2016 ATH Jovonn Quillen Commits to His "Dream School," Joining Cousin Marshawn Williams

The moment the Hokies offered JoVonn Quillen of Hampton High School, he knew he wanted to commit.

The rising senior athlete became the program's first in-state commit of the 2016 class, and seventh commit overall, Thursday night. He says it was simply a matter of time until he made his college choice after the Hokies extended him a scholarship earlier this month.

I have verbally committed to Virginia Tech tonight #Gohokies — JoVonn Quillen Jr 1 (@JovonnQuillenJr) February 27, 2015

"It's always been my dream school," Quillen said. "I basically already knew I was going to go there if I could."

Even if the Hokies were the prohibitive favorite in Quillen's recruitment from the get-go, his commitment still took Cornell Brown, Quillen's lead recruiter, a bit by surprise when he gave him the news.

"I called him, and at first he asked me if I was serious," Quillen said. "But then he was really excited for me."

It seems that Brown similarly surprised Quillen on February 4 when he made the official offer to Quillen.

"I didn't come to school that day because I was at a funeral, and when I saw my head coach the next day he just says 'I've got good news,'" Quillen said. "I was just shocked."

Brown made the offer with a variety of positions in mind for Quillen. He splits time between quarterback and cornerback at Hampton, and he says the Hokies aren't willing to tie him to one spot on the field just yet.

"They're saying I could play quarterback, I'll get a chance there, but if not, I'd be a cornerback or a safety," Quillen said.

Quillen had been desperately hoping for an offer for the Hokies since he was a kid, and he was thrilled to finally earn their attention.

"I just like the fanbase, all the history with DeAngelo Hall and Michael Vick behind the program," Quillen said. "Plus all the history with my friend, Tyrod."

Former Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor, that is. Quillen says Taylor, who also attended Hampton HS, made some appearances at camps he was working at, and the pair quickly bonded.

"He'd come to all these camps, and we got tight, we like working together," Quillen said. "He's really helped me out at times."

But that's hardly Quillen's only connection with the program. He also happens to be the cousin of current Tech running back Marshawn Williams.

"He told me he wanted to play with me at Tech," Quillen said. "We used to play together, all the way from rec league through his junior year of high school, so it'll be great to be with him again."

His family ties with Williams means that he's been afforded more chances than most recruits to visit Blacksburg.

"I've gone a bunch of times to visit Marshawn," Quillen said. "I've gotten to spend a lot of time there with Bucky (Hodges) too."

Even with plenty of experience on Tech's campus, he's still eager to see more. He'll be dropping for the team's Junior Day event this Saturday, February 28.

"I'm really looking forward to meeting the rest of the coaching staff and the rest of the team," Quillen said.

Quillen says he plans to discuss the possibility of enrolling early with the staff, and has already started the conversation with his teachers.

"I'm talking with them to see if I can go to summer school so I can get to Tech early," Quillen said.

Whenever he does arrive on campus, he says he won't lack for effort.

"I can make a bad play into a good play," Quillen said. "I give 110 percent every time."