K.J Henry announced a final group of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech via Rivals.
5-star KJ Henry breaks down his top 5, official visits, & more https://t.co/VF43nYcjOJ #RollTide #ALLIN #GoDawgs #SpursUp #Hokies pic.twitter.com/SXGPluDCU2— Adam Friedman (@RivalsFriedman) July 31, 2017
Virginia Tech- "Tre Turner, a really good friend of mine, and DJ (Crossen), and all these other cats from North Carolina are going up there and that's a really big deal to me," Henry said. "I've known and grown up with a lot of these guys and they're seeing a lot of the same things I'm seeing in the school. It's how they treat you and their fan base. They show a lot of love to me. When I talk to my dad about this stuff I can't let that be a big deal to me but at the same time I'm enjoying it. The coaches are really coming after me. Coach Wiles and coach Fuente are always hitting me up. Those are things that are attracting me to that school."
Which school are people underestimating?- "I have to say Virginia Tech," he said. "I'm honestly taking all five of these schools into consideration and making it to the top five is a big deal. I feel like no school has a leg up at this point. They've been successful these last few years and they're trying to take this next step. To have these fans and to show all the love to me that they are, it's really an eye-opening experience for me. People are definitely underestimating them with me."
Comments
Obligatory.
It's great to be included in that grouping for him, and he's saying some very nice things about the program no matter what happens.
Not only is he a great player, but he seems like a thoughtful person. Which just makes me want him to come to Virginia Tech even more. That's the kind of player I really like.
So everyone tweet at him now right?
You left off the "/s".
I don't see anything wrong with tweeting a "go Hokies" or "welcome home". Obviously have a problem with any negativity.
Actually have to agree with Fireman on this one. Just say no.
Don't tweet! RETWEET!!!
It's spelled "retreat", actually. As in:
Or We-tweet, Madeline Kahn would say.
5* player going up against Alabama in the Top 5?
Quick: Look through his Twitter feed.
Turkey Emoji or Chicken Emoji?
His edit is so much better than the horrible attempt by Rivals at the top of this page.
Likelihood of committing from left to right
I would like to be the one to point out that the schools are in alphabetical order left to right.
And that's how the school changed its name to 1AVirginia Tech
Henry, Hollifield, Artis, and Gervin will be nice additions to the defense.
And I would like to eat pie every day without getting fat
You can if you eat grilled chicken and spinach pie with the whole grain crust.
Isn't that more of a.....quiche? Quiche is for wahoos.....yeesh!
Quiche is pie filled with breakfast foods (eggs and usually bacon). How is this not awesome?
I'll take foods that start with the letter "Q" for 200 Alex
QUESADILLAS??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Quinoa
Do Quaker Quick Grits count?
Any self respecting Southerner knows that Quick Grits don't count for anything.
Not to be negative nancy here, but I couldn't help but notice he give didn't any specific reason to choose VT over the others, and even kind of made it sound like we were the cinderalla story for him. Being top 5 is nice, but there's no real consolation prize for being in slots 2-5 on signing day.
We'll see what happens I guess, but I'm not reading into this.
He didn't really give a specific reason for Alabama or Clemson either. For Georgia he said he liked Athens as the best college town and for USCe it was early playing time. I agree the VT write up didn't give much to go off but we've heard players like Hand say things like "Bud Foster is my favorite coach" and that didn't make a difference. We're getting a visit and have a chance to make an impression. That's all you can hope for at this point (unless one of the other four hires his dad. Then I wouldn't have much hope).
USCe for early playing time? I think they should be the school on the outside for his recruitment, not us. He said they've all has good teams lately, but USCe hasn't been all that good for a few years now, and probably has the weakest coaching staff of the 5. Hey, here's an idea - go somewhere where you can see early playing time AND WIN! This is Home, KJ
This isn't getting enough legs
But Fuente ain't recruited nobody PAAAAWWWWLLLL
So VT should just hire his dad. Right? That's how this works?
I found that part of the article to be very odd. Not because it doesn't happen (Newsome with Tyrod, John Richardson with Dorian Finney Smith, Max Warner with Dwayne Lawson are examples from our recent past), but because it turned out to be such a significant part of the article.
Yes. VT should hire his Dad. He would be a great hire. And if it locks up KJ....then it's an even...ummm....greater hire.
Problem is he wants to enroll early and I don't think you can hire the 10th coach until after that.....
10th coach can be hired in January.
Does the rule prevent contracts? It's likely you can sign a contract for hire, with the start date on the 10th, but idk, depends on the wording the new rule.
"I feel like no school has a leg up at this point."
What you did there, I see it.
Probably don't need to tell you guys this, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.
yea I agree.... I always hope for the best but expect the worse
me when I read your name and don't want to hear what you're saying:
Getting our hopes up is an important part of the recruiting process.
Its the most critical part.
Did I miss anything?
Crystal balls.... you forgot the crystal balls.
Ahhh yes, the crystal balls how could I have forgotten.
Are we not considering flight trackers anymore?!
I think that's just for coaches
Stealing this from myself, about a year ago:
Stage 1: highly rated recruit announces commit date
Stage 2: VT fans start looking for clues suggesting he'll commit to VT
Stage 3: Crystal balls come in 2-3 days before commit date for team other than VT; these are dismissed by VT fans because the experts just do this for attention
Stage 4: Evan Watkins predicts the recruit will pick Not VT an hour before he picks Not VT; reality sinks in for VT fans
Stage 5: Recruit picks Not VT; VT fans melt the hell down
Stage 6: VT fans say he wasn't that great of a fit anyway and VT will just get (insert list of highly rated recruits at same position)
Stage 7: 2/3 star commit with light offer sheet commits to VT, fans proclaim him a sleeper and much better on tape than 4/5 star that picked Not VT
unfortunately I see too many step 7's lol
BETTER FIT FOR OUR SYSTEM ANYWAY
Stage 8: Claim coaches prefer 2/3 star commit because he has a certain skill set that fits the system that the 4/5 star recruit apparently didn't have.
When does this part happen?
It hadn't happened in a little while, but this past year it was Devon Hunter.
Except we haven't signed a true 5* player since Fuller, so really it's just 4* stars to varying degrees.
VT gets a 5-star about every 5 years. So, by that math, I think VT may be due...
I feel like next year it will happen. If we have another good year, plus if I'm not mistaken, the talent in VA is gonna be better than this year.
It is nice to see us being mentioned in that grouping of schools. Nice interview by the player with all positives about each school. I think he has a much better shot of early play time at Tech than Clemson or Alabama where he might be buried under other five star players.
Hard to put stock in this. Top 5 is nice, but 80% of those teams are gonna lose. While its better than being out of contention, we're still miles away from signing him.
If it makes you feel better we are very likely in his top 3 as well. But still miles away from signing him
Bama just picked up their third DE today. Hopefully it bothers Henry. Bama/Clemson not "prioritizing" Henry is our only shot.
And luckily 2 of these commited DEs are smaller and quicker DEs like Henry. Since Bama uses a 3-4, guys who are labeled as DEs by recruiting services can be moved to OLB for pass rushing in the Bama defense. I was worried they were loading up on the big guys who would fit on their defensive line, but they would be recruiting Henry as more of a pass rushing LB.
Yup. Hopefully they grab Anoma out of Maryland just for fun as well.
I think Latu fits that mold pretty well. I've only seen his "opening" tape, but he looked quite a bit smaller in weight and size to most of the tackles he went against and got pushed around a lot.
good...let's get this one done
Not sure why anyone would want to (1) go to Bama, (2) play for Saban, and (3) get caught up in the numbers game for playing time. Alot of those guys see the light after their first year or two, and end up transferring out, thus wasting their eligibility. I think we have alot going for us in this recruitment, it's just a matter of whether the recruit in this case can see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Easy....
1) chance to play/be in a NC/playoffs every year
2) always be in national spotlight game in and game out/Play in the SEC/Always on ESPN
3) always have NFL scouts looking at you, even if its only for 1 year you can get on the field
Because it's an automatic ticket to the NFL.
Da'Shawn Hand has basically done nothing on the field for Bama to this point and is still considered a first round pick in next year's draft. Even if he has another disappointing season he will likely get drafted somewhere in name and school recognition alone.
If he had come here and had the same production that would NOT be the case.
"If he had come here and had the same production that would NOT be the case." -
I don't agree with that statement at all. If Hand is as talented as projected, he would have come here, and excelled in our system and would have been drafted high. In fact, he might already be on an NFL roster. He may turn out to have a great year at Bama, but he would not have hurt himself one bit by coming to VT.
You're disagreeing based on your opinion that he would have been a star at VT, not the proposed scenario if he was at VT and didn't start for 3 seasons. I don't think it's controversial to suggest he wouldn't be getting as much hype in that hypothetical scenario; however, I will say Andrew Brown continues to get some hype despite never playing to the potential expected as a recruit. He had a solid year last season but the career numbers are pretty comparable to Hand's.
I don't think there is any doubt that he'd be starting for VT.
That's a silly argument. If he came to VT and didn't start for 3 seasons, then it'd be petty clear that he is not the player he was projected to be.
My point is, if he is as good as believed, that talent would have been well showcased at VT. In fact, he might already have been drafted. He could have had 25+ sacks already in his college career.
To suggest he is better off having ridden the pine at Bama for the past 3 years is ludicrous.
I don't care to continue arguing but I do believe there is a stigma associated with NFL performance of players from each school. While I don't think it's fair, it's hardly ludicrous to acknowledge the idea that Bama players are more likely to get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to being drafted.
Sure he probably would have started here. Maybe he has tremendous success, maybe he doesn't.
The fact remains that he has done nothing at Bama for 3 years and is still highly regarded in NFL circles. Dude hasn't had to risk a thing with injury or low production and still has his ticket punched. If you think VT offers that same kind of security, you're kidding yourself. If he came here and didn't start for 3 years, he wouldn't be on anybody's radar.
He is doing inpatient rehab for the DUI. For all we know, he could have an Ike Whitaker problem and his talent will never materialize.
However, there is absolutely no doubt that showcasing your talent on the field is better than sitting on the bench.
Here's the thing: if he has that talent he only has to showcase it one year at Alabama. If he struggles, he still gets drafted, and if he does well, he probably wouldn't have done any better here anyway. Lower risk, same reward. Here, he has to do it for three, and if he declines over the three years or takes three years to get going it hurts his case.
Look, I want guys like this to choose VT as much as anybody else, but to pretend it's anywhere near the safe and smart choice that Alabama has become is just silly. If they value coming here because they want to bet on themselves and build something and be a bigger part of the program here, that's admirable, but it's not the safe or smart career path to the NFL when you have a school like Alabama as an option.
KJ, if you are on here:
Different things can appeal to different people. As said, if players, especially those with great NFL potential, come to VT and are stars they will no doubt get noticed and drafted high. Also I think VT offers more appreciation and lifelong support for generational type talents as we've seen with Mike Vick and Bruce Smith. I get the sense that Alabama reveres coaches (Bryant and Saban) and their overall historical program more than specific players, even if they were stars in college.
I agree choosing Bama allows you to get the benefit of the doubt if you can see the field, even if you are 2nd string and have good measurable/potential (as most highly ranked recruits do). There are situations like Korren Kirven where you might quickly get buried on the depth chart and actually never see the field. In those cases it would have been better to take the risk with VT, though I think it's possible those players wouldn't have had enough success at VT to get drafted either, even if they did crack the 2 deep.
And if he rides the pine for three years and tears an ACL in fall camp during his final year?
Look, there are 1st rounders from all over Division 1 every year. Go to a Power 5 school that's the right fit for you and if you have the talent, you will be fine. But to suggest that being on the sideline is BETTER for your draft chances than playing elsewhere is simply crazy.
Seems to me that getting out on the field at VT would be just as good (or better than) sitting on the bench for a couple of years at Alabama before starting for one year.
With the recent concussion reports, that may not be the case anymore. Especially for lineman and running backs. Players are now really understanding the impact professional football has on their physical and mental health, and more and more are hanging up their cleats when they are still solid contributors. The argument can be made that playing extra years in college can take away from extra years in the NFL making money.
Alabama can make the argument that you will play one year, two year tops and get highly drafted. This will limit game time minutes, snaps, and touches and thus cutting down on the chances of hurting yourself.
I would disagree with your last statement. Just because your are sitting 2nd string on saturdays for 2-3 years, doesn't mean you aren't taking a pounding in practice. Those 80-100 snaps on saturday are likely a lot less impacts that the 4-5 days of practice. (be it hits, cuts, jumps, etc)
The argument can easily be made the other way. You go to a school not loaded with 5 star talent, start for a few years without taking hits on the practice team and get drafted after 3 years rather than 4 or 5.
Re: #2 above, Saban is one of the best college coaches of all time, if not the best, and does more to prepare his kids for life after football than any other coach I can think of. See this link for anecdotes from some former players. As Duke's David Cutcliffe said:
Another former coach said:
There are plenty of good reasons to go elsewhere: being closer to home, specific degree considerations, higher likelihood of early PT, etc. But if I had a son who could choose where to play, there are very few coaches (if any) who I'd trust more than Nick Saban to give him the proper foundation for success in life, whatever his future might hold.
Okay. Thanks for the anecdotes. With all due respect, and Saban is a great coach, the 'success in life' stuff can be said about so many CFB coaches.
Certainly can be said about our former Hall-of-Famer coach, and hopefully will be said of our current coach. Can probably be said of the Hoos current coach. People are going to say that about Saban because he is a legend - and it may well be accurate.
There may be many reasons to go to Bama, and for some elite recruits that will be the right fit. However, the 'preparing for life' stuff is something a recruit will get at many places, including VT.
To touch on your point - I've been blessed with a long list of wonderful people and acquaintances in my life. I've learned some valuable lessons from them and can thank them for making me the man that I am today. I don't feel like there is a void in my life because I did not have the pleasure of knowing Nick Saban. I'm sure he's a great guy, but there are a lot of great people in this world. It's up to us to identify them and take something positive from them. I don't think having Saban as a coach versus Fuente as a coach is going to change the net outcome of your life one way or the other by a measurable amount. Both seem like good people in their own regard. My $.02.
I personally knew several LSU football players who played for Saban prior to his departure to 'Bama. Granted, they may have been salty over his sudden exit, but they did not speak fondly of him.
He wins, and that is all he cares about. Players are completely dispensable. Off field conduct is tolerated as long as on field performance is high. He does not care about your family. He does not care about your foundation in life. He does not care about you. He cares about your on field performance and if it's not good enough, you are out.