Virginia Tech Recruiting Update: Hokies Cap Strong Weekend With Three Commitments

By: Ricky LaBlue |
Virginia Tech recruiting Devon Hunter
Virginia Tech got their man on Friday. (Picture via @ChesapeakeVArr on Twitter)

Virginia Tech is closing strong on the recruiting trail, wrapping up final official visits and swaying uncommitted recruits. The Hokies had a strong weekend, picking up commitments from three players. Here’s what you need to know regarding Virginia Tech recruiting.

Virginia Tech Gets Hunter, Watts, Rivers

Talk about a weekend. Virginia Tech kicked things off by landing top target Devon Hunter on Friday, in rather interesting fashion.

It cannot be overstated how important Hunter is for the program’s present and future. Big-time recruits want to play with the best and pulling in Hunter makes it “cool” to go to Virginia Tech again. Future in-state recruits took notice.

https://twitter.com/WhosThatNumber7/status/822605922287702016

Virginia Tech then picked up a commitment from athlete Bryce Watts on Saturday, adding a potential cornerback to the ’17 class. Watts was originally a Rutgers commit, but the Hokies stayed on him and got him to take an official visit. Once that was scheduled, it was all she wrote.

The Hokies flipped another recruit on Sunday, earning the commitment of Dylan Rivers.

Rivers was another recruiting battle in which Virginia Tech beat an out-of-state blue blood program. Penn State has had success recruiting the Commonwealth and Rivers was a part of that. The fact that the Hokies were able to bring Rivers into the fold furthers the coaching staff’s mission to take back Virginia.

In three days, Virginia Tech gained commitments from two in-state players, both of whom are 4-star recruits. Depending on where you look, Hunter is a 5-star, but both Hunter and Rivers are some of the best players in the state. Virginia Tech is closing strong for the Class of 2017 and they aren’t done yet.

Hokies host several official visitors

This past weekend was the biggest weekend left for the Hokies in the Class of 2017 cycle. They can host recruits this coming weekend as well, but most of their uncommitted targets that had not visited yet came this past weekend.

Uncommitted visitors: Tyjuan Garbutt, Robert Porcher IV, Mekhi Becton, Bryson Speas (committed to NC State)

Committed visitors: Tahj Capehart, Bryce Watts, Jaylen Griffin, Rayshard Ashby, Hezekiah Grimsley, Christian Darrisaw and Lecitus Smith

First, it doesn’t look like any of Virginia Tech’s commitments are on flip watch. All seem to be solid at this point.

Getting Becton on campus was extremely important for the Hokies, who have been making up ground all year. This was Becton’s first visit on campus since before the season. He’s received interest from schools like Michigan, Louisville, Oregon and Virginia. The Cardinals and Cavaliers seemed to have the edge before this weekend, but I think Virginia Tech made quite the impression.

https://twitter.com/MekhiBecton_/status/823347247391850496

It helps that Becton’s close friend Rayshard Ashby was in town as well. The two are roughly from the same area and have grown up together. The Hokies feel confident about Becton at this point.

Garbutt’s visit to Tech may have sealed up his recruitment. Since his decommitment in July, he’s been very pro-Virginia Tech and I don’t believe his official visit to Pittsburgh on the Jan. 14 weekend made a difference.

Virginia Tech also helped themselves with Porcher. Since his decommitment from Nebraska, the Hokies have had a chance if they could get him on campus. The Hokies could close very well at defensive end in this class.

Speas does not have a Virginia Tech offer, and if Becton commits I wouldn’t expect him to get one. The Hokies have hosted Speas a few times this season, but still haven’t offered. If he were offered, he’d probably commit on the spot.

Virginia Tech’s other Class of 2017 targets

Latavious Brini did not visit this past weekend as he was scheduled. He’s likely headed elsewhere.

Zion DeBose made his official to Pittsburgh this weekend, but tweeted this afterwards.

https://twitter.com/Zion_LifeGoesOn/status/823301368546992128

DeBose is supposed to visit Virginia Tech next weekend and that visit could finish this recruitment up. DeBose has said he will not announce his decision until Feb. 3, two days after National Signing Day.

Ameer Speed visited officially to Georgia this weekend and the Bulldogs are Virginia Tech’s top contender. It doesn’t help that Virginia Tech’s official visit with Speed (Dec. 10) has come and gone. Speed would add depth to the defensive back group for the Class of 2017.

Dazz Newsome would also add depth to the secondary. Newsome was scheduled to visit this past weekend, but did not make the trip. It’s unclear where exactly Virginia Tech stands with Newsome, who will announce his decision on Signing Day between the Hokies, UNC and Maryland. Stay tuned.

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7 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Nice weekend for my Hokies & my Falcons……feels like we have slipped into a jet stream. This is our time…OUR Year! Keep those Goons and the 757 coming!

  3. These young men show a lot of potential, and I hope they go on to great careers at Tech.

    However, this all feels a little weird. Commits to other P5 schools flipping to VT? It seems like that always went the other direction.

  4. “First, it doesn’t look like any of Virginia Tech’s commitments are on flip watch. All seem to be solid at this point.”

    So you feel good with Jalen Holston?

    1. For sure. Jalen has been actively recruiting guys to VT on Twitter and reaching out to them welcoming them once they commit. He is our only RB commit for this cycle. Wheatley will likely end up there but is listed as an ATH right now. He is solid to VT.

  5. I love that we are making up ground at the top of Virginia. It was starting to look like we would get a pretty good class and may not get a single top 10 prospect in state. This was easily the best recruiting weekend in years.

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