I spent a little time during a lull this evening watching some recruiting tapes. With defensive end depth a major worry spot for the Hokies, I focused on three defensive line targets that I have seen glimpses of and liked in small doses. The longer film reinforced my initial very positive thoughts.
1) Brad Johnson — Physical, incredibly athletic. Long arms and great get off the ball. He plays with an attitude. Needs to improve on making himself narrow. He is the defensive end with the most upside of the remaining targets. I love how he makes plays opposite of his side of the line of scrimmage. Some kids are big and fast and make plays on their side because they are big and fast on their side of the field. Johnson fights through blocks and stays with the play. He is a culture change kind of kid.
2) Victor Dimukeje — Watching the 250 pounder is like watching Woody Baron's high school film all over again. He doesn't have huge straight line speed, but he gets off the ball well and has terrific bend to the inside. Despite being a big kid, he can show up the field to force a dive read and then bend flat down the line to make the tackle. He is excellent at getting small so he can crash inside to spill plays. I love this kid. Reports are that he is a defensive tackle target- just like Woody, I think he could be even better at end.
3) Zion Debose — Another defensive end, this time from North Carolina — Debose doesn't have the wingspan or the frame to add more weight like Johnson, but he is a nasty player. His technique is more refined. He can bend to the inside to track down plays from the backside. He is stout against kick out and reach blocks at the point of attack. He has a lights out first step for his body type. Perhaps most impressively is how he wipes off blocks, makes himself small to get through the gap and then suddenly becomes huge on the other side. He levels guys. He looks a ton like Orion Martin — not the most impressive guy physically and then the ball is snapped and he is crushing the quarterback.
Comments
I want all three.
Would have gotten a leg regardless, but that one was for the Orion Martin reference. Another walk on who earned All ACC accolades.
Thanks for the writeups. Brad Johnson sure does hang around South Carolina a lot.
Would like to see any or all of them playing at VT.
Keep in mind, this is in no way an indication of if i think the Hokies will land these players. I know the same as you guys. I am planning on doing some of these little off the cuff pieces periodically when I have something I'd like to comment on that doesn't warrant a detailed film review.
For example, I am working on a detailed review of AJ Bush that will post at some point after my defensive review of the bowl game goes live. I am hopeful to do more detailed recruit reviews this year as well.
Don't mean to creep on your twitter French but are you looking to move into the SW VA area? Saw another follower commenting on Botetourt. Great area all around. My uncle lives at SML and is a tournament fisherman. Greater striper fishing there. My cousins are all eaten up with it. Great musky fishing in the James if that's what you're into (I've seen Musky come out of that river that make you question stepping into it). Lots of great trout fishing too.. Must say that if you travel a lot that the airport kinda sucks. Very few options and all connecting.
Our lease runs out and my stepson finishes high school all by July 2018. I have been told I can relocate and work from a home office, provided I am near an airport where I can travel for work without much added cost. I am a big saltwater fishermen guy, and my brother lives in Richmond, so that area has appeal. Roanoke is closer to my home town- airport is a little more problematic (there is a direct to Chicago which helps, but some added cost too.) We have some time but I am starting the looking process now because I completely stink at big ticket purchases when they are not experiential.
Still a long way from the skeeter dogs.
Talbot Is./Fernandina area. Easy access to JAX. No state income tax. Easy access to quality offshore and inshore fishing. Big Rx community in NEFL. It is, unfortunately, forever to the OBX and there is no shad run.
Man, I don't think I could handle Florida heat. I am a delicate flower!
I do not like sweating unless I am doing something intentionally to sweat i.e playing sports, working out.
South Carolina summers are brutal, so I know I'd hate to live in Florida humidity.
That's year-round Florida humidity too except for a short 3-8 day break sometime around February.
Fernandina is nice but it's a small community made up of people with a ton of money since the entire city is within 10 minutes of the beach.
It's not that bad. Like this week it's downright cold in NE FL. As for summer being near the ocean breeze really helps. You get used to the heat over time. Unlike D.C. which is a swamp where no human city should be built.
Maybe I've got a skewed outlook from working outside and in attics. I didn't get a lot of time to actually enjoy Florida while we lived there.
Hey ROA just added a second La Guardia flight this week, things are looking up in the Star City.
http://theroanokestar.com/2017/01/06/additional-nonstop-service-to-new-york-city-announced/
Debose lays the wood, would love to have him leveling some hoos
Yes! Debose' film is nasty. And I mean that in the best possible way.
All three would be amazing. Cue the Gary Oldman meme.
Anyone else notice in Debose' vid at 3:48 that the sideline is highlighted?
Nobody gettin' through that wall.
Good piece. Johnson and Debose to me are the type of players we want at DE. Really like Vic possibly at DT. Garbutt wasn't mentioned here either probably because his whole highlight is playing offense. Seems like a ridiculous athlete, but not sure he has the same mentality for D as he does for offense.
I did a review on Garbutt last spring- http://www.thekeyplay.com/virginia-tech-football/2016/02/11696/recruitin...
I do agree that he seems to have more of a taste for offense than defense given how much he highlights his offensive playmaking in his senior film.
Maybe all the new'ish DE offers are connected to a discussion with Garbutt about playing offense?
The thought had crossed my mind, but then you have to consider Keene and Deiuliis have already been landed at that position. Keene looks like a cross between Sam Rogers skillset and Jake Houseright's frame. At the same time, Garbutt certainly would be the best pass catching threat of the bunch day 1.
If they have the number, take them all as defensive line and let competition sort them out. Let's just hope that frontloading depth at one spot doesn't make things dire at another.
It could also allow Proctor to stay at Backer.
From Deiullis film, he looks a lot like Christian Reeves. VT couldn't figure Reeves out, but he had a nice career at W&M. He could be contributor for Fuente's offense where the prototypes are less conventional.
I do like Keene though. I wouldn't be shocked if he saw the field in 2017, especially if he can block as well as he tackled from the Mike spot in HS
Thats a tasty combo there
For a second lets assume we hit the jackpot on recruiting, and we land everyone we're rumored to get with Hunter, Dax, the 3 guys you have listed above, as well as flipping an elite 4* CB from another team, and knowing we've already landed Proctor, where would you see Garbutt fitting in better for this program down the line, assuming we land him as well. Would I be correct in assuming he would have more value to us on the offensive side of the ball if we rake in the big class?
Dax is 2018 isn't he?
he is.
According to 247, we have 21 signed already, meaning only 4 open slots. Is that correct, or am I missing something that would allow us to sign more?
There are many ways to manipulate a class to oversign.
Don't worry about it, the numbers will always work.
Absolute worst case, a couple kids get grey shirted and start at VT in January, 2018, counting towards the 2018 class.
Yep. Just ask Bill Dooley.
We also have 6 early enrollees that can count against the 2016 class if they wanted since we only had 19 or 20 commits last year. I think we will add 7-8 more commits by signing day when its all said and done. With graduating seniors and transfers, the numbers will work out.