('2023-02-23 11:46:09 -0600') }} football Edit. The last Tech signee ranked that high came in 2019 when wide receiver Jaden Payoute was a consensus top-five recruit in the state and fellow receiver Tayvion Robinson cracked the top five on Rivals. Hes going to make sure those guys are doing extra. Braylon Johnson is the son of Highland Springs head coach and former Virginia Tech cornerback Loren Johnson. AJ Swinton: Four-star small forward commits to Virginia Tech 6-2 / We still have a couple needs were trying to fill, he said. 6-1 / All signing day graphics are by Giovanni Heater, and all signing day videos were produced by Nick Brown. 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. This years class is loading up on defensive backs. 6-2 / Will these recent good fortunes pay off down the line? For more details about the site, including a list of TechSideline.com staff, see our About page. Several schools out there went hard after a few Hokies commitments. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. OT / More than anything, we wanted to get guys who had good production, Mines said. He'll visit Blacksburg for Junior Day next weekend. TechSideline.com (a.k.a. Football Nov 18 TBA. We recruit defensive backs. 233, Edge / All original material and images are copyrighted by TechSideline.com and may not be reused or reprinted without permission. 34 nationally, according to the 247Sports team composite rankings. 6-6.5 / And you want guys that want to compete. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Life Christian Academy (Colonial Heights, VA), Clarkson Football North (Mississauga, ON), RB / He is another player who was undervalued. ACC Championship. 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. Youve got to be able to have people to do that. 300, S / Conner has played in 61 games, starting every game over the last four seasons. (Gio Heater) On Monday, Virginia Tech's complete 2023 football schedule was releasedon the ACC Network. 10 ranked all-time Virginia Tech Hokie in career tackles. While no one will confuse Virginia Tech's incoming class with Alabama . - / 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. David Cunningham will have a story at the end of the day on Wednesday to recap Techs December signees, and Chris Coleman will have a columnas well. 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). The Hokies were competing at the Lone Star State Invitational this weekend. 6-2 / A ranking of the 2023 Best College Football Players in West Virginia. TechSideline.Com The Hokies 2023 class ranks No. 285, DL / Here is Virginia Techs recruiting class in full, with linked profiles on them from when they committed to the Hokies, including a brief scouting report and where they are from. 1. And I think he has a chip on his shoulder. 2023 Virginia Tech Football Schedule | FBSchedules.com Virginia Tech Football Schedule OVERALL 0-0 ACC 0-0 By purchasing tickets using the affiliate links below, you'll help support. The Hokies now have six confirmed seniors who are taking advantage of their additional year of eligibility from the COVID-19 season. 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. All Hokie, All the Time. The plans are for him to go on scholarship in January of 2024, though how the numbers shake out could push up those plans. Wimbush did a bit of everything last year for Stone Bridge, sometimes playing quarterback and sometimes lining up out wide. The NFL Combine runs from Tuesday, February 28 through Monday, March 6. Heath looks like a future star. 6-2 / 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. On Friday, Sierra Canyon (Calif.) four-star small forward AJ . 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. READ MORE, Virginia Tech recently became the fifth program to offer Kentucky wideout receiver Montavin Quisenberry, who has yet to take a visit. I dont want somebody thats afraid of competition. Shannon Lewis. Early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. He will start somewhere in Virginia Techs secondary for multiple seasons. We've got a lot of those conversations, I think I've got 33 or 34 meetings scheduled over the next couple of days.". All original material and images are copyrighted by TechSideline.com and may not be reused or reprinted without permission. Hailing from north of Charlotte . One concern for the Hokies is they didnt do enough on the defensive line. 2022 Virginia Tech Football Commitment List Total Commitments 24 Virginia Tech Football Transfer Tracker: Winter 2022-2023 By VTScoop247 Jan 13, 5:00 PM 207 Virginia Tech Head Coach Brent Pry expects roster turnover this offseason as he attempts to. Stevens will probably end up at defensive end, and, like Abbey, be a pretty good one. Virginia Tech Hokies Football Recruiting News | On3.com 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. Here are a few more thoughts on the class as things come to a conclusion: The latest addition Monday night was tight end Zeke Wimbush, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound three-star prospect from Stone Bridge High in Ashburn who decommitted from Charlotte on Sunday, just days after receiving a Hokies offer. Tim Sullivan HokieHaven. "We're having some exit interviews with certain guys, portal conversations," Coach Pry said during a press conference in late November. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. All-New 24/7 Sports News Network: Stream Now! Virginia Tech Football Recruiting | The Key Play Analyzing Virginia Tech Football's 2023 Signing Day Class Baylor is from Radford, and his combination of size and speed is exciting. It was a great year for two former Hokies. Again, its about being transparent and open and honest and having conversations ahead of time. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 305, DL / Tight end Nick Gallo, linebacker Alan Tisdale and safety Nasir Peoples had previously announced theyd come back. "The portal is going to be active, as we all know. All three will enroll in January, adding some juice to spring ball at the position. Lord Botetourt Contingent Makes The Trip We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. If allowed to develop for two years, Watson could be a terrific college quarterback. GO HOKIES!!! 6-7 / The Hokies should prioritize the defensive line in 2024. READ MORE, Kyron Drones is a quarterback transfer from Baylor who got meaningful snaps in one game for the Bears. He misses too many tackles due to risky angles and struggles coming to balance in the open field. 220, WR / 5-9 / And I tell the staff all the time: Nobody can know more about the kids in Virginia than us.. This is why were making this decision. Findlayter is the No. We needed somebody to come in here and compete with Grant (Wells). The Hokies have not had many top-five in-state signees in any of the major recruiting sites lately, so Cotmans addition is welcomed. It sounds like the Hokies want to see him begin at receiver, but I like him as a cornerback. The Hokies currently have 19 commitments in their 2023 recruiting class, which will probably grow a little bit here. ", Chamarri Conner Interview on Coverage, Favorite Position, Why he plays Football, Chammari Conner says he met with the Dallas Cowboys, Tuesday, February 28 - Registration, Pre-Exam, Orientation, Team Interviews, Wednesday, March 1 - General Medical Exam, Pre-ordered Studies, Team Interviews, Thursday, March 2 - Orthopedic Examination, Media Interviews, NFLPA Meeting, Team Interviews, Friday, March 3 - Measurements, On-field workout, Saturday, March 4 - Bench Press, Broadcast Interviews, Depart Indianapolis. Ishmael Findlayter Commits To Virginia Tech - TechSideline.com 6-4 / 197, OT / 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NA 135 140. More Stories About 190, LB / They can do a lot of different things with their bodies, so having those qualities is a plus for me. He committed on Sunday, three days after he decommitted from Boston College and a day after an official visit in Blacksburg. The numbers always work out (funny how that happens), but its clear that this is a pretty substantial overhaul to last years roster. -, QB / The 247Sports' NCAA Transfer Portal Database can be found here, Cornerback DJ Harvey announced he plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal 11/28, Defensive end Mattheus Carroll announced he plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/2, Defensive end Lakeem Rudolph announced he plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/4, Defensive tackle Desmond Mamudi announced he plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/4, Cornerback Armani Chatman has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Wide Receiver Kaleb Smith has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Walk-on long snapper Enzo Anthony has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Linebacker Keshon Artis has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Walk-on wide receiver Tink Boyd has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Walk-on wide receiver Will Kakavitsashas entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Quarterback Jason Brown has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Walk-onlinebacker Tyler Matheny has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Defensive End Eli Adams has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/6, Safety Nasir Peoplesannounced he will return for the 2023 season. Virginia Tech Hokies Baseball Walks Away with a 3-1 Week 2 Record, Quarterback: William Pop Watson III, Dylan Wittke, Wide receiver: Chance Fitzgerald, Ayden Greene, Marcell Baylor, Takye Heath, Krystian Williams, Offensive line: Layth Ghannam, Lance Williams, Gabriel Arena, Hannes Hammer, Edge [DE/OLB]: Jason Abbey. Tralon Mitchell is another who could up at running back, wide receiver, or on defense. From analyzing Techs 2023 class, you see a heavy emphasis on Virginia and the Hokies making some noise in regional states, such as Tennessee, Maryland, West Virginia and South Carolina. 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. ACC Football Recruiting Rankings After National Signing Day Brandon Patterson breaks down that game. 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. 250, S / Both look like future starters at cornerback for the Hokies. (On3 ranks him 33rd, bringing down his average.). 6-5 / 623 55 9. 259, OT / Coney could also play linebacker, but it sounds like the plan is to stick in the backfield. Thats why we call them cheetahs., What you want to do is you want to be able to get your secondary to the point where youve got guys with corner skills at every position. Really high football IQ, great wheels and can spin it. Antonio Cotman was a late flip from Boston College. 310. I truly think hes undervalued and becomes a good player for the Hokies early in his career. Virginia. (Christian Moss is the only scholarship receiver on the roster whos 6-3.). 6-3 / The Hokies like the new additions on the offensive line, wide receiver and the defensive backfield. Krystian Williams Collegiate School (Richmond, VA) 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. Try a week on us. Krystian Williams is another who could move around. While the Hokies have continued to add players from the NCAA transfer portal . Mose Phillips was a late addition and will be an outstanding college player. 185, RB / 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. For our in-house analysis of each signee for Virginia Tech, check out our videos on YouTube. He is from Maury High School in Norfolk alma mater of Virginia Tech legend Kam Chancellor. Johnson had other options before committing to Virginia Tech but chose the Hokies. Tech landed Kyron Drones on the transfer market, a former four-star QB who spent the past two seasons with Baylor. Gabriel Williams Remains Highly-Coveted By Virginia Tech, The Virginia Tech 2023 Class In The Half-Star System, Alex Taylor Includes Virginia Tech In Top 7, Amir Jackson Picks Up Virginia Tech Offer, Virginia Tech Adds JUCO DE James Jennette, Virginia Tech Football Junior Days, Part 2, Virginia Tech Football Junior Days, Part 1, Chanz Wiggins Takes In Virginia Tech Again, Bodie Kahoun Picks Up Virginia Tech Offer, Ari Watford Preparing For Visit To Virginia Tech. -, WR / Boston College. It wouldnt be easy after Justin Fuente ignored the state for years. Greene (Knoxville), Fitzgerald (Nashville) and Phillips (Nashville) all came on board this month. All high school NLIs received are listed below. 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. The commentary is also linked in the Our Take column of the table below. His brother played for Pry at Penn State, and he had other options, but that relationship with Pry was good for the Hokies. 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. Virginia Tech recruiting: Who did Hokies sign? How did Brent Pry do in 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. Hell likely play tackle with the Hokies. 6-1 / -, IOL / I would expect him to redshirt and develop a bit before he plays. In addition to key transfers in quarterback Kyron Drones and receiver Ali Jennings III, the Hokies have gotten six high school commitments this month, with four coming from players who are among the top-six ranked recruits in Techs class receivers Chance Fitzgerald (2) and Ayden Greene (3), cornerback Antonio Cotman Jr. (5) and quarterback Pop Watson (6). @CoachPryVT @TylerBowen @CoachShawnQuinn @HokiesFB pic.twitter.com/tCR903bBkM, Zeke Wimbush (@zekewimbush7) December 19, 2022. For more details about the site, including a list of TechSideline.com staff, see our About page. READ MORE, Virginia Tech signed JUCO defensive end James Jennette on Wednesday, per his announcement on social media. . 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. on February 2, 2022, 7:20 AM | 36 comments. 6-1 / Virginia Tech Hokies Defensive Back Chamarri Conneris participating in the 2023 NFL Combine, looking to boost his stock ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. Much of this incoming class is about development. Virginia Tech. So a guy that can supply some depth and come in and be a rotational guy, give us a chance to develop this young group.. While he may not stick at corner, he could make an impact at safety or linebacker, depending on how much size he adds. Theres no such thing as 50-50. While its unclear how many of the soon-to-be signees will get on the field early, its clear from the Hokies recent push that theyre focusing on reshaping the offense, particularly the receiver room. GO HOKIES!!! 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. LB. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. In fact, 12 of the high school signees from Virginia were ranked 20th or lower in the state, with Penn State (six of the top 10) and North Carolina (five of the top 20) at the forefront of the poachers. Signed. And certain areas are listening, as it seems Prys early work is already paying off in Richmond. TechSideline.com (a.k.a. 236, RB / 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. Grant Wells did not have a good initial season in Blacksburg, but in reality, he was the Hokies' best option . 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. 6-0 / It just so happened to fall in place that we kind of killed two birds with one stone. 243, IOL / Unofficially, all the recent movement puts the Hokies at 92 scholarship players, a figure that will need to be trimmed significantly to get to the 85 maximum scholarship number, especially if Tech has designs on adding more transfers next month. Buy Tickets Opens in new window. But at the same time, we have to be better in that area.. Last year, the Hokies beefed up on both lines, signing 12 players who played in the trenches. The secondary class is a fun group. The Hokies signed 25 players last week and could sign a few more before national signing day in February. 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. 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. 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. Commit 6-1 / Felton is from Portsmouth. Thats not to say the Hokies landed top local talent, as ranked by the recruiting sites, in Virginia. We just know more about these guys. More than anything, I think hes going to push these guys on and off the field. 5-10 / S. TyLyric Coleman Dan River (Ringgold, VA) 6-3 / 175. 6-3 / Virginia Tech football recruiting: Four-star RB Ramon Brown commits to 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. 1 ranked player in Ontario, per 247. Early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. 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. 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. We really like the way he rushes the quarterback, Pry said. A ranking of the 2023 Best College Football Players in West Virginia. And you go down the road and theres a coach youve known for 20 years and you can say, Tell me about that guy. And he says, Coach, thats a heck of a ball player. 6-0 / 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. Brent Pry and the Hokies signed 25 prospects to their 2023 class on Wednesday. New Nebraska coach Matt Rhule made a show of making his first offer on the job to cornerback Dante Lovett. 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 first order of business at the combine was the measurement portion, on Friday morning, where the Virginia Tech defensive back verified his frame. 16 ranking the state in the 247Sports Composite, making him the top-ranked player from Virginia in the Hokies class, hes much more well-regarded by Rivals, which lists him as a four-star recruit and the No. I thought it was tough when we got Jason (Brown) and Grant last year at the same time. StubHub Ticket Marketplace, AAA Travel Center & Info, English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park Fan Guide, ACCN ACC Network, Video Library presented by COX, Virginia Tech Sports Network Radio Affiliates, Sport Psychology/Counseling and Athletic Mental Performance, Student-Athlete Academic Support Services, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). 318, DL / Weve got to be better at that position. Nine scholarship players have already gone into the portal. Their parents, especially, have an appreciation for where Virginia Techs been, and they understand what this program can be.. 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. 455 player nationally and No. 215, QB / All Hokie, All the Time. What Is Virginia Tech Getting In Kyron Drones? READ MORE, Virginia Tech has had a lot of highly-touted visitors on campus over the last week. 6-6 / 150. READ MORE, Thomas Dale 2025 athlete Shamari Earls recently picked up an offer from Virginia Tech, and he will visit next month.