Grant Wells did not have a good initial season in Blacksburg, but in reality, he was the Hokies' best option . 788 37 8. 5-10 / His size, athleticism and football IQ had him extremely undervalued. But the staff has connections that way too, with defensive coordinator Chris Marve having played and coached at Vanderbilt, sam linebackers coach Shawn Quinn playing collegiately at Carson-Newman and with a number of past coaching jobs in Tennessee and Pry himself with stints at Memphis and Vanderbilt. ET on YouTube. He was a hybrid linebacker-defensive back in both 2019 and 2020, registering a bulk of his time at the coined 'Whip' position. Tech Sidelines content of this years signing day includes a podcast around 3:30 p.m. In the composite rankings, Adams is. Analyzing Virginia Tech Football's 2023 Signing Day Class There are 25 high school signees, plus four transfer additions. 6-3 / 6-5 / As much as I like the cornerback class, I equally like the safeties. We still have a couple needs were trying to fill, he said. 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. I also wouldnt be shocked if Pry looks for a defensive tackle via the transfer portal. Commit GO HOKIES!!! Prys focus upon his hiring was to rebuild relationships within the Commonwealth. 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. Add in Jennings out of ODU and its been a very good month for receivers coach Fontel Mines. New Virginia Tech football offer: Deuce Walker. 220, OT / Ali Jennings, from Highland Springs High School, spent two years at West Virginia and the previous two years at Old Dominion. A ranking of the 2023 Best College Football Players in West Virginia. 230, LB / Ishmael Findlayter Commits To Virginia Tech - TechSideline.com - / While no one will confuse Virginia Tech's incoming class with Alabama . 6-2 / Hammer plays at North Cross in Roanoke. 300, LB / Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Virginia Tech football: Hokies land 4-star JUCO pass-rusher James Jennette Jennette is a promising edge rusher. Jonathan Pennix and Krystian Williams are athletes who could start out on either side of the ball. 220, WR / Braylon Johnson is the son of Highland Springs head coach and former Virginia Tech cornerback Loren Johnson. Several schools out there went hard after a few Hokies commitments. (As someone whos technically coming in as a walk-on, the Hokies couldnt comment publicly on him, thus his absence from Wednesdays signing day fanfare.). Thanks for the effort, fellas! Virginia Tech football recruiting: Hokies build momentum with late READ MORE, TechSideline.Com
Try a week on us. 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. One-On-One With Virginia Tech Football's Brent Pry By: David Cunningham | March 2, 2023 On Wednesday, Tech Sideline's David Cunningham sat down with Brent Pry to discuss individual players, the transfer portal and other topics. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Dec 20, 2022 31 BLACKSBURG, Va. So this is what recruiting momentum feels like? Varner is a 6-foot-2, 280-pound first-team All-AAC pick from Temple, where he had 7.5 sacks last year. 220, OLB / 2023 Virginia Tech Football Schedule | FBSchedules.com 2023 Football Schedule - Virginia Tech Athletics Antonio Cotman was a late flip from Boston College. Gambling problem? 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. This site utilizes responsive web design, which renders the site properly on all platforms (PC, tablet, mobile). Presented by, 2024 tight end Cameron Clark took his first visit to Virginia Tech in late January after picking up a December offer. 6-3 / Virginia Techs Elizabeth Kitley pulls down her second ACC player of the year award, Georgia Amoore and Taylor Soule get team honors, and Tech gets ready for Selection Sunday. 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. Drones has three years of eligibility remaining. (Top photo: Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics). 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. Virginia Tech 2023 Football Commits - 247Sports I love to see receivers play defense, especially in high school, show some physicality, show that theyll play on special teams. He committed on Sunday, three days after he decommitted from Boston College and a day after an official visit in Blacksburg. Area Code 540. Will Virginia Tech have a lot of roster turnover? Transfer portal QB He offers consistency, Mines said. All signing day graphics are by Giovanni Heater, and all signing day videos were produced by Nick Brown. 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. It helps the quarterback not have to be as accurate. He has that mentality to play this position at a high level.. The Portsmouth product is a former basketball player who didnt start playing football until his junior year, earning a camp offer from Norfolk State, where he caught 67 passes for 1,062 yards and nine touchdowns the past two years, with seven scores last season. The second and third-best prospects . Felton is a big-play guy who, along with Jennings, gives the Hokies two quality veterans to line up outside in 2023. 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. 285, DL / Krystian Williams Collegiate School (Richmond, VA) Let's take a closer look at who visited. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. (Virginia Tech sports photography) On early signing day, 25 prospects from the class of 2023 signed their NLIs with Virginia Tech football: 13 on offense and 12 on defense. We just know more about these guys. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Virginia Tech Head Coach Brent Pry expects roster turnover this offseason as he attempts to rebuild the Hokies roster by way of the transfer portal and the 2023 recruiting class. He is another player who was undervalued. HokieHaven On3 Football Recruiting. 8 Virginia Tech Wrestling Travels To Raleigh For ACC Tournament By: Jack Brizendine | March 2, 2023 The No. He had 729 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, 840 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns and 17 catches for 338 yards and three touchdowns, showing plenty of athletic chops for someone his size. 0.8478. BLACKSBURG, Va. While signing day went off without a hitch for Virginia Tech, that doesnt mean there werent some nervous moments leading up to it. 205, DL / -, WR / That quarterback rooms going to look a little different right out of the gate come January 18th, Pry said. 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 Hokies like the new additions on the offensive line, wide receiver and the defensive backfield. Some of them had other head coaches sitting on their couch in their living room, Hokies coach Brent Pry said. Duke, Virginia Tech offer 2025 top-75 QB George MacIntyre. 0.8786. READ MORE, Virginia Tech recently became the fifth program to offer Kentucky wideout receiver Montavin Quisenberry, who has yet to take a visit. 6-2 / It sounds like the Hokies want to see him begin at receiver, but I like him as a cornerback. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Life Christian Academy (Colonial Heights, VA), Clarkson Football North (Mississauga, ON), RB / Hes confident. 6-4 / Spring practice updates Recruiting news NFL Draft . More than anything, I think hes going to push these guys on and off the field. Weve got to be better at that position. Enjoy! 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. "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. HokieHaven READ MORE, Virginia Tech signed JUCO defensive end James Jennette on Wednesday, per his announcement on social media. Its not easy, Pry said of the juggling act of adding three quarterbacks in a class. I thought it was tough when we got Jason (Brown) and Grant last year at the same time. 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. 623 55 9. 6-7 / He and Drones struck up a fast relationship during their visit, and both committed. This is a guy whos going to bring a different demeanor from what we have, Mines said. Period. It wouldnt be shocking to see both play early in their career. Virginia Tech football: Hokies hosting a big recruit this weekend 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. 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. 200, IOL / Virginia Tech 2023 Football Prospects - 247Sports After a showy signing day ceremony, the hay is in the barn now, with Pry finalizing his first full class with the Hokies, a group that ranks 35th in the 247Sports Composite and sixth in the ACC, not far from Virginia Techs historical norm. 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. 6-6 / He'll visit Blacksburg for Junior Day next weekend. 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.. Mose Phillips was a late addition and will be an outstanding college player. 6-2 / Pry, whose years at Penn State gave him an advantage in rebuilding those relationships. 6-6 / TechSideline.com (a.k.a. 247Sports employs a staff of more than 50 full time recruiting reporters and evaluators that rank and compile data on the nation's elite . All three will enroll in January, adding some juice to spring ball at the position. 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. 6-2 / There is still work to do in Northern Virginia and the 757, but Pry and his staff are off to a terrific start. So the investments real. I can see both playing in 2023. Ultimately, it wasnt enough. 6-5 / 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. 6-1 / Pry thinks Tech secured commitments early from some undervalued players in the state who had strong senior seasons, which helped the Hokies fend off late challengers once their recruitment heated up, We came in here talking a big game about recruiting this state, he said. He has compiled 314 total tackles (207 solo), 21.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 23 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles and one block. 195, CB / Virginia Tech Hokies Defensive Back Chamarri Conneris participating in the 2023 NFL Combine, looking to boost his stock ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Hokies should prioritize the defensive line in 2024. Lewis plays running back at Salem High School in Salem, Virginia. READ MORE, Alex Taylor has made multiple trips to Virginia Tech, and recently included the Hokies in his top seven schools. Its infectious, Pry said. The Lady Hokies shine after a break, and trounce, throttle, and outscore the Miami Hurricanes in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals. 6-4 / Offensive lineman Lance Williams, a Tennessee Mr. Football for his classification, was the first commitment in the class from Alcoa, south of Knoxville. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. 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 conclusion of the 2022 season, Conner has participated in the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowland has prepared himself for the NFL Combine. READ MORE, Ari Watford will be one of the top prospects in the state in the 2025 class. I really like this group. 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. 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. Virginia Tech recruiting: Who did Hokies sign? How did Brent Pry do in He has good size for a receiver at 6-foot-3, 184 pounds. Competition at quarterback. The Hokies currently have 19 commitments in their 2023 recruiting class, which will probably grow a little bit here. His style of play is reminiscent of former Penn . Virginia Tech football is putting a stamp on its 2023 signing class with as good of a finish as you could. 5-10 / 190, DL / 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. There were no last-second decommitments or signing day swings and misses, a welcome change from recent years, and the Hokies even had a few surprises up their sleeves for the public, with a pair of transfers, defensive end Darian Varner and receiver DaQuan Felton, and high school safety Mose Phillips announcing their intentions to sign with Tech on Wednesday. 6-5 / 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. Coney was a late flip who looks the part. In order to create the most comprehensive Team Recruiting Ranking without any notion of bias, 247Sports Team Recruiting Ranking is solely based on the 247Sports Composite Rating. In the spring, the Hokies made a point of hitting every school in the state. Try a week on us. Hes a twitchy guy, and particularly when he gets closer to the football, he was a problem for people.. My background is man coverage, man-press coverage, aggressive., cornerbacks coach Derek Jones said. Krystian Williams is another who could move around. 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. Find the latest updates on Virginia Tech's roster below. Varner has been dealing with a foot injury, but if healthy, he will be Virginia Techs best pass rusher immediately.