Virginia Tech’s 2011 class, which comes in ranked #33 nationally by Rivals.com, consists of one running back, three wide receivers, four tight ends, one offensive lineman, four defensive ends, two defensive tackles, two safety/linebacker types, three cornerbacks and one place-kicker/punter. Defensive back, defensive line and tight end are the strengths of the class, which does not include a quarterback or a true linebacker.

Five prospects achieved at least one 4-star rating by one of the three national recruiting services. Defensive tackle Kris Harley is the only consensus 4-star. Cornerback Kyshoen Jarrett (Rivals and Scout) and defensive end Corey Marshall (Rivals and Scout) are rated 4-stars by two of the three, while wide receiver Robert Lockhart (ESPN) and safety Ronny Vandyke (Rivals) are 4-stars by one of the services.

The Hokies certainly covered a lot of territory this year, signing four players from the state of Florida, two from Washington, D.C., and one each from Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Tech inked eight players from the Commonwealth and all eight made the TSL In-State Top 40, including Marshall at #5, Vandyke at #9, safety Michael Cole at #15, running back Michael Holmes at #20, offensive lineman Jake Goins at #24, wide receiver Demitri Knowles at #26, defensive end Dewayne Alford at #31 and tight end Chris Hall at #33.

Of the 20 signees, cornerback Adeboye Aromire has already enrolled and Alford and Hall are gray-shirts and will enroll in January of 2012. Place-kicker/punter Michael Branthover, who didn’t sign a letter of intent with the Hokies, will walk-on next fall but will be on scholarship beginning next January.

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