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. Football Nov 25 TBA. Tight end Nick Gallo, linebacker Alan Tisdale and safety Nasir Peoples had previously announced theyd come back. You can win those jump balls, 80-20, is what I call it. The Hokies now have six confirmed seniors who are taking advantage of their additional year of eligibility from the COVID-19 season. Dante Lovett and Cameren Fleming were two of my favorites in this class. Theres a little bit of a gap between the old guys and this group, he said. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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). Wimbush did a bit of everything last year for Stone Bridge, sometimes playing quarterback and sometimes lining up out wide. 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. Teams; CBS Sports; CBS SPORTS HQ; SportsLine; MaxPreps; Shop; . 6-0 / 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. More than anything, we wanted to get guys who had good production, Mines said. 0.8714. I can see both playing in 2023. READ MORE, Virginia Tech was the first P5 program to offer Ohio offensive lineman Jake Wheelock, and he will visit Blacksburg this weekend. 6-4 / Coney could also play linebacker, but it sounds like the plan is to stick in the backfield. All original material and images are copyrighted by TechSideline.com and may not be reused or reprinted without permission. 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. 5-11 / 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. Signed. Cotman was the latest defensive player the Hokies snagged. I would expect him to redshirt and develop a bit before he plays. 305, / The Hokies should prioritize the defensive line in 2024. LB. 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). We recruit defensive backs. 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. 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. (D-lineman Rashaud Pernell signed but did not enroll, ending up at Liberty.). Again, its about being transparent and open and honest and having conversations ahead of time. There is still work to do in Northern Virginia and the 757, but Pry and his staff are off to a terrific start. The Hokies 2023 class ranks No. 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. 259, OT / In this article, we'll analyze some overall thoughts about the class from head coach Brent . - / The highest-ranked in-state signee Tech had was cornerback Antonio Cotman Jr., the 16th-ranked player in the 247Sports Composite. Tech Sidelines content of this years signing day includes a podcast around 3:30 p.m. READ MORE, With the 2023 Virginia Tech recruiting class now complete, it's time to assign our star ratings using the half-star system. Odds & lines subject to change. (Jerome Miron / USA Today), Twenty-nine players signed with the Hokies on Wednesday. The recruiting classes for the champions of both . Offensive lineman Lance Williams, a Tennessee Mr. Football for his classification, was the first commitment in the class from Alcoa, south of Knoxville. Visit our message boards:TSL Recruiting Board (TSL Pass)TSL Football Board. While he may not stick at corner, he could make an impact at safety or linebacker, depending on how much size he adds. 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. All Hokie, All the Time. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Grant Wells did not have a good initial season in Blacksburg, but in reality, he was the Hokies' best option . The 6-foot 202-pound play-maker has played safety, nickel and cornerback in his Virginia Tech career. I also wouldnt be shocked if Pry looks for a defensive tackle via the transfer portal. Early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. The Virginia Tech Hokies wrapped up the early signing period last week feeling pretty good about the 2023 recruiting class. 6-6.5 / The Virginia Tech Hokies wrapped up the early signing period last week feeling pretty good about the 2023 recruiting class. And I think he has a chip on his shoulder. 231-4132. 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. @CoachPryVT @coachscott33 @BappNAinEZBino @adamgorney @RivalsFriedman @EdOBrienCFB pic.twitter.com/SrtfDYNLja, Antonio Hazen Cotman Jr. (@CotmanHazen) December 18, 2022, Cotmans addition bolsters whats turning into a pretty good haul in the secondary for the Hokies. 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. Jonathan Pennix and Krystian Williams are athletes who could start out on either side of the ball. 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. TechSideline.com (a.k.a. While no one will confuse Virginia Tech's incoming class with. . He offers consistency, Mines said. 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. Editor. Thomas Williams is a sensational athlete and could also figure into the mix here. Thats not to say the Hokies landed top local talent, as ranked by the recruiting sites, in Virginia. Will Virginia Tech Soon Break Through In Ohio? And I tell the staff all the time: Nobody can know more about the kids in Virginia than us.. I think hes proven. 215, QB / Gambling problem? 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 4 player in the state. 200, IOL / Copeland is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound from Appomattox. 197, QB / 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. 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. He finishes in the record-book as the No. Receiver Cole Beck, defensive tackles Norell Pollard and Mario Kendricks and defensive end Pheldarius Payne could also come back for another season. If allowed to develop for two years, Watson could be a terrific college quarterback. Try a week on us. 1 ranked player in Ontario, per 247. He misses too many tackles due to risky angles and struggles coming to balance in the open field. 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. Greene (Knoxville), Fitzgerald (Nashville) and Phillips (Nashville) all came on board this month. Hes going to make sure those guys are doing extra. So the investments real. 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. 5-11 / He and Drones struck up a fast relationship during their visit, and both committed. 205, CB / ** The Early 2023 Signing Day is concluded. PUBLISHER. The high schoolers are Watson and Wittke at quarterback, running back Jeremiah Coney, Greene and Baylor at receiver, offensive lineman Layth Ghannam, Hannes Hammer and Williams, defensive end Ishmael Findlayter and Cotman and Phillips at defensive back. Nine scholarship players have already gone into the portal. Jennings and Felton help remake a receiver room that added seven new players in all Wednesday, shoring up a group that lost last years leading pass-catcher Kaleb Smith to Notre Dame. 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. Theres 80-20 in my room. Michael Hazel. 270, LB / 210, IOL / Virginia Tech is hopeful to get defensive tackle Norell Pollard back too, though nothings been finalized on that front. Try a week on us. Ishmael Findlayter, Linebacker: Tavorian Copeland, Aycen Stevens. -, QB / 5-10 / Ali Jennings, from Highland Springs High School, spent two years at West Virginia and the previous two years at Old Dominion. Obviously, we think our guys can continue to develop, the young guys in our program. In order to get under the limit with all the players the Hokies still hope to land or could pursue in the future, it wouldnt be surprising if that number doubles by the end of spring. 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. Its infectious, Pry said. All signing day graphics are by Giovanni Heater, and all signing day videos were produced by Nick Brown. 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. The 6-foot-1 wide receiver has over 20 scholarship offers and is the No. Youve got to be able to have people to do that. 6-4 / 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Executive Assistant to the Head Coach. 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. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Life Christian Academy (Colonial Heights, VA), Clarkson Football North (Mississauga, ON), RB / Virginia Tech football recruiting: Hokies land three players Sunday for 2023 class It was a big day for the Hokies, who also added a talented quarterback. 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. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 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. Though both are 6-foot-2, joining the 6-5 Felton, getting bigger wasnt necessarily a primary objective of the Hokies coaches. 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. 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. 243, IOL / on February 2, 2022, 7:20 AM | 36 comments. 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. There are 25 high school signees, plus four transfer additions. All Hokie, All the Time. READ MORE, Despite being a UVA legacy, Grant Karczewski will walk-on at Virginia Tech after specific advice from his parents. Meanwhile, guys like Heath, Pennix and Marcell Baylor showed plenty of versatility in high school, excelling on both sides of the ball.