So I'm a teacher on summer break with too much time on my hands, so to fill the dead time before football begins I thought I would share a list of kids I'm keeping an eye on for the 2019 cycle. I know 2019 is a loooong time out and our actual class will probably look much different than the list below, but it's something to start a conversation and will be fun (hopefully) to look back on. Here's my list:
| Name | Position | Stars | Composite Score | Notes |
| Jalon Jones | QB | 4/1 visit | ||
| Devyn Ford | RB | 4 | 0.9813 | Warm |
| Jacoby Pinckney | WR | 4 | 0.9755 | Warm |
| Tiquest Terry | WR | Blacksburg | ||
| Larry Hodges | TE/HB? | "Dream School" | ||
| Nick Gallo | TE | Hokie Brother | ||
| Doug Nester | OT | 4 | 0.9811 | In top 5 |
| Quinn Carroll | OT | 4 | 0.9759 | Hokie Brother |
| Antoine Whitner | OT | Richmond | ||
| Donavan Beaver | OT | Fredericksburg | ||
| Brandon Smith | DE | 4 | 0.9574 | Warm, 4/13 visit |
| Joseph Wete | DE | 4 | 0.9534 | DC |
| Ben Smiley | DT | 4 | 0.9747 | 757, Indian River |
| Drake Thomas | ILB | Joe Kane's HS | ||
| Ah'Shawn Moore | OLB | 5 | 0.9892 | 757, Indian River |
| Cam'Ron Kelly | CB | 4 | 0.9273 | 757 |
| Myles Bell | CB | 6/15 visit | ||
| Nick Cross | S | Dematha, MD | ||
| Litchfield Ajavon | ATH/S | 4 | 0.9607 | VA |
Some more thoughts:
-seems like there are some big time OL targets that we could be in the mix for. After our 2017 class the positions that I thought we needed to hit hard in the next couple classes were CB, DT, and OL. Our 2018 class seems to be answering the CB depth, but DT and OL for the 2018 class are still a question mark.
-If you have time to watch some film I would suggest Devyn Ford, Drake Thomas, Cam'Ron Kelly, and Litchfield Ajavon. Those kids are all going to be beasts.
-I'm sure this can be said for every year, but it seems like if Fuente can get us to have another successful year on the field the 2019 class could be a huge year to see our recruiting take it to the next level.
-On top of the kids listed I would think we would still need a couple more receivers, and another DT, CB, and S.
Comments
Has the Tank Land ship sailed?
Probably not now that we got Chatman on board.
Lets start with all 8 players currently ranked on 247 in the state of VA for 2019! I think we are heavy favorite for the Indian River guys and yes, still Tank Land. Devon Hunter will be our lead recruiter for 2019 as well.
http://247sports.com/Season/2019-Football/CompositeRecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=Highschool&State=VA
I thought I saw UGA was leader for Tank Land. Are we back on top?
We've done a good job of mending relationships with Tank, but I wouldn't say that we're the leader. His recruitment is wiiiiide open right now.
Just want to point out the inherent irony/oxymoron of that question...
I think 2019 is where we could really start to pull in 6-8 elite level recruits. While OL recruiting is always going to be tough,their are some decent connections to land some big time big nastys next year. I think every year Fuente and staff get to evaluate talent is increasingly going to mean more elite level talent. Recruiting is all about relationships and unless you are a big name you have to spend a few years building relationships with big time recruits.
If the coaches have their way, Smiley will be an OT for us. He's 100% Hokie right now too. Either he or Jacoby Pinckney will be our first commit in the '19 class if I had to put my money on it.
Would be stoked to have either one be the first commit for 2019, but seems like Smiley is hokie all the way so I would like to get Pinckney first to know he's really on board
Pinckney has been very high on the Hokies for a long time. He's very close with Jordan McFadden too so that commitment only helped VT.
I'd be all smiles and tickled pink if either of these were to happen....I'll see myself out.
Hunter needs to be the lead recruiter on these two Indian River kids.
Litchfield Ajavon is an all-time great name
Thanks for putting this together. Hoping to land a couple of the big boys on that list.
I say lets keep #NC2VT going and land Savion Jackson to play opposite KJ Henry.
Ah'Shawn Moore's 247 profile has him all in VT. I'm sure that's just a really early assessment, but I got a slight chub just looking at it.
Yeah it's only one prediction too. I'm sure once he starts taking officials they will start pouring in from every direction for a variety of schools.
Selfishly, I'm holding out hope to see Chewbacca Jr on this, either during or after this upcoming season. I am also kind of surprised that Colonial Forge's Josh Sarratt is not on any of these lists.
Good luck to Chewbacca Jr. I know it's a bit of a pressure cooker but I'm sure he's going to do wonderful.
It is safe to say that we'll be putting more focus on VA than this year. There is a lot of talent in Hampton Roads, so hopefully we can get Smiley, Moore, Kelly, and Land.
Devyn Ford is a guy that we've been hearing about for a good year or two. To me, he is a must get.
Add the Hokie brothers (hopefully that streak continues) and we have the makings of a great class.
We have to finish with this class, have a great season on the field where recruits can see the potential and youth on this team, and the staff needs to continue building relationships and get these guys on campus multiple times. The Clemson game this year is big.
How about Brendon Clark? He is a QB out of the Midlothian, Va area (Manchester HS) which is my hometown. Hope we have a shot at getting him since he is relatively local to VT.
Yea, I wondered about him. He's the number 4 ranked recruit in VA, with a high 4* ranking with a score of .9695 (though I think he's only been ranked by one service). His only offer so far is from Maryland, so hopefully if Fuente likes him we get an offer out earlier rather than later.
While I want us to go after all the talented players we can, this is the first recruiting cycle in a long, long time that I feel like we aren't in dire need of securing a "franchise" QB. It's certainly a bit of an odd feeling after a decade of misses but also it's a promising sign that Fuente has seemingly gotten that under control only one season into his tenure.
Also possible he promised QP he wouldn't pursue another QB next year.
I sure hope Fuente hasn't made promises like this at any position. We need to pull at least one high caliber QB every cycle. You don't see big boy schools like Clemson, Bama, Ohio St., FSU, etc. taking years off recruiting that position.
Agreed. I wouldn't consider him a must get, but if we have a 4*QB in our backyard in a class without a QB commit, I would hope we pursue him, that is if Fuente thinks he would fit.
Which Carroll? C.J. (currently on roster) or Collin (previous LS, turned broadcaster)?
I thought it was collin's brother. If I wasn't so lazy I guess I could use the google machine to find out.
It is, I can still remember the sound byte of him during player intros saying "Edina, Minnesota" in his accent.
Awesome thanks. Collin supports VT still, so unless the brother wants to go his own path, I imagine VT will be given a pretty good shot at him.
We have a shot, but he's going to have a ton of big time programs after him. Would be a huge pull if he does become a Hokie though.
Has it really been 16-17 years since "Hey Ma"?
via GIPHY
Juelz was my favorite though.
So I'm assuming you are in Brookland NE DC. What school do you teach at? We just went through the lottery.
I am indeed. I teach at Capital City PCS, it's a good school, we'll be sending our daughter there in a couple years (she just turned 2). Good luck with the lottery process, I know it can be stressful.
We were preaction, so got into bunker hill. Then came off list for shiny stars so enrolled there now. #11 for bridges which was our first.
I think bunker hill is about to go through gentrification, so should see some changes there.
I mean I don't even play football but still...
