Manning Eagerly Awaiting Arrival At VT

Donaldven Manning just concluded a senior season in which he helped Central (Miami, FL) to an undefeated regular season and an appearance in the Class 6A state championship game. The 5’10”, 170-pound cornerback prospect is now counting the days until he arrives in Blacksburg.

“I should arrive by January 14,” said Manning, who, along with state of Virginia prospects J.C. Coleman and Der’Woun Greene, graduated from high school early and will enroll at Virginia Tech next month. “I have no plans for when I get there. I just want to get right into learning the system.”

Manning verbally committed to the Hokies in early February. He flirted with other schools, in particular Notre Dame, where he took an official visit the weekend of October 21. Ultimately, though, the prized recruit decided to stick with the Hokies, and earlier this month he received an in-home visit from head coach Frank Beamer.

“It went great,” Manning said of his meeting with Coach Beamer. “He had a chance to meet my family in person. He just talked to us about what Virginia Tech is about. My mom loved Coach Beamer. She feels like he is someone she can relate to. She most definitely feels like he is somebody who can look after her child.”

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