Virginia Tech Recruiting Update: Coaches Hitting the Trail Before Early Signing Period

By: Ricky LaBlue |
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente is a busy man these days. (Photo by Ivan Morozov)

As Virginia Tech begins their bowl preparation, the coaching staff is working overtime to solidify their 2018 recruiting class.  The coaching staff has sent out late offers, made in-home visits and strengthened previous commitments. Let’s catch up on Virginia Tech’s recent recruiting efforts.

Virginia Tech coaches hitting the trail

The Virginia Tech coaching staff has made several in-home or in-school recruiting visits over the last week or so.

Virginia Tech’s visit to see quarterback DeJuan Ellis came shortly after he reaffirmed his commitment to the Hokies on Twitter.

On Monday night, head coach Justin Fuente joined defensive coordinator Bud Foster and defensive line coach Charley Wiles to visit KJ Henry at his home.

Seeing each of these three prospects was key for Virginia Tech. Quarterback Quincy Patterson is one of the Hokies’ highest-rated commitments for the Class of 2018, according to the 247Sports Composite. Patterson has received interest from several schools since committing to Tech on Feb. 27, but has stuck with the Hokies. Patterson is expected to sign his National Letter of Intent during the new early signing period.

Joe Kane is one of two defensive tackle commitments for Virginia Tech in this cycle. The 6-foot-3 lineman has bulked up to 280 pounds, helping him hold his own in the trenches. Kane committed to Virginia Tech on April 20, and has been solid in that commitment ever since.

Ellis is another quarterback prospect that the Hokies are excited about. The speedy signal caller has also received interest from other programs in recent weeks and months, most notably from Maryland and Syracuse. Ellis briefly decommitted from Virginia Tech on May 2, but recommitted on May 4.

Henry is the highest-rated target left on Virginia Tech’s board, according to major recruiting networks. The consensus 5-star prospect is deciding between a top-5 of Virginia Tech, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and South Carolina, and is taking his final official visit this weekend to Alabama. Henry is also in the middle of scheduling in-home visits with head coaches, according to Rivals. Virginia Tech is expected to make an in-home visit with Henry again on Monday. 

Virginia Tech has long been considered a dark horse in Henry’s recruitment, and a commitment from Henry would vault the Hokies’ recruiting class further up the rankings. Henry is slated to announce his commitment on Dec. 20, the first day of the early signing period. That gives Virginia Tech roughly two weeks to seal the deal.

The Hokies also took a visit to see 4-star linebacker Dax Hollifield on Sunday night, according to 247Sports. Virginia Tech has been in Hollifield’s top group since the beginning, and has hosted him for countless unofficial visits. Stanford looks like the Hokies’ top competition, with North Carolina and South Carolina also in the mix. Hollifield’s final official visit will be to Stanford on Jan. 12. He took his official visit to Virginia Tech on Oct. 21.

Virginia Tech’s Justin Fuente and Bud Foster also attended a state semifinal game at Louisa County High School, presumably to see Class of 2019 defensive end Brandon Smith.

The Hokies’ coaching staff has made other visits, too, and will continue to visit recruits through the rest of the open period. We’ll report these visits as we learn of them.

Late offers changing things down the stretch

Virginia Tech issued a late scholarship offer for the Class of 2018 last week, adding Ka’Darian Hill to the target board.

Hill is a defensive tackle from Eufaula, Ala. He’s listed at 6-foot-1 and 270 pounds, and is rated as a 3-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals. Hill is currently committed to Ole Miss, and has been since June 5. It is unknown if Hill is interested in the Hokies, or if he will take an official visit. Virginia Tech already holds commitments from two defensive tackles — Kane and Cam Goode — but given Virginia Tech’s depth issues at defensive tackle, taking another interior lineman would be understandable.

Virginia Tech target Jeremy Webb received an offer from Nebraska on Saturday, and the Cornhuskers figure to be a contender. New Nebraska head coach Scott Frost was recruiting Webb at Central Florida,  and the two developed a good relationship. Virginia Tech is still in the race, but Webb’s offer from Nebraska could complicate things.

Fortunately for the Hokies, they won’t have to wait too long to figure out Webb’s intentions.

Virginia Tech recruiting
James Mitchell is set to announce his college decision this month. (Photo by Jason Stamm)

Mitchell to decide soon

Virginia Tech target James Mitchell will announce his college decision on Dec. 15. The Big Stone Gap, Va. product is rated as a 3-star recruit by 247Sports and a 4-star recruit by Rivals. Mitchell is listed at 6-foot-4 and 218-pounds, and is being recruited to play receiver for the Hokies. Mitchell, who holds 16 scholarship offers, plans to decide between Tech, Georgia and Duke.

If Mitchell commits to the Hokies, it will give Tech commitments from three different outside receiving threats. Virginia Tech holds commitments from Tre Turner and Darryle Simmons, both of whom are 6-foot-2 or taller. 

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13 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. (tic) Uh, oh. Bad news re: KJ Henry: if you look at the walls in his house, the left wall is a garnet(ish), and the right wall could be construed as a bastardized version of gold. Is KJ a secret, silent FSU commit? ☺

  3. I wonder what Josh Sweat and Khalan Laborn are honesyly thinking right now…….the coaches that you were certain would be pouring into your development and your future have up and gone now. We desperately wanted you to stay in Virginia…now you’re simply out of state players trying not to fall through the cracks as FSU crumbles around you.

    1. Laborn might care because he’s buried on the depth chart. I’m sure Sweat’s experience at FSU, that started with his final recruiting visit has been less than regrettable .

    2. Despite the overhaul at FSU, those players still live well and rake in sizable COA stipends.

      1. Both those kids were thinking N.F.L. when they went to FSU. Sweat is fine and I’m sure he doesn’t regret a thing. Now Laborn is a total different story, while the living situation and increased COA is nice not playing isn’t. His only hope is Taggert seeing something in him or FSU will probably try a position change if possible. When these kids recruit to powerhouses that stress you get to compete for playing time from day one, but some forget that that competition can = Zero playing time. Wouldn’t be surpised to see him move on after the season. Unfortunate he didn’t come here because he certainly could have helped more than Holston at least

  4. If the Hokies don’t get KJ, it won’t be due to a lack of effort trying. Great to see all the coaches out on the recruiting trail.

    1. Yeah, Tech has done just about everything they can to get Henry on board. No question about the staff’s effort.

  5. Finish Hokie strong…………..love these guys and their impact to Tech football would be HUGE!!! Go Hokies!!!!!!

  6. “I got a good feeling about this…” ( ben crenshaw before 1999 ryder cup biggest comeback in history)

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