His size, athleticism and football IQ had him extremely undervalued. Were looking for possibly a running back to come in and compete with Malachi and Chance (Black) and those guys and make that room better, Pry said. Unofficially, all the recent movement puts the Hokies at 92 scholarship players, a figure that will need to be trimmed significantly to get to the 85 maximum scholarship number, especially if Tech has designs on adding more transfers next month. Virginia Tech is hopeful to get defensive tackle Norell Pollard back too, though nothings been finalized on that front. We've got a lot of those conversations, I think I've got 33 or 34 meetings scheduled over the next couple of days.". 300, S / If he does return, likely in a special teams capacity, he wouldnt be on scholarship, though hes marketable enough that Tech could pursue NIL opportunities for him. He has compiled 314 total tackles (207 solo), 21.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 23 passes defensed, 4 forced fumbles and one block. "The portal is going to be active, as we all know. 295, TE / Krystian Williams is another who could move around. The opinions of the author(s) on this site are independent and no way reflect the opinions of the Virginia Tech administrators, coaches, staff, or athletes. Virginia Tech football is putting a stamp on its 2023 signing class with as good of a finish as you could have asked for from head coach Brent Pry in his first real recruiting cycle. This is why were making this decision. While the Hokies have continued to add players from the NCAA transfer portal . He will start somewhere in Virginia Techs secondary for multiple seasons. But for now, Techs riding some good waves heading into the early signing period that begins Wednesday. 2023 Virginia Tech Football Commitment List Total Commitments 26 6-2 / Last year, the Hokies beefed up on both lines, signing 12 players who played in the trenches. Johnson had other options before committing to Virginia Tech but chose the Hokies. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. -, WR / Last year, it was the defensive and offensive lines that ate up most of the signing class, with what turned out to be six players in the trenches on defense and six on offense. Spring practice updates Recruiting news NFL Draft . Note: This article will be updated regularly so check back to get the latest updates on roster changes as Virginia Tech prepares for the 2023 season. North Carolina was all over cornerback Cam Fleming in the final two weeks. Thats why we call them cheetahs., What you want to do is you want to be able to get your secondary to the point where youve got guys with corner skills at every position. I think thats definitely going to help us on the perimeter, being longer, being faster and being more consistent.. Added to last years haul that included freshman phenom Mansoor Delane and promising youngsters Cam Johnson and Devin Alves, it feels like Tech has set up its secondary for future success better than any other position, particularly when you consider returners like Dorian Strong, Nasir Peoples and Jalen Stroman. I love to see receivers play defense, especially in high school, show some physicality, show that theyll play on special teams. -, CB / Recruits can send in their National Letter of Intent (NLI) starting at 7 a.m. We'll begin providing updates at that time, and we'll be here all day. Hailing from north of Charlotte . While On3 rates him as the No. And those guys are going to know each other from tournaments and playing one another and growing up in Pee Wee ball and different things. 206, WR / Thats two receiver additions from Tennessee this month, with the Hokies also landing Greene, a former Cincinnati commit, whos from Powell, just outside of Knoxville. 6 Virginia at North Carolina, Highlights: No. on February 2, 2022, 7:20 AM | 36 comments. TechSideline.Com Competition at quarterback. 236, RB / 6-5 / Really high football IQ, great wheels and can spin it. The good thing about that position is they have the same qualities, Mines said. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Though both are 6-foot-2, joining the 6-5 Felton, getting bigger wasnt necessarily a primary objective of the Hokies coaches. By Bryan D. Manning @BryanDManning. - / Over the final month heading into the early signing period, Pry picked up commitments from six high school players and four transfers. In between on Tuesday will be a column on the 2023 Virginia Tech football schedule that is going to be released tonight (Monday). But the staff has connections that way too, with defensive coordinator Chris Marve having played and coached at Vanderbilt, sam linebackers coach Shawn Quinn playing collegiately at Carson-Newman and with a number of past coaching jobs in Tennessee and Pry himself with stints at Memphis and Vanderbilt. After a showy signing day ceremony, the hay is in the barn now, with Pry finalizing his first full class with the Hokies, a group that ranks 35th in the 247Sports Composite and sixth in the ACC, not far from Virginia Techs historical norm. @CoachPryVT @coachscott33 @BappNAinEZBino @adamgorney @RivalsFriedman @EdOBrienCFB pic.twitter.com/SrtfDYNLja, Antonio Hazen Cotman Jr. (@CotmanHazen) December 18, 2022, Cotmans addition bolsters whats turning into a pretty good haul in the secondary for the Hokies. Theres a fairly even split between safeties (Johnson, Krystian Williams and Phillips) and cornerbacks (Lovett, Fleming, Cotman and Thomas Williams), though the Hokies preference is simply for players who can cover at any spot in the secondary like last year with Mansoor Delane, who came in as a safety and ended up starting and thriving at cornerback. READ MORE, Ari Watford will be one of the top prospects in the state in the 2025 class. In addition to Drones, the Hokies signed two high school quarterbacks, bringing Dylan Wittke and Pop Watson into the fold. GO HOKIES!!! The Hokies have veteran Nick Gallo coming back for his final season in 2023, but Wimbush is a boost to the next wave of tight ends/H-backs, someone who looks like he could be more on the playmaking side of the position, capable of doing a variety of things from different parts of the formation. ET on YouTube. 6-2 / TechSideline.com (a.k.a. Zeke Wimbush, a versatile tight end who committed out of Stone Bridge High in Ashburn earlier this week, plans to enroll this summer but will likely not immediately be on scholarship. That means the Hokies need to have another wave of attrition at some point, be it when the new semester starts in January or later once spring ball concludes and a second transfer window opens up, just to get to the 85 max number. 6-1 / We want to reach out and make sure you hear it from us first. (As someone whos technically coming in as a walk-on, the Hokies couldnt comment publicly on him, thus his absence from Wednesdays signing day fanfare.). The Hokies like the new additions on the offensive line, wide receiver and the defensive backfield. Virginia. By: Joe Lanza. Virginia Tech basketball has picked up its first commitment of the 2024 recruiting cycle. Find the latest updates on Virginia Tech's roster below. The Hokies didnt venture west into Tennessee often in the latter Beamer years and signed just five players from the state during Justin Fuentes six seasons, most notably linebacker Jaden Keller in 2021. The Hokies currently have 19 commitments in their 2023 recruiting class, which will probably grow a little bit here. By Bryan D. Manning December 12, 2022. Copeland is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound from Appomattox. The 6-foot 202-pound play-maker has played safety, nickel and cornerback in his Virginia Tech career. We want to take care of the state and the kids because thats how were going to get back to where it was back in the day, senior director of player personnel Mike Villagrana said. Ghannam, Arena and Lance Williams all had late interest from the outside but stuck with the Hokies and Rudolph. ACC Championship. The Virginia Tech Hokies picked up their 10th commitment in the 2023 recruiting class Tuesday when Tavorian Copeland made his decision. They'll all decide what's best for them individually in the upcoming weeks. I would expect him to redshirt and develop a bit before he plays. Both Greene (1,127 yards, 19 TDs) and Fitzgerald (1,348 yards, 18 TDs) had monster senior seasons and could have the size to factor in right away. The recent additions put the Hokies at 91 scholarship players by my rough count if you include all of the 2023 commitments and every senior who has an available COVID-19 year. Recruit images were posted here as NLIs were received see the area below the table. 200, IOL / It shows that theyll block and find ways to contribute to the team.. While no one will confuse Virginia Techs incoming class with Alabama or Ohio State, there were many encouraging signs in head coach Brent Prys first full recruiting class. The Hokies were competing at the Lone Star State Invitational this weekend. The y-axis in this graph represents the percentage weight of the score that gets applied to an overall team ranking. I think hes proven. 300, LB / Hell likely play tackle with the Hokies. However, Aycen Stevens is a name to know. 310. 207, TE / Tech landed Kyron Drones on the transfer market, a former four-star QB who spent the past two seasons with Baylor. Early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2023 Virginia Tech Athletics - All Rights Reserved. After veterans Hanson, Moore and Clements, the most experienced linemen on the roster are Schick (58 snaps) and a pair of freshmen, Braelin Moore (81) and Xavier Chaplin (27). The No. Some of them had other head coaches sitting on their couch in their living room, Hokies coach Brent Pry said. I thought it was tough when we got Jason (Brown) and Grant last year at the same time. On Saturday, Conner will complete the drill portion of the NFL Combine with the Bench Press before departing Indianapolis. All original material and images are copyrighted by TechSideline.com and may not be reused or reprinted without permission. 233, Edge / Football Dec 2 TBA. Here are some key takeaways from signing day: Virginia Techs class has a distinctly Virginia flavor to it, with 16 of the 29 total signees having played their high school ball in the commonwealth. Signed. Caleb Woodson is another who had interest from others. More than anything, we wanted to get guys who had good production, Mines said. 34 nationally, according to the 247Sports team composite rankings. "We do have time to schedule meetings, involve parents or families or coaches, if we need to, on young men considering forgoing their senior year to go to the NFL, guys considering going to the transfer portal, or guys you potentially want to help them get somewhere where they've got a better chance to play and be successful. 8 Virginia Tech Wrestling Travels To Raleigh For ACC Tournament By: Jack Brizendine | March 2, 2023 READ MORE No. Virginia Tech Hokies Defensive Back Chamarri Conneris participating in the 2023 NFL Combine, looking to boost his stock ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Antonio Cotman was a late flip from Boston College. There are 25 high school signees, plus four transfer additions. Its there. This site utilizes responsive web design, which renders the site properly on all platforms (PC, tablet, mobile). 6-6 / 61 receiver, coming off a season in which he had 85 catches for 1,268 yards and 14 TDs for Nolensville (Tenn.) High. Well have a good look at things this spring.. 0.8478. Cameron Clark Makes First Virginia Tech Visit. Findlayter is the No. 6-6.5 / On3 Football Recruiting. The Hokies locked up his commitment late Tuesday night, springing it as a surprise on signing day. 2023 Virginia Tech Football Schedule | FBSchedules.com Virginia Tech Football Schedule OVERALL 0-0 ACC 0-0 By purchasing tickets using the affiliate links below, you'll help support. Add in Jennings out of ODU and its been a very good month for receivers coach Fontel Mines. The NFL Combine runs from Tuesday, February 28 through Monday, March 6. 5-11 / One concern for the Hokies is they didnt do enough on the defensive line. Virginia Techs Elizabeth Kitley pulls down her second ACC player of the year award, Georgia Amoore and Taylor Soule get team honors, and Tech gets ready for Selection Sunday. I had him in an all-star game or I coached him at camp or I went to college with his mom and dad. Those are the relationships that are meaningful, when you can get as much information about a guy to make sure youre taking the right kid, that youre doing the right thing.. All high school NLIs received are listed below. Virginia Tech Head Coach Brent Pry expects roster turnover this offseason as he attempts to rebuild the Hokies roster by way of the transfer portal and the 2023 recruiting class. 195, CB / READ MORE, Virginia Tech recently became the fifth program to offer Kentucky wideout receiver Montavin Quisenberry, who has yet to take a visit. Braylon Johnson is the son of Highland Springs head coach and former Virginia Tech cornerback Loren Johnson. READ MORE, Kyron Drones is a quarterback transfer from Baylor who got meaningful snaps in one game for the Bears. In his junior highlight tape, he flashes some burst and athleticism. In addition to some final high school targets, the Hokies are still pursuing several transfers Temple defensive lineman Darian Varner and Norfolk State receiver DaQuan Felton are a couple to watch in the short term, with former five-star Tony Grimes out of UNC an automatic take if Tech were somehow able to beat out some heavyweights and convince him to come here. Hes confident. Each recruit is weighted in the rankings according to a, Readers familiar with the Gaussian distribution formula will note that we use a varying value for. Here are Techs offensive additions in the past two weeks: WR: Jennings (transfer), Fitzgerald (HS), Greene (HS). Wimbush did a bit of everything last year for Stone Bridge, sometimes playing quarterback and sometimes lining up out wide. He'll visit Blacksburg for Junior Day next weekend. Stay tuned for updates as Chamarri Conner takes on the 2023 NFL Combine. There were no last-second decommitments or signing day swings and misses, a welcome change from recent years, and the Hokies even had a few surprises up their sleeves for the public, with a pair of transfers, defensive end Darian Varner and receiver DaQuan Felton, and high school safety Mose Phillips announcing their intentions to sign with Tech on Wednesday. READ MORE, Despite being a UVA legacy, Grant Karczewski will walk-on at Virginia Tech after specific advice from his parents. All signing day graphics are by Giovanni Heater, and all signing day videos were produced by Nick Brown. And for some of those players, Pry either flipped from other schools or beat some good competition to land those signatures. What we sold them on is, we dont necessarily recruit just corners and safeties. By Tim Weaver | February 27, 2023 1:37 pm ET. The commentary is also linked in the Our Take column of the table below. Much of this incoming class is about development. 6-2 / Ultimately, it wasnt enough. This years class is loading up on defensive backs. We still have a couple needs were trying to fill, he said. In the composite rankings, Adams is. Tech had what turned out to be faux momentum following significant coaching staff turnover as the 2020 class wound down, with high-end defensive signees that year Alec Bryant, Robert Wooten and Justin Beadles all transferring out after a season (though O-line mainstay Kaden Moore came on board in December that cycle, flipping from Bowling Green). 6-3 / The Hokies ended up adding four transfers in the early period who should reshape competitions at their respective positions quarterback Kyron Drones out of Baylor, defensive lineman Darian Varner out of Temple and receivers Jennings and Felton from ODU and Norfolk State, respectively. All four have legit size and Ghannam could play early in his career. Nationally, the Hokies' class has peaked at No. 191, RB / Though none is ranked better than a three-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite, all four are 652nd or higher nationally, boosting what had been a solid but not spectacular class in the final month, with the Hokies now up to 34th in the national team rankings and sixth in the ACC. Hes got all the attributes we were wanting. Felton is a big-play guy who, along with Jennings, gives the Hokies two quality veterans to line up outside in 2023. We know all of these guys have the ability to cover.. And I think he has a chip on his shoulder. This is a guy whos going to bring a different demeanor from what we have, Mines said. 220, WR / While its unclear how many of the soon-to-be signees will get on the field early, its clear from the Hokies recent push that theyre focusing on reshaping the offense, particularly the receiver room. But getting the Hokies back in good standing with the top-tier prospects is a process, one Pry and his staff set about remedying last winter, with travel clinics in hotbed areas around the state and meet-and-greets to show high school coaches that Tech, which had lost some standing within the borders under Justin Fuente, was being genuine. - / Michigan, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma had shown interest in him. Those are the rankings to focus on as they combine the different recruiting services. Brandon Patterson breaks down that game. Thanks for the effort, fellas! They include: A defensive end: With Varner likely to play tackle, Tech has a need on the edge, especially with last years top pass rusher, TyJuan Garbutt, graduating. And Florida State made a late push for linebacker Caleb Woodson. 197, OT / CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. to rebuild the Hokies roster by way of the transfer portal and the 2023 recruiting class. - 12/6, Pheldarius Payne - Defensive End (per Andy Bitter), Mario Kendricks - Defensive Tackle (per Andy Bitter), Jalen Holston Running Back (No NCAA eligibility remaining), Jaylen Griffin - Defensive End (No NCAA eligibility remaining), Silas Dzansi - Offensive Line (No NCAA eligibility remaining), Ali Jennings - Wide Receiver - Old Dominion, Griffin Armstrong - Long Snapper - Louisiana Tech* Walk-on, Quan Felton - Wide Receiver - Norfolk State, Jaylin Lane - Wide Receiver - Middle Tennessee State, Derrick Canteen - Cornerback - Georgia Southern, Bhayshul Tuten - Running Back - North Carolina A&T. A ranking of the 2023 Best College Football Players in West Virginia. Grant Wells did not have a good initial season in Blacksburg, but in reality, he was the Hokies' best option . It helps when you can go to an area and theres a young man youre interested in that youre getting to know, Pry said. And you want guys that want to compete. Hes the No. Let's take a closer look at who visited. 6-5 / He was a hybrid linebacker-defensive back in both 2019 and 2020, registering a bulk of his . Period. 6-5 / Drones was a hot commodity and gives the Hokies and offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen the type of passer who can run his offense; that should be RPO-heavy. What Is Virginia Tech Getting In Kyron Drones? Drones has three years of eligibility remaining. The Hokies have 15 players who will enroll in January, with 11 from the high school ranks and all four the transfers. I think in this cycle, they understand we meant it. (Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics). - / These guys were recruiting, thats an important trait that were always looking for.. 6-6 / CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Conners size and versatility could buy him time on a roster, but he might need to keep fighting for his spot. NA 135 140. 6-2 / 6-1 / 6-4 / READ MORE, Within 10 minutes, 4-star linebacker Gabriel Williams had received a text message from nearly every member of Virginia Techs coaching staff. The Virginia Tech Hokies wrapped up the early signing period last week feeling pretty good about the 2023 recruiting class. Here is Virginia Techs recruiting class in full, with linked profiles on them from when they committed to the Hokies, including a brief scouting report and where they are from. Receiver Cole Beck, defensive tackles Norell Pollard and Mario Kendricks and defensive end Pheldarius Payne could also come back for another season. Duke, Virginia Tech offer 2025 top-75 QB George MacIntyre. Joe Spears 01/23/23. Prior to the beginning of the NFL Combine,NFL Analyst LanceZierlein gave Conner's evaluation: Conners size and versatility could buy him time on a roster, but he might need to keep fighting for his spot. DaWain Lofton can play the slot, while others like Tucker Holloway and Xayvion Bradshaw push for time in the lineup. Stevens will probably end up at defensive end, and, like Abbey, be a pretty good one. The Portsmouth product is a former basketball player who didnt start playing football until his junior year, earning a camp offer from Norfolk State, where he caught 67 passes for 1,062 yards and nine touchdowns the past two years, with seven scores last season. More than anything, I think hes going to push these guys on and off the field. Meanwhile, guys like Heath, Pennix and Marcell Baylor showed plenty of versatility in high school, excelling on both sides of the ball. The 6-foot-1 wide receiver has over 20 scholarship offers and is the No. 310, LB / @CoachPryVT @TylerBowen @CoachShawnQuinn @HokiesFB pic.twitter.com/tCR903bBkM, Zeke Wimbush (@zekewimbush7) December 19, 2022. Pry, whose years at Penn State gave him an advantage in rebuilding those relationships. His brother played for Pry at Penn State, and he had other options, but that relationship with Pry was good for the Hokies. I truly think hes undervalued and becomes a good player for the Hokies early in his career. He is perhaps the most important player in this class. Watsons size was a detriment to some, but turn on the film, and you see an electric runner with a strong arm. Will Virginia Tech Soon Break Through In Ohio? Cornerback: Dante Lovett, Cameren Fleming, Antonio Cotman Jr. Safety: Mose Phillips, Braylon Johnson, Caleb Woodson, Athlete: Thomas Williams, Jonathan Pennix, Tralon Mitchell. Weve got to be better at that position. 220, OT / The first order of business at the combine was the measurement portion, on Friday morning, where the Virginia Tech defensive back verified his frame. READ MORE, Bodie Kahoun recently picked up an offer from Virginia Tech, and the Roanoke native will be in Blacksburg tonight. - / 270, LB / Im home!!! 4 player in the state. 282, RB / "We're having some exit interviews with certain guys, portal conversations," Coach Pry said during a press conference in late November. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ('2023-02-23 11:46:09 -0600') }} football Edit. Drones immediately enters the battle for the starting spot, with Wittke, an early commitment from a powerhouse Georgia program in Buford, and Watson, a scintillating late addition out of Massachusetts who flipped from Nebraska earlier this month, getting into the developmental pipeline. 6-2 / Id like to get a bona fide pass rusher off the edge, a proven guy that can win more one-on-one battles, Pry said. The Hokies now have six confirmed seniors who are taking advantage of their additional year of eligibility from the COVID-19 season. Their parents, especially, have an appreciation for where Virginia Techs been, and they understand what this program can be.. That doesnt mean were not going to sign some guys from outside we did, and we will but an emphasis on homegrown talent. Here are three areas that should give Hokie fans hope. TSL) is an independent publication that is in no way affiliated with or sponsored by Virginia Tech or the Virginia Tech Athletic Department. As much as I like the cornerback class, I equally like the safeties. We needed somebody to come in here and compete with Grant (Wells). In fact, 12 of the high school signees from Virginia were ranked 20th or lower in the state, with Penn State (six of the top 10) and North Carolina (five of the top 20) at the forefront of the poachers. Gambling problem? Below is a graphical representation of how our formula works. 231-4132. VTScoop - Virginia Tech Hokies Football and Recruiting Stay up to date with all the Virginia Tech Hokies sports news, recruiting, transfers, and more at 247Sports.com 247Sports. Editor. 6-3 / It used to be a team would get past the New Year and have a pretty. For our in-house analysis of each signee for Virginia Tech, check out our videos on YouTube. The receiver group rounded out late with the additions out of Tennessee of both Ayden Greene, a one-time Cincinnati commit, and Chance Fitzgerald. 5-10 / Obviously, we think our guys can continue to develop, the young guys in our program. Pry said the Hokies are still pursuing some transfers in the first week of January who could still be spring semester enrollees, with three on the docket to make official visits as of now. You have ball skills, theyre usually pretty quick twitch, the short-area quickness. Two of the Upstate's finest high school football players are part of the Virginia Tech football 2023 recruiting class - and they happen to be cousins. He had 729 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, 840 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns and 17 catches for 338 yards and three touchdowns, showing plenty of athletic chops for someone his size. Once commits sign their NLIs to the Hokies, they will have a green check next to their name in the table below and move to the top of the list. And you go down the road and theres a coach youve known for 20 years and you can say, Tell me about that guy. And he says, Coach, thats a heck of a ball player. 237, WR / quarterback Kyron Drones and receiver Ali Jennings III. (Photo of Brent Pry: Reinhold Matay / USA Today). 300, LB / Hes going to make sure those guys are doing extra. 2022 Virginia Tech Football Commitment List Total Commitments 24 I also wouldnt be shocked if Pry looks for a defensive tackle via the transfer portal.
