Virginia Tech Recruiting Update: Proctor Commits, Willis Leaves for Auburn

It was an up and down week for Virginia Tech recruiting. The Hokies added a big commitment to their Class of 2017, but also lost one in odd fashion. Here’s what you need to know.

Proctor commits at Under Armour All-American Game

Virginia Tech added defensive end/outside linebacker Nathan Proctor to their class on Sunday at the Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando, FL.

Virginia Tech recruiting Nathan Proctor
Nathan Proctor led off the Under Armour All-American Game by committing to Virginia Tech. (Picture via Twitter)

This was a huge get for Virginia Tech. The defensive staff worked hard to land Proctor and their efforts paid off. The 4-star prospect from Indian Head, MD. chose the Hokies over several Power 5 programs, including Pittsburgh, Penn State and Maryland. Proctor has 30 scholarship offers altogether, including Georgia, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Tennessee.

Proctor will play on the edge in Bud Foster’s defensive scheme. He stands up a lot along the line of scrimmage, but also can play with his hand in the dirt. He shows good athleticism and plays the run game well.  247Sports has his verified 40-yard dash time set at 4.68, which is pretty fast for a 6-foot-3, 220-pound edge defender.

Here’s Proctor’s senior highlight film. Let me know what you think.

Virginia Tech target Markquese Bell also announced his commitment to Maryland at the game. The 4-star athlete had plenty of good offers, including Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Penn State, Clemson and Ohio State.

Willis decommits, leaves for Auburn

While Virginia Tech struggled vs. Arkansas in the first half of the Belk Bowl last Thursday, athlete Malik Willis announced his decommitment from the Hokies on Twitter.

Willis was immediately offered by Auburn to play quarterback and not too long after, he committed to the Tigers.

Willis was slated to play defensive back for the Hokies. Willis, a 6-foot-2, 188-pound recruit out of Roswell, GA. has gradually improved his rating during his senior season and would’ve been a big out-of-state haul for Virginia Tech. Even if he had planned on doing this eventually, perhaps his timing wasn’t the best. Either way, he’s gone.

Hunter sets final official visits

Virginia Tech’s top target Devon Hunter has set his final three official visits for Florida on January 13, Auburn on January 20 and Alabama on January 27.

Generally, three official visits to SEC schools right before Signing Day would be a sign that Virginia Tech isn’t sitting pretty, but I think Tech fans might be surprised. Auburn has been the primary competitor as of late and Hunter’s recruiter, Wesley McGriff, left Auburn to become the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss.

An official visit to Alabama right before Signing Day could always swing things, but Virginia Tech is still in good position.

Tech makes contact with Zaire

Virginia Tech has reached out to graduate transfer quarterback Malik Zaire from Notre Dame. This comes as no surprise after news broke that Jerod Evans was seriously considering declaring for the NFL Draft.

Zaire will be highly sought after this offseason. Fortunately for Virginia Tech, Zaire doesn’t plan to choose a college until April, which allows the staff to develop a relationship. If Evans were to leave, the only remaining quarterbacks left on the roster would be redshirt-freshman Josh Jackson, walk-on Jack Click, incoming freshman Hendon Hooker and walk-on Chase Mummau.

8 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. The fact that Willis decommitted during the first half of the Belk Bowl showed really poor judgement. I’m glad he won’t be in Blacksburg.

    Yes, he is 17 and my judgement wasn’t perfect then either. Where were his parents in guiding him in a big decision?

    Hope he does well at Auburn and enjoys the new coaching staff when Malzan is fired next year.

    I have all the trust in the world in Fuente on the QB front. I hope Jerod is talking to Paxton Lynch, Tyrod, and Vick to make the best decision. Sounds like those smarter than me think he should stay. I hope he does!

    1. Is Willis really that versatile of an athlete that VT was going to use him as a DB while now Auburn is going to use him as a QB? If that is true, then I can’t blame him for making the change to a more glamorous position. I wonder how much he might have pushed for the QB role at VT only to have them tell him that DB was the only spot we were interested in him for.

      However, as TexasHokie89 stated, the timing of his decision was very suspect and puts his judgement to question. But that’s Auburn’s problem now!

    2. You make it sound as if a recruit’s parents know all the ins and outs of recruiting. This is probably his parents first time around that block, too. Most likely, they are a big factor in developing the “I’m special” attitude in their son.

  2. I can’t say how I got this, but I was told in September (just after the Tenn game) that in one practice observer’s opinion, that no matter how good Jerod looks, he would be a one year starter because Josh Jackson is the REAL DEAL. Of course that was before Jerod conquered the universe as it were.
    Anyway, I think the NFL scouts will suggest he stay for his Sr. year to work on his deep balls.

  3. Josh Jackson looked very good in the spring game. I believe he has a bright future at the quarterback position. Depth is a key, and competition only makes the position better.

Comments are closed.