Discuss and share any Virginia Tech related recruiting topics from May 2020 that don't warrant their own thread
This recruiting thread is used to share information regarding VT-specific targets, including PWOs, scholarship offers, visits, camps, and general news pertaining to those targets.
The other monthly Recruiting Discourse Thread is for higher-level discussion of VT recruiting trends and broader conversation regarding the overall college football recruiting landscape and other schools' classes and commits.
[1]. Please do some digging to share original content (e.g. embed the original tweet, not a link to another post/website with said tweet), add context / relevant information and respect the Community Guidelines.
[0] If someone would like to make this thread from month-to-month, let Joe know, he is apt to forget and pressed for time. Or simply copy the boilerplate and start a new thread.
[1] New commitments, decommitments, portal entries, etc... deserve their own thread. Please read the brief best-practice tips at the top of the recruiting forum
Comments
link to the 2021 Unofficial Big Board (google sheet)
June 2020 247 Embeds:
(not exhaustive, and no particular order):
These look like the next dates to keep an eye out for:
7/2 - Ahmari Huggins-Bruce
7/11 - Isi Etute
July Scheduled Commitment Dates
Earl Miller announcing today? Probably #2 on our DT board?
He isn't announcing today anymore. Postponed until further notice.
I'm clearly late to the party, but that recruiting board spreadsheet is super handy.
I like the guys we're targeting. Maybe not every one is a 4 or 5 star but they're solid and I'm guessing good kids.
Maybe none of them are 4 or 5 star
Sometimes the facts aren't real popular.
Are we looking at the same list? T Williams - 4 star, T Leigh - 5 star, K Gilliam - 4 star, J Poole - 4 star, L Watson - 4 star (Rivals)...
This above comment, and pretty much everything except for Gobble's first post, seems best for Discourse.
Please stay on topic. I do not want to miss an LAHokie item buried within 50+ posts of recycled debate.
How we feeling about Poole. 62%VT 38%NCSU?
33% VT, 33% NC State, 33% SC.
I don't think south Carolina has a chance i think they are just there 😂
I think SC has a better chance than you think
If we can get Tyleik Williams, that would solidify our DT position for a little while. Looks like Naquan is projected for LSU but we still have a shot. D-Ends are coming in.
Would like to pick up another Wide receiver and we might want to look at the O-Line too.
Was looking at the list above, and we have a lot of D-Line out there that we still have a chance on. So I think if Brown goes elsewhere, no biggie. Issue will come if we don't get the other guys though. Hate to see us fall flat at the end of the road.
Not landing Naquan Brown will just continue to re-enforce that VT can't land big time players from their home state, which is a huge problem. For the "it doesn't matter where we get talent from, and Va is overrated crowd".. well 1. We aren't getting DE's as good as Brown from anywhere else either... and 2. Image is huge. VT is not a national brand, and with each passing recruiting cycle, we aren't a virginia brand either. It's a huge issue.
I agree about perception, however....
Just about every school on Brown's list has backed off. Last week, there was talk of LSU walking back his offer, until transfers occurred this week. He's also dropping in rankings after a recent camp. I don't believe Naquan explicitly is a VT problem/issue.
Yet we are recruiting him with a full court press, as we should. He is a better prospect than Trevon Hill was- baggage aside. If it's grades, VT would be backing off too, as our math requirements are pretty tough, etc.
recent comments from some people itk make it seem that this might not entirely be the case
My understanding is we backed off some time ago.
That's what it sounds like on the subscriber side of TSL. I think the only reason that we are somewhat still in the picture is because of the area he is in. I don't think the coaches are too high on the kid. Does he have potential? Absolutely, but he does not fit the mold of the DEs that our new defensive coaches are recruiting.
So when Brown commits to the defending National Champs and plays in the SEC, perhaps we should evaluate our evaluation process? I'll buy this horse crap if Brown signs with Liberty.
Ok, so Brown comes to here. He doesn't fit what the coaches are trying to do and doesn't play. How does that improve the look of VT? Now he's a "highly rated" (not as highly rated now) kid that picked VT, didn't develop, doesn't play, and doesn't go to the NFL.
If Brown doesn't fit what the coaches are trying to do, Tapp wouldn't be recruiting him as hard as he possibly could. FULL STOP.
Is he? I read that the coaches are very mixed on Brown.
usually this is the point where we let dcwilson just be dcwilson because he's gonna say and believe what he wants to say and believe even though there are indicators that don't necessarily align
Tapp is not recruiting Brown? I'm all ears...in the point in the thread where TKP is going to TKP and pretend we backed off on a top 200 recruit. Im all ears.. seriously.
A couple points:
I wish I could upvote for point #1 more. Always fun to see 55 comments on the first day of July and less than half of them related to actual news.
He fit Wiles. He doesn't fit this group. For goodness sake, look at the archetype they are recruiting. Wooten is the shortest DE they have pursued hard. They want length unless they can find Jerry Hughes. And if you turn on the tape, Brown isn't Eli Adams, much less Jerry Hughes.
We were most definitely NOT recruiting Brown with a full court press and he is most definitely NOT a better prospect than Hill. Stop speaking in absolutes when you don't actually know the facts. He was pretty far down the DE board and I'm not 100% convinced we would have taken him if he tried to commit today.
as good as him, or as highly rated as him? there's a crucial distinction there and it's a question that can't really be answered until everyone sees the field.
Last year we just signed 2 DE's rated .87(Wooten) and .88(Bryant) by 247 (not their composite ranking). Naquan is rated .88. So we are getting DE's as good as him just not from Virginia and that is definitely frustrating.
Wooton was a 3 star with offers from Arizona, Missouri, and SMU... Bryant is more comparable yes, but not the offer list Brown has. And like I said, we continue to whiff on in-state players. In no sane world does that help the VT image
I'll bet Mattheus Carroll will have a career stats at DE then brown
Because there's such a massive difference between an 87 and an 88? You're putting an awful lot of judgement on razor thin and imprecise distinctions.
Ummm are you talking to DC?😂
While we all know that Cody Grimm is a better football player than Devon Hunter, we also know that's not what I'm talking about here.
you're the one who bizarrely brings up holland fisher and nick dew all the time. I asked an honest question to clarify what you meant
I'll buy you a beer if I have brought up Nick Dew on this board in the last 5 years- or ever. I don't recall that at all. I vaguely remember fisher- but I fail to see what point you are trying to make? My post was pretty clear. We are not landing players as good as Brown from Iceland, Cleveland, Christiansburg or Kansas. If you want to debate THAT very clear point, I'm game.
https://www.thekeyplay.com/comment/reply/18325/843742
Give me address and beer choice. Done
25 Beamer Way, Blacksburg, VA 24060
Anybody want to guess Whit's favorite beer?
what the heck man you stole my beer
I got you- seriously. Will happily buy you a beer, I forgot I even posted that comment. My fault 100%
know what's extra sad? it's illegal to ship beer to residences in NJ. cheers and have mine for me in the name of tkp
If there is VT football this fall , and you are going to a game- Please let me know. Would love to have you over to my tailgate for a beer and food.
i'd like that! I have grand designs about the PSU game but ticket might be cost prohibitive if stadium is 20% capacity. We'll see
I don't think this is the year to bring the wife and kids to a game (and I don't think Kelly has been there since the wife was at 38 weeks), but if we do come, we'll swing by.
Nah, that was to get you the beer. I just wanted a little jab at DC.
I think gobble would agree with you 100% if you said this instead. We don't know how good Brown is. He hasn't played a snap of CFB. However, we do know exactly how highly rated he is. And you are correct, we aren't consistently pulling players with or above his ranking.
My bad... the title of this thread is not July Recruiting...no, it's 3 years down the road player development hindsight thread. I didn't think I'd have to clarify I wasn't discussing player development scenarios in A RECRUITING THREAD.
Did we not just establish that Bryant (offers: USC, Oregon, Oklahoma, LSU, Miami) is very comparable to Brown and we landed him? The year before that we landed 3 players in the Top 200. If your complaint is we aren't landing enough of them, then that's one thing, but if you're saying we just aren't capable of it, then i'm not sure it's a valid argument.
Edit: This is really a conversation for the discourse thread. Sorry for anyone seeing all the comments and thinking a commitment happened.
My point is crystal clear. We whiffed on Brown.. 1. Again proving we can't land the top players in Virginia, and 2. We don't have any DE's in. THIS CLASS we are getting from Antartica instead- since the talking point is successfully recruiting your home state is overrated. We did land CORNELL Brown though, 26 years ago, so no need to worry about Brown.
Is it actually a whiff if you back off on a kid on purpose?
Do you know what the hell you are doing as a staff if you "back off" a top 200 in state player that LS Fucking U is taking? That might be the bigger question.
It is if it looks like like it to the public
So we should take someone the size of a safety to play DE when we're trying to get bigger, stronger and faster on D-line?
Well LSU took him so let's follow that model.
I like their results.
LSU can afford to take a flyer on someone like Brown. VT probably can't.
I see what you're saying but we could definitely afford to take Brown in this class lol
Based solely on a star rating?
No, he committed to LSU.
So I ask again, should we take someone the size of a safety to play DE? Inquiring minds want to know...
I will just say no, this is much easier.
Brown and his early ranking (like Tank Land) is whats wrong with the process. Guy is quick, but he's def not thick enough. Tech would def take him but probably count him as an LB and not a DE - J ham is going for bigger thicker DL these days and Brown does not fit that mold, so he would not really count as a DE recruit for us. I do hope he picks us, but we should continue to pursue other DE prospects.
Yup- saw him at a hoops game this past year in a T Shirt and wondered how that frame could in any shape or form hold close to 240 lbs. He just looks like a guy with a frame for OLB or even safety.
Come on man. VT VERY much wants him and he would easily be the highest rated player in this class. But i'm glad with the 60th rated class right now, we are being picky. that's awesome.
Lol cuz grabbing players purely based on rank / speculation (for someone who doesn't even fit a DE mold for us) is always a great way to improve ones program.
If we get him it will be as LB or something else I'd bet. Not for a DE position. I'd be more than happy to be surprised otherwise, but he's severely undersized to be one for us.
Kentucky would still have the ball on offense if that game didn't have a clock. But sure, Naquan Brown is not a take for us based on talent. Right. WHO CARES if we move him to OLB? We all wet our pants when we signed a bunch of 4 star WRs- cause? "we need talent, period". This is sour grapes on Brown.
Lol wut?
And who ever said he's not a take? I said sure we'll take him, but he's not going to be DE for us (at least not at this current size). He'll probably be LB.
He better be a take, since our highest rated commit is #660 right now. And it's not like he can't help us at OLB, either. Ashby and Dax are inside guys... Tisdale is a RS sophomore with no proven depth behind him. Brown is a top 200 player. You take those guys when you are VT.
....sooooooo thank you for finally coming around to my point. It only took so about 10 unnecessary comments instead of the usual 100.
So your point is Brown is not a DE? awesome. Not at all what this thread was about though. Thanks
Actually this is a recruiting news thread, so it's about all players and topic. You chose to blindly get into a rage about a topic you knew nothing about, which makes you look more like a fool than you usually do. Don't hate cuz you didn't know what you were talking about lol.
LOL.. sure. We aren't recruiting Naquan Brown. OK. Please
If Brown takes a snap at DE for LSU I'll be surprised. They took a guy with similar h/w measurables in 2019 who's listed as a linebacker on their roster now.
Our highest rated LB commit is 992 and was a safety in HS.. most project him as a project regardless. But nah, Naquan Brown at OLB potentially is a no take for us. Sure.
You might wanna try sleeping on the other side of the bed once and a while.
My concern with Brown at OLB is his speed. He didn't run a sub 5 in a Nike combine i believe. That really doesn't scream OLB to me if that's the case. But, his film is impressive in that he's quick and makes plays. So, very confusing to me as to where he would end up. And I'm not a football coach nor have I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express.
My thoughts would be that LSU has a specific position in mind with Brown and that's appealing to him, or LSU is telling him he can start out an OLB and maybe VT isn't. Who knows. I don't think every recruit in Virginia is an indictment of recruiting in Virginia. I do think VT has taken an approach to be honest with these recruits though.
This is all speculation on my part, but I think your breaking down an issue with recruiting in VA into a black and white stance when there is so much nuance to each individual recruit it's really hard for me to take your argument, digest it, and 100% agree with it.
I'm not a fan of taking guys because of their recruiting ranking. That's what the heralded Mack Brown did mailing it in his last few years at Texas. Fell in love with the ranking and not the fit. There's a balance to be had there.
No doubt, recruiting appears to be heading in a not good direction but unfortunately, there's not a leading indicator that truly tells the story. You won't know how you do until you see how the class pans out in 4-5 years.
I think one of the points that DC is trying to make though, is that he is rated by someone as top and if we don't land him or don't want him, while there may be whatever reason, other kids don't see those reasons.
I can completely see that side of it, that other top recruits or even lower rated recruits may be hesitant to come to VT because we can't seem to land someone who Others/rating services think is worthwhile.
Now, we have months to go, so landing a couple of those higher rated recruits may fix this, but who knows when that is going to happen, and if it will be in time to help others make a decision.
Im speaking to the trend here...not trying to be black/white. We've had a losing season, lost to UVA, got destroyed by Duke, ODU, etc.. and signed the last rated class in the ACC. During this time, recruiting in our home state has also fell sharply. You don't recruit Va for the sake of recruiting Va, sure..but it's not like we are getting results elsewhere while we also hurt out image in-state. It's a no win right now.
I brought up a 4 star DE we signed in 2020 and 3 Top 200 signees from 2019 to prove we can recruit athletes at Brown's level and you told me i might as well bring up how we signed Cornell Brown 26 years ago. You can't just use past events to highlight your point and establish a trend, then mock them when other people use them.
Have we not just signed a few kids from VA in the last few weeks or am I mistaken? Also you just admitted why things are bleak so why still expect top players to commit to somewhere that has been struggling when someone like LSU fresh off of a national title come knocking? I get it we want to land the best players but sometimes the shoe doesnt fit and you move on. Brown hasnt been developing as hoped for DE so I dont know why its a surprise were backing off at the moment.
If Brown isn't a take then we better get Poole or Williams. We need some damn star power in this class, and I don't see it coming from Leigh or Gilliam.
Looks like Brian Dohn just CB'd Williams. (Yes, insert pen to paper) but that would be a huge get/hopefully momentum starter
Edit: Need to pay attention to my spelling.
He CB'd Williams on the 25th last month
Tfw DC hijacks the recruiting thread 😧
Me when I see 60+ comments in a new recruiting news thread....
Me when I realize it's the usual suspects fighting over non-recruiting news stuff...
Don't worry we'll have some actual good recruiting news soon😃
Oh?
I feel like this is why there's a discourse thread...
Totally agree
Coming into the Recruiting News Thread looking for actual news like:
Now that we've taken a major detour of actually recruiting news, here is where we stand (in my opinion) of projecting the '21 Class.
QB (1): Tahj Bullock
RB (2): Estime, Black (Malachi Thomas backup if we miss on Estime)
WR (3-4): J. Jones, TJ Huggins, Eric McAlister, mayble Kylen Austin/Skyler Bell
TE (2): J. Hollifield, Dingle/Outz/Renda
OL (4): Miletic, Kimo Makaneloe, Christopher Adams, maybe Diego Pounds
DE (3): Caroll, Cole Nelson, Deontae Anderson/Robert Jackson
DT (3): Tyleik Williams, Earl Miller, JUCO/Transfer or Devin Lee
LB (4): W. Johnson, K. Lawson, Isi Etute, Jordan Poole
S (3): Stroman, Hoyle, Donavan McMillon
CB (3): N. Johnson, Asbury, DJ Harvey
I judge each class in its ability to get the right proportion of 1-2 year players (significant early playing time, potnetial to start as Fr./Soph.) to 3-4 years players (more development guys, potential to start as upperclassmen). A good class in my opinion woud have 1/3rd 1-2 players and 2/3rds 3-4 players. In this projected class, I think we would only have seven 1-2 players (Estime, J. Jones, and any of the TE's on offense, T. WIlliams, Poole, McMillon, and Harvey on defense). Guys like Gilliam, Diego Pounds, and Jayden Thomas would be 1-2 year players as well but we really are going to have to go 10-2 and win the coastal to build more momentum with top recruits. We don't have folks like Mack and Dre Bly down in NC selling snake oil so we need results this fall to close strong.
I like this projection. Would love to see some of these pickups. I don't follow recruiting enough to know who half of them are, but the ones I do know would be great to get.
So far, so good.
75 comments and more discourse than news. Can we start over and pretend like this one doesn't exist.
This needs to go plaid, it's like a Coronavirus Discussion Thread up in here
Another recruiting thread got me like
smh
great show
Can we for 1 mth just test the theory of DC won't argue a missed VA recruit with himself?
50 plus comments Naquan Brown and no one bothered to actually post his commitment to LSU? Inevitable or not, it will still effect VT's plan moving forward.
How's it going to effect Tech's plan going foward he wasn't a take here anymore
Doesn't matter if all the best players in the state are kickers we should sign them all since they're rated above 88 so we should rage anyway
Edit: forgot the /s
Yeah. Who needs the best players in Virginia when they are going to scrub programs like LSU? What do LSU coaches know? Lolololol. We "backed off" naquan Brown is the funniest theme on here in a long time.
Dude LSU is likely not even gonna take he's commitment quit being so damn stubborn 😂😂
Ok. We'll see. We totally backed off a top 200 player though. I believe it
LSU coaches haven't even seen him. Rumor mill says that he's lying to them, telling them he's grown some since there's no camps or anything to really verify. You don't know what you're talking about on this one at all.
☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️
Lol hilarious.
I have to go back and re-listen to the interview, but I spoke to his high school coach back in the late fall and I believe he told me LSU had visited.
Haven't seen him since fall
Sure, but unless I missed something, that's a lot different than "haven't even seen him".
Didn't know that LSU had visited. Doesn't change the merit of the rest of my comment, though.
Here we go again.
I think Pitt and, to an extent, Tennessee may have thought they had a shot. What recruits do they pursue differently now that he's committed? Have they already shifted priorities? What overlap is there with VT prospects?
He always wanted to go too LSU if he just used the other schools for clout
He's a take at the defending national champion and a school that can literally pick and choose whoever they want on the recruiting trail, and he's not for us when we have one of the worst average rating per recruit in the P5 during this recruiting cycle right after having one of the worst in the P5 last year?
So if he decommits from LSU and it's ?because he wasn't a take can i come back here and say i told you so?
I'm not sold on this kid, ran a 5.1 40 and only a 26 inch vertical. I get that at one time he was a higher rated player from VA but at maybe 6'1 and maybe 200 lbs he doesn't have the frame or athletic ability to add weight to be a P5 DE. He is not athletic enough to be a LB. He is a classic VA kid tweener. Add to it how he was having a twitter feud with Carrol when Carrol called him out, he doesn't seem like a great locker room fit either. TnT know what they are looking for. Both have NFL experience so I'm going to trust their evaluation of this kid.
I feel bad for him that he slipped down to the defending champs after his poor measurables. /s
Dude there's a discourse thread that is for bitching and moaning go use that instead of clogging up this thread MEANT FOR RECRUITING NEWS😠😠😠😠
LSU is in a position where they can take developmental players and have them be busts because they are loaded with blue chip recruits. If we took Brown and he never panned out guys like you would say our coaches can't develop talent.
4 star recruits are developmental players now? That are recruited by the very best programs in the country? Ok
DISCOURSE THREADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
The crazy thing is that DC is over in the discourse thread not typing any of this argument. It's like he is determined to ruin this recruiting thread and we are taking the bait.
Joel Caleb and Raymon Minor.
☝️
Every program can point to 4 star busts, but 4 stars have a higher chance of reward than 3 stars no doubt about it.
And some 3 stars can become better players than some 4 stars
That wasn't what DC said. He said 4 stars aren't developmental guys. Caleb was Beamer and staff chasing rankings in the 804 to make it look like they were recruiting fine there. Everyone knew he wasn't a natural at any position for Tech.
And 4* chances of only modest or little success is only slightly lower than 3*. The vast majority of both don't get drafted.
He may never even end up at LSU. LSU gets another DE or two and Brown is looking for another school.
Losing Brown doesn't bother me because he is SMALL. He is very small for a DE and he lacks the speed to play LB. There have been other 4 star VA kids that we've missed out on that have bothered me a hell of a lot more than Brown not picking VT.
I was a 6' 190 lb DE who ran about the same 40. Guess I should have tried to walk-on at VT since I have the measurables based on what some other folks are saying. Me and Engelberger could have been the great walk-on book ends of VT...
It's a tough miss for sure but tbh, I'm more mad we invested so much in Brown when DE/OLB George Wilson is a better fit, higher ceiling and he's from VA Beach. Was unrated until Dec/Jan when his film hit. He's since been rated 4* and #8 player in VA by 247. Because Rivals and ESPN are late, his composite is a bit lower but he's the better prospect IMO. Wilson just got 2 CBs to UNC today BTW.
And we were the first to offer Wilson. From Green Run, a school that has produced a dozen or so Hokies. That's the DE from Va we should have been on.
Think he is also going to UNC so that sucks again.
LA had mentioned in a previous thread that we weren't pursuing him. I'm not sure if Wilson wasn't feeling us or we just didn't think he stacked up on our board.
Hard for VT to get through Dre Bly's fence
Think he just started playing football last year. Probably wanted to see a bit more if I were to guess.
Bird in the hand versus two in the bush here. We can be excited about the possibility of Williams, or Gilliam, but what about recent VT recruiting trends gives you optimism that they will end up here? TnT? They haven't proven it, and the sense to me is that they are pretty damn raw when it comes to playing the recruiting game.
They will😎
They are having to recruit at a school they have never coached at during a once in a century pandemic. If anyone specifically gets a pass on recruiting this cycle, it is TnT. I am much more concerned with the recruiting misses by coaches who have been here for four years, as that may more indicative of a trend.
That's fair. But our coastal division rivals don't seem to need the amount of ramp up time that our staff does when it comes to recruiting. Its disappointing to me that peer programs can follow our model of hiring former players, with limited experience, for regional recruiting fits and strike gold. Tech is over here with FCS position coach expats and a DC with ten months of total FBS experience, all of which occurred at Tech. It's frustrating that these kinds of coaching decisions seem to limit our recruiting ability.
Perhaps that indicates that there are challenges the program faces outside of personnel.
Tech is just boring, generic-brand football right now. Hard smart tough sounds great but it isn't showing up on the field, and the brand is stale and lacking discernible identity. No amount of money or extra recruiting staff is going to fix that perception right now.
We need a 10 win season with some wins over real teams. Squeaking out wins over furman just isnt working out. We also need for everyone to keep donating for the cause. I am hoping for a stronger schedule, and with that more excitement to the program. I will continue to buy season tickets, but don't expect me to come to a game playing the likes of furman. We need real games for the players, and the fans
I think a big problem with donations is increasingly becoming lack of confidence in the program. Why do people want to donate more when the product performs less? Case-in-point the Nike deal - we constantly are hearing that we need more money and need to maximize donations and other revenue streams, yet we sign a totally one-sided deal without even attempting to shop the contract around for more competitive offers. We have an administration that currently doesn't value football and isn't committed to giving it the resources it needs (ie has been withholding additional funding from the program). Why give money when it likely won't be well spent? Perspective needs to change at the top of VT wants to be a competitive football program again. It isn't just a simple as give money and cross our fingers.
Did you know you can donate and specifically earmark your donation for the football program?
Don't get seating/parking priority unless you donate to the scholarship fund, that's a big problem for most people that don't just have wads of cash to float around and are looking for some value in return.
Do you want better seats or results?
/s, but maybe not so much /s
I'm just speaking for the average fan who wants to donate to Tech and attend games, but can't afford a scholarship and football allocation for their donation. Just saying "hey help support student athlete scholarships" isn't a strong enough selling point for fans, especially when the product isn't performing.
What are schools that successfully have a large donor pool do differently?
The conversation always seems to devolve into what is in it for me? A donation shouldnt need to be returned in kind. For whatever reason, Hokies struggle to truly donate.
the answer to "what's in it for me?" is VT performing better in sports overall, including football
Sure but people act like it's a video game or something. If a fan donates $100 to the Hokie Club, our team doesn't magically gain XP and play better in the next game.
The other problem against donations is there doesn't seem to be anything in it for Hokies like me that cannot attend games (or even watch them live most weeks).
Joe sends you an awesome keychain and you get a discount in the store. If there was some Hokie Club-exclusive swag and a campus store discount, maybe scaled for various levels, that'd be more attractive for me.
What the magazine isn't enough for you??? /s
How much to get them to not send me the magazine anymore?
I'm in the same boat.
I don't buy season tickets, because I'm not close enough to attend games.
That said, I donate every year, and try to attend one game a year when they play withing striking distance (plus a bowl game) if I can. Would love if they threw me a bone here and there. Maybe some kind of bling that not everyone gets.
That said, winning games and recruiting battles would make me happier, and I'm not likely to stop donating regardless.
I got a Hokie Club garden flag when I joined so I hung it up on the wall of my office. I get thank you notes from Coach Robie for donating to the wrestling program
Edit: Green naugahyde tho👀
It's OK that you keep a more positive outlook, but not every critical post needs a pat on the back and this right here is noise.
My bad but im just tried of all the negatived 😔😢
To all the doubters this class we'll be alot better than y'all think. Just trust me on this
We get it you don't rate him for whatever reasons you have that's fine but I think the number of times you've said it in the last two hours seems a bit gimmicky.
Huh?
What? The? Fuck? Doug?
Can you not?
He already has😧😧😧
Im just gonna say this. If espn and rivals reevaluated brown he would not be a top 200 player
Again, Williams, Harvey, Poole and one of Nelson or Anderson.
Everything else is noise.
Very very confident in one of those, very confident in another, and pretty confident about the other two.
Those are the best I have seen on film. I love Nelson and Williams.
Good thing one of those is in the "very very confident" category
Love some Cole Nelson. Uses hands extremely well for a HS prospect, great motor with the length to boot. Shocked he's rated that low. I guess in FL, GA and TX it's easier for guys to be under the radar. If this kid was playing for a top program in VA, he'd certainly be a 4* IMO.
FYI, Harvey was the "very confident" prospect.
I hope "very very confident" is Tyleik..
I think Nelson may be the very very confident but think Tyleik and Poole are still in the confident category.
I think if it were to happen right now, Poole would be a Hokie. I'm starting to worry a bit about SC. I think State is fading a bit, almost looking for any reason not to go to State.
I know it's more than records, but crazy that we can win that battle over two 4-8 teams that will both struggle to get to bowl eligibility this year while we have a great shot at 10 wins this year and more in 2021.
I think it's really impressive how much ground VT has made up in a relatively short period against strong headwinds with I think BJ Hill being Pooles cousin and Germaine Pratt in his ear for NC State. Doeren isn't a sexy coach but he's put guys in the league, specifically on defense, and that's huge.
Muschamp isn't a slouch recruiter either, and he has really good NC connected guys with Joe Cox and Des Kitchings on staff and I think Rod Wilson is an up an comer with NFL experience coaching LBs.
Agreed on the last part. Seems to me like he doesn't want to go to State, but is having a hard time telling that to those around him
Add in McMillon, Estime, and a decent TE plus those guys you mentioned and the rest of the class can basically fill out themselves.
Some OL too please 🙏🏼
French, have you had a chance to review the highlight tapes for Earl Miller and Jimmori Robinson?
Miller has garnered the attention of TnT and was immediately elevated after Tyas Martin de-committed:
Earl Miller Highlights
Jimmori Robinson went from just a 'Scout Look' on VT's target board on 247 to 'Interested' with a warm status, albeit no offer yet (though he does have one from Auburn as well as interest from UNC). Played one year in JUCO and seems to have the stand up DE skill set and frame that TnT are targeting. Also, he's a former VA guy from Alexandria (Hayfield HS).
Jimmori Robinson Highlights
Thoughts?
6'6 250 DE? Gimme😃
As a former player, I follow my high school (Hayfield) alma mater's football team loosely. I don't recall ever hearing this kids name. Not that that means anything. 6'6" 250lb DE sounds good to me! I'd be ecstatic to have a former Hawk playing at VT.
Shit... Can we just restart this thread? July fucking 1st, 100+ comments and not a SINGLE recruiting "news"? Other than the 1st post listing all the 247 profiles.
1st time posting a bitching comment so I'll take the down votes if they're warranted, but some of the folks with 20-30 comments above are seasoned TKPers. Grow up and take the discourse to the thread created for that purpose.
Nah i thinking you're speaking the dam truth😃😂
via GIPHY
We also have seasoned TKPers downvoting and shaming DC, and telling him to move it to the discourse thread while simultaneously - you guessed it - talking about stuff that should be in the discourse thread.
Methinks its time for a collective review of the community guidelines. For starters:
Conversely, if someone flames, wages a personal attack or doesn't follow the community guidelines, then downvote. Do not downvote for disagreeing with someone's opinion. In general, upvote more often than you downvote. (emphasis in original).
So he can argue all he wants with no counter argument? Ok. While I'm here. Take this to the discourse thread
Scroll up and you'll see that he responded to a comment that should've been in the discourse thread, only to get -25'd because he's not wearing orange and maroon glasses while the person seeing butterflies and rainbows got several upvotes. I'm not trying to be some staunch defender of his, just saying that there can't be selective enforcement of the community guidelines against DC because he's not migrating over to the discourse thread. We either reserve all generalized commentary about the state of recruiting for the discourse thread, or we allow it be present here. You don't get to say "take it to the discourse thread, DC. And, oh, while I'm here [insert long paragraph rebutting his position and describing the overall positive state of recruiting]." And if we want to continue on this logic, your reply to my comment should have gone in the discourse thread as well. See how this circular logic is nonsensical?
This also could have gone in the discourse thread.
And why is it that my response goes in the discourse thread while the comment I'm responding to does not? And doesn't your response belong in the discourse thread as well? I'm as annoyed with this as anybody, but the thread is either reserved for recruiting NEWS or it isn't. It's not the "recruiting news and positive feelings on the overall trajectory of recruiting" thread vs. the "Discourse and negative feelings thread." All I'm saying.
You make a solid point. We need a review of the news thread vs. the discourse thread. To me it's confusing, and based on the comments in each I'm not alone in this. There are a bunch of comments in each that are 'Check the discourse thread' or 'Check the recruiting news thread'. The conversation gets disjointed and bleeds between the two.
You know what would be amazing? If a moderator could tag each post in a catch-all recruiting thread as either "news" or "discussion" and then allow users to filter out all discussion posts.
I'm sure that's not easy, and beggars can't be choosers, and you have much to do, but it would be amazing.
Or just important news comments as news
What would be really great, would be for the moderators to be able to move a comment from the news thread to the discourse thread, when appropriate.
Just my two cents, but having two separate threads hasn't worked out. A recruiting thread on a forum will produce discussion, as a forum is intended. Trying to make a forum be one directional news goes against what it wants to be. To top it off, any comment about where a comment should or shouldn't be is more noise than the comment itself (I am guilty now I know).
The vast bulk of "narrative" in the news thread comes in the form of the meandering, editorial replies. Perhaps just limit the news thread to the new "comments", and disable the reply option for all but administrators. We could see the news here, and go to the discourse thread for discussion of the actual news. I think it could work well, but sadly this would be a very very short thread if truly limited To hard news on VT crootin'.
This was my thought as well, but I know creating features for specific threads would be a PITA. If you could only make an original comment (news) and not reply (discourse) to any I think it would make people naturally gravitate to the discourse thread. I thought it would take a couple of months for people to get used to the new two thread approach, but people are naturally inclined to want to reply to the comments where they see them.
I agree with you, DC is passionate about our team. Maybe we should have a DC discourse thread for everyone who wants to respond to him, and that will clear up everything. DC has the right to his opinions, and trying to drown him out doesn't change the narrative.
How's it passionate when he only talks shit about the team?
And if y'all want a case in point. Go look at the threads when someone does commit to tech he barely goes in those threads and say congrats or we gotta good one etc oh but when one person who wasn't even a target anymore commits somewhere else you better believe DC is gonna butt he's head in and talk bad about the coaching staff😡
Yeah not as much passion as totally unrealistic expectations for tech then butthurt negativity if we come even a hair short of them.
It wouldn't even bother me at all if he was suggesting some better course of action to achieve that success but he almost never does.
My comment to you was very tongue in cheek. When I proposed the idea of a recruiting discussion thread and a recruiting news thread it was because of how absurdly long the recruiting threads got and the focal point of the conversation was more about UNC recruiting than tech recruiting. You couldn't find the tech recruiting news or by the time you did, the page crashed because of the number of comments.
Also just my 2 cents but thinking the sky isn't falling and just not wanting to hear nonstop uninformed bitching doesn't mean I have on orange and maroon glasses and think everything is rainbow and butterflies.
There's a discourse thread for the bad news lets leave this for offers and have 3 different threads for recruiting. This for offers another one about good recruiting news and CB'S going tech ways and the discourse thread about the misses and stuff
The discourse thread isn't meant for "bad" news, just like it isn't meant for "good" news. I don't think we need 3 threads either. Honestly, I am more inclined to have a single thread that gets closed out once it hits a certain number of comments.
42069?
By 'single thread' do you mean 'forum post' or do you mean threads within comments? I think it would be great if when someone wrote comment about us landing/missing player, that comment thread shut down after 25 responses (or whatever number we choose) and was automatically minimized when you opened the forum, but new comments could still be posted.
Sorry, by thread I meant a forum post and all of its associated comments.
Well, if you change your mind, I'd love TKP 3.0 to have a limited number of comments/time that a comment can be responded to. But I understand that the technical complexity may outweigh the value added.
I'm definitely considering different solutions to the problem. Right now I have to implement all of the TKP 2.0 features for 3.0, but then I will have a nice base to build on moving forward.
My comment above was a little tongue in cheek as well. I'm not mad at anyone. I do, however, hate how long it takes me to open the recruiting news thread on my phone. I'm also not a fan of eagerly awaiting a commitment only to read through 100 unrelated comments. I hope there are no hard feelings. Just pointing out that it appears to me that folks are more upset with the content of his opinion rather than true unrest over the failure to comply with the news/discourse dichotomy.
On that note, and I don't know DC from Adam, but he is not somehow a lesser fan just because he doesn't rejoice when we get a commitment. If anyone thinks always demanding more is not the sign of a true fan, I would suggest you spend some time in Columbus, Ohio or Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They've got thousands of fans who are big time donors and ready to fire the coach and start from scratch every year they don't win a title. More from me in the discourse thread, and happy 4th, everyone.
Hey soooo, Huggins-Bruce is committing today, hopefully we can get some good news today. Figured I'd change course from this becoming the semi-discourse thread
He committed to Louisville yesterday my dude, check the actual discourse thread cause it's in there.
There's news in the discourse thread! There's discourse in the news thread!
Edit: I hereby propose (via the recruiting news thread) a recruiting discourse discourse thread.
So news in the discourse thread and discourse in the news thread...wonderful.
I mean I made the mistake of posting a commitment in the news thread that started another discourse flame war, so maybe posting it in the discourse thread where no one would read it would prevent the worst of reactionaries from people.
Considering how people react to words like Naquan Brown, UNC, LSU, "he's a take/not a take", and every thing else - we should just quarantine all the recruiting threads until August.
I put it in the discourse thread bc he committed elsewhere so he becomes part of another school's class 🤷♂️
I'd be all for less confusion instead of more. So if we decide to make it be one thread again, consider the discourse thread idea to be something we tried that was better in theory than practice.
This one has gone off the rails but most of the news threads have been much better since the discourse threads were created
Agreed.
It seems fairly simple to me. If it's tangible news and VT is involved, then put it in the news thread (i.e. VT makes a top X or a recruit chooses or eliminates VT). I'm fine with insider information on VT targets going in news too. Anything else is discourse, including recruits committing that were once targets but had already eliminated VT (I.e. Huggins-Bruce commit makes the news thread but Grimes does not).
I think it's worth continuing the experiment.
Most people might eventually catch on.
Welp that sucks lol
https://twitter.com/RyanWrightRNG/status/1279107869971906560?s=19
Top 3 for DJ Harvey with Cal and Oregon. Tentative commit date of Sept 18th per the article
I feel good😎
DJ Harvey commitment FAM!!!
Recruiting news?
I've got your recruiting news right here.
We just landed a 4* corner.
At least 1 more within the next week unless something changes
You thinking what im thinking 👀
Isi ready?
Is he?
10-4
I really want this to be a top 30 class.
Surely if we land Poole, Williams, Hollifield and at least one more of the toss-ups, we can move up into that range.
A top-30 class during a pandemic with a defensive coaching staff that's been on the job for all of 7 months would be a big win in my book.
Agreed on the defensive staff part, but every school is recruiting during a pandemic so that really doesn't make a difference here
"If a facility upgrade occurs near the stadium and nobody is around to see it, do they make an impression?"
- Old Growth Forest Riddle
The pandemic certainly affects everybody. It's probably not affecting everybody the same.
I hear you on the pandemic affects everyone statement, but recruiting for VT is so much about building those personal relationships so develop trust with the recruit and their family.
The inability to sell that in-person during an impactful period of time is arguably more detrimental to VT than it is to the big dog money schools who can sell the hype, facilities etc.
I'm not saying it's an excuse, but I do think it's real and makes the hill to win over HS kids a bit steeper in an uphill battle at times.
Our class is defensive heavy as well, which makes it only better...how well they've gone after it on the trail
For all the Jordan Poole won't choose SC camp, from what I've been hearing don't be surprised if that's where he ends up, would love to be wrong
You still think Tech is in a good spot for him?
The longer it goes on without a commit the worse it is for VT
If I had to put a number on it I would say we have a 20-30% chance at best unfortunately
Disagree. Pretty strongly
50% chance??
From what im hearing and i strongly believe my homie sources Its a 2 team race between Tech and NC State with tech having the upper hand right now but FSU is pushing hard and south carolina push is over hyped. Right now I would put it at 75/25 Tech
Don't like playing percentages but I think VT is the most likely landing spot
I understand 😂
That's good to hear because I know Muschamp is pushing hard to get a recruiting victory in NC. He needs it since he has Cox and Kitchings on staff now.
I certainly hope I'm wrong but at this point this is what I'm hearing, but with recruiting we all know how fast things change, let's keep our fingers crossed
these little back and forths always make me chuckle bc it's pretty clear who pays for 247 and who actually has program connections lol
No 247 for me😃
Nobody
I've pretty well proven in the past that I have info that never makes it to 247 or directly contradicts what they're saying and proves to be right, but ok. I am a member there as well though.
LA, I think I speak for most of TKP when I say
LA, i cant speak for everyone, but i can assure that there are people like myself who dont post often who love your recruiting insider info
Nobody leg this post anymore.
It's nice
Whatever happened to Beamers Auto Garage
BAG be chilling
No longer on here but you can find him on Twitter... https://twitter.com/beamergarage?lang=en
"Him"
yeah I gave that guy an unfollow after he got real defensive about his takes and info. reminded me too much of Ox or Exit Lights pod guy.
Kinda ironic cause ELP and BAG did not like each other
lol at him blocking me on Twitter because I showed that he tweeted at recruits after he chastised VT twitter for tweeting at recruits
100% correct. Especially with Fu. Beamer was a different story.
The other thing funny about them - and I'm not at all trying to discredit the value the guys with sources bring to this website - is that it assumes that a recruit is being honest with a coach/connection/source. At the end of the day, these are 16-18 year old kids. They are impulsive, impressionable, etc. So, you could have information that is "accurate," but not necessarily predictive. Which is both infuriating and fascinating.
I've never used 247 for rankings let alone info
I refuse to pay for a membership on 247 as long as they kowtow to Inside Carolina
Their 247 writers article on ACC standings and players are awful. Full paragraph on UNC and Miami and Clemson. Don't even mention any Tech players or transfers.
I'm willing to bet DJ takes a hit on his 247 ranking in a couple months because the guys at Inside Carolina will bitch about it to make UNC look better. Paper champs
I don't necessarily disagree with you about their ranking system and how it panders to their subscriber base (even though I do think it is the best out there), but their info is legit. They truly hired the most connected people in the business to run their sites for the most part
I like using it as a base by which to start a discussion on recruiting. Obviously there are facets that cannot be quantified that can alter how a recruit can pan out, like scheme fit, football IQ, coachability, heart.
Bottom line, there are no precise indicators who is going to be the 2 or 3 star kid who plays like a 5 star, or a 5 star who cannot play at a high level in college.
I prefer to use my #sauces as a marinade.
You have not eaten anything started by my roux or beschamel
New OL recruit to add to the list. The only school he's been able to visit is Georgia Tech. Was at IMG Academy last year.
Just want to add, I'll take an OL any day that has a highlight film that includes them lining up a center, guard, and both tackle spots.
Vandy, uva and GT offers.
I'd like my OL to be 40% smart kids and 60% kids who will take your knee out with a lead pipe.
is your name Paul Johnson?
Sounds like UVa/Bronco kids...minus the smart part.
Bronc's guys are happy to sucker punch you in the Narduzzis.
This might be my favorite choice of picture for a scholarship announcement ever.
I don't see a composite rating yet, but his 247 rating so far is at 94. 50th nationally, 4th as an athlete and 7th in the state of California.
Sign him up now- this dude is a hokie already - sight unseen.
If we could send this photo with offers so this stuff makes the rounds more it would be wonderful.
" target="_blank">
All glory to god🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/MOlP9QhtTZ— Tavierre Dunlap (@TavierreD) July 9, 2020 " target="_blank">
TX2VT is back on?
DJ Harvey's teammate, class of 2023, 3rd offer after Kansas and Oregon State
We're really trying to lay into the CA2VA pipeline while the iron is hot.
we put out about 10 per twitter, mostly class of 22 and 23
Thanks Gobble for keeping up with these! (The above 2, too.)
Trying to get all of CA's DBs to come to VT. I don't hate this!
This is great... I think?? What if the CA2VT movement works as well as the TX2VT movement did? Are we left scrambling like the 2021 class?
So this was a legitimate question for anyone willing to offer up meaningful conversation...
I think what you are asking is "What if the thing we are trying doesn't work?" but we have to try something, so targeting a recruit-rich state with marquee programs who are really down at the moment (UCLA, USC) doesn't seem like too bad of an idea.
It's definitely worth trying if Harvey has a good experience here and his dad is well connected in the California football world (I don't know if he is or not).
My critique of it is the same critique most of TKP has had with Fuente and recruiting. I don't know what kind of resources it takes to recruit all over the country, but I do know that we are limited. Combine that with the fact that, whether we like it or not, VT simply isn't a national brand, so that leaves me wondering if we are really getting the most out of our recruiting budget by casting such a broad net. And if recent history tells us anything its that it is much more difficult to get these types of kids to actually sign (I know there are exceptions). Add all of that up and throw it into the new world of living in a Global Pandemic, where visits are going to be spars I suspect, and I wonder if this strategy really is the best one?
BTW, I'm not dissatisfied that the staff is being ambitious here. I love the offers. I think I'm still scratching my head and wondering what Fuente's vision and plan really is.
I dont know how much it really eats up resources to make a few tours of talent rich areas and then stay in touch by phone and electronic media. It spreads the staff thin to some degree but we have always had areas around the country that we targeted. Nobody gets upset about recruiting Florida, but it might as well be as far as California. I would love to know more about the planning that goes into it.
And this is kind of the question for me... It isn't possible for Fuente and co. to continually be in the homes of high priority recruits in Texas or Cali, and relationship is a key piece of the puzzle. However, I do know that as a man in my 40's I'm likely missing some of the impact of social media connection.
I wonder what the average number of local face to face contacts staff has with a player these days.
Edit: I meant as in under normal conditions absent Covid dead periods.
Zero.
dIsCoUrSe ThReAd!!! /s This meme will never get old.
also tx2vt
Oklahoma sources believe they are out of the running for Donovan McMillon:
If true, this brings it down to Florida, Oregon, Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech. Would also confirm Steve Wiltfong's earlier prediction that this race will come down to Florida, A&M, and VT.
Lincoln Riley can't recruit
Probably Shane Beamer's fault.
No clue what this is about (Top 3? Commitment? Reclassifying? Clout fishing?) but I guess it's interesting it's coming on the heels of Oklahoma folks convinced they're out.
Sounds like he will announce a decision date tomorrow. Looks like a VT-Florida battle, hopefully his relationship with JHam and Lino can win out. Would be a monster get, would be a perfect fit for Rover with early PT available.
Not feeling good about our chances
He CAN bag transfer QBs, though.
Isi Etute Committing at 5pm today. I'm very optimistic
He committed to the good guys! Did it on insta live, although people watching ruined him having his moment by pointing out they could see the maroon shirt underneath his hoodie.
George Wilson 4 ⭐️ DE out of Beach area committed to SCe thought for awhile he was UNC bound.
You just hate to see it (though my personal opinion is that since VT was not even in his final 4, this was technically better suited for the discourse thread).
McMillon committing today. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼
do we have any shot? CBs coming in for UF...
1 cb three weeks ago from the UF insider and 1 "medium certainly" cb last night from wiltfong. who knows.
Imo this is a hello darkness my old friend situation 😢
Judging from this tweet from Lino that came out when the CB's came in for UF, I would say we are out.
OR, that means his personal crystal ball shows something different
I'm repeatedly guilty of interpreting tweets incorrectly. Does that stop me from going back to the well? Hell nah
I think we have a pretty good shot, depends what he's looking for mainly but he's good friends with several recruits from this cycle and Tre Turner as well. I think we get him but that's more of a gut feeling than any insider info on this one
Donovan McMillon commitment date set. Personally, don't feel confident but have no inside info.
Coaches retweeting it, so they at least don't know it isn't us at this time.
Eh I think the idea is to keep showing love regardless since it's technically not over until signing.
Is this a double negative? Are you saying there is a chance!
Just that in some other situations like this the coaches had already moved on in the final hours, as if they were already informed.
Might have missed it on this thread, but in case no one said anything, but he committed to UF yesterday.
Hmm...
I hope that someone ruined his commitment announcement and he's coming to the good guys, but at the same time, I hope someone feels super sorry about it if they did because it's his choice of when and how to announce it.
Yeah wtf this definitely doesn't help
Thats the one thing I've always hated at times when these writers leak and break stuff right before a decision is made to steal the light, just let the kid announce and have his moment hes the one who worked his ass off for that one moment let him have it. I'm always all ears when someone has insider info to share but I really think it should stay at that and allow the player to have his moment and announce it.
That's what annoyed me a little bit with Etute's insta video. Like yes you can see the neck of his maroon shirt, but let the kid say his thing instead of calling it out.
@french got some film for you: Devin Lee. Absolutely love him at 3-tech and we have a pretty good shot
Nickname: Babyface
" target="_blank">
recent offers: Ole Miss, Miss St, Houston, Ariz. St, Vandy, Memphis, Illinois, Wake and Kansas St.
That's pretty good company for us.
{Is it just me or does Arizona State offer everyone?}
Him Cole Nelson and Mattheus Carroll would be deadly for years to come😵
Logged on solely to mention this kid. #1 on my wish list of kids we have a realistic shot with. Would be a huge get imo.
Love him
Wow - he's pretty good! what's his story? Why not rated higher?
Supposedly super quiet about his recruitment. I don't think he's made any visits yet
We just made this kid's top 5. I know it's weird times, yet he somehow has zero rankings with offers from Oklahoma, Tennessee, Washington State, Georgia Tech, Vandy, and Duke.
Any idea what position we are looking at him for? Just going by size I would assume WR or DB.
According to Rivals, we are recruiting him as a QB.
Just checked to make sure I didn't violate a paywall, https://n.rivals.com/news/georgia-ath-christian-charles-talks-top-five
Speculation we just picked up someone? Fuente on Twitter below:
https://twitter.com/CoachFuente/status/1283069085648146435
Just saw that. WR Tray Curry
Cant embed right now but Tray Curry, 6' 4" high 3* WR just committed to the good guys!!
Good god Fuente Twitter handler, don't you know we're VT! You can't use a gif of a Curry to pre-announce a Curry. NCAA is gonna come down hard for this horrid violation.
/s but not really /s but yes /s because this was a joke and sarcasm is difficult here sometimes.
Go Hokies, great pickup #kthxbaiiiiluvyouall
Hokies just picked up a big 3* receiver from Tennessee.
He's our second highest recruit right now and our class on 247 bumped up to 42 overall
Our second-highest commit so far, surprised I hadn't heard anything about him until now.
Bumped up our national ranking 6 spots to #42.
I've never heard of this person haha
Dude, get better.
/S
Kidding aside, I appreciate what you and the other guys do. It keeps the hope alive and draws me back into these threads month after month.
We finally got a Curry
**ducks**
via GIPHY
#WelcomeHome
*edit* Going to ElRod's to get a margarita, 'cause I'm drinking.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCoODBCnmjI/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_...
Committed via Instagram.
6'4" 210 lb receiver?? Yea....we'll take ALL of those please
His high lights are mainly screens. I guess it shows he's nimble enough even being that big to play in the slot.
Talk about a deep threat. Check out that stride length. Kind of cool how this happened out of nowhere.
Did you see the game where due to injuries he stepped into RB? In 2Qs 127yds 3tds!!!!
Just picked up two CB's for 3 star WR Kylen Austin out of Baltimore. CB's from Sis and Watkins
Obligatory
Just need Audric Estime and Tyleik, c'mon y'all!!! Hop aboard the hype train!!!!
I expect another one of French's most wanted to pop soon, maybe as soon as today
You're the man, loving all this positive news!
Well Mcmillon said he was committing on Saturday, so that leaves Poole, Williams and Nelson if I'm correct while scoring at home? My memory may not be corect
Would def guess Nelson first, Williams second. With Poole I heard things early from State connects that they expected to get him but that may be outdated now
Rogers gif implies an in-state name, no?
Cole world?
Might have to wait a couple more days but still confident that it's coming soon
It's on
Like Donkey Kong?
ARE YOU READYYYYY!!!!!!!
👀
What's up?
yes
7/16 update: Still a yes
Oh you didn't hear? It's a silent commit. Don't worry though he's very committed...like 800% with a 99% battery life on his phone committed.
/s
Nah. Not ready. Check back tomorrow.
Dammit you might've pushed it back
Good news. I'm ready today.
Do I need an extra pair of undies?
What time shall I be expecting to crack open a celebratory drink?
Why not now, what could possibly go wrong?
And if it does go wrong, he'll be wanting that drink. So a win-win, really.
He just announced his commitment date as August 22nd. Judging by the tweet, I'm guessing it's his mom's birthday?
Announcing on mom's birthday has worked once for us already this cycle
There is no way that is a high school kid. That looks like a 27 year old NFL player.
nothing. Damn I originally posted about Gilliams "announcement" but realized I was late, so I edited the post with "nothing." and completely got downvoted for it. Didn't think about context of "nothing" where it's located. Haters gonna hate. I don't freak out about recruiting. I personally think our Staff is fine and our program is in better shape than most do. Sucks that this year, potential breakout year, could be cancelled and ruin any chance at momentum for this staff.
Not yet.. Stat patient. Rome wasn't built in a day
👆
Tomorrow
oh baby I'm all buckled up
I'm still a yes.
Posted more about him in the June thread, but we got a CB (Watkins, 6) for Malachi Thomas. Like what I see. Could be a real find.
Really like his Hudl highlights. Looks at least 6'0' if not slightly taller and accelerates like an outside receiver.
Agree. Shades of Trey Edmunds. Like, "taking it to the house vs Alabama" Trey Edmunds.
Anyone got any color on the competition level down that way? Or why he has no rating? Kid runs like a deer!
no rating because he hasn't been evaluated by recruiting services yet
Hahaaa thanks - I deduced that.
I was asking in a more macro sense: why no eval?
He's got some G5 studs on his offer list including Appy St, Memphis, and UCF. P5 offers from K St and Duke. Clearly an undervalued prospect. Let's see how things shake out in the coming weeks.
Edit: watching his Hudl I definitely see some Trey Edmunds outrunning Alabama. I also see some LaGarrett Blount at Oregon. Damn, they got some nice fields in whatever level he plays in.
Malachi Thomas will "probably" make a decision on his birthday, August 9
Should this be any indication that Audric Estime most likely won't work out for us? Or would it be plausible to take three RB this cycle with Black, Thomas and Estime?
Some see Black as a WR.
And we've never backed off a RB scholarship. We'll take them all!
I really like his hands and all purpose ability. His frame looks to be one to easily get significantly bigger and the second half of his tape shows some willingness to run through tackles vs just out running HS kids.
Crystal Ball from Indiana insider for Cole Nelson to VT
Oh wow would you look at that
Hold on let me get some glasses. (Looks for a pair of glasses, finds a pair of glasses, puts on said pair of glasses) Hell well look at what we got right here👀
I read that the coaching staff are higher on him than Naquan Brown?
Yes. As I've said before, the staff was pushing for Naquan, but they weren't overly devastated when he chose LSU. The top 3 realistic choices at DE have always been Gilliam, Carroll, and Nelson.
I really feel like we've done well recruiting DE these last 2 years. I really feel if we land at least Poole or Williams and hold on to Harvey then we'll have really recruited the defensive side of the ball well for this class. In my mind, Williams is our biggest recruit left on the board.
How do we feel about Robert Jackson at DE? Gonna be a tough pull? He has some freakish raw talent.
Decently well. The general feeling is that pushing his decision back was a positive development for VT
And we still feel like we will finish 3rd or worse for Gilliam behind OU and PSU?
(so frustrating that we don't have more credibility at Highland Springs)
We had a strong pipeline there with Macho and the Hopkins brothers, but it's been slim ever since then.
3rd at best
...so no longer realistic then?