Tech Gains Six In-State Verbals

Despite the Spring Game being cancelled due to lightning, Saturday still proved to be a huge day for Virginia Tech football.  The coaching staff picked up five 2013 commitments, and one 2014 verbal during the course of the day.

The big verbal of the day came from Tech’s #1 quarterback target, Bucky Hodges of Salem High School (Virginia Beach).  He held offers from UVA, Ohio State, Maryland, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, and others.  He is rated the #202 player nationally and the #13 pro-style quarterback in the country by Rivals.com.  247Sports.com rates him the #50 player nationally and the #2 dual threat quarterback in the country.

At about 5:30 Saturday evening, the 6’6″, 220-pound junior wrote the following on his Facebook page:  “Feels good to be committed to Virginia Tech University #hokies thanks god for everything I am truly blessed .”

Hodges’ teammate, linebacker Andrew Motu’apuaka also verballed to Tech on the visit.  The 6-0, 210-lbs standout also held an offer from Stanford.  He is projected to play the whip position for the Hokies.  As a junior this past season, Motu-apuaka was the leading vote getter at linebacker in Beach District voting.  He also was a first-team all-Tidewater selection.

“Committed to Virginia Tech !! I am BLESSED !,” Motu’apuaka wrote on his Facebook page.

Tech picked up their top two in-state offensive line targets as well.  Parker Osterloh , who stands 6’7″ and weighs 270 pounds, plays tight end and defensive end at Warhill (Williamsburg, VA).  He was being recruited as an offensive tackle by all three of the schools that offered:  JMU, Virginia and Virginia Tech.  Osterloh plans to get a head start on his college career by enrolling in January of 2013.

Liberty Christian Academy (Lynchburg, VA) star Braxton Pfaff , a 6’5″, 285-pound prospect, chose Tech over Virginia but also considered offers from Liberty and West Virginia.  He could play tackle at Tech, but offensive guard may be more likely.  His versatility and toughness will be a welcome combination to the Hokies offensive front.

Charles Clark , a defensive back from King’s Fork High School in Suffolk, also chose Tech over UVA.  He is a 3-star recruit by Rivals, and a 4-star prospect by 247Sports.com.  He is being recruited as a cornerback, though he could also end up at free safety or rover.  Like Osterloh, Clark would like to enroll in college in January of 2013.

In total, the Hokies now have nine commitments in the class of 2013.

Finally, the Hokies got their 2014 class off to a good start by picking up a commitment from Massaponax (Fredericksburg, VA) defensive end Vincent Mihota.  The 6’4″, 240-pound sophomore is the younger brother of former UVA starting center Anthony Mihota.  He can’t sign with the Hokies for another 22 months.

We plan to have a closer look at these prospects tomorrow.

18 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Who is the QB from NC that had some interest in VT. I hate to say it, but I liked him more than anyone, but still EXTREMELY happy we got Bucky. I guess I liked the NC QB because he reminded me so much of MV1, but with better touch on his passes along with a gun when he needs it and still could run IF he needed to. Have we heard anything out of him? Have you heard where he is leaning, Sorry, old age gets me these days and his name escapes me at the moment, 🙂
    TIA

    1. Frankly, Kendall has been to Tech so many times that I think he already has a great feel for how he fits in at the school and the football program. But I am trying to reach him and will provide an update as soon as I get him.

  2. If LT stays another year I could see Hodges overtaking Leal. Or at least be the fan favorite. QB controvery anyone?

    1. If Bucky gets in a year behind LT….his first year starting would have Ohio State on the schedule.

    2. How big a factor does Out Of Conference matter in recruiting? With Cinncinati, Alabama, @OSU, OSU at Tech and Wisonsin the following year is a hefty schedule and prime time TV exposure. Does stuff like that excite new recruits? UVA has Penn state home and home as well as UCLA home and home for their OOC schedule.

      1. Certainly can’t hurt, but I think that the single most important thing is the comfort level that the recruits have at a particular program. Time and time again, when recruits commit we hear quotes from them like “I just felt very comfortable at __________. I could see myself being there for the next four or five years. It just felt like home to me.”

        Also, I think that a program having a winning tradition, going to lots of bowl games, and consistently contending for conference championships is very important too, as are the academics and academic support systems.

        Compared to all of those, I think that big high-profile OOC games probably aren’t as important, although as I said above, they are certainly a nice bonus.

    3. Leal is a good QB and will probably start in 2014,or sooner if Logan leaves early. I expect Bucky to redshirt and have a good chance to start in 2015.

    4. bucky hodges vs mark leal would be a really sweet QB battle in next year’s spring and summer practices

  3. No, the other two were unconfirmed and no names were ever released. Could see some more action this week I guess.

    But we do have 9 for 2013. 4 committed before today, and 5 committed today.

  4. I thought we got 8 today, – 7 for 2013. Right? Gives us 9 total for 2013 so far. Right?

    1. No, the other two were unconfirmed and no names were ever released. Could see some more action this week I guess.

      But we do have 9 for 2013. 4 committed before today, and 5 committed today.

      1. CC, since we got the Hodges commit, how does it affect Jennings? Do you think he will look elsewhere? DoES Vt continue to recruit him?

        1. We will keep recruiting him I’m sure. I think his offer list will get a lot bigger over the summer, so I doubt he ends up here.

        2. I would expect VT to continue to recruit Jennings. Even with Hodges, the need is there for another QB recruit in the class. I think most prospects know that there will be competition wherever they go. Not that I felt Tech was the team to beat before, but I think the depth chart still looks pretty good to a recruit.

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