This is a guy whos going to bring a different demeanor from what we have, Mines said. 6-0 / If allowed to develop for two years, Watson could be a terrific college quarterback. I think thats definitely going to help us on the perimeter, being longer, being faster and being more consistent.. Lovett and Fleming are also players who had attention from other schools but maintained their pledges to the Hokies. I also wouldnt be shocked if Pry looks for a defensive tackle via the transfer portal. 305, / Greene (Knoxville), Fitzgerald (Nashville) and Phillips (Nashville) all came on board this month. The commentary is also linked in the Our Take column of the table below. Period. Pry said the Hokies are still pursuing some transfers in the first week of January who could still be spring semester enrollees, with three on the docket to make official visits as of now. Because what offenses do is they try to attack you when you have weaknesses in coverage. The Hokies did plenty of work in Tennessee in this class, an area that Tech hasnt tapped into all that much in recent years, getting four signees from the Volunteer State. Welcome to Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Signing Day Central for the Class of 2023. He'll visit Blacksburg for Junior Day next weekend. Nine scholarship players have already gone into the portal. It helps when you can go to an area and theres a young man youre interested in that youre getting to know, Pry said. 5-11 / Football Dec 2 TBA. Lets get to work #NewHome pic.twitter.com/zvIhIcrD1B, Chance Fitzgerald (@itschancefitz) December 16, 2022. 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. Hes going to make sure those guys are doing extra. While the Hokies have continued to add players from the NCAA transfer portal . Ghannam, Arena and Lance Williams all had late interest from the outside but stuck with the Hokies and Rudolph. Thats always the million-dollar question with recruiting, where signing day stars have a short shelf life and can look quaint once these players have had a few years to develop or, in the transfer portal age, pack up and go somewhere else to finish their career. Conner has played in 61 games, starting every game over the last four seasons. 295, TE / If Joe Rudolph picks them, you should like them, too. Ali Jennings, from Highland Springs High School, spent two years at West Virginia and the previous two years at Old Dominion. 6-3 / Early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. 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. The Virginia Tech Hokies wrapped up the early signing period last week feeling pretty good about the 2023 recruiting class. The 6-foot 202-pound play-maker has played safety, nickel and cornerback in his Virginia Tech career. He was a hybrid linebacker-defensive back in both 2019 and 2020, registering a bulk of his . 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. Note that this isn't necessarily a complete list of recruits who are in Blacksburg; it's only a list of those who we can confirm visited via social media. Be sure to follow our coverage of National Signing Day on Twitter:Tech Sideline,Chris Coleman,Will Stewartand David Cunningham. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Varner was a first-team All-AAC performer at Temple in 2022 and can slide inside on passing downs. Grant Wells did not have a good initial season in Blacksburg, but in reality, he was the Hokies' best option . An offensive lineman: The Hokies have 16 in the room right now, but only one is a senior (Jesse Hanson) and only three more have junior designations (Kaden Moore, Parker Clements and Bob Schick). Let's take a closer look at who visited. ACC Championship. Of that second group, tight end Nick Gallo, safety Nasir Peoples and linebacker Alan Tisdale are the only three to publicly say they plan to return next season. 6-0 / All six could reasonably be considered starting candidates next season. I really like this group. 190, DL / Spring practice updates Recruiting news NFL Draft . Virginia Tech. NC State. 6-2 / (Christian Moss is the only scholarship receiver on the roster whos 6-3.). Both look like future starters at cornerback for the Hokies. NA 135 140. Dec 20, 2022 31 BLACKSBURG, Va. So this is what recruiting momentum feels like? 282, RB / We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 6-2 / 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. Welcome to Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Signing Day Central for the Class of 2022. 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. It sounds like the Hokies want to see him begin at receiver, but I like him as a cornerback. Later on Friday afternoon at 3 P.M., Conner will participate in the Defensive Back drills. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Conners size and versatility could buy him time on a roster, but he might need to keep fighting for his spot. Lets break down Techs high-school class by position: Watson was a late flip and has a chance to be Virginia Techs successor to Drones if things go according to plan. (Jerome Miron / USA Today), Twenty-nine players signed with the Hokies on Wednesday. However, Aycen Stevens is a name to know. Virginia Tech's 2023 National Signing Day class ranks as the sixth best in the ACC according to 247Sports Composite and Rivals. READ MORE, Virginia Tech has had a lot of highly-touted visitors on campus over the last week. Tech has also gotten confirmation from defensive tackle Mario Kendricks and defensive end Pheldarius Payne, a Nebraska transfer who missed last year with an Achilles injury, that theyll return. This guys going to make Grant better. Will these recent good fortunes pay off down the line? The numbers always work out (funny how that happens), but its clear that this is a pretty substantial overhaul to last years roster. (On3 ranks him 33rd, bringing down his average.). BLACKSBURG, Va. So this is what recruiting momentum feels like? READ MORE, TechSideline.Com
Nationally, the Hokies' class has peaked at No. (D-lineman Rashaud Pernell signed but did not enroll, ending up at Liberty.). Recruits can send in their National Letter of Intent (NLI) starting at 7 a.m. We'll begin providing updates at that time, and we'll be here all day. Varner is a 6-foot-2, 280-pound first-team All-AAC pick from Temple, where he had 7.5 sacks last year. 6-1 / DaWain Lofton can play the slot, while others like Tucker Holloway and Xayvion Bradshaw push for time in the lineup. We want to take care of the state and the kids because thats how were going to get back to where it was back in the day, senior director of player personnel Mike Villagrana said. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Note: We are told that Ezekiel Wimbush, previously listed as a commitment, is currently preferred walk-on status. He offers consistency, Mines said. 190, LB / 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.. ('2023-02-23 11:46:09 -0600') }} football Edit. 220, OT / Thats two receiver additions from Tennessee this month, with the Hokies also landing Greene, a former Cincinnati commit, whos from Powell, just outside of Knoxville. 6 Virginia at North Carolina, Highlights: No. One concern for the Hokies is they didnt do enough on the defensive line. And while well see if hes actually that big listed heights and weights on recruiting sites are hardly unimpeachable its a body type Techs lacking now that Kaleb Smith is in the transfer portal. How long has it been since the Hokies have had these kinds of feel-good vibes around signing day? The Hokies should prioritize the defensive line in 2024. TechSideline.com (a.k.a. Varner has been dealing with a foot injury, but if healthy, he will be Virginia Techs best pass rusher immediately. 191, RB / Several schools out there went hard after a few Hokies commitments. 285, DL / 2023 Virginia Tech Athletics - All Rights Reserved. And for some of those players, Pry either flipped from other schools or beat some good competition to land those signatures. Projecting the depth chart By Andy Bitter Jan 4, 2023 38 BLACKSBURG, Va. New year, new roster and an evolving one at that. And I think he has a chip on his shoulder. Its the second consecutive season Tech has been ranked in that neighborhood after middling to forgettable classes in 2021 (44th) and 2020 (76th). GO HOKIES!!! 6-0 / TechSideline.Com
Welcome to Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Signing Day Central for the Class of 2023. 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. Pry added to a class mostly put together by his predecessor last year, with late commitments from tight end Benji Gosnell and offensive lineman Brody Meadows, who were the second and fourth highest-ranked members of the group, though that was blunted by signing day flips by running back Ramon Brown to Maryland and quarterback Alex Orji to Michigan. (Gio Heater) On Monday, Virginia Tech's complete 2023 football schedule was releasedon the ACC Network. Watsons size was a detriment to some, but turn on the film, and you see an electric runner with a strong arm. The y-axis in this graph represents the percentage weight of the score that gets applied to an overall team ranking. Gambling problem? 6-4 / 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. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Drones was Techs top transfer quarterback target. The 2018 class is probably the last one with a strong finish that paid dividends on the field, with the Hokies landing future NFL tight end James Mitchell before the early signing period that December and coveted linebacker Dax Hollifield in February to punctuate a class ranked 22nd nationally, back before the wheels fell off during Justin Fuentes tenure. - / He is from Maury High School in Norfolk alma mater of Virginia Tech legend Kam Chancellor. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. OT / * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Virginia Tech football is putting a stamp on its 2023 signing class with as good of a finish as you could have asked for from head coach Brent Pry in his first real recruiting cycle. 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. You can win those jump balls, 80-20, is what I call it. All original material and images are copyrighted by TechSideline.com and may not be reused or reprinted without permission. READ MORE, In-state cornerback Joshua Clarke has visited Virginia Tech six times, and he's close to narrowing his list. We've got a lot of those conversations, I think I've got 33 or 34 meetings scheduled over the next couple of days.". Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Virginia Tech football: Hokies land 4-star JUCO pass-rusher James Jennette Jennette is a promising edge rusher. What we learned about Virginia Tech's Class of 2023 as the early signing period began Wednesday, with 25 prep players and four transfers. The Virginia Tech Hokies wrapped up the early signing period last week feeling pretty good about the 2023 recruiting class. The Hokies currently have 19 commitments in their 2023 recruiting class, which will probably grow a little bit here. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. - / Michigan, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma had shown interest in him. LB. Some of them had other head coaches sitting on their couch in their living room, Hokies coach Brent Pry said. Virginia Tech football is putting a stamp on its 2023 signing class with as good of a finish as you could. The second and third-best prospects . All high school NLIs received are listed below. 6-2 / ET on YouTube. I think he is confident. 
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, Virginia Tech Sports Network Radio Affiliates, Sport Psychology/Counseling and Athletic Mental Performance, Student-Athlete Academic Support Services, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Virginia Tech and Brent Pry picked up their 18th commitment in the class of 2023 on Sunday night with the pledge of three-star defensive end Ishmael Findlayter (Ontario, Canada). I think hes proven. However, most of the heavy lifting has been done, and any further additions will likely come through the transfer portal. The 2019 class was punctuated by offensive lineman Doug Nesters signing day flip from Ohio State in February, though that joy was erased years later by his transfer to West Virginia. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Last year, it was the defensive and offensive lines that ate up most of the signing class, with what turned out to be six players in the trenches on defense and six on offense. But now we got a third guy in the mix. 0.8714. Theres 80-20 in my room. READ MORE, Virginia Tech hosted arguably the top prospect in the state of Virginia last weekend for their second Junior Day event. He is another player who was undervalued. Felton is from Portsmouth. 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. For our in-house analysis of each signee for Virginia Tech, check out our videos on YouTube. (Photo of Brent Pry: Reinhold Matay / USA Today). Cornerback: Dante Lovett, Cameren Fleming, Antonio Cotman Jr. Safety: Mose Phillips, Braylon Johnson, Caleb Woodson, Athlete: Thomas Williams, Jonathan Pennix, Tralon Mitchell. 2023 Virginia Tech Football Commitment List Total Commitments 26 He can be a power runner pretty early in his Virginia Tech career. That quarterback rooms going to look a little different right out of the gate come January 18th, Pry said. Boston College. The Hokies signed 25 players last week and could sign a few more before national signing day in February. I dont want somebody thats afraid of competition. "We're having some exit interviews with certain guys, portal conversations," Coach Pry said during a press conference in late November. It helps the quarterback not have to be as accurate. Obviously, we think our guys can continue to develop, the young guys in our program. Offensive lineman Lance Williams, a Tennessee Mr. Football for his classification, was the first commitment in the class from Alcoa, south of Knoxville. 623 55 9. The highly versatile defensive back has played nearly every position in the Hokies' backfield dating back to 2018.
Ticket Marketplace, Travel Center & Info, English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park Fan Guide, ACC Network, Video Library presented by , Virginia Tech Sports Network Radio Affiliates, Sport Psychology/Counseling and Athletic Mental Performance, Student-Athlete Academic Support Services, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Virginia Tech and Brent Pry picked up their 18th commitment in the class of 2023 on Sunday night with the pledge of three-star defensive end Ishmael Findlayter (Ontario, Canada). I think hes proven. However, most of the heavy lifting has been done, and any further additions will likely come through the transfer portal. The 2019 class was punctuated by offensive lineman Doug Nesters signing day flip from Ohio State in February, though that joy was erased years later by his transfer to West Virginia. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Last year, it was the defensive and offensive lines that ate up most of the signing class, with what turned out to be six players in the trenches on defense and six on offense. But now we got a third guy in the mix. 0.8714. Theres 80-20 in my room. READ MORE, Virginia Tech hosted arguably the top prospect in the state of Virginia last weekend for their second Junior Day event. He is another player who was undervalued. Felton is from Portsmouth. 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. For our in-house analysis of each signee for Virginia Tech, check out our videos on YouTube. (Photo of Brent Pry: Reinhold Matay / USA Today). Cornerback: Dante Lovett, Cameren Fleming, Antonio Cotman Jr. Safety: Mose Phillips, Braylon Johnson, Caleb Woodson, Athlete: Thomas Williams, Jonathan Pennix, Tralon Mitchell. 2023 Virginia Tech Football Commitment List Total Commitments 26 He can be a power runner pretty early in his Virginia Tech career. That quarterback rooms going to look a little different right out of the gate come January 18th, Pry said. Boston College. The Hokies signed 25 players last week and could sign a few more before national signing day in February. I dont want somebody thats afraid of competition. "We're having some exit interviews with certain guys, portal conversations," Coach Pry said during a press conference in late November. It helps the quarterback not have to be as accurate. Obviously, we think our guys can continue to develop, the young guys in our program. Offensive lineman Lance Williams, a Tennessee Mr. Football for his classification, was the first commitment in the class from Alcoa, south of Knoxville. 623 55 9. The highly versatile defensive back has played nearly every position in the Hokies' backfield dating back to 2018.