Recent Comments
Moore is the one player who can make an immediate impact. He has the size, really good feet, and great extension. The rest of this class are project guys who need to be developed.
Other than Moore, I am actually pretty comfortable with depth. Moore, Osterloh, and Plantin (I was very high on him last spring and have heard nothing but good things about his development) give them tackle depth. Osterloh (who I think may get a chance to challenge Conte under Fuente), Chung, Smith, and Pfaff are serviceable guys guard to guard. I'd like to see one guy step up at the guard spot, as Chung and Smith are centers first.
Another game lost in the last few minutes, when this team learns how to finish games they will be very hard to beat, the future looks bright.
Do you ever get that not so fresh feeling?
yes, BUT with the right coach. A single recruiting class does not make up a championship team, but PERENNIAL contenders are made up of highly rated recruits. The data shown in the past supports that.
It sucks, but the only way we achieve that is to overachieve with what we have long enough to become a top place for those blue chippers.
This one hurt. But wow those three pointers Syracuse made were ridiculous. You don't see many teams making those shots as consistently as it felt like they were, especially the one that was practically at half court. Onto the next game and hopefully they can pull off the win at home.
I don't know that there are many immediate contributors in the class. The Hokies have some OT depth with Nijman, McLaughlin, Moore, and Osterloh can swing outside if needed. I have heard a lot of buzz about DeAndre Plantin, who had the best feet of any lineman in last year's class. That will allow Hopple a year of development.
Hopple long term will likely move inside. He has some strength in his upper body and has good bend to get under defenders. However, he has a big red flag that long time readers know ALWAYS concerns me. At contact, he has a tendency for his feet to stop. He then plants and tries to bench press the defender into the ground. You can get away with it against immobile defenders. Against guys who can move, you need your feet to stay active in order to stay engaged with your block. His feet are pretty marginal anyway.
A comparison would be to TJ Jackson. Hopple will likely be more competitive in practice initially because of his strength, experience, and compete level. Jackson though, despite limited experience and technique, has tremendous feet. Long term, he can develop into a good player with serious strength and technique training. Hopple is a safer bet, but has a more limited upside. I expect he will move to guard after his redshirt year.
The stars mean 2 things: the probability of a kid translating to the college game and how quickly. Developmental players will be rated lower but could have as high of a ceiling as a highly rated player.
How do you think our O-Line will look with some of these new guys coming in compared to what it's been since 2011?
Man, I forgot they were playing until I saw it recording on my DVR last night. I'd figure I'd watch it later since my wife isn't to keen on us watching basketball once the kids are in bed. Anyhow, after reading this I'm glad I didn't. Ugh. I hate it for the team and it's got to be tough playing quick turnarounds. Has to be frustrating to Buzz as well not having as much time to fix things he needs to at certain parts in the season. Oh well, they are doing better than in the past but still a ton of room for improvement.
TJ Hopple is now official. He is an offensive tackle recruit from the 757.
First note- Zach Hoyt was listed on Fuente's big board as a signed player who is on campus already. Nine players including Hoyt in this class are already on campus working with the team (Jarod Evans, Eric Kumah, Divine Deablo, Demetri Moore, Josh Jackson, Sam Denmark, Jimmie Taylor, and Khalil Ladler.) I will take questions on them as well.
Stars are an indicator but i like to look at the other offers a kid has. If we are competing with the Bama's and OSU's for a kid then to me he's more likely to be good than a same rated kid who we are competing with UVA, ODU, Vandy, and Duke for.
First Guy in is an OL, Hopple, what does he look like in terms of impact in his time at Tech? I know not to expect anything in his first year.
I'm also inclined to suggest that some guys peak at different times.
There's the kid who is a world-beater in high school but then gets to college and doesn't develop any more.
There's the kid who is average in high school and pulls it all together in college and becomes the best player in NCAA.
There's the kid who is just barely good enough out of high school to get an offer, or walks-on somewhere, only to really develop in college into just-draftable or a free agent pickup who then blossoms to a great player in the pros.
This, I think, is the biggest question mark about people. When are they going to peak? If you bring in a 5star guy, is it all downhill from there? If you bring in a 0star guy, will he continue to get better? Tough stuff to project.
My feeling is Hopple. Bet he's up early. My not-so-learned impression is that he is like Gallo - not so highly touted, but somebody who wants to be a Hokie.
I hope we get we thong song, the measurables are awesome.
It's here. National Singing Signing Day is upon us. Joe will there be one official thread or will each signing get their own thread? Will you or someone else on TKP staff be starting them? Just want to make sure today doesn't get too gluttered with duplicate threads.
Edit: what song are we signing first?
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
The hills are alive.....
I root for the folding chair, definitely my favorite prop. I am also partial to a good running clothesline...
It's here. National Singing Day is upon us. Let's all rejoice with a choral rendition of Sandman. (Couldn't resist. ;-)
Sounds like a classy kid and family to me.
I think Allen drove too soon with around 15 seconds still on the clock but maybe it didn't or wouldn't have mattered. If Bibbs makes the second foul shot maybe. They made more free throws (20) than we attempted (13) but if we had made more than 7 of the 13, maybe. But it is absolutely true that we gave this one away no ifs, ands or buts. Those 3 threes they made at the end were out of this world - the one literally!!!! They were clutch on theirs and we clunked on our crucial shots.
Maybe it's because I didn't watch all of this one, but I would argue last year's game up there hurt worse. We were up 13 with the ball and 6 minutes to go IIRC, and lost in regulation. It was a much longer, slow motion trainwreck than the last minute and a half were last night. Of course if you factor in the OT last night, I guess they were about equal. And last year's win wouldn't have brought us to .500 in the ACC either. Bottom line - they both felt like a punch to the stomach.