Virginia Tech Recruiting Update: Two Commitments, But Is Crossen Next?

Virginia Tech recruiting Tre Turner
Virginia Tech landed a major commitment last week in 4-star receiver Tre Turner. (Photo via @treturner_15 on Twitter)

After a quiet spring for Virginia Tech, the Hokies had quite the successful week on the recruiting trail. The Hokies hauled in two commitments for the Class of 2018, while also widening the target board even more. Here are the latest updates in Virginia Tech recruiting.

Clark, Turner Commit to Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech got the ball rolling on Tuesday, as the recently offered Braxton Clark announced his commitment to the Hokies.

Clark is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound corner from Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla., a school the Hokies are recruiting heavily as of late. Virginia Tech signed Clark’s former teammate Robert Porcher IV in 2017, and are recruiting one of his current teammates, Tanner Ingle. Combine that with the fact that Clark visited last weekend, it’s no surprise he’s now in the fold.

Virginia Tech offered Clark on Monday after his visit, and immediately put on the full court press. The Hokies intentionally moved swiftly on this one, hoping to get Clark in the fold before camp season. The coaching staff is very excited about Clark and his ceiling.

Tre Turner joined the party on Wednesday.

https://twitter.com/treturner_15/status/870072702941503488

Turner is arguably the best recruit currently in Virginia Tech’s Class of 2018. The 4-star wide receiver is rated as a top-25 receiver, the fifth-best player in the state of North Carolina and is ranked just outside the top-100 nationally by Rivals.com. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound prospect is athletic and is a playmaker, and fits the mold of receiver that the Hokies are looking at in this class. Turner could easily be the banner recruit in 2018.

Clark and Turner give Virginia Tech nine commitments so far in the Class of 2018. There are plenty of guys still on the board, but the Hokies are likely done at wide receiver, depending on who else wants to commit.

Becton, Mitchell Commit Elsewhere

While two prospects committed to Virginia Tech, other recruits have committed elsewhere recently. 

Defensive end Jaevon Becton — Georgia

Athlete Amari Burney — Florida

Linebacker Teradja Mitchell — Ohio State

Defensive end John Morgan — Pittsburgh

Follow Virginia Tech recruiting on Twitter @RickyLaBlue and @TSL_Recruiting

Becton was a recent offer for Virginia Tech, and the Hokies never really had a chance to insert themselves into his recruitment. Burney visited for Virginia Tech’s spring game in April, but being cousins with Brandon Facyson was not enough to give the Hokies a serious chance. Mitchell is considered one of the best players in Virginia this year, but the Hokies never had a serious chance here either. Morgan held an offer from Virginia Tech, but sources say the coaching staff was hoping to see more in Morgan’s senior season before pushing for a commitment.

Crossen to Announce on Friday

DJ Crossen, one of Virginia Tech’s top targets at defensive back, is planning to announce a decision on Friday, June 9.

Crossen was originally committed to North Carolina, but reopened his recruitment in January 2017. Virginia Tech and North Carolina are his official top-two, and the Hokies figure to have a great chance. Crossen has been high on the Hokies since his recruitment began, and his friend Turner committed last week.

Defensive tackle Jamion Franklin is also announcing on Tuesday. Virginia Tech offered Franklin in late April, but the Hokies don’t figure to be a major player in his recruitment. Alim McNeill, Cam Goode and Jalen Alexander are the Hokies’ top remaining targets at defensive tackle.

New Football Offers

It was another busy week for Virginia Tech recruiting in regards to new scholarship offers. Here are all of the recruits to receive an offer recently.

Class of 2018: defensive backs Jarvis Ware, Quindarious Monday and John Huggins and defensive lineman Jaylen Joyner 

Class of 2019: offensive lineman John Olmstead, athletes Treshaun Ward and Myles Farmer, running back Derrian Brown, defensive lineman Tyler Davis and wide receiver Jameson Williams

Class of 2020: defensive end BJ Ojulari

Jarvis Ware is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound corner from Wekiva High School in Apopka, Fla. and is teammates with 6-foot-1, 260-pound defensive tackle Tyler Davis. Neither recruit is ranked and neither has a large offer list so far.

Quindarious Monday is a 4-star safety from Atlanta. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound defensive back is rated as the 30th-best safety in the nation and the 28th-best recruit in Georgia for the Class of 2018. 

John Huggins is a 6-foot, 195-pound safety from Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Fla. Huggins holds offers from multiple Power 5 programs, including Florida State, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Syracuse and Wake Forest.

Jaylen Joyner is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive lineman from Orlando, Fla. It’s unclear where Jones fits on the defensive line for Virginia Tech, but he holds offers from a few Power 5 programs, including Indiana, NC State, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Note: This article has been amended to reflect Tyler Davis’ correct classification.