Tony Tucker ’s first official visit was a big success. Good thing for Virginia Tech, which is where the 6-2, 225-pound four-star defensive end was visiting. The trip was also Tucker’s first ever visit to Blacksburg, which made the experience all the more important.

“Ah man, I loved the visit,” Tucker said. He was accompanied on the trip by his father, mother and brothers. “I went to the game and the crowd was crazy. I’ve never been in an atmosphere like that. The academics are really good. I like how all the players get laptops. I went to the dorms and the apartments and checked everything out. I liked it. It seemed like a real good fit for me. The coaches seem really interested in me. There seems to be a real support system with the fans being real supportive. The biggest thing that really shocked me was when the Virginia Tech players were walking the street [heading to the game]. On the other side of the street, I saw a fan holding a sign that said ‘Tucker, Taylor, Odom = National Championship.’ I liked that.”

The St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) standout felt comfortable with Virginia Tech’s coaches.

“Coach Beamer is a real laid back person,” Tucker said. “The staff is really laid back. They didn’t force me to commit. They wanted me to really think about coming to Virginia Tech and making a decision that’s right for me. I mean, it’s four years of my life. I really liked how they didn’t force me to commit.”

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