Looking back, the recruitment of McDonogh (Md.) three-star athlete DeJuan Ellis (5-11, 180) had its bumps. But when he shut out all the outside noise, he stuck with his initial decision.

Ellis, Rivals.com’s No. 22 player in Maryland, signed his letter of intent Wednesday with Virginia Tech. And while he’s been overshadowed in his own class at the position he hopes to play, Ellis said he’s ready for the challenge that lies ahead.

Ellis, whom the Hokies offered in March of 2016, committed to them that August. On May 2, he opened up his commitment, but the separation was brief, as he was back on board with Virginia Tech just two days later. After signing Wednesday, Ellis said he has somewhat of a sense of relief.

“It feels good and it’s a lot of pressure off of my shoulders,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about coaches coming at you. It definitely wasn’t smooth. There was a lot of thought process going through my mind. It’s a hard choice. You have to make sure the school you pick is the right one for you. I felt like Tech was a great pick for me and a great choice. I felt like it was the best pick for me and that was the reason I chose Virginia Tech.”

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