Da’Shawn Elder
Defensive Back, Class of 2021
Fork Union Military Academy, Originally from Watkinsville, GA
6-2, 200

There were Zoom calls with coaches, text messages and phone calls. In many ways, though, the decision by Fork Union Military Academy (Va.) defensive back Da’Shawn Elder was one based on trust.

Elder still has yet to take a visit, virtual or in-person, to Virginia Tech. After signing his National Letter of Intent with the Hokies, he’ll head to Blacksburg on Jan. 14, so he’ll see it soon. But Elder said he relied more on his instinct and the feel he got during the recruiting process with Virginia Tech, which only lasted a couple of weeks.

“They were just honest with me,” he said. “They weren’t telling me…like with the recruiting process, coaches tend to be like, ‘oh, you’re going to play right away, we have a spot for you.’ They were being very honest, telling me I had to work hard regardless, if I wanted to be on the field or not. I’ve got to push myself every day. I’m going to get coached hard. I know the reputation for Virginia Tech, having good DBs. It just felt like the best spot for me.”

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