Discuss and share any Virginia Tech related recruiting topics from July 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. In the interests of limiting load times, check the thread to see if a tweet or 247 profile was already embedded prior to adding it yourself.
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.
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Comments
link to the 2021 Unofficial Big Board (google sheet)
July 2020 247 Embeds:
(not exhaustive, and no particular order):
My phone thanks you!
Yeah, figured we were > 400 comments and load times were rough, plus likely expecting some news soon, so it made sense to get the new thread going preemptively
Ummm LA it might not be today after all
Why in the world would you downvote this?
I didn't, but I wondered the same exact thing...
Not pointed at you, just had a down vote when I first saw it! I'd like to know too, but I'm doubting that downvoting the folks who know stuff actually makes news come faster.
Wouldn't surprise me. He's pushed it back a couple times now. Still very confident in it happening soon though
He's making a commitment video that's why he's pushing it back a couple days
I've been drinking every since the first "maybe today" and my girlfriend no longer understands.
missing words or misspelling confirms. Good for you.
Can we get a separate thread for you two to say it's gonna be today and then maybe not each day?
Would it be better if I didn't say anything at all?
No. They can take that shit to the discourse thread. Carry on.
Sorry guys, intended the comment to be a meta joke. I obviously appreciate your contributions.
Why would you even comment negatively to the guys who voluntarily give insider recruiting info?
No worries. Humor and the internet aren't exactly compatible
Disagree. I'm funny as shit on the internet.
Next time just add a "/S"
I thought it was a good joke. And I thought your GIF choice before editing the post was really solid
Yes, okay, okay, but WHO is it????
I need to know, my mind can't go on like this!
I have a pretty major hint in the other thread
Drew Harris
🙌🏼 Finally!!!
A classic
Don't make me put you in a full .. Williams?
wishful thinking so soon
It would not. Please disregard the previous comment.
Well crap, I thought it was Lawson.
Devin Lee, DT out of Georgia visited VT this past Friday
looks like he'd be a devinlee addition to this class
If we get Lee and Williams + Nelson and Anderson on top of Carroll out Dline recruitment be off the charts😎
You like Anderson better than Jackson? Or you like our chances better?
Actually i forgot about jackson😂
Do we have announcement dates for any of our prospects?
Yes. Yesterday.
So is Jordan Poole gone to a Carolina or are we still holding out for that
All has been quiet on the Jordan Poole front.
I'm still hearing leaning SC but LA has also stated previously we're in good shape on this one, so definitely more of a wait and see on this one
Im still hearing no SC 2 team race between Tech and NCSU with fsu lurking
New date is August 17 for a possible commitment date. I still think this is a three team race to get Poole
I see it's projecting Estime to Rutgers, any other news on him? Or thoughts in general?
The CBs for Estime to Rutgers are all pretty old, and it's rumored he's been working out with Tahj, so I don't think it's over unless there's some other news I haven't seen.
By the way, this is Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins from Gaffney SC. 6'5" 298 DT.
And looking at that competition, that's probably all we need to say about him.
Would be a HUGE get, he loves Tapp a lot as well, however with that said we are probably last or 2nd to last out of these 6 schools.
Na, we are the runner up, that's how it always happens some how. It's like a conspiracy against the hokies.
Completely boggles my mind that anyone would be drinking Muschamps kool aid now
I know a few recruits over the last couple years who universally think Muschamp is the man. They've all noted him as exceptionally genuine and not putting on a front like other coaches. I've seen former players echo similar things.
Not sure why that means it's worth going to South Carolina, but he's definitely well liked by players.
He is going to be a great assistant for Alabama soon.
I just don't understand anyone actually visiting Colombia, South Carolina and thinking that it's a great place to live for a couple of years.
Fact^ moved to Columbia without ever visiting Columbia. That place sucks....especially about right now with the heat that pools up there.
It's like living in a dog's mouth
that's bad right
MODS
Fewer germs than a human's mouth.
Depends on what you've coated with peanut butter.
Muschamp can also sell that Kinlaw was a 1st round draft pick at the position Tyrion plays.
On mobile so no Twitter but Malachi Thomas officially committed this morning.
Best nicknames so far: Stretch and HollyWood
EDIT:
LETS GOOO!!!!
Yeah buddy!
How should we be feeling about our chances? Looks like we have the least of his position on our current roster compared to the other 6.
If Georgia offers it's done. Out of the top 7, I think NC State and UNC are the competition. I really want this guy
We are front and center on the graphic so......our chances are prettttttyyyyyy gooooood
Youseffing with me, aren't you?
Voted "most likely to be wearing a wig" by his classmates.
Is there a chance his wig is on backwards?
The pancaked DLs/DEs he destroys can only say his name properly when his foot is in their mouth. Love that!
I want that dude just based on his name alone.
In Blacksburg, pancake gets Yousef!
That's like a VT nightmare of competition.
And NC State
FSU would complete the nightmare
Are you saying NC State isn't part of the nightmare because they are. You lost a 1000 yard rusher to them head to head in Hines, plus a bunch of other contributors to their team the last couple of years on defense who would've looked really good playing DL and DE for VT
Thanks, I needed that laugh.
11 P5 offers, picked up a handful in the last few days
Part of the reason for the recent offers is that he was at a Michigan Rising Stars event where he was named the top defensive back.
He got our name right!!! Yes!!
Class of 22, 13 reported P5 offers including some big time programs
not embedding bc it's just eyeball emojis, but Jafar Williams tweeted out a bunch of eyeball emojis. Worth noting he's listed as the primary recruiter on Skyler Bell and Audric Estime.
How many eyeball emojis though?
Edit: four eyeball emojis. 4* commit confirmed.
...Or is it two 2*s?
Also this from director of recruiting
I'm going to read way too much into this gif and the person posting it and say that #TX2VT is back on.
Agreed. I'm taking it as TX2VT is "back from the dead".
Twitter speculation lines up with 2 new CBs
Back from the dead gif may refer to this guy being a MSU lock for a while.
EDIT: lol at the MSU insider putting in a level-8 Bulldogs CB 7 minutes before the VT announcement.
The 247 confidence meter thing is going to look dumb pretty quickly once a few "10/10" locks commit to other schools.
His twitter says he is committing at the top of the hour, and we picked up more crystal balls!
up to four CBs now with Evan Watkins and Steve Robertson. 8 and 10 on the confidence meter respectively
Edit: Drink
Lofton
Moved original comment to separate commit thread.
Personally I can't remember another stretch when we had so many commitments seemingly come from out of the blue with recruits nobody was discussing, but hey I'll take it. Let's keep rolling.
Gives new light to that quote Fuente had a bit ago about guys we hadn't heard of, or something to that manner
Nice, pulled one away from the Pirate
And just like that, we're now the #42 class in the country.
C'mon 24/7, give Malachi his due you cowards! Cowards!
Have to wait until the August 247 recruiting update for one 😢
But wait.... There's more....????
I don't know how to handle this...
RIP.
Didn't he go out the same day as Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett?
Confirmed Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. According to my Google-fu, Billy Mays died on the 29th of June, 2009 while Jackson and Fawcett died on 25th of June. That same year, Patrick Swayze died on 14th of September.
Looks like we are out of the competition for Tristan
https://twitter.com/leigh71tristan/status/1286376638083735552?s=21
I mean if you can pretty much pick all the playoff teams plus Bama, can you blame him? Might as well through up a Bengals logo on there too.
Bengals? I thought you said playoff teams.
Damn impressive list. 12 NC's in the last 20 years. OU the 'outlier' with one in 2000 but they're recruiting up a storm.
Possibly 2 more this week, not hearing today but could be wrong let's stay tuned. Coaching staff is certainly turning things around rather quickly. Have faith guys this staff is doing a GREAT job, and I've heard this from numerous circles of players and close acquaintances including some that didn't even commit here.
I mean there's differently 1 more this week😎😃
Excuse me I meant within the next week, not meaning before the weekend is over sorry for the confusion
You're good😃 but are you ready for encore tonight or tomorrow my friend 👀😎
Tomorrow hokie recruiting is having a 3 peat👀
I am at an unhealthy level of excited
STAND BACK! THERE'S A COLE TRAIN COMING THRU 😎
Well this isn't very cryptic lol
Choo Choo MFers. Go Hokies!
John Coltrane?
I think he means "Coale" train in reference to tonight's AMA
I'm certain has referring to an expected (at this point) commitment by Cole Nelson to the Hokies
Yes my comment was kidding as well. It's not so subtle haha
Coletrane to VT? We could use a little smooth jazz around here
Roscoe P Coltrane?
🤫
Disappointed you didn't go with a Cole World reference
...And today he gets an offer from Mississippi State...
7th reported P5 offer, class of 23, DeMatha
Corey Fuller working those recruits already.
No no no. This is all wrong. With a name like this, you have to play defensive end. Kids today... /s
5 P5 offers, FSU legacy
watch him go undefeated in Tijuana Toss and be SUCH a downtown legend
You can't go undefeated, eventually the two headed coin is going to make an appearance.
Na, it's not two headed, some times they take the coin as it lands, some times they flip it over at the end. But its rigged.
As someone who worked through college at PKs, I just want to perpetuate the myth. But there were some old school managers in the early 2000s who were magicians with the coin
Good Lord!
6'-7", 310 lbs as a freshman in HS!
Kirkland because great value in bulk
Bruh is 15 🧐
I'll go with the shorter list and ask what does his mama NOT feed him?
Good lord. They knew he was a D1 ball player when he was 8.
Yes, that's NFL first team all-pro and Colts ring of honor inductee Robert Mathis who is tagged
Who was coached by Bill Teerlinck's dad, have to figure that can only help.
I can't wait for him to commit to Virginia Tech so I can bust out Popeye memes.
Every Sack:
Every Stuffed Run:
Game-saving, Goal line tackle:
Edit: Drink
Come on edit man😧😧
Looks like we got one starting early! Wonder how many more will join us.
He will also get a season of his school ball this year.
Got some rumblings that the WCAC won't play this year. Maryland(mostly) and Virginia public schools have cancelled fall football. Keep an eye on Will Johnson coming to campus early.
🦃🦃
Did the edit man finally get it done?
Nyke Johnson on SI All American
https://www.si.com/college/recruiting/football/nykelius-johnson-highligh...
Tyleik WIlliams is aiming for an August commitment according to his coach. Also examining enrolling early, but not sure if it will work.
So a spring enrollee, not a reclass?
Sounds like it: "early enrollee" plus conversations with guidance counselor re: scheduling. So, to me it still sounds like he has requirements to meet that would preclude reclassification.
which begs the question: if a 2021 commit enrolls early, but football season is spring... is that player eligible? or would he effectively be reclassified for the university's purposes but not his own high school's?
I'm sure our Admissions Department is on top of all these shifting issues.
According to this, Tyleik is definitely aiming to enroll in January.
7th P5 offer
#HOOKIENATION MY ASS OUR ATHLETES GO TO CLASS MAKE GRADES AND GRADUATE ON TIME YOUNG MAN/s
Username checks out
"spent 500 racks on a Lambo'/And didn't even know how to make that player go"
Interesting stuff with a certain VA player happening. Bye Bye Tally
Just read that article about his impending exit. Be interesting to see if they disclose why or we get the politically correct, violation of team rules. The bigger question is if he becomes a FA in the portal with no VT block, do we pursue him? I'll bet he ends up at Hampton, Norfolk St or ECU.
I think whether VT gives him a serious look depends on how he handled himself with regard to VT after his commitment elsewhere. He certainly was effective as a P5 player, so I don't necessarily see him dropping down to G5 or FCS.
Isn't Corbin pretty highly regarded? Maybe he just wanted to be the lead guy finally.
Norvell wasn't going to put up with the off field trouble.
Assuming you're referencing Laborn? Will be interesting to see how far he falls from a P5 team like FSU.
I bet he lands on his feet at a P5. Dude is an awesome talent, was just stuck behind one of the best running backs in the country. Someone will take a chance on him
I'd love it to be us.. history says otherwise
But didn't that RB leave for the NFL? Why couldn't Laborn have taken the top spot next season?
because he got kicked off the team
So how do we turn this and the Ricky Slade story into a recruiting pitch. Both went into a situation with a loaded depth chart and both transferred. Seems like it should help us with in state talent.
And neither want to transfer to Blacksburg (for whatever reason). That's not a recruiting pitch. Especially when so many have also done well elsewhere, Wallace, Hand, Ferrell, Harvin, etc.
Remember also, some of the recent slumps have been due to off field issues on top of on field issues.
Counterpoint: The only spin I can give back is that, "Hey, we're family, and we'll take care of you. We hate to see Virginia kids lose out on opportunities elsewhere, like Laborn and Slade. You'll thrive here."
I believe it was mentioned previously that Slade had interest in coming to VT, but because of some previous behavior and attitude towards VT after committing to PSU, he was told to pound sand
What's your criteria for doing well? Winning? Because Hand and Wallace haven't done well at anything other than winning.... they have been average players on loaded teams. Compare Wallace and Terrell (similarly ranked coming out of HS). One went 1st rd and one went 4th rd. Let's take Hand and Settle. One went 5th rd and one went 4th rd. Tim was borderline 5* but DeShawn was borderline top player in his class. And as of now both of our Hokies are outplaying their counterparts on the next level.... I'll give you Harvin and Ferrell but I would bet the house that Ferrell does the same at Tech but I won't go there with Harvin...
VT having players develop to similar career paths is more of a testament to the ability of the staff to develop and push talent to the next level than it is an indictment on Wallace and Hand not doing well. I'd say getting drafted means you did well. would we have been better off with all 4 as Hokies instead of only 2 of them? unquestionably
VT player development was my point also... I believe the players would have been better off as well if they had chosen VT... except for Harvin because I love Beamer but I don't trust that the O showcases him the way Meyer's did....
Imagine being so bad off the field that even FSU wont keep him around though, only place worse about having talented but ill behaved players is Miami.
He didn't do anything particularly bad, just ran out of chances. I think he got caught with pot once or twice and missed a curfew at a bowl game
Admittedly I know very little on the situation just meerly reading between the lines but with FSU's issues and lack of any depth in the position. It seems odd they would jettison him off if hes really that talented for something like that considering that we are talking about a very slack school in FSU. I'll be very interested to see who takes a chance on him at this point.
I also think that this may have been a "wrong place at the wrong time" sorta thing. New coach trying to set the tone for the future. If he would cut a 5*, super talented kid, what would he do to me, kinda thing. If this would have happened in a couple of years, after the coach was established maybe he doesn't get booted.
Even though historically FSU has been slack on discipline, it's possible that's about to change with Norvell.
I think Laborn being dismissed from FSU is a mix of 2 things. One is having a history of multiple suspensions from violating team rules (he has missed
2 of out 3bowl games and last year's Florida rivalry game for violating team rules) but I think it's mostly a new coach trying to set a tone early.EDIT: silly me forgot that FSU didn't go to a bowl 2 years ago (I wonder who owns that streak now), so technically Laborn has never played in a bowl game
Hope he doesn't land here
This is all hypothetical but I think it might make for interesting discussion.
Do you think Slade and/or Laborn would have gotten (or given VT) serious consideration as transfers if Zohn was still on staff? Might be hard to answer since Zohn seemed to lose trust and be on the way out over the last year.
Any thoughts or insight on Khamran Laborn? He was a class of 2020 recruit but his recruitment appears to have never taken off as he remained relatively lower rated and his only reported offer was from VT with Zohn as his recruiter.
If he wants to come to Blacksburg we should give him the opportunity. He is a proven effective back at the P5 level.
I'd welcome him. In our 2018 season opener against them, I remember he had one play where he zig-zagged up the field, probably 30+ yards, and he looked like the fastest player on the field. I kept wondering why FSU didn't keep giving him the ball, but was glad they didn't.
Finally.
I think it's clear he was just waiting for a date that would carry a lot of historical significance
.
.
.
.
....Harry Potter's birthday.
I completely understand. HP is the man
This kid is severely underrated IMO. I'm not sure he'll ever get the bump he deserves with potentially not playing his senior season, but I'm certainly very happy that he will be a HOKIE... Fingers crossed
two CBs for Virginia Tech for JUCO transfer WR Kaedin Robinson
according to 247 (free side), he is committing tomorrow
May be more of a DB prospect for us. This is the one I was waiting to come out. There are at least 2 more that are off the radar for the future unless things change
Same JUCO (ASA College) as Jeremy Webb, so we actually had a player transfer and the bridge wasn't burned!
Zero hard feelings there between Jeremy and VT. After all he's been through, he just wanted to go to a place he could play
247 says we offered him today? Is that right?
EDIT: Confirmed via his Twitter feed. Wonder if he knew this would happen ahead of time
I like this guy. Missed his junior year, had a great senior season, then failed to qualify. Very easy situation to slip through the cracks.
I'm starting to feel really good about our WR haul this cycle if we can hold onto these guys. I think this could be a good addition. I actually like him more than Neville on film.
Here's an article I found on him.
Is he eligible immediately?
He is a class of 2021 recruit so he would be coming in either in January or the summer before the 2021 season starts.
This gets more complicated when you consider that the NJCAA (JUCO) has moved the season to the Spring. I have no idea how that will affect him or other JUCO players.
Very underrated prospect, hearing we like him more at DB than WR but we shall see, also more to J Webb thing, Webb loves VT all the players everything, he wouldn't have gotten injured and was playing he would have never left that was a move solely to get playing time that man loves football and can't be content just watching.
Yeah, that was a tough run of luck for him.. not only getting injured, but then having not one but two guys on his team grow into arguably the best corners in the ACC and lock down the starting CB spots.
Exactly, and I personally feel bad for Webb because he's such a good person and like able teammate on and off the field.
So, can we beg Webb to come back now? If so, Webb plz...
We will be okay Brion Murray is gonna get a lot of run this season that's a name to look out for
So you're saying the replacement for Farley is B. Murray?
I don't know if I would say he will be the only replacement but I think him and Jr Walker will both get a good bit of reps at CB if we have football this fall. Don't forget people, with all this Farley news Waller may get to shine this season and show why he should be a 1st round pick also.
Signals popping up on Twitter, recruit incoming, maybe JUCO?
If you're talking about Kaedin Robinson, the 247 UCF insider seems to have switched his crystal ball from VT to UCF as of 10:29 AM this morning. That makes things a little more interesting.
Also, I'm not seeing any of the usual Twitter signals. Can you embed?
Not good to say the least, I was looking forward to getting this dude.
CB are all to UCF now with fairly high confidence
Shit wtf. He doesn't want to play DB then?
Kaedin played us like a fiddle 😢
Did we get mid-sized dogged?
We got Heupel-ed...which sounds pretty bad but I'm not exactly sure what it is
Lost a croot to a guy who doesn't even know how to spell his name. smh
For VT to look & possibly accept him academically he needed to take & pass another math class.
That's what I was told by UCF side. He specifically asked about said math class if there would be issues at UCF and was told no worries. Will be interesting if he does opt to take said math class to keep his options open.
UCF wasn't feeling good until he passed along that nugget and then committed tonight.
To be fair, they do have a recent National Championship
So it's done? 100% not getting him?
Yep. Didn't wanna switch from WR to DB😢😔
I mean shoot that should've been obvious from the article on him. If he competed against 20 guys with D1 hopes to play receiver in Juco why would he be cool with changing positions in college
He probably would if he had committed to VT immediately but he got an offer to play the position he wants so good for him.
I mean is he not a take at receiver for us? Why not offer the guy the position he clearly wants to play
Cause our receiver class is full and we still need one more DB
Because maybe the staff sees his long term success at DB, you know like the team has a history of doing.
Don't appreciate the snark pal. Almost defended you in the Liberty thread but glad I didn't. Thats also not what my post was talking about
FFS, really? The fact that this got upvotes shows how pissed folks are at Fireman, but this is petty and stupid, and just risks flaming out another board.
I agree with vtwwalton - not sure he was being snarky as much as commentary on what the staff has historically done with switching players from other positions. The other big one was d-line to o-line.
I'd rather have this happen now and again than lie to recruits about where we want to play them. If a dude doesn't want to come here because he and the staff see his future differently, more power to him. I feel like we've gotten conditioned to see any recruit going somewhere else as a failure, this one just seems like it might not have been the right fit.
In short the staff saw him as a great athlete that would need to be on the field but with how deep our WR core at the moment and him coming from JUCO wouldn't have been a good fit at WR at VT. Staff saw him more as a Caleb Farley type of player that had the size and athleticism to transition over pretty well, not saying they thought he would ever be on Farleys level but that same sort of athlete and size.
because our coaches see him as a DB? Going on a limb here, but maybe similar to how they saw some other guy who could play WR as a better DB, a guy who had one struggle season at CB, one elite season at CB and is now going pro as a day 1 pick after sitting out any type of 2020 season that does happen?
I never asked why they wanted him to switch positions. I asked why they wouldn't offer him at the position he wanted to play if it was a deal breaker
I think it was answered above, they don't need another WR in the class or they have someone on their board higher and the coaching staff thought he could help them at DB. It's actually a good sell, you just had Farley leave as a first round pick and essentially he did the same thing because he was mostly an offensive player in HS.
Hope that helps answer your question
I think it comes down to the staff thought he would be a good enough DB to fill a need on the roster, but not a good enough WR to do the same. At least given the current #"s situation at those positions.
I'm at work so couldn't get tweets embedded. Said tweets are gone :(
Sweet name. We need him.
Kojo Antwi anagrams to Jaw Ink Too
....been a while since we've done one of these
Sweet name.
WeAntwi need him. FTFYNailed it.
Steve wiltfong put a CB for Nc State for Poole😢
13 P5 offers
https://www.hudl.com/profile/13459412/Cahari-Haynes
No 247 profile but HUDL bio says
Positions: WR, OLB
Height & Weight: 6'2" 195lbs
Class of: 2023
This kid is a freshman, son of a NFL player, and is just a huge fan of VT. No idea how his recruiting goes over the next 4 years:
That's really awesome.
https://www.hudl.com/profile/13100930/Jalen-Rambert
240 lb freshman LB? That's a big bull
There it is:
Virginia Tech CB (conf lvl 7) from a Miss St. insider for Canon Boone
This pleases me. We need more OL, and this guy is ranked higher on 247 in-house than his composite, which as I've explained in the past, is a positive value suggestion for me.
Like his tape, in position we need more people at this cycle, and come on....this dude has an all-world name
Up to two now. Which is reassuring consider the first one was by the same guy who predicted Lofton with an 8 confidence to go to Miss St only hours before his commitment to Tech ...
Canon go BOOOOOOOOONE!