Virginia Tech Recruiting Update: Hokies Host Final Official Visitors Before Signing Day

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National Signing Day is on Wednesday and Virginia Tech is hoping to close strong with their Class of 2017. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to Virginia Tech recruiting.

Porcher, Garbutt commit to Virginia Tech

Two more spots filled up in the Hokies’ Class of 2017 this week when Robert Porcher IV and Tyjuan Garbutt committed to the Hokies.

Porcher’s commitment came as no surprise last Monday. He loved his official visit to Blacksburg last weekend and the Hokies were always a serious player once Porcher decommitted from Nebraska. Porcher should play defensive tackle for Bud Foster.

Garbutt’s commitment also came as no surprise. Virginia Tech has made Garbutt a priority throughout his recruitment and never let up when Garbutt decommitted this summer. Garbutt could play defensive end or receiver for the Hokies. Stay tuned.

DeBose, Nelson among final official visitors

Virginia Tech hosted some of their final targets this weekend for official visits, hoping to make their case. Here are the recruits the Hokies hosted — defensive ends Zion DeBose and Kofi Wardlow, defensive backs Devante SmithKeontae Jones, wide receiver Sean Nelson and defensive tackle JBril Glaze.

Getting the last official visit for DeBose was very important, especially after his official visit to Pittsburgh went well. DeBose will be making his final decision between Tech, Pittsburgh, Missouri and Illinois, although Illinois seems to have taken a back seat.

Zion DeBose Virginia Tech recruiting
Zion DeBose might be the highest target remaining for Virginia Tech recruiting.

Virginia Tech has been pushing to flip both Wardlow and Nelson, both Maryland commits. Wardlow would help beef up the Hokies’ defensive line in this class, and Nelson would afford Tech flexibility when placing other recruits in position groups.

Jones is listed as a safety, but could also play corner. Jones has long been considered a lean to Iowa State, where his older brother plays. Still, Virginia Tech wants to add another defensive back.

Both Smith and Glaze are Virginia Tech commitments and nothing leads me to believe that will change. Defensive end and Texas A&M commit Tyree Johnson was slated to visit, but cancelled at the last minute.

Notable recruits who did not visit

Virginia Tech has tried to get Dazz Newsome to make an official visit for the last two weekends, but to no avail. Newsome was slated to visit on Jan. 20 but cancelled. Hokies commit Devon Hunter has been recruiting Newsome, but it is unclear if he’s had any effect. Newsome will announce on Signing Day at Hampton High School.

Florida State commit Khalan Laborn did not make a visit. There was talk that Laborn wanted to visit after the Seminoles added 5-star running back Cam Akers. Hunter had also made it a point to try and convince Laborn to flip from the Seminoles, but that possibility is all but gone.

Latavious Brini did not visit the Hokies before Signing Day either. Virginia Tech issued a late scholarship offer to Brini, but has since taken themselves out of the running.

Tech offers ’17 wide receiver

Virginia Tech issued a late scholarship offer to Blake Proehl, a Class of 2017 receiver.

Proehl is a 2-star recruit from Charlotte, NC. and has been committed to East Carolina since June 2016. Proehl only has seven scholarship offers and Tech is his only Power 5 offer. Proehl is the brother of North Carolina receiver Austin Proehl and the son of Ricky Proehl, a former NFL player.

The Hokies likely issued this offer because one of their other targets has come off the board. Tech can only take a few more commitments, and even though the Hokies have recruited several pass catchers in this class, it looks like they want to add to their receiver depth.

8 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Article focuses on those visiting this weekend and those who have never visited. You can only take on official visit. I think Becton and Speed have both visited previously, right? Definitely not ‘breadcrumbs’; rather tying a bow on a really solid class.

  2. The article is about the recruits that either visited this past weekend or we wanted to visit. That is the reason for no mention of Speed or Becton.

  3. Not a particularly good status report; somewhat similar to ‘bread crumbs’. The lack of any focus on running backs suggest to me that I don’t really understand the Fuente offensive schemes ???

    1. Speed and Becton already took their official visits. VT had already made their final pitch to both recruits.

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