Crosby Announcement, Spring Game Highlight Important Recruiting Week

UPDATE, 4/22/16, 3:20 PM: Eric Crosby has committed to Tennessee

The Spring Game is typically one of Virginia Tech football’s top recruiting tools and this year will not be any different. In fact, with a new coach in place and considering the top talent expected to be in Blacksburg on Saturday, this year’s event may be the most significant one in years. Today is an important day as well, though, as one of the state’s top overall prospects in the class of 2017 will make his college announcement.

Eric Crosby, a defensive tackle prospect out of Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA), is set to announce his college choice today at 3 p.m. Tennessee and Virginia Tech are the finalists for the 6’2″, 295-pound junior, who would give Tech its second in-state 4-star commitment of the 2017 Class. The Hokies currently have seven commitments in the class – three from the Commonwealth and four from outside the state. A Crosby commitment would be a big boost heading into the weekend.

SPRING GAME VISITORS

Devon Hunter
Hunter is one of the state’s top juniors and a nationally recruited prospect.

The Tidewater region of Virginia has certainly has been a major area of focus for Virginia Tech early on in the Justin Fuente era. Indian River (Chesapeake) junior athlete Devon Hunter and Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach) sophomore linebacker Teradja Mitchell, prospects who very easily could end up ranked no. 1 in the state in the class of 2017 and class of 2018, respectively, will be in Blacksburg tomorrow for the Spring Game. While these two prospects are the headliners, a handful of top targets from the Tidewater area are confirmed to be coming as well. Additionally, other in-state targets and some top out-of-state prospects also plan to make the trek to Tech on Saturday.

Below is a rundown of those expected visitors we have confirmed so far. We will add to this list as we get further confirmations, and throughout the weekend we’ll provide updates as they come in.

(Note: Unless otherwise noted, the prospects listed below have been offered by Virginia Tech.)

CLASS OF 2017

Rayshard Ashby, LB, LC Bird (Chesterfield, VA), VT COMMIT
Tahj Capehart, WR, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA)
Trace Christian, RB, Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs, FL)
Elijah Conliffe, DL, Hampton (VA)
Caleb Farley, QB/ATH, Maiden (N.C.), VT COMMIT
Brailyn Franklin, DE/OLB, Battlefield (VA)
Brandon Gaddy, DL/OL, Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach, VA), No VT offer
Breyon Gaddy, DT, Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach, VA)
TyJuan Garbutt, DE, Riverbend (Fredericksburg, VA), VT COMMIT
Chris Hunt, DB, Bayside (Virginia Beach, VA)
Devon Hunter, ATH, Indian River (Chesapeake, VA)
MJ Jarrell, WR, Timber Creek (Orlando, FL)
Khalan Laborn, RB, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA)
Devante Smith, DB, Stonewall Jackson (Manassas, VA), VT COMMIT

CLASS OF 2018

Armani Chatman, DB, Bayside (Virginia Beach, VA)
Teradja Mitchell, LB, Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach, VA)
Dillon Spalding, South County (Lorton, VA)

VT EXTENDS NEW OFFERS

Virginia Tech football has offered at least five prospects over course of the past week. In the class of 2017, the Hokies offered Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, MD) defensive back Tariq Castro-Fields, who earned Defensive Back MVP honors at The Opening Regional in Washington (D.C.) last Sunday, and Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.) offensive lineman TJ Moore. To view a prospect’s highlights and offer list, click on his name.

In the class of 2018, Virginia Tech offered three players within the past week:

Shaun Shivers, a 5’5″, 165-pound running back prospect out of Chaminade-Madonna High School in Hollywood, Florida. Shivers already has double-digit offers with Tech being the latest.

Dante Stills, a 6’4″, 265-pound defensive lineman out of West Virginia. Still has offers from Virginia Tech and West Virginia.

Eriq Gilyard, a 6’0″, 220-pound linebacker out of Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, FL). TCA is a school Virginia Tech (and many other schools) have recruited hard the past several years. Current Hokie wide receiver Isaiah Ford hails from there.

6 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. High hopes, disappointment again. Crosby to Vols. Why don’t these kids want to play for Bud & Charley?

  2. Hmmmm…..

    “The Hokies currently have seven commitments in the class – three from the Commonwealth and three from outside the state. ”

    Where’s the other one from?

  3. come on, Eric! we Hokies need you to hold down the middle of the DL!
    and then drive-on up to see your new team scrimmage tomorrow!

    Go Hokies!

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