Despite signing seven linebackers in the past two recruiting classes, Virginia Tech is still eager to build up their numbers at linebacker in the Class of 2018. The Hokies have targeted multiple high-level recruits, including Alan Tisdale.
Tisdale is listed at 6-foot-3, 208-pounds and is rated as a 4-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite. He’s a Top-247 player and is ranked as the 16th-best outside linebacker in this class. The Greensboro prospect is also ranked as the 12th-best player in the state of North Carolina. Tisdale has only nine reported scholarship offers, but eight of them are from Power 5 programs. North Carolina, Notre Dame and West Virginia are some of the notable programs to offer.
The first thing you notice when watching film of Tisdale is his versatility. He lines up as a deep safety, an outside linebacker and even as an stand-up edge rusher. That versatility gives him a lot of value from the start. He’s able to rush the passer, as well as drop into coverage and make interceptions. Tisdale has a knack for getting his hands on the football, whether that be in coverage or batting balls down at the line of scrimmage.
The only thing that concerns me with Tisdale is his speed. He isn’t slow, but he also doesn’t flash the ability to come from the back side quickly to make a tackle. Still, his coverage skills, ability to rush the passer and ability to play the run make him an intriguing recruit. Tisdale looks like a whip/nickel, or possibly a backer, in Virginia Tech’s defensive scheme.
Virginia Tech has already had Tisdale on campus for a Junior Day in January, and will likely try to get him on campus again this spring. Virginia Tech has two players from Greensboro on the roster already (Mook Reynolds, Hendon Hooker) and has made North Carolina an emphasis in the Class of 2018. Tisdale could be a part of a large North Carolina haul for the Hokies in this cycle.
West Virginia is Tisdale’s most recent offer, and they’ll likely get a look. North Carolina, NC State and Notre Dame should be heavily considered as well.
Because Virginia Tech has loaded up on linebackers recently, the Hokies will likely sign two in the Class of 2018. Dax Hollifield is the top target there, with Tisdale, Payton Wilson and Keshon Artis on the board as well. Whoever does sign will have a chance to make an immediate impact, since Andrew Motuapuaka is entering his final season of eligibility and Tremaine Edmunds could be poised for the 2018 NFL Draft.
VT Commits
VT Targets
Others
Linebacker
Keshon Artis 
Dax Hollifield Alan Tisdale
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Looks plenty fast to me.
Ricky, you said in the article he is a 4-star, but in the listing below he only has 3??
He’s recently been graded as a 4-star, and I hadn’t updated out database yet. Sorry about that.