Virginia Tech Football Recruiting: D.J. Crossen Commits to the Hokies

Crossen another one off the list for the Hokies.

A verbal commitment from the Tar Heel state that is. D.J. Crossen makes three North Carolina natives committed to Virginia Tech's 2018 recruiting class. Tech's #NC2VT campaign previously earned pledges this cycle from 3-star DL Joe Kane and 4-star WR Tre Turner. Crossen is also set to reunite at Tech with former Dudley HS teammate, quarterback Hendon Hooker.

"Me and Hendon (Hooker) won a lot of games together (at Dudley), so I expect the same there," Crossen told the News & Record. "Whenever me and Tr (Turner, a Virginia Tech commit from Northwest Guilford) were on the same team playing AAU basketball or anything like that, we won a lot of games together. So, I expect nothing more than what I've been doing with them."

Crossen committed to North Carolina last August, but reopened his recruitment in January.

"I just felt like I didn't take my time like I should have," Crossen told The Key Play in February. "With the DBs coach leaving, that was a big part of it too because he was a main reason for me committing to North Carolina, so I just really wanted to re-evaluate everything and make sure I was doing the best thing for me."

The 247Sports Composite rates the 6-2, 190 pound corner as a 3-star prospect. However, ESPN ranks Crossen as a 4-star recruit.

Strengths: Long, ball skills and top end speed. Has the frame to develop his strength/size. ... Areas of Improvement: Strength/weight, footwork and the ability to transition out of his pedal. ... Bottom Line: Long and leggy CB with ability to get his eyes to sort and play the ball. Will need to develop in the press and to transition out of his pedal. Has skills to develop along with return value.

In addition to the Tar Heels, Crossen opted for the Hokies over Power Five offers from Auburn, Duke, N.C. State, Wake Forest, and Tennessee among others.

"It's been a dream school of mine," Crossen told The Key Play shortly after Tech offered last July. "I know they produce a lot of great DBs and have a lot of first round DBs drafted, and my ultimate goal is to go to the NFL, so it'd be a good place to go if I want to get drafted. And the atmosphere is just incredible, it's a nationally renowned school, a great program. I like it a lot."