When I first spoke with Jonathan McLaughlin , he was gearing up for a Virginia Tech camp the summer before his senior year at Mauldin High School (S.C.).  McLaughlin’s road to Virginia Tech was not a conventional one, but he is finally in Blacksburg, having enrolled on Monday.

The 6’4″, 288-pound offensive tackle prospect received the good news regarding admission to Virginia Tech last Tuesday.

“Me, Coach Beamer, and Coach Shuman were pushing the NCAA to hurry up.  I was calling every day.  Coach Shuman and Coach Beamer and staff, they were all a big help in getting it done,” McLaughlin said in an interview with TSL late last week.  “Coach Shuman called me and told me to call Coach Beamer, and that’s when I found out.  It was a big chip off my shoulder.  I’ve been waiting for a long time to get to the next level.

“It’s finally here.  I had to take a detour.  I can’t wait to start.  I’m going to get in there and catch up.  I’m ready to work.”

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