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Virginia Tech came extremely close to landing 6-3, 270-pound stud defensive end Melvin Alaeze last year. Just how close? Well, the former Randallstown High School (MD) star, who ended up announcing for the University of Maryland during the Army All-American Bowl game, reflected on his decision during last Friday’s Hargrave Military Academy media day.

“Actually, it was real close between Maryland and Tech,” Alaeze said. “A couple weeks before [the Army All-American bowl], I took a visit to Tech and they showed me a good time down there. I saw the campus and I met the players. The players were relaxed and laid back and kind of made me feel at home, but then I had to put in the distance factor and stuff like that. That’s what made the decision right there.”

Alaeze fell just shy of qualifying academically and was forced to head to prep school and chose Hargrave. How long does he plan to stay?

“I’m only here for half a year,” Alaeze said. “I just have to raise the SAT.”

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