Justin Fuente’s First Big Recruiting Weekend As VT Coach

By: Chris Horne |

A football recruiting “Dead Period” begins on December 14 and lasts through mid-January, so this weekend is the final opportunity this year for FBS colleges to host prospects on official visits. It’s obviously an important weekend, especially for those prospects looking to enroll in college next month.

Virginia Tech boasts 14 verbal commitments in the class of 2016. Three of those commits — quarterback Joshua Jackson, wide receiver Sam Denmark, and defensive end Jimmie Taylor — have signed non-binding grant-in-aids with plans to enroll at Virginia Tech next month, and three more — wide receiver Divine Deablo, wide receiver Eric Kumah and cornerback Khalil Ladler — also hope to enroll at Tech next month.

Potential new recruits are expected to be in Blacksburg on official visits this weekend. Landon School (Bethesda, MD) senior linebacker Keith Simms tweeted this morning that he will be one of those official visitors.

VT OFFICIAL THIS WEEKEND.. #goHokies pic.twitter.com/dJhFZl5CHY

— KS (@kpsyo) December 11, 2015

California, Maryland, North Carolina, Oregon and Vanderbilt are among the other schools in the running for the 6’3″, 225-pound senior who, according to reports, does not plan on enrolling early in college.

Quarterback prospects and brothers Caleb Evans and Jerod Evans will be at Virginia Tech this weekend as well. Caleb, a 6’3″, 190-pound prospect, is a senior at Bishop Dunne (Dallas, TX), while older brother Jerod, a 6’4″, 225-pound signal caller, is a sophomore at Trinity Valley Community College (Athens, TX).

At this point neither prospect has received an offer from Virginia Tech. (Editor’s note: Rivals and 247 now list Jerod Evans with a VT offer, and 247 ranks him as the #1 JUCO QB in the country.) Stephen F. Austin, Prairie View, and Midwestern State have offered Caleb, who visits Missouri before heading to Blacksburg. Jerod boasts offers from Central Florida, Missouri and California, among others.

ESPN’s Gerry Hamilton, who has high praise for current Tech quarterback commit Joshua Jackson, seems to be high on Jerod Evans as well.

In addition to the three prospects listed above, Rivals reports that Virginia Tech will also host junior college offensive line prospect Demetri Moore and junior college wide receiver recruit Cedrick Wilson Jr. Both prospects have been offered by the Hokies since Justin Fuente took the reigns as head coach.

Auburn and Cincinnati are top competitors for Moore, who attends Mississippi Delta CC.

Wilson, a 6’3″, 180-pound prospect who played quarterback in high school, Tennessee, verbally committed to Boise State last month. If he does indeed visit, don’t be surprised to see the Memphis native flip to Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech defensive end commitment Jimmie Taylor IV will make his official visit to Virginia Tech as well this weekend, his coach, Charlie Dempsey, has confirmed to TechSideline. The Southwest Onslow (Jacksonville, N.C.) is one of Virginia Tech’s most highly regarded defensive commitments in this class. As noted above, he plans to enroll next month.

In other news, Virginia Tech wide receiver commit Eric Kumah told TSL that he is all set to enroll next month provided he passes an exam he has this week. The Forest Park (Woodbridge, VA) star will not be in Blacksburg this weekend on an official visit, but he did host coaches Fuente and Holmon Wiggins in his home this week.

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3 Responses You are logged in as Test

  2. Coach Fuente, the indoor practice facility, and Chamber of Commerce weather in Blacksburg this weekend should make the sales pitch an easy one. If they visit, they will commit.

  3. Coach Fuente is just going all out in his recruiting. Impressive! Think I will change my rating to 110%.

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