Kemari Copeland
Defensive Tackle
6-2, 285
Iowa Western Community College
Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Tech picked up a commitment from one of its top remaining recruiting targets in the form of JUCO defensive tackle Kemari Copeland. He’ll sign his letter of intent with the Hokies on Wednesday. As a JUCO recruit, he is not a transfer portal guy, but rather a regular member of the 2024 recruiting class. That raises the number of recruits in the 2024 class to 16, and it includes three defensive tackles.
Copeland was originally recruited by Army as a 235-pound defensive end prospect out of Kellam High School in Virginia Beach. However, he rapidly grew and transferred to Iowa Western Community College, and he’s now a 6-2, 285-pound defensive tackle. He took visits to Arkansas, Tennessee and NC State but ultimately chose in-state Virginia Tech.
Like Tech’s other defensive tackle targets this month, Copeland is a terrific fit for Hokie defensive scheme. He’s got a low center of gravity and is tremendously quick off the ball. He was regarded as one of the top JUCO defensive tackle recruits in the country and has two years of eligibility remaining.
The Hokies are also pursuing other defensive tackles in the transfer portal, including Kelvin Gilliam of Oklahoma. They added Aeneas Peebles of Duke just before Copeland committed on Monday.
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When is the Spring Game! Can’t wait!!!
Love it! Welcome to Hokie Nation brother.
So, he’s recruited for “Army” that means he was a Westpoint? So’s gotta be a pretty smart guy? Also, how do you go from there to IOWA Western CC? I mean, I’m sure there’s a logical reason, just seems like a weird jump (or is it one of these schools like I was reading about in California that really just do football?)
Anyway, what’s wrong with this picture: big, strong, smart a couple years left…nothing? sounds good.
All good! We beat out NCSU.
I was wondering the exact same thing… things don’t add up.
Maybe he grew out of the position they needed. No telling, things just happen.
Well yeah, but the Army’s not just another school, they can be pretty picky and probably expect you to do well in classes. I’d be curious how the service academies handle “sports scholarships” except with the idea that everyone there is getting a scholarship, so lower the educational requirements a tad (not a UNC “tad”) for players, ie counted as part of your total person?
Clearly, he had to drop out his Fr/Soph years and how and why he headed west is another story.
He squats nearly 700 pounds and can bench 465. You crazy strong for how quick he is. CC – you would like his social media, it’s all workout stuff and he’s got a very good following.
He’s a man on film. Not sure if it was weak JUCO players, or if he was just that unreal…but he looks like a beast.
Bring on the beef!! We need beef down the middle. 2 d line guys have committed, now we need a dog at mike.
Ask and ye shall receive….
Love the guys originally from the Commonwealth of Virginia. ✔️
Heck yeah!