Thoughts on 2018 December Signees

I posted this thread last year and people seemed to enjoy it, so I will (somewhat reluctantly) oblige to those that requested that I write one for 2019.

As follows are my thoughts on today's signing class, and I how I would rank them as prospects. Keep in mind that these rankings reflect what I think about a player overall and how they fit in to Tech's system, but not based necessarily on present needs. Here we go:

1) Keshawn King - Aaaaand I immediately break my only rule. Just kidding, but this is the perfect example of one of our two primary positional needs matching up with what I think of a recruit. King almost has it all: fast, elusive, great reads for a zone scheme. Could stand to be a bit stronger, but would not say that he goes down easy. Dominated great competition behind a relatively bad OL. I honestly believe that the only reason he is not a high 4* is because he is a FL kid that doesn't have FSU or UF offers. If he can pick up the blocking scheme quickly, he will be your starter come September.

2) Bryan Hudson - Ranking and offer list speaks for itself. Every program wanted him. Can play anywhere on the line but I think he is the perfect RT. Strong, long, and mean. Love that he's an elite track athlete, as that will really help his balance on the gridiron.

3) Tayvion Robinson - Electric. Best player in the 757. So, so smooth. Reminds me of Jayron Hosley with the ball in his hands. Don't be surprised if he takes over starting PR duties immediately. I think he and Dejuan Ellis will be a fun combo to have play off of each other's strengths. Maybe not the type of guy that can take a slant to the house, but get him out on a bubble screen and watch out.

4) JR Walker - Type of versatile defensive back that VT has made a killing on in years past. Can play any spot in the defensive backfield (and play it well), but to me is either a FS or whip. Wouldn't surprise me to see him as the backup next year at both spots. Similar in playing style and versatility to DJ Crossen, but a better overall athlete.

5) Jacoby Pinckney - Probably won't be playing too much in '19 but will step perfectly into Kumah's vacancy once he graduates, and will quickly be even better at it. Nothing that really stands out as an elite skill, but is very good at everything. Great and willing blocker. Just a very good football player.

6) Elijah Bowick - Flip flopped between he and Pinckney in these two spots, but not really sure yet what Bowick's role will be in the offense so I put him here. Reminds me of a stronger Grimz, and slot is definitely an option. Those UGA and ND offers are real and both would've taken him. Plays in a receiver group with a high 4* 2020 recruit and outproduced him by 400 yard and 9 TD's.

7) Dashawn Crawford - Perfect fit for Wiles' line and will be an immediate starter as soon as he steps foot on campus in a couple weeks. Great penetrator and very high motor. Low center of gravity and great base. Could stand to add another 10 pounds or so in his upper body. Probably wouldn't be counted on at 50% of P5 schools, but again, a perfect fit in my eyes for a 3-technique. Woody Baron type of player.

8) Joshua Fuga - Wasn't sold at first, but the more times I watch his film, the more I like him. Big dude already and really only needs to gain muscle in his upper body, but has the size to play right away. Great first step and is very strong at the point of attack. One of the better late commits we've gotten in quite a while, and hopefully can have a similar immediate impact to a certain DT from Atlantic High (really don't want to put that kind of pressure on him but oh well). Think he has a good shot to be our 4th or 5th DT depending on whether or not we sign Cunningham and if Porcher develops.

9) Jaden Payoute - Farley level athlete on the track, but didn't see it translate as well to the field in his highlight tape. Might not be fair to the kid because he played QB, but so did Tayvion and you can tell from his film that he is a player. If I'm wrong on that, then he could definitely fill an immediate need in this offense as a field stretcher. Stronger than Tre Turner was at the same stage, so is probably more ready from that standpoint, but I haven't seen the same natural receiving ability the Big Play Tre has. PSU went after him hard earlier in the fall and also heard from UF and South Carolina, but turned them all away.

10) Will Pritchard - Prototypical center. Squatty, strong, and nasty. One of those types that just looks like a football player on film. Already has a strong upper body. Tip of the spear for a dominant Manchester squad. Assuming Harris doesn't take the job from him this year, could easily see Pritchard step in for Hoyt as a redshirt sophomore.

11) Nick Gallo - Solid player. Won't wow anyone with his athleticism, but runs crisp routes, has great hands, and is an effective blocker. Will be more of an in-line guy like Chris Cunningham than an H or a split-out guy like Mitchell. Staff's top realistic TE target and always happy to have another set of brother's in the program.

12) Amare Barno - Very intrigued by Barno, but unfortunately will have a short career in bburg. Will start out as a backer but could potentially move down to DE. Was a 6'1" safety coming out of high school, so shouldn't have too much trouble picking up coverage schemes from the linebacker spot. Good tackler, great range, but so skinny, especially in his lower body. Regardless of position, it's hard for me to see a way that he avoids a redshirt year unless he is able to pack on 20 pounds between January and August and convinces Bud that he and Dax are a better combo than Dax and Ashby. Would love for it to happen so Dax could play at his more natural spot, but I digress. Would have him 6 or 7 spots higher if he was a high school recruit.

13) Jesse Hanson - College ready body but I watch his tape and all I see is slow feet to the point where it gives me Pfaff nightmares. I'm not a great evaluator of OL talent, so hopefully I'm wrong. Clemson wanted him badly, so I likely am wrong. Great job by the staff here to get him locked up. At the least, I think he can be a Pfaff type of player and contribute.

14) Nyquee Hawkins - Tweener to me. Not fast enough for a shutdown corner, rangy and long enough for a prototypical FS, or big enough for a rover. Scared that he might be one of those types of players that just never really finds a perfect fit (kind of how Der'woun Greene was). Heard he is the same player today as he was as a high school sophomore. Almost more intrigued by his RB film.

15) Tahj Gary - Opposite of Fuga in how is film affected my thought process. Was high on him when we started evaluating running backs post-Ford, but doesn't really seem to do anything particularly well above average other than catch the ball out of the backfield. Just doesn't really have a trait that sticks out to me on film, which is disappointing considering the level of competition he plays in. Would've gone to South Carolina if they didn't cancel his OV after the injury.

16) Mario Kendricks - Loved his junior film and thought he was a perfect get for Wiles. Hated his senior film and has me worried about his future here. Gained some seriously bad weight his senior year and is noticeably slower. Was shocked when he was listed at 275 today, as I figured he would be pushing 290 with the way he looks. Not sure how he will be able to carry the necessary weight while maintaining the athleticism he showed as a junior. If he can get some serious Hilgartification, then he has the potential to do well.

17) Brion Murray - Raw as a football player but has caught on quickly in his first few years. Decent athleticism and a good jumper, but a little on the slow side. Willing tackler with solid technique. Above average coverage and ball skills, but needs to work on his press abilities. Curious to see how much he contributes this fall and am happy to have him on campus this spring under the tutelage of TBD's teaching (oops!).

18) Norell Pollard - So, so skinny. The listed 246 might even be an inflation. Apparently was sick this fall and lost too much weight. He does have very good athleticism and pass rushing abilities for a DT, but I do worry about whether or not he'll be able to gain 40 pounds or so. If he can, then he has a chance to be a solid player for us in a few years.

19) Dean Ferguson - Just don't see it. Has one skill and it's that he hits hard. More interested in making the highlight real hit or stripping the ball carrier than wrapping up. I guess he'll end up as a backer, but doesn't seem to run well enough for me. Also have low confidence in his coverage skills.

Bonus: Eugene Asante - Not yet a commit, but I just wanted to talk about him for a minute. Absolute monster. Making the switch from RB to LB this year has a chance to make him a good chuck of change one day. Great tackler, unreal straight line speed (seriously, go watch those punt blocks), and diagnoses plays extremely well, to the point where it is evident on film that he has great football instincts. People, including Bud, are talking about him as a backer, but I see him as a new age Mike for us. Just so fast and violent to the ball when running downhill, but does not run sideline to sideline as well as I would hope for a backer (I believe French calls it "scraping"). Nester is still the top remaining target for me simply due to the rarity of signing an elite level OL for VT, but Asante is nipping at his heels.

Overall, I think it's a pretty solid class. I see Tayvion, King, and Payoute as the guys with the most star potential, but see a good amount of recruits that almost assuredly will at least be solid contributors here. With the talent level of the program where it is now, I don't think that is the worst thing in the world. Really like the recovery from missing our top targets at both DT and RB, but really wish we would've taken a true DE. Am starting to be get a little scared that that will be the 2019 DT of 2021/2022.