Virginia Tech football recruiting: Will Hokies’ class grow before signing day?

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Like all head coaches, Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry is recruiting on two fronts, each for short-term wants (the transfer portal) and for the lengthy haul (excessive colleges), attempting to steadiness the numbers to suit neatly below the 85-scholarship restrict.

And whereas portal-mania is taking over the sport, with fan bases having quixotic visions of a whole roster turnaround in a single offseason now that the early-December window is open, the extra cautious, lifelike method is an extended, slower construct, which begins with highschool recruiting.

“Once more, we’re going to construct this factor with highschool gamers, however we’re additionally going to satisfy wants out of the switch portal,” Pry mentioned. “So we’re working each angles.”

There are lower than two weeks till the early signing interval begins on Dec. 21. Listed here are some ideas on the place Virginia Tech’s 2023 highschool recruiting stands because it comes down the stretch:

• The Hokies have 19 commitments of their ’23 class, a bunch that’s ranked forty first nationally and ninth within the ACC within the 247Sports Composite rankings. Whereas that’s not nice, it’s additionally roughly within the neighborhood of the place Virginia Tech has been because the disastrous 2020 class:

Granted, Pry and his employees had an uphill battle after taking on, effectively behind in scouting and forming bonds with most of the high prospects within the class — a course of that begins years earlier — and needing to fix relationships, significantly in-state, that atrophied throughout Justin Fuente’s tenure.

• That’s clearly a course of near dwelling. The Hokies have commitments from 10 Virginia prospects, although none are rated greater than twenty second within the state — Trinity Episcopal College cornerback Cameren Fleming, who’s the 907th-ranked participant within the 2023 class.

Penn State and North Carolina are as soon as once more dominating the blue-chip depend within the commonwealth, with the Nittany Lions having pledges from 5 of the highest 10 recruits in Virginia and the Tar Heels having 5 of the highest 17.

To underscore how accelerated that course of is, when Pry was employed by Virginia Tech final yr on Nov. 30, Penn State already had commitments in place from the state’s No. 1 total prospect, Broad Run offensive lineman Alex Birchmeier, and one of many high athletes, Riverbend’s Mathias Barnwell, and was in good condition on a number of others who’d commit in brief order (linebacker Tony Rojas and offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh).

The remaining uncommitted top-25 gamers left within the state are dwindling. Athlete Brandyn Hillman, the No. 7 participant who unofficially visited Virginia Tech in November, dedicated to Notre Dame on Wednesday.

• How huge can the category go? It’s robust to place a definitive quantity on it. An unofficial depend of the Hokies’ scholarships, in the mean time, after 9 scholarship gamers have gone into the portal up to now, places them at 83 — a determine that counts all 19 commitments and contains the entire seniors who may probably return for an additional COVID-19 season.

Clearly, that’s a quantity in flux. Extra gamers will go into the portal — there at all times appears to be a surge after the brand new semester begins in January, as soon as scholarship cash is assured — and it’s doable just a few select to not use their further COVID-19 season. Any departure on that entrance would open up spots on the opposite facet for Tech so as to add, both by way of the switch portal or to its signing class. The best way to weigh these two is the difficulty going through staffs across the nation proper now.

• So who may nonetheless be a part of the category? The Hokies have lengthy had a suggestion out to Elijah Hughes, a line of defense prospect out of Washington-Liberty Excessive in Arlington. The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder is a three-star prospect and the No. 16 participant in Virginia in 247Sports’ site-specific rankings. He performs a place of want for the Hokies, who, after signing what turned out to be three defensive tackles in final yr’s class (Gunner Givens ended up there and Braelin Moore on the offensive line), don’t presently have a ’23 dedication from an inside lineman on the protection.

Hughes, who was his area’s defensive participant of the yr and a first-team all-state choose after ending with 111 tackles, 32 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks this previous season, hasn’t been all too public about his leaning. Stanford has lengthy been within the combine, although with David Shaw’s resignation and uncertainty about who will substitute him, which may imply a bonus for the Hokies.

His older brother, Sam, joined Virginia Tech as a walk-on this yr. It’s exhausting to think about what else the Hokies may do to push this any extra of their favor.

• The Hokies had been fast to make a push for broad receiver Ayden Greene after he decommitted from Cincinnati the day phrase obtained out that Luke Fickell was leaving the Bearcats for Wisconsin. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Greene had 66 catches for 1,127 yards and 19 touchdowns in 14 video games for Powell (Tenn.) Excessive and is rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 459 participant nationally.

Pry, receivers coach Fontel Mines and outdoors linebackers coach Shawn Quinn, who recruits Tennessee, paid him a go to two days in the past.

Had a good time in the present day attending to spend a while with @CoachPryVT @CoachShawnQuinn @Coach_Mines actually respect these males taking the time to return out and converse with me ! @PowellHighFB @PowellCoachLowe pic.twitter.com/5eznlpqgdB

— AYDEN GREENE! (@ayden_greene11) December 5, 2022

Receiver is clearly a precedence late within the class, with final yr’s solely dependable wideout, Kaleb Smith, entering the transfer portal this week and Tech having few veterans on the roster.

It’s why Probability Fitzgerald is getting an extended look. The 6-foot-3, 184-pounder from Nolensville, Tenn., was provided by the Hokies in October. He made an official go to final weekend and hosted Hokies coaches on an in-home go to this week.

Had an amazing dwelling go to with @CoachPryVT @Coach_Mines @CoachShawnQuinn pic.twitter.com/3GSCF37PVp

— Probability Fitzgerald (@itschancefitz) December 6, 2022

Fitzgerald, who had 88 catches for 1,348 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, has additionally made official visits previously few weeks to Oklahoma State and Minnesota.

• Different receivers who’re getting a glance embody Aziah Johnson (Richmond), Tyshawn Russell (Harrisburg, Pa.) and Jacob Web page (Murfreesboro, Tenn.).

Johnson, who was at Tech in late October, shortly after being provided, is a late-bloomer after solely moving into soccer full-time halfway via his junior season, however he was an all-region receiver/defensive again this fall at Thomas Jefferson Excessive, the identical college as present Hokies receiver Jaylen Jones.

Although ranked because the No. 28 prospect in Virginia, he’s gotten some severe curiosity currently, from the Hokies, Michigan State, North Carolina and South Carolina, amongst others. An official go to to Michigan State final weekend appeared to place the Spartans in a really favorable spot to land the do-it-all prospect.

• Virginia Tech doesn’t have a operating again dedication on this class but, although it’s among the many colleges taking an curiosity in flipping Appalachian State commit Jeremiah Coney out of Hermitage Excessive in Richmond.

The 6-foot, 194-pound Coney has been dedicated to the Mountaineers since July, although he picked up a suggestion from the Hokies and one-time App State operating backs coach Stu Holt earlier this month. He has an official go to scheduled for this weekend.

Coney, who was a first-team all-region operating again for Hermitage, ending with 1,408 yards and 21 touchdowns, has additionally drawn curiosity from Iowa currently, internet hosting Hawkeyes operating backs coach Ladell Betts on an in-home go to Tuesday. Coney needs to be proper within the Hokies’ wheelhouse. Certainly one of his recruiters is Mines, a former Hermitage star who has recognized him since his time on Old Dominion’s employees.

• Defensively, the Hokies not too long ago hosted security Mose Phillips on an official go to. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder from Cane Ridge Excessive in Antioch, Tenn., is an unranked prospect who additionally has drawn curiosity on the Energy 5 degree from Virginia. He had 37 catches for 695 yards and 12 touchdowns this fall as a receiver and 57 tacklers and three interceptions on protection.

Thank You Blacksburg For The Hospitality. @HokiesFBall pic.twitter.com/IengJS7PAd

— MP3 (@MosePhillips3) December 5, 2022

• Hokies offensive line commit Lance Williams was honored because the Tennessee Titans 3A Mr. Soccer winner this week.

This yr’s Class 3A Mr. Soccer winner: @alcoafootball’s @BIG_LANCE79 pic.twitter.com/SLN40010L1

— Joe Spears (@joe_spears7) December 7, 2022

The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Williams has been dedicated to the Hokies since April. His highschool, Alcoa, received its eighth consecutive state championship final week, with Williams beginning 60 video games throughout his four-year run.

• There’s a transparent offensive slant to most of the targets coming down the stretch, maybe an indication that Tech feels fairly good about its defensive haul, particularly within the secondary.

Pry has mentioned just a few occasions that he likes what the Hokies have within the youthful courses at defensive again, plus who they’ve coming in from the 2023 class. That group contains Fleming, Dante Lovett, Braylon Johnson and probably different athletes, relying on in the event that they go an offensive or defensive route. These three had been a part of a bunch of commitments who put collectively a hopeful message to Hokies followers final month.

Expensive Hokie Nation.. pic.twitter.com/LwejBWFe5v

— Braylon Johnson (@BJ1WAY) November 5, 2022

(Picture of Brent Pry: Brian Bishop / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)