Lets not forget one of our biggest OL 2019 targets is announcing tomorrow. Hokies in good shape per sources and Crystal Balls.
Also, found this interesting
https://247sports.com/college/virginia/Board/16/Contents/Hilarious-from-Jesse-Hanson--114781891
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Hard VT *lean* right now, ...I saw earlier on lesabre, they've pretty much given up hope.
I'm not sure if you are referring to this recruitment or life in general with that statement.
His recruitment. I initially left out the word lean when I wrote the comment, so I went back and wrote it in, ..and put the * * around it.
Funny post but he's not coming to UVA, it will be VT tomorrow...
One of the most true statements I've gleaned from a Wahoo forum.
Hopefully this isn't a situation where he commits to us and then immediately flips to Clemson if they come after him. If I'm not mistaken, he is the one who grew up a Clemson fan, right?
You are correct. I am hoping being a VA recruit close to Tech and our need for OG this next class will keep him "home" even when Clemson comes calling, which I almost guarantee they will.
Pretty sure his Dad played at Clemson, thus why he would only go there if offered. Let's hope he wants to pave his own path!
Verbal commitments 364 days in advance mean next to nothing. But it would feel good for him to say "VT" tomorrow. :-)
Depends on who makes the commitment. Some guys make a decision and it's over. Some shop around. I wouldn't say it means nothing. It means quite a lot actually. I don't have any numbers to back it up but I'd say north of 50% of all commitments stick to their original school.
Don't forget about the early signing period! Only gotta hold on for ~300 days instead.
Does grew up a Clemson fan now mean their recent success since 2011? Shit that's a scary thought that's about of a third of these kids lives
No, kid has family ties and admits it was hard when VT was rolling and Clemson was pre-Dabo
He was probably like 11 or 12
Very cool. Almost time to start looking forward to next year's class, after celebrating this one a bit.
247 Crystal Ball has him at 100% Virginia Tech.
https://247sports.com/Player/Jesse-Hanson-46040665
Vice has been doing a great job. I really believe this relationship is strong and even if clemson knocks on his door it will be considered too late.
via GIPHY
It's entirely too long of a way to go to rule out clemson. That's just foolish
I may be foolish but I have a feeling Clemson is going to Clempson this and wait too long thinking there is better then come after him. This kid by all accounts has been honest and upfront and whats the recruiting process over with
These Hanson Brothers, are better. No doubt, far superior, more aggressive athletes, too!
"I'm trying to listen to the f'ing song!"
I will never not upvote Slapshot
The blonde guy without the helmet in the 2nd gif flopped like Lebron
So he's going to announce for FSU? /s...but tears
I like the strategy of having a big announcement like this for 2019 right after 2018 wraps up... Keep the ball rolling.
As others have said, 2019 will start off well. I'm not willing to write off clemson but him committting this early rather than waiting for the Tigers to offer is a good sign IMO.
LA you think we get Simmonds on board too soon?
This spring, yes. Love him as a recruit too.
Hopefully we lock up these two guards and start going after some tackles. Love Culver and like Beaver, but really need some athletic guys on the left side and they're both more suited for RT IMO.
Love your input...and who doesn't like Beaver?
Trees
How do you feel about Hudson? Whitner? Jakai Moore? Darnell Wright?
Hudson is a guy that I think falls in love after every visit. Hard to get a read on him either way but I could see us very involved throughout the process and I could see us not even in the picture 12 months from now. Tough guy to read.
I think Whitner likes us but is taking it slow. Funny cause he's a kid that actually has some pride in being from VA, yet he's technically an out of state kid.
I think Moore goes elsewhere, doesn't care about staying in state. Has some big offers already so he'll be tough.
Wright really, really likes VT but will obviously be a very tough pull away from OSU and PSU. But he does love VT.
How about the DL which is the biggest position of need next year. Sounds like Smiley may be a DT or may be an OL.
Smiley wants to play DT but I'd prefer him on the OL. He'll be a Hokie though. The kid from BS whose name is escaping me right now will end up there as well. We'll definitely take a third and maybe even a fourth but not sure where they'll come from.
DE we are all in on Savion and he's absolutely listening. Beamon is a DE for me as well. I really like Howard Cross from NJ as well but I'm not sure about our traction there. Really need two good DE's in this class after missing on KJ and JJB.
Whats the early word on Brandon Smith out of Louisa?
He will probably big time us
He's receptive but PSU or FSU imo.
Interesting. His speed off the ball and potential size make him look like a DT to me. I'm not sure he's quick enough for DE, but I honestly haven't watched tons of his film yet. This was all first take
I could see DT, but I think his body type is more suited for DE or TE though. I think he needs to stay slim if he wants to stick at DE but he's a good enough athlete to play there.
Adarious Jones. If we can lock those two, Id like to see us pull a top 250 player and go all in.
Yep, thanks. I agree with you, get Jones and Smiley early and then zero in on one more. I am a little nervous about the lack of offers that have gone out to DT's so far but it's still early.
Do we have any chance at all with Quinn Carroll?
Yes but need to get him on campus ASAP. With these types, we need to get in very early and very aggressive. We don't have the luxury of playing the waiting game like OSU and ND do. Have to establish a deep connection early if we hope to hold off a surge from the big boys. Dax is a perfect example of how to win those battles.
Is Collin sideline recruiting for us, or is he staying out of it? Seemed like he was all Hokie when he was here.
2019 has been the year the fans and the coaches have eyed as the breakout class for Fuente. It's go time.
He kept the 2016 class together and didn't let it fall apart, 2017 and 2018 were solid top 25 classes and he has given us a 10 and 9 win season with different QB's each year. I like where we are headed with Fuente, his staff, and these players we are getting.
Mostly agree...but '17 we were 26th according to 247 comp.
I have to ask, why is 2019 the year? A number of new head coaches are tearing it up in their first 2 recruiting classes. I hate to say it, but I don't see any reason why 2019 will be significantly different than 2018
Those coaches are in programs with much better program national relevance and prestige. Also helps when guys like Frost and Taggart are all over media for weeks because of how their transition went.
Always an excuse. Nebraska hasn't been overly relevant since the early 2000's - when these kids were born. They have plenty of history, but almost nothing of note during the lifetime of current recruits.
When Scott Frost took over, Nebraska had the 94th best class and turned it into a top 25 class - not because of Nebraska's 'national prestige.' It is on him and his approach to recruiting. Nebraska sent out offers all over the country after he was named coach, and clearly was successful in pressing hard and flipping plenty of guys.
Very good recruiters don't need 3, 4, 5 years to 'get their guys.' There are plenty of examples all over the country, regardless of why you claim it can't happen at VT.
Bullshit, if you think Nebraska football isn't a household name your living in delusion. Also Frost is a great coach and recruiter you know what helps that being on the sports news every hour talking about how great a coach and recruiter you are. You know what also helps that budget, Nebraska spends 23 million more on less sports. You need to take off the O&M glasses and look at the landscape around you.
Turn down there hotshot
Let's not pretend the Nebraska name carries the same weight it used to.
Nebraska makes between 7-15 million more in just rights and licensing that Tech does. (Depending on year used). The Nebraska name still means a lot.
Nebraska also made 36.6 million in ticket sales in 2015/16 meanwhile Tech made 16.6 million in ticket sales. A 20 million dollar difference but sure Nebraska isn't a popular program at all.
Minnesota and Iowa both took in more revenue in 2015-2016 than Nebraska. I guess they're football powerhouses too?
This just really points out how far VT has to go in revenue building. Its amazing we have the rep we have with the money we generate.
What's the breakdown of their revenue? Did Minnesota count rent from the Vikings? Etc. you can't just look at total Athletic department revenue but its break down, how many sports do they support etc.
I'm not sure, but even if it did it was only $3 million max per season.
You're right, you can't look at the total revenue, but you haven't broken anything down other than football ticket prices which can easily be rebutted by saying Nebraska gets people in the seat way more than VT does.
Because...
They're in Nebraska?
Are you saying that because there's nothing else to do? Because I'd agree with that.
yes.
I am curious to see if a larger percent of his class busts than usual. I can't help but think they had less time for researching these kids, and likely were just basing offers off stars rather than getting to know the players. Would not surprise me if they ended up with a lot guys who were passes for the top schools when they compared 2 different 4* star players and only had one spot.
Their football stadium also seats 24K more than ours does. And, in 2015, they played 7 home games to our 6.
You remember that period when we still sold out games despite not being nearly as big on the national stage?
Isn't it widely accepted that the last thing Weaver did was lock us into a very bad licensing agreement through Nike that Whit didn't really have a choice but to sign? Not sure I would use the money made off that to justify how much better they are than us.
Come on.
It had to be said, because it's true.
So, you're telling me that recruits look at the money breakdown now?
Look, I'll agree with you all day long that we have a long way to go in revenue. But, if you are seriously trying to argue that the Nebraska NAME resonates with recruits the same way it used to...well, that's just nonsense.
The top 3 scariest driving experiences of my life involve I-80 for about 100 miles either side of Lincoln on a Friday evening/night in the fall. Millions of drunk rednecks in RVs cannonballing across the state. There's nothing to do in Nebraska.
Even in Blacksburg, you see people wearing 'stuff' from different sports, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL (well, probably not the NHL) and some dumbfucks wearing you en see basketball stuff. In Nebraska it's only UNL football. That's the only game in town. These people spend all of their 'sports' and 'entertainment' money and attention on cornfucker football.
I've made that drive. 400+ miles of fuckall to do. Most boring stretch of interstate I've experienced.
fun fact: I-80 is one of the longest interstates in the country and the portion in Nebraska is the longest in any one state on that entire road. And it goes through Nevada and Wyoming. I've only driven the western 100 miles and yes, fack all to see.
Have driven I-80 from California to Pennsylvania. Nebraska was the worst stretch of road I have ever driven. There is one turn the entire road. I stopped at Cabellas in Sydney for lunch and to break the monotony.
Wyoming is not bad scenery in my opinion. Nevada is tough. Utah is also bad, worse than either of those until you get east of Salt Lake.
Another tough stretch is I-40 between Flagstaff and Albuquerque.
Man.
If you're trying to make people understand how sucky and boring it is to drive through Nebraska, "I had to find something interesting to do, so I had lunch at a Cabela's" really does the trick.
At least there is a Cabela's. The version of that trip through Kansas (I70) is almost identical, except there was nothing nearly as exciting as a Cabela's.
Nebraska is tough, but 90 through South Dakota is worse. Nothing till you get to Sturgis near the Wyoming line. Not even corn.
Nebraska's titles are about as relevant as Minnesota's
You don't have to win titles to be relevant. When did Michigan, ND, Texas A&M, of any of the other top 15 recruiting schools last win a natty? It's about brand recognition.
Michigan: The same year Nebraska last won it. They split it in 1997.
Nebraska hasn't really been relevant at the national level since 2001. They played for a national championship just two years after we did. Sure, they've performed well, but no better than we have. We're talking perennial also-ran.
And Nebraska has been significantly worse than we have in the past few years. That's gonna be another program to watch build though. Frost is a dude and he's got the support around him, it'd be awesome if the Huskers and Hokies can get back to the national stage at the same time as each other. We both obviously have some in conference powerhouses to overcome.
So this 'brand recognition' was good enough for the 94th class in the country prior to Scott Frost, which he somehow turned into the 22nd in 6 weeks after he was hired.
God forbid we say Frost might be a better recruiter than we have on staff. Surely it's all bc of the brand recognition and the Nebraska weight.
Stoping being obtuse. They are both factors. They had the 94th ranked class because no one was recruiting for them. Nebraska under three different coaches have averaged better classes than tech.
Nebraska was a hot in the 90's but Michigan is the royalty of the sport and will be so for a long time. Same with ND. A&M isn't in the same class as those two as far as brand goes, they just have a shit ton of new money and a loyal fan base.
Nebraska has averaged better recruiting classes than Tech for as far back as I can see Texas A&M also, AM has had multiple top 10 classes. So it's clearly not just about winning. The question can Tech under any coach figure out what the formula is to get consistent top 20 classes and mix in some top 14.
I agree with you that while a natty would be incredible for recruiting it isn't everything. I was just saying that I think A&M and Michigan recruit well for pretty different reasons.
Winning doesn't hurt.
VT got a huge bump in recruiting when we went to the National Championship.
The problem was that the results slowly faded, and we just couldn't win the big one. So yes, I'd say winning is the key for VT football. Let's give it a try, shall we?
Nebraska's titles may not be relevant to the recruits, but I'd have to think that they still carry weight with parents.
This is what I think about when I think of Nebraska
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xJx17nVZs7g
...and I still think of Tom Osborne and Tommy Frazier.
tl;dr: I'm old.
Nebraskan's remember Tech that way as well. I've lived in Nebraska for 3 years now. Went to the anOSU v Husker game last year wearing a VT shirt I was not as well received as I thought I might be.
Was it a Danny Coale jersey?
Significant portion of my extended family live in Omaha and are huge NEB fans. One of my favorite parts of family vacation is leaving a laptop on the counter in the kitchen with "DANNY COALE ALL THE WAY..." and "TYROD DID IT MIKEY, TYROD DID IT" on a loop in the morning and see how long it takes for somebody to close it and storm out.
The previous regime had burned a few bridges at high schools and even entire cities in the commonwealth of VA. Our brand had gotten pretty stale over the last 4-ish years of the the Beamer era. It was going to take Fuente a couple of years to repair our image and solidify us as on the come up. Not fair to compare that to Kirby at UGA or Taggart at FSU or even Pruitt at Tennessee. Those coaches had already established themselves at big sexy schools prior to joining another big sexy school who's image was already fine. It will take way more than a botched coaching transition to sink Tennessee.
Trogdooooooooor!!!
Because 2018 wasn't the year, so 2019 will be the year, at least until it's not the year. Then 2020 will be the year.
Lol. The annual recruiting walk-back is a great Hokie tradition. Celebrate it!
We are going to address the trenches big time in 2019. I look forward to getting the big boiis on board early and then Dax-ing the hell out of some blue chippers.
Not gonna have to wait as long this time around.
I just watched this guy's Hudl highlights... I am by no means an expert at evaluating o-line but this kid looked really really strong and happy to hit. It was obvious that the guys he was blocking wanted none of it. There was one defensive highlight where he looked surprisingly quick (not fast).
After watching is video I am pretty pumped about the potential of having him in O&M.
I think we did a great job recruiting this year, I feel like we got a lot more of our 1st and 2nd choice guys at a number of positions.
But I did a little research, over the last 11 years we have only signed 4 players that were top 3 in VA. Ryan Williams, Logan Thomas, Tim Settle, and Devon Hunter. 4 out of 33 for the premier football program in the state. I think this is a key area of Frustration in recruiting.
I agree with you that is a big point of frustration. Our challenge has been we have not been a premier football program in the country and the top players have been premier players in the country, we are going to miss most of them. This has been true for the more recent years at least.
I assume this will be an afterschool announcement? Any of the twitter followers have some details?
345
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...wait...what are we doin?
91011
I don't know
8675309
His announcement is at 3:45
1545
EDIT: tweet was deleted
FURTHER EDIT: and it's back. Someone got an itchy trigger finger looking at their drafts.
I was told his announcement was to be at 3:45, it is only 3:41. Clearly this is fake /s
Still nothing from anyone at the scene (Ricky LaBlue) so how did this come out so early?
I just looked up that twitter account. That tweet doesn't exist. They may have deleted it (probably they were ready to tweet it and posted by accident before the actual commitment).
Good man and good call, Jesse! Welcome!
And now we wait....................
Anybody see that CrazySuperHokieFan guy?
I hope he doesnt resurface
One OL down, 3 or 4 more to go.
Yep. Stack up the OL recruits.
Welcome aboard Mr. Hanson
Love hearing the kids erupt when SWVA kids commit to VT. We are the hometown school in those communities. So exciting hearing everyone get into it.
I'd call LBHS is an outlier. My wife teaches there and I would venture to say the majority of students and teachers are LOLUVA fans. Not sure if it's because they share a mascot or what, but I don't like it and neither does my wife.
Yeah its a weird dynamic, I used to live up there. But Jesse knows where the true big time university is in VA!
Of course. I was never worried about LOLUVA. Now, on the other hand, if Dabo comes calling...
Yeah, Botetourt is not SWVA.
So Blacksburg is in SWVA, and Daleville is only 45 min away but not SWVA?
Folks in my area think it stops at Blacksburg. Folks farther west don't even think it goes that far.
I appreciate the downvote, though.
Balanced out the downvote for you... not sure why someone would downvote that, but I agree with your geography. My wife for the longest time thought my hometown, Stuarts Draft, VA, was in Southwest Virginia....
She also has to use GPS to go to the grocery store...
Mmmm Stuarts Draft. Three words: The Cheese Shop. Almost any time someone from my family is in the area, a stop is made there.
Oh hell yeah! Add to the list for future stops:
1) Miller's Bake Shop (for anything but the Hummingbird Cake, Carrot Cake, or Cinnamon Rolls are amazing)
2) Ciro's Pizza (for cheese steaks or NY Style Pizza)
Millers Bake Shop >>>>> The Cheese Shop for baked goods. TCS has switched owners a time or two the last few years and their baked goods aren't as good. Still great for bulk products.
Millers is that old timey Mennonite Touch* we used to get from Kinsingers back in the day. Their whoopie pies are top notch......and the whoopie pie is both cake and pie.....it brings everyone together like the black and white cookie.
*Mennonite Touch is a polite euphemism for lots of butter and lard.
You gotta go for when Miller's has their Free Pretzel Day in the spring - I think it happens typically around Easter, but they are absolutely amazing.
Williamsburg's Cheese Shop >>>
That's my language (see tag line) ...
My mom ships me the house sauce
Precisely.
botetourt is swva
I feel like we're going to start a sub thread argument over this like cake vs. pie
via virginia.gov
It's so pretty .... I believe it.
I consider SWVA as anything west of Bedford
well, we're all entitled to wrong opinions :-P
Its missing South Virginia Tech
Love how South Virginia Tech not only covers all of Carolina, but specifically Eastern Carolina.
"West Central" is not a thing.
Yea, I didn't think so either - probably more appropriate to say "Roanoke Valley" and kick out Montgomery, Giles, and Pulaski.
Pulaski county and Giles county are SWVA I will die on this hill.
My corpse will be right beside you.
As a Giles County man I too shall die on the hill beside yall
Yea in my opinion, Montgomery, Giles, and Pulaski should all be included with Southwest Virginia... there's no way they cannot be, right?
Also what's up with the North Neck being Eastern Virginia? Does anyone call it anything but the North Neck or Northern Neck?
No, Northern Neck and then the Eastern Shore - should make it 9 regions - those two are substantially different.
Never heard North Neck. Everybody from there is a Northern Necker, but I don't miss it.
I only learned of 3 regions in my 3rd grade class:
as a native of Giles Co, I feel confused by this map. I grew up being told we were SWVA. I know nothing of this West Central nonsense.
Ed Zachary.
I would count Giles as SWVA. the map didn't. Roanoke county and the others, definitely not.
I grew up learning I lived in the Valley (Stuarts Draft) but when I went to VT I learned that the city folk only believed in 4 regions. NOVA, VaBeach, Richmond, and South West, meaning south of NOVA and West of VaBeach, Richmond. That is likely where some of the confusion is from.
Leg for sharing the same home town.
When I went to VT, I was confused by the number of people that claimed they were from Nova Scotia- I didn't realize that Canadians had such an interest in going to Virginia Tech.
Yeah it took me a few weeks too. However I thought we had all these people that transferred in from Villanova...
Incorrect.
*sees that a commitment thread is still being frequently trafficked*
*gets hopes up*
*clicks on thread*
Oh.
(Pulaski and Giles are SWVA)
Which they are and I will not take no for an answer