Were looking for possibly a running back to come in and compete with Malachi and Chance (Black) and those guys and make that room better, Pry said. The recent additions put the Hokies at 91 scholarship players by my rough count if you include all of the 2023 commitments and every senior who has an available COVID-19 year. Duke is next. He'll visit Blacksburg for Junior Day next weekend. All six could reasonably be considered starting candidates next season. (D-lineman Rashaud Pernell signed but did not enroll, ending up at Liberty.). He is perhaps the most important player in this class. ET on YouTube. The results were positive, particularly around Richmond, receivers coach Fontel Mines territory, where Tech landed seven prospects eight if you include ODU transfer Ali Jennings III. Liz Kitleys 53rd double-double, matched by Taylor Soules double-double, and G sinks 5 Threes! 6-4 / For more details about the site, including a list of TechSideline.com staff, see our About page. By Bryan D. Manning December 12, 2022. Dante Lovett and Cameren Fleming were two of my favorites in this class. Virginia Tech football: A look at the Hokies 2023 recruiting class, 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Virginia Tech safety Chamarri Conner with an impressive day, Virginia Tech football: 2 former Hokies named 2 of the NFLs top 101 players. Football Nov 18 TBA. Virginia Tech added Baylor transfer QB Kyron Drones. Try a week on us. 310. Drones has three years of eligibility remaining. "We do have time to schedule meetings, involve parents or families or coaches, if we need to, on young men considering forgoing their senior year to go to the NFL, guys considering going to the transfer portal, or guys you potentially want to help them get somewhere where they've got a better chance to play and be successful. Jonathan Pennix and Krystian Williams are athletes who could start out on either side of the ball. Their parents, especially, have an appreciation for where Virginia Techs been, and they understand what this program can be.. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. All high school NLIs received are listed below. Hes a twitchy guy, and particularly when he gets closer to the football, he was a problem for people.. Pry said Tech has three or four spots its looking to bolster. He is another player who was undervalued. Pry, whose years at Penn State gave him an advantage in rebuilding those relationships. 305, DL / We know all of these guys have the ability to cover.. That means the Hokies need to have another wave of attrition at some point, be it when the new semester starts in January or later once spring ball concludes and a second transfer window opens up, just to get to the 85 max number. Head coach Brent Pry enters his second year at the helm, and the Hokies open their season vs. Old Dominion on Saturday, Sept. 2 in Blacksburg. TSL) is an independent publication that is in no way affiliated with or sponsored by Virginia Tech or the Virginia Tech Athletic Department. The Hokies didnt venture west into Tennessee often in the latter Beamer years and signed just five players from the state during Justin Fuentes six seasons, most notably linebacker Jaden Keller in 2021. 6-5 / Krystian Williams is another who could move around. Heath looks like a future star. The Virginia Tech Hokies wrapped up the early signing period last week feeling pretty good about the 2023 recruiting class. Felton is a bigger-bodied receiver that Techs lacked in recent years, listed at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds. 5-9 / Two of the Upstate's finest high school football players are part of the Virginia Tech football 2023 recruiting class - and they happen to be cousins. The four highest-rated recruits for Tech are from outside of the state, with Mr. Football in West Virginia, offensive lineman Layth Ghannam, leading the way. 6-0 / The final transfer was speedy 6-foot-4 wide receiver Quan Felton from Norfolk State. Theres a fairly even split between safeties (Johnson, Krystian Williams and Phillips) and cornerbacks (Lovett, Fleming, Cotman and Thomas Williams), though the Hokies preference is simply for players who can cover at any spot in the secondary like last year with Mansoor Delane, who came in as a safety and ended up starting and thriving at cornerback. A true legacy who can play. In addition to Drones, the Hokies signed two high school quarterbacks, bringing Dylan Wittke and Pop Watson into the fold. 190, DL / Associate AD, Chief of Staff. He has good size for a receiver at 6-foot-3, 184 pounds. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. All-New 24/7 Sports News Network: Stream Now! I also wouldnt be shocked if Pry looks for a defensive tackle via the transfer portal. In this article, we'll analyze some overall thoughts about the class from head coach Brent . His list of collegiate accolades include 2020 Phil Steele All-ACC Third Team, 2020 All-ACC Honorable Mention, ACC Defensive Back of the Week (Sept. 7, 2021), 2021 ESPN All-ACC Midseason Team, 2021 Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, 2021 All-ACC Honorable Mention (S), and his selection to the 2022-2023 Reese's Senior Bowl. Since the end of the season, seven of the eight commitments the Hokies have gotten either from the transfer portal or the high school ranks have been on offense, which makes sense, given Techs struggles on that side of the ball last season. 231-4132. Added to last years haul that included freshman phenom Mansoor Delane and promising youngsters Cam Johnson and Devin Alves, it feels like Tech has set up its secondary for future success better than any other position, particularly when you consider returners like Dorian Strong, Nasir Peoples and Jalen Stroman. He misses too many tackles due to risky angles and struggles coming to balance in the open field. Note: We are told that Ezekiel Wimbush, previously listed as a commitment, is currently preferred walk-on status. The Lady Hokies shine after a break, and trounce, throttle, and outscore the Miami Hurricanes in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals. Copeland is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound from Appomattox. Tech Sidelines content of this years signing day includes a podcast around 3:30 p.m. Caleb Woodson is listed as a safety on some sites, though at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds already hes more likely to grow into a linebacker. The Hokies locked up his commitment late Tuesday night, springing it as a surprise on signing day. 6-7 / The rest of the commits are in alphabetical order by last name. Theres no such thing as 50-50. 6-6 / ('2023-02-23 11:46:09 -0600') }} football Edit. Once commits sign their NLIs to the Hokies, they will have a green check next to their name in the table below and move to the top of the list. By Bryan D. Manning @BryanDManning. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. The commentary is also linked in the Our Take column of the table below. Virginia Tech football is putting a stamp on its 2023 signing class with as good of a finish as you could. On Friday, Sierra Canyon (Calif.) four-star small forward AJ . Id like to get a bona fide pass rusher off the edge, a proven guy that can win more one-on-one battles, Pry said. The 6-foot-1 wide receiver has over 20 scholarship offers and is the No. Find the latest updates on Virginia Tech's roster below. 5-11 / His size, athleticism and football IQ had him extremely undervalued. Varner is a 6-foot-2, 280-pound first-team All-AAC pick from Temple, where he had 7.5 sacks last year. Buy Tickets Opens in new window. Theres 80-20 in my room. 6-4 / Jennings averaged over 1,000 yards and caught 14 touchdown passes the past two seasons at ODU, despite missing three games at the end of last year with an injury. The second and third-best prospects . 220, WR / Tech landed Kyron Drones on the transfer market, a former four-star QB who spent the past two seasons with Baylor. Here are some key takeaways from signing day: Virginia Techs class has a distinctly Virginia flavor to it, with 16 of the 29 total signees having played their high school ball in the commonwealth. The Hokies signed pairs of players from two state powerhouse high schools: Highland Springs (safety Braylon Johnson and receiver Takye Heath) and Appomattox (receiver Jonathan Pennix and linebacker Tavorian Copeland). Prys focus upon his hiring was to rebuild relationships within the Commonwealth. At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, the Life Christian Academy product has good size for a defensive back and is one of the more intriguing prospects in the class, just based on the diversity of his ranking. Be sure to follow our coverage of National Signing Day on Twitter:Tech Sideline,Chris Coleman,Will Stewartand David Cunningham. 5-10 / The y-axis in this graph represents the percentage weight of the score that gets applied to an overall team ranking. 34 nationally, according to the 247Sports team composite rankings. Each recruit is weighted in the rankings according to a, Readers familiar with the Gaussian distribution formula will note that we use a varying value for. 197, OT / And you want guys that want to compete. Prior to the beginning of the NFL Combine,NFL Analyst LanceZierlein gave Conner's evaluation: Conners size and versatility could buy him time on a roster, but he might need to keep fighting for his spot. 243, IOL / Four Virginia high school coaches share their impressions of Brent Pry, how Virginia Tech slipped recruiting the state, the importance of keeping players home, plus more. Hes going to make sure those guys are doing extra. As much as I like the cornerback class, I equally like the safeties. FB Recruiting Six players I am most excited to see during spring ball for Virginia Tech VIP Evan G. Watkins FB Recruiting Top target Keylen Adams returns to Virginia Tech VIP Evan G.. Tight end Nick Gallo, linebacker Alan Tisdale and safety Nasir Peoples had previously announced theyd come back. 318, DL / Woodson is a fun player with good size and speed, who many believe ends up at linebacker. The Hokies should prioritize the defensive line in 2024. I had him in an all-star game or I coached him at camp or I went to college with his mom and dad. Those are the relationships that are meaningful, when you can get as much information about a guy to make sure youre taking the right kid, that youre doing the right thing.. Hailing from north of Charlotte . -, IOL / This is whats behind it. Receiver and ACC champion sprinter Cole Beck will run track again this spring, then see how things how shake out before a determination is made about his football career. 1 ranked player in Ontario, per 247. 5-11 / For more details about the site, including a list of TechSideline.com staff, see our About page. 6-1 / Early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Varner has been dealing with a foot injury, but if healthy, he will be Virginia Techs best pass rusher immediately. VTScoop - Virginia Tech Hokies Football and Recruiting Stay up to date with all the Virginia Tech Hokies sports news, recruiting, transfers, and more at 247Sports.com 247Sports. The Hokies have veteran Nick Gallo coming back for his final season in 2023, but Wimbush is a boost to the next wave of tight ends/H-backs, someone who looks like he could be more on the playmaking side of the position, capable of doing a variety of things from different parts of the formation. - / Jennings is an instant No. The numbers always work out (funny how that happens), but its clear that this is a pretty substantial overhaul to last years roster. Here are three areas that should give Hokie fans hope. Watsons size was a detriment to some, but turn on the film, and you see an electric runner with a strong arm. READ MORE Ari Watford Preparing For Visit To Virginia Tech By: Jason Stamm | January 20, 2023 Ari Watford will be one of the top prospects in the state in the 2025 class. Felton is from Portsmouth. In the spring, the Hokies made a point of hitting every school in the state. I really like this group. READ MORE, Virginia Tech hasn't signed an Ohio recruit since 2014, but with most of Ohio falling within the 6-hour radius, that should change. There are probably going to be more, but the Post season conference awards are a big deal for the players that win them. This is a guy whos going to bring a different demeanor from what we have, Mines said. Much of this incoming class is about development. on February 2, 2022, 7:20 AM | 36 comments. Presented by. I worry about the lack of defensive tackles in this class, but the Hokies are counting on the top group from last year returning and the development of last years class. . CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. to rebuild the Hokies roster by way of the transfer portal and the 2023 recruiting class. The first order of business at the combine was the measurement portion, on Friday morning, where the Virginia Tech defensive back verified his frame. DaWain Lofton can play the slot, while others like Tucker Holloway and Xayvion Bradshaw push for time in the lineup. New Virginia Tech football offer: Deuce Walker. I can see both playing in 2023. 231-4132. And those guys are going to know each other from tournaments and playing one another and growing up in Pee Wee ball and different things. Drones immediately enters the battle for the starting spot, with Wittke, an early commitment from a powerhouse Georgia program in Buford, and Watson, a scintillating late addition out of Massachusetts who flipped from Nebraska earlier this month, getting into the developmental pipeline. Though none is ranked better than a three-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite, all four are 652nd or higher nationally, boosting what had been a solid but not spectacular class in the final month, with the Hokies now up to 34th in the national team rankings and sixth in the ACC. Some of them had other head coaches sitting on their couch in their living room, Hokies coach Brent Pry said. 270, LB / BLACKSBURG, Va. So this is what recruiting momentum feels like? He offers consistency, Mines said. Pry noted that Nashville is only a six-hour drive from Blacksburg, keeping it well within Techs footprint. Greene (Knoxville), Fitzgerald (Nashville) and Phillips (Nashville) all came on board this month. I think he is confident. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. By Tim Weaver | February 27, 2023 1:37 pm ET. All three will enroll in January, adding some juice to spring ball at the position. Executive Assistant to the Head Coach. The 6-foot 202-pound play-maker has played safety, nickel and cornerback in his Virginia Tech career. -, S / Hell likely play tackle with the Hokies. Fitzgerald was the most recent offensive addition, committing to the Hokies on Friday. I would expect him to redshirt and develop a bit before he plays. ** The Early 2023 Signing Day is concluded. All original material and images are copyrighted by TechSideline.com and may not be reused or reprinted without permission. 6-4 / While On3 rates him as the No. 205, DL / The Hokies ended up adding four transfers in the early period who should reshape competitions at their respective positions quarterback Kyron Drones out of Baylor, defensive lineman Darian Varner out of Temple and receivers Jennings and Felton from ODU and Norfolk State, respectively. S. Caleb Hardy Eagle's Landing (Mcdonough, GA) 6-3 / 182. 6-2 / Hes going to make us better. Several schools out there went hard after a few Hokies commitments. Obviously, we think our guys can continue to develop, the young guys in our program. Montavin Quisenberry Picks Up Virginia Tech Offer, Grant Karczewski Spurns UVA Ties To Walk On At Virginia Tech, Joshua Clarke Sees VT Again, Closes In On Cuts. Visit our message boards:TSL Recruiting Board (TSL Pass)TSL Football Board. In addition to some final high school targets, the Hokies are still pursuing several transfers Temple defensive lineman Darian Varner and Norfolk State receiver DaQuan Felton are a couple to watch in the short term, with former five-star Tony Grimes out of UNC an automatic take if Tech were somehow able to beat out some heavyweights and convince him to come here. -, QB / Jason Abbey is a defensive end from Richmond that has coaches excited. Payoute barely played before taking a medical retirement in March, while Robinson was a 2 1/2-year starter at receiver and punt return star before transferring to Kentucky last year. 1. "The portal is going to be active, as we all know. Findlayter is the No. GO HOKIES!!! And I tell the staff all the time: Nobody can know more about the kids in Virginia than us.. He'll visit Blacksburg for Junior Day next weekend. 6-2 / If he does return, likely in a special teams capacity, he wouldnt be on scholarship, though hes marketable enough that Tech could pursue NIL opportunities for him. 6-5 / Welcome to Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Signing Day Central for the Class of 2022. The Hokies had circled him as a possibility before he went in the portal, so once he officially put his name out there, offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen had done his homework and was the first coach Drones welcomed on an in-home visit. 282, RB / "We're having some exit interviews with certain guys, portal conversations," Coach Pry said during a press conference in late November. Cotman was the latest defensive player the Hokies snagged. This years class is loading up on defensive backs. Behind the scenes of Virginia Tech's recruiting celebration: We want this to be special. So the investments real. Start blasting Metallica's "Enter Sandman." The Virginia Tech Hokies just added one of the top running backs in the country to their 2022 recruiting class as four-star running back Ramon Brown . We recruit defensive backs. Zeke Wimbush, a versatile tight end who committed out of Stone Bridge High in Ashburn earlier this week, plans to enroll this summer but will likely not immediately be on scholarship. READ MORE, Virginia Tech hosted arguably the top prospect in the state of Virginia last weekend for their second Junior Day event. While no one will confuse Virginia Techs incoming class with Alabama or Ohio State, there were many encouraging signs in head coach Brent Prys first full recruiting class. TechSideline.Com I think they appreciate that were trying to do this with guys from our footprint, and specifically with guys from the state of Virginia. . 207, TE / (Gio Heater) On Monday, Virginia Tech's complete 2023 football schedule was releasedon the ACC Network. I thought it was tough when we got Jason (Brown) and Grant last year at the same time. Im not going to say there wasnt concerns and there wasnt conversations that had to be had, but most times you can work through those things, and were able to do that with those guys. Cameron Clark Makes First Virginia Tech Visit. Offensive lineman Lance Williams, a Tennessee Mr. Football for his classification, was the first commitment in the class from Alcoa, south of Knoxville. - 12/6, Pheldarius Payne - Defensive End (per Andy Bitter), Mario Kendricks - Defensive Tackle (per Andy Bitter), Jalen Holston Running Back (No NCAA eligibility remaining), Jaylen Griffin - Defensive End (No NCAA eligibility remaining), Silas Dzansi - Offensive Line (No NCAA eligibility remaining), Ali Jennings - Wide Receiver - Old Dominion, Griffin Armstrong - Long Snapper - Louisiana Tech* Walk-on, Quan Felton - Wide Receiver - Norfolk State, Jaylin Lane - Wide Receiver - Middle Tennessee State, Derrick Canteen - Cornerback - Georgia Southern, Bhayshul Tuten - Running Back - North Carolina A&T. Early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. The Virginia Tech Hokies essentially wrapped up the 2023 recruiting class last month during the early signing period. Signed. Eligible to return for a super-senior season (awaiting decision). 236, RB / 210, IOL / The Hokies like the new additions on the offensive line, wide receiver and the defensive backfield. READ MORE, Thomas Dale 2025 athlete Shamari Earls recently picked up an offer from Virginia Tech, and he will visit next month. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. In his junior highlight tape, he flashes some burst and athleticism. The last one who fit the bill was defensive tackle Tim Settle from the 2015 class. What Is Virginia Tech Getting In Kyron Drones? Conner has late Day 3 value as a potential backup., He was given a prospect rating of 5.82 - which defines him as an "Average backup or Special Teamer. A ranking of the 2023 Best College Football Players in West Virginia. Theres a little bit of a gap between the old guys and this group, he said. - / Odds & lines subject to change. 6 Virginia at North Carolina, Highlights: No. I love to see receivers play defense, especially in high school, show some physicality, show that theyll play on special teams. On Saturday, Conner will complete the drill portion of the NFL Combine with the Bench Press before departing Indianapolis. Below is a graphical representation of how our formula works. 0.8714. READ MORE, Virginia Tech recently became the fifth program to offer Kentucky wideout receiver Montavin Quisenberry, who has yet to take a visit. That doesnt mean were not going to sign some guys from outside we did, and we will but an emphasis on homegrown talent. Virginia Tech has offered Salisbury (N.C.) 2024 cornerback Deuce Walker. The opinions of the author(s) on this site are independent and no way reflect the opinions of the Virginia Tech administrators, coaches, staff, or athletes. Both look like future starters at cornerback for the Hokies. Hammer plays at North Cross in Roanoke. Krystian Williams Collegiate School (Richmond, VA) Cotman was once considered one of the top players in Virginia, and if you go back and watch him in high school, he is a really good football player. READ MORE, Kentucky tight end Willie Rodriguez has added six scholarship offers since February 1, including an offer from Virginia Tech. 237, WR / Receiver Cole Beck, defensive tackles Norell Pollard and Mario Kendricks and defensive end Pheldarius Payne could also come back for another season. 5-9 / Wimbush did a bit of everything last year for Stone Bridge, sometimes playing quarterback and sometimes lining up out wide. While no one will confuse Virginia Tech's incoming class with Alabama . Brandon Patterson breaks down that game. More Stories About However, Aycen Stevens is a name to know. 6-3 / They'll all decide what's best for them individually in the upcoming weeks. It wouldnt be shocking to see both play early in their career. Arena is Virginia Tech's fourth commitment for 2023, joining offensive linemen Lance Williams (Alcoa, Tennessee) and Hannes Hammer (Roanoke, Virginia via Germany and defensive end Jason. The Hokies picked up defensive end Darian Varner, formerly of Temple, who has multiple years of eligibility remaining. 6-2 / We just know more about these guys. I think thats definitely going to help us on the perimeter, being longer, being faster and being more consistent.. And I think he has a chip on his shoulder. And Florida State made a late push for linebacker Caleb Woodson. On3 Football Recruiting. I truly think hes undervalued and becomes a good player for the Hokies early in his career. Hes a triple-threat guy, Pry said. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Life Christian Academy (Colonial Heights, VA), Clarkson Football North (Mississauga, ON), RB / (Christian Moss is the only scholarship receiver on the roster whos 6-3.). Meanwhile, guys like Heath, Pennix and Marcell Baylor showed plenty of versatility in high school, excelling on both sides of the ball. READ MORE, Within 10 minutes, 4-star linebacker Gabriel Williams had received a text message from nearly every member of Virginia Techs coaching staff.