Virginia Tech picked up its fourth verbal commitment on Saturday when Jaylen Griffin committed to the Hokies at the "Blacksburg Bash".
Proud to announce, I have committed to VT #Hokies and will be playing #D1 football in the #ACC All glory to God pic.twitter.com/5G1LL2sTPP— Jaylen (@JaylenGriffin_) July 23, 2016
In addition to Griffin, Tech's recruiting event yielded verbals from OL Aiden Brown, WR Sean Savoy, and ATH Bryce Thompson. The 6-2, 220 Rome, Georgia product also joins Lecitus Smith and Malik Willis as Peach State prospects committed to the Hokies' 2017 class.
Griffin originally committed to Cal in May, but he opened up his recruitment in June following a visit to Blacksburg.
"Out of all the colleges, (Justin Fuente's) really the first head coach to actually sit down and talk to me like that, that was pretty cool to me," Griffin told The Key Play after a June visit. "He's a very cool, laid-back guy."
Griffin was recruited to play the backer in Bud Foster's defensive scheme.
"(Bud Foster) told me I'd be playing the backer spot," Griffin added. "The backer is more diverse, kind of outside the box, and that's where I see myself playing. He said with my build, how I can run, that'd be my spot. The playmaking spot, that's where they want to be. And when I saw the film, number 49 (Tremaine Edmunds), he kinda has my build, so I can see why he sees that."
The Hokies ultimately earned Griffin's pledge over offers from Boston College, Cal, Colorado State, and Louisville. The 247Sports Composite rates Griffin as a 3-star recruit.
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Fast, twitchy, plays downhill. He needs to get stronger, especially in his lower body, but he is playing a role in high school that is very similar to the backer responsibilities in Bud's defense. This is a linebacker who fits scheme more than he will wow general recruitnicks. He looks very instinctive and assertive and changes direction well.
I thought he'd do well at Mike -- Diagnoses the play, get's into the gap, doesn't get fooled by the shuffle / motion stuff, hits hard. Thoughts on why he wouldn't fit at mike?
Wow, we needed that.
Love the way he jacked up the running back trying to block him at 2:48.
A linebacker, now we're talking. Hopefully an Adibi or Hall type ! If he impresses French60, that's a good sign.
That is asking for a lot, but he is a good athlete, has speed, and fits the scheme. I would take a Tariq Edmunds.
Tariq Edwards was underrated, always really liked him, great speed.
Drove 7 hours from Hampton to big stone gap today. When I get on TKP we have four commits!? I needed this
You'll have to come to BSG more often.
This is in my home territory. Originally from Wise.
My grandma is from coeburn and turned 102 today!
Other than flipping Capehart. Griffin was the recruit I really wanted to commit to the good guys. We needed a backer and this guy looks like the real deal.
Capehart hasn't committed yet.
Not officially, but right now everyone has him going to Maryland.
Big names could still be coming if you read between the lines on Fuente, Foster, and Burden's tweets this evening.
These guys can't recruit /s
Just checking the ol key play knowing that since its Sunday theres not gonna be anything to read when....Holy mother of hades!!! Great news. Welcome all new hokies!
Great news to see after getting out of Munich Saturday.
Is it just me or is it that we seem to be getting a lot of recruits. Anyone have any stats as to where we in terms of numbers right as compared to the past few years?