Virginia Tech is developing a bit of a connection at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla., and the Hokies could strengthen that connection by bringing Tanner Ingle on board.
Ingle who’s listed at 5-foot-11, 185-pound, plays defensive back at Dr. Phillips with recent Virginia Tech commit Braxton Clark. Ingle is rated as a 3-star recruit according to Rivals, and holds offers from several Power 5 programs including Boston College, Syracuse, NC State, Maryland, North Carolina and Wake Forest. Most of Ingle’s other offers come from Group of 5 programs like Memphis, East Carolina and South Florida.
When trying to evaluate recruits, I always try and look for a current comparison, in order to give readers an idea of what I’m seeing. With Ingle, I see Virginia Tech nickelback Mook Reynolds.
For starters, Ingle is fast. He returns punts and kicks for Dr. Phillips and though he isn’t as slippery as you’d like, he can still make dudes miss. In coverage, Ingle shows good instincts and loves to jump routes. If he guesses correctly, Ingle’s hands are good enough to generally make the interception. He plays with physicality and loves laying the wood against running backs and receivers. He plays the run like a linebacker and tackles well.
Ingle doesn’t have ideal size, which could be the reason he’s not as hyped up as other defensive backs from Florida. At 5-foot-11 and 185-pounds, you aren’t getting the next Kam Chancellor, but you are getting a physical, undersized Mook Reynolds. Ingle’s ability to blitz off the edge and play the run makes him a great nickelback candidate in Virginia Tech’s 4-2-5 defensive package, which is now the base defense in most games.
Virginia Tech has put themselves in great position with Ingle. Not only did Virginia Tech land Clark on Tuesday, the Hokies signed former Dr. Phillips defensive lineman Robert Porcher IV. Virginia Tech is currently trying to get Ingle on campus, and he could visit as soon as this weekend.
The Hokies have made defensive back a priority in the Class of 2018 recruiting cycle. After signing just three defensive backs in 2017, Virginia Tech currently holds commitments from three defensive backs — Clark, Nasir Peoples and Chamarri Conner. With Greg Stroman and Brandon Facyson both exhausting their eligibility after this season, and lack of depth at cornerback, Virginia Tech will likely take two or three more recruits in the secondary in this cycle.
Fortunately for Virginia Tech, they have given themselves plenty of options at the position. DJ Crossen, who has Tech in his top two, is announcing on June 9. The Hokies are also in good standing with Donte Burton, Nate Thompson, Raymond Boone, Nadir Thompson and Rayshad Williams.
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Did the CB that committed to NC State early reaffirm his commitment or are we simply out of that race?
Referring to DeVon Graves? If so, he’s still committed to them. VT is recruiting him still.
I still think he ends up at VT. Could play offense or defense – very good speed.