L.C. Bird (Chesterfield, VA) rising senior linebacker Deon Clarke “announced” his college choice early this evening.
On Facebook, he wrote, “got a new home after the “U”………Hokie Nation.”
The 6’3″, 215-pound Skyhawks star verbally committed to Virginia Tech today, picking the childhood favorite Hokies over offers from Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Tennessee and UVa.
Bird head coach David Bedwell confirmed Clarke’s commitment, which actually came yesterday. The promising linebacker informed primary recruiter Shane Beamer and then head coach Frank Beamer of his plans.
Clarke, considered by TechSideline.com to be a top 10 overall prospect in the state, starts at middle linebacker for the Skyhawks. Playing an intense and aggressive brand of football, he accumulated 98 tackles with 19 tackles for loss and 14 sacks last season as a junior in 2010.
“Physically, Deon has really changed over the years,” Bedwell said in an earlier interview. “He has slimmed down, gotten stronger, and he sees things really well. He can dissect plays. He makes a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage, which is what a lot of college coaches like to see.”
Clarke is the 13th commitment in Virginia Tech’s 2012 class. The Hokies now have two 2012 commitments from the “Battle of Chester” rivalry, which features Bird versus Thomas Dale High School. 6’3″, 190-pound rising senior Desmond Frye, a likely safety at Tech, committed to Frank Beamer’s program in April.
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