitt was named to Florida's Class 7A all-state team (first team), and the HT Preps defensive player of the year. He finished the 2015 season with 105 tackles (62 solo), 10 sacks, caused two fumbles and recovered two others. The 247Sports Composite ranks Hewitt as a 3-star prospect.
Hewitt said of his style of play, "I've got a motor and I can go all game. (Schools) just like how I can get after the ball and how I can move and really actually chase down running backs and not just be a gap holder, I can actually slant and do a lot of things that bigger defensive tackles can't."
Comments
Very interested to see if Foster and Wiles can develop Hewitt into Tech's next productive, high-motor defensive lineman from Florida.
That's a pretty damn lean looking 290 if I've ever seen one. I'm 6'4" 305 and I look way bigger than homeboy. he must be packing serious muscle.
Umm, NerdMagic, sir, if I have ever oh so inadvertently disagreed with, made fun of, or in any way seemed to have disrespected you in any post here on TKP, please believe me, it was absolutely unintended. I promise.
Just be on your best behavior or else...
I was thinking the same thing. I saw him and he looks more of the likes of 250-260
I think that's spot on. I looked up my other favorite VT big boy Timmy Settle and he is listed on HokieSports as 6'3" 315 right now. I like Hewitt but he is not Settle sized.
Wow I haven't heard an update on Settle in a while and I didn't realize that he had managed to drop that much weight. Based on some of Wiles' comments last year I'm guessing 315 will probably be around his playing weight. It's going to be very interesting to see his progress this Spring.
I was a little concerned about Settle's weight. If he's steady at 315, he could help hide our LB deficiencies a lot.
That 315 is from signing day last year. He is still listed at 359 on Hokiesports.
http://www.hokiesports.com/football/players/settle_tim.html
You are totally right. Good fact check sir.
Your user name fits really well with your post. I appreciate this.
No worries, I'm a nerd. I was just appreciating it.
Oh, well then.
Based on his size he may be able to block out the sun and hide our linebackers from view~ sort of a settle- eclipse of the sun
315 would be a Great playing weight for Settle, but I don't believe he is there yet.
I bet he would be so quick at 315
Horse on a treadmill sculpture.
It's the T-1000 version of HOAT.
that's beautiful
That's pretty incredible.
Yeah, if he's 290...well, he ain't 290.
Re Settle: given Motu's predilection for catching blocks (or running around them), I will be happy to see some meat in the middle. Timmy, continue the hard work - but you can eat all the OL you wish ))
Aside from Baron (who I generally really like), we are trending heavier across the front line. This is good.
For what it's worth HokieSports.com lists him at 6'1", 290 pounds.
He definitely could be 290, I'm just surprised as he looks small. That means he's hiding weight in large legs and a dense midsection. Just an eyeball and my reaction was "damn, that kid looks 260 at best."
He destroys that RB trying to block him at the 2 min mark. He is always hustling and trying to find the ball.
That dude is FAST for a big guy
Dude has some serious feet on him and looks like he knows how to cause turnovers. Looks like he's the conductor on the H train to sack town.
Very excited to have this kid on board. His film is outstanding and his motor never stops. Hope he can stick at DL and be an early contributor. Of not, looks like there is enough depth for a red shirt year.
Unreal motor. Great first step. Plays with a healthy dose of mean.
Seems like he was allowed to freelance a bit - a lot of his tape is him blowing up plays by shooting gaps. He'll need to learn to hold blocks. And I'm with Nerd - he must have about 9% body fat if he is 290. And 6'2" seems generous unless Bud is experiencing a late growth spurt...
But this is a great get. If he's as hard a worker as he looks, he'll be right at home
And the guy to CJF's left looks pretty stout. I bet he has an explosive, quick first step to the Golden Corral buffet table. I can relate.
Come on... That's obviously a family member. Not a good look.
bad form
Awesome recruit.
The opposing offensive linemen are all gonna be like:
Welcome to the Hokies!
Solid song reference to go with your profile pic!
Great news! Any further updates on how other uncommitted visits are going? I would love to get Pine and others.
No O&M glasses here - how is he only a 3-star? He's got that twitch off the line that we like AND he's incredibly fast for a 290 lber! Is it his size that keeps him from being considered elite?
he is a 2 star on rivals
It's always amusing to see a kid sitting at around a low 3 star grade with tons of offers from big schools. With offers from the likes of Clemson, anOSU, Miami, UGA, Tennessee, Pitt, etc he's obviously got a little more to offer than his ranking implies. Our DT's are going to be fun to watch here for the foreseeable future.
He only has an offer from Pitt of the above that you listed. But I agree that he is a little under rated
Weird. Either I'm screwing up somewhere or 247 is screwing up because this is what I'm showing...
You have to click on view complete team list to see who offered, what you screenshoted I believe are the schools that are interested
You are correct
His size. He's way under 290, so he's a tweener. Suits our system but not many others.
Yea looking at him I thought 275 tops, don't think he is quite 6'2 either from photos
I dunno, guys... it looks like those QBs in the video don't like him very much. /s
Welcome to B-burg, Jarrod!
- Hokie Nation
This kid is a beast! Sam Rogers of the D.
actually, he reminds me more of a danny coale type...
Leg.
One of the things you will hear coaches and talking heads talk about this week regarding Hewitt is his motor. It isn't inaccurate. He pursues the play really well. To me, that isn't what stands out though. His first step at the snap is absolutely electric- I am talking Corey Marshall stuff. Either he has an incredible knack for anticipating the snap count or he is as quick as any recruit in recent memory in that critical one yard space at the line of scrimmage. He plays low and gets really good leverage when he has two gap responsibility. As a one gap player, he moves laterally well and pursues the football.
One play in particular really caught my eye. If you watch the play at 1:03 of the film, the opponent runs a counter play. The blocking is the same blocking scheme used on the QB counter leads that gave the Hokies fits this season. The center blocks back on Hewitt. Instead of going up field (see Maddy, Marshall, and Baron far too often) Hewitt recognizes the cross block, crosses the face of the center, and pursues to the football. We need more of that.
I have a really hard time believing that Hewitt is 6'3 290 as listed (looks 6'1 260 ish), but he looks well conditioned and plays with great technique and motor. I never discount productivity (see Woody Baron) and Hewitt looks like a very productive. I think he could be a steal. He is particularly well suited as a 3 technique in the Bear front.... big enough to fight back against down blocks and double teams on off tackle plays- quick enough and sound in technique to fit on the back side and pursue to the football. Generally, when you look at this class, the skill sets of a bunch of the kids targeted sure look like the Bear is around to stay. More on that after signing day.
Def noticed that too.
a couple links i saw posted on 247
https://www.facebook.com/venicefootball/videos/10152977366074088/
https://www.facebook.com/venicefootball/videos/10153081934534088/
HS junior, 415 bench... dang. He may well be at 425 here a year later.
The throw at 1:48 really hurts his chances at playing under center for us. Got a hitch there that I don't think even Tyrod Taylor's dad could fix it.
Ok, so I'll admit. I saw 2 stars, and a guy that probably isn't as big as they are saying he is, and I'm thinking, oh boy, are we just filling gaps with prospects?
After watching that film, I am amazed that he is rated only 2 stars.
Kid has an unbelievable motor. He reminds me of a great white shark -- tracks his prey as long as it takes (which often isn't long at all), then closes with an incredible burst of speed and hits with violence.
Don't know that I've ever seen a high school kid use his hands so well to get off blocks. Looks like Aikido almost. And strong hands -- I know the people he's tackling are generally smaller and less powerful than what he'll see in college, but man, when he gets even one mitt on someone, they go down.
Yeah, I think that 330 lb power clean as a HS Junior says a lot.
And to be 2 stars as a Florida 7A all-stater (second largest division)... hmm.
I understand some of these words...
Honestly I love the analysis it's helping me understand football more than "do the thing, score points"
+1 for yeoman's work
Trying to think of some good D-Linemen we have gotten from Florida.............hmmmmmmmmmmmmm................
LOVE this kids motor!
First thing I noticed in that pic is Coach's wind suit.
I also keep noticing CJF wearing wind suits a lot. Either he really wants to convey that he's a hands on, in the trenches coach, or he really likes to stay comfortable.
#Analysis
I'll take wind suits over khakis, team cap, and no shirt any day.
You don't like this?
Or, how bout shorts and visor?
Spurrier can pull it off IMHO
Harbaugh looks like a white walker! DUDE is almost transparent
via GIPHY
The resemblance is scary.
Come at me, Bro.
{GoT aside: I just found out today that Jon Snow dates Ygritte in real life}
He liked what he saw and took it!
Man. I bet Bud Foster was salivating watching this kids tape. Hah I love at around the 3:00 mark he starts pursueing rbs for like 40 yards, he's really quick for a bigger guy. He almost looks right now like a line backer. Well see how he does with a college weight program and the number one dinning hall in. The. Nationnnnn
Luke Kuechly with a hand in the dirt.
I like this kid already.
Is it me or is Fuente doing the "weekend at Bernie's" pose?