I've only been seriously following VT recruiting since ~2012 or so (I came to Tech from CA in 2009). So to me, seeing the lack of an in-state nucleus of talent is nothing new. However, I'm sure for most of the folks who remember a horde of VA kids picking Tech each year and winning 10+ games throughout the 2000's, it's pretty jarring to see other schools poaching so much of the in-state talent. Just an observation.

As CC (and others) have said repeatedly, recruiting is a wildly different animal now than it was even 8-10 years ago. Hudl, social media, camps, facilities arms races, support staffs, COA stipends, etc all drastically change the landscape, not to mention shifting demographics. State borders are pretty much meaningless these days, especially for folks who live in NOVA and the 757, which are a 4-6 hour drive from Blacksburg. Contrast that with, say, UNC's proximity to those same areas as well as the ever-expanding Raleigh and Charlotte areas.