Jake Goins will spend his college days in Blacksburg. The 6-5, 285-pound offensive lineman committed to Frank Beamer and company on Tuesday, giving the Hokies and in-state recruiting victory over the University of Virginia. Goins, a rising senior out of Manchester High School (Midlothian, VA), was also offered by Clemson, Duke, Maryland and Richmond.

“It was tough, but in the end I felt like I would be better off at Virginia Tech,” said Goins, who visited both in-state rivals in late July before coming to this decision. “Virginia has a great future ahead with Coach London, but Virginia Tech is the place for me. I feel like I fit in better at Virginia Tech. The coaches are great. They have been going to bowls for so many years, and that must mean they are doing something right.

Goins added, “Coach Newsome is a good coach. He is really close to his players. The players speak highly of him, too. He told me that he is a coach on the field, but off of it he is always going to be there for his players. The players I talked to backed that up. And Coach Beamer is a really experienced coach. He wants to win a national championship with in-state guys and I believe he can do it.”

Virginia Tech’s home atmosphere is appealing as well to the talented prospect, who is rated the #20 overall prospect in the state in TechSideline.com’s Preseason Top 40.

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