The Week In Recruiting

Getting you caught up on the last week’s happenings with respect to Virginia Tech football recruiting…

Hood De-Commits From Notre Dame

Prized tailback Elijah Hood , a senior out of Charlotte Catholic (Charlotte, N.C.), de-committed from Notre Dame last week.  The main reason, he said, is to play closer to home.  While Hood did take an unofficial to Virginia Tech earlier this year, many feel that the talented prospect will commit to North Carolina soon.  If he draws out the process, though, then I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tech get another look.

Last weekend, the 6’0″, 220-pound Hood showed why he is such a coveted recruit when he rushed 37 times for 325 yards and five touchdowns in a 35-28 win over a tough Gonzaga College Prep (Washington, D.C.) squad.

Tech has one running back recruit in the class of 2014 in Phoebus (Hampton, VA) power back Marshawn Williams .  Class of 2013 recruit DJ Reid, another tailback prospect, is at Fork Union now but is expected to be in Blacksburg in the fall of 2014 (and possibly the summer if he gets the needed ACT or SAT score).  And Tech is also finalist for another coveted class of 2014 back in Washington (PA) star Shai McKenzie .

LB Lee Schedules Official To VT

Via Twitter, Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, IN) senior linebacker Brandon Lee revealed that he will take an official visit to California this weekend, an official visit to Northwestern the weekend of September 20, and an official visit to Virginia Tech the weekend of October 5.

In addition to these three schools, Lee is also still considering Louisville and Oregon.

Linebacker is one of Virginia Tech’s biggest remaining need areas in the class of 2014.  Gilman (Baltimore, MD) product Melvin Keihn , Lee, and Benedictine (Richmond, VA) product Raymon Minor are three of the Hokies’ top remaining targets.

Izzo Down To Four

Multiple outlets report that Pope John XXIII (Sparta, N.J.) senior tight end Ryan Izzo has narrowed his list to four:  Florida State, Rutgers, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.  Izzo reportedly plans to take official visits to all four schools before making a commitment.

Tech is also in the running for Pope John XXIII senior wide receiver Noah Brown , but based on recent news and reports it looks like a 2-team race between Ohio State and Rutgers for his signature.  Brown is expected commit before his team’s first regular season game, which takes place on September 12.

DeMatha Takes Down Phoebus

Virginia Tech class of 2014 commits Cam Phillips and Marshawn Williams squared off last week, when DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD) took on Phoebus (Hampton, VA) in the regular season opener for both teams.

With the game tied at seven, Phillips took a swing pass 59 yards for a touchdown to give DeMatha a 14-7 lead, which proved to be the Stags’ halftime advantage.  A Williams 11-yard touchdown run got Phoebus within one in the fourth quarter, but the extra point was blocked.  DeMatha added a late field goal and held on for a 24-20 win.

Phillips’ touchdown was his lone reception of the game.  He also had one rush for 16 yards.  Williams finished with 20 carries for 82 yards and a score.

PK Recruit Leads Way As QB

Michael Santamaria has committed to Virginia Tech as a place-kicker.  As a senior at Athens Academy (Athens, GA), he not only handles the place-kicking duties but quarterback responsibilities as well.  The 5’9″, 160-pound prospect scored two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) as Athens Academy defeated Glascock County, 41-8, in its season opener last week.

Santamaria, who may end up enrolling at Tech in January of 2015, made five of six extra points in the win.

Ford’s Shoulder Injury Not Severe

Virginia Tech quarterback recruit Andrew Ford suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder during his team’s scrimmage last Thursday night.  The 6’3″, 200-pound Cedar Cliff (Camp Hill, PA) senior saw a specialist on Friday and reportedly received good news.

According to Pennlive.com’s Andrew Shay, Ford should be ready for his team’s regular season opener against Conestoga Valley on August 30.

A Few More Notes

– Virginia Tech-bound ATH Javon Harrison returned a kick-off 96 yards for a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough as Kathleen (Lakeland, FL) fell to Lake Wales, 31-27, in a Kickoff Classic.

– Good Counsel (Olney, MD) senior defensive end Jessie Aniebonam, a Virginia Tech target, pledged to Maryland last Friday night.

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  1. Update for those who did not see it, Remember the QB from Texas T. J. Milweard(?) that Tech was after a couple of years ago? Tech apparently had him committed, then his parents intervened and wanted him to go to school closer to home. I thought Arizona was the winner. Whatever…he wound up at UCLA. This past weekend he transferred from UCLA to Kansas where he will be under former Notre Dame Coach Charley Weis. Methinks VT was lucky NOT to get this kid, who reminds me of former VCU basketball coach “suitcase” Sonny Smith, who was an assistant at VT at one time. Milweard is well traveled or at least has had his name attached to a number of programs, and I believe he only has one year under his belt. This kid is searching, so I wish him good luck finding what he wants. I think he needs to settle in and commit…all this moving around and changing his mind does not look good on the resume.

    BTW, Sonny Smith got his nickname from his long list of destinations as a BB coach. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t a good guy. IIRC he coached Charles Barkley at Auburn. He was/is a great banquet circuit speaker. He is from the hills of Appalachia…can’t remember where exactly. He had a number of brothers and sisters. One of my favorite stories he tells about himself was that for years as he grew up he thought is name was “git wood.”

    That’s a good one right there…

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