Johnson had other options before committing to Virginia Tech but chose the Hokies. New Nebraska coach Matt Rhule made a show of making his first offer on the job to cornerback Dante Lovett. That quarterback rooms going to look a little different right out of the gate come January 18th, Pry said. In between on Tuesday will be a column on the 2023 Virginia Tech football schedule that is going to be released tonight (Monday). Early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Receiver and ACC champion sprinter Cole Beck will run track again this spring, then see how things how shake out before a determination is made about his football career. Football Nov 18 TBA. READ MORE, In-state cornerback Joshua Clarke has visited Virginia Tech six times, and he's close to narrowing his list. He didnt garner much Power 5 attention coming out of Maury High in Norfolk in 2019, ranked as the 29th player in the state, but Pry said he was the heart and soul of a 15-0 state championship team down there. Michael Hazel. 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. Duke is next. Jennings averaged over 1,000 yards and caught 14 touchdown passes the past two seasons at ODU, despite missing three games at the end of last year with an injury. READ MORE No. Commit I really like this group. The Hokies signed pairs of players from two state powerhouse high schools: Highland Springs (safety Braylon Johnson and receiver Takye Heath) and Appomattox (receiver Jonathan Pennix and linebacker Tavorian Copeland). Virginia. Spring practice updates Recruiting news NFL Draft . Over the final month heading into the early signing period, Pry picked up commitments from six high school players and four transfers. The second and third-best prospects . 12/19/2022. For more details about the site, including a list of TechSideline.com staff, see our About page. Watsons size was a detriment to some, but turn on the film, and you see an electric runner with a strong arm. Hes going to make us better. Their parents, especially, have an appreciation for where Virginia Techs been, and they understand what this program can be.. 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. There are probably going to be more, but the Post season conference awards are a big deal for the players that win them. 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. 310. 0.8478. 0.8714. I love to see receivers play defense, especially in high school, show some physicality, show that theyll play on special teams. Jennings is an instant No. @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. Conner has late Day 3 value as a potential backup., He was given a prospect rating of 5.82 - which defines him as an "Average backup or Special Teamer. Hammer plays at North Cross in Roanoke. 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. Jennings and Felton help remake a receiver room that added seven new players in all Wednesday, shoring up a group that lost last years leading pass-catcher Kaleb Smith to Notre Dame. (Virginia Tech sports photography) On early signing day, 25 prospects from the class of 2023 signed their NLIs with Virginia Tech football: 13 on offense and 12 on defense. 61 receiver, coming off a season in which he had 85 catches for 1,268 yards and 14 TDs for Nolensville (Tenn.) High. 185, RB / Cornerback: Dante Lovett, Cameren Fleming, Antonio Cotman Jr. Safety: Mose Phillips, Braylon Johnson, Caleb Woodson, Athlete: Thomas Williams, Jonathan Pennix, Tralon Mitchell. Overall, the Hokies signed 13 players from Virginia, and three of the four transfers are from the Commonwealth. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Hes the No. All signing day graphics are by Giovanni Heater, and all signing day videos were produced by Nick Brown. 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. Takye Heath is a player to watch. This guys going to make Grant better. Well have a good look at things this spring.. HokieHaven - New Virginia Tech football offer: Deuce Walker 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. LB. 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. 6-0 / Gambling problem? And certain areas are listening, as it seems Prys early work is already paying off in Richmond. -, QB / I also wouldnt be shocked if Pry looks for a defensive tackle via the transfer portal. 5-11 / 1 wide receiver for the Hokies and a four-star transfer. AJ Swinton: Four-star small forward commits to Virginia Tech However, most of the heavy lifting has been done, and any further additions will likely come through the transfer portal. 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. 6-6 / 13 Miami at Virginia Tech, Six players I am most excited to see during spring ball for Virginia Tech, Top target Keylen Adams returns to Virginia Tech, Offered TE Cameron Clark talks Virginia Tech visit, connection with Tyler Bowen, Two-sport standout James Nesta locks in seven March visits, Bodie Kahoun opens March with a return to Virginia Tech, Deuce Walker is building a relationship with Virginia Tech, Offered TE Willie Rodriguez excited to check out Virginia Tech, Five coaches Brent Pry could target to replace Joe Rudolph, Live Updates: Virginia Tech 75, Florida State 52 - Second Half, Game Chat: Virginia Tech hosts Florida State, 2023 Spring football game schedule, practice dates, Five Virginia Tech players that could see their stock rise this spring, '25 IMG CB looking forward to visiting Virginia Tech. 6-2 / He can be a power runner pretty early in his Virginia Tech career. His list of collegiate accolades include 2020 Phil Steele All-ACC Third Team, 2020 All-ACC Honorable Mention, ACC Defensive Back of the Week (Sept. 7, 2021), 2021 ESPN All-ACC Midseason Team, 2021 Phil Steele All-ACC Second Team, 2021 All-ACC Honorable Mention (S), and his selection to the 2022-2023 Reese's Senior Bowl. The Hokies have 15 players who will enroll in January, with 11 from the high school ranks and all four the transfers. 206, WR / 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). Recruit images were posted here as NLIs were received see the area below the table. They can do a lot of different things with their bodies, so having those qualities is a plus for me. Virginia Tech is hopeful to get defensive tackle Norell Pollard back too, though nothings been finalized on that front. Ishmael Findlayter Commits To Virginia Tech - TechSideline.com Enjoy! He was a hybrid linebacker-defensive back in both 2019 and 2020, registering a bulk of his . 250, S / 270, LB / Pry, whose years at Penn State gave him an advantage in rebuilding those relationships. I would expect him to redshirt and develop a bit before he plays. 5-10 / The highly versatile defensive back has played nearly every position in the Hokies' backfield dating back to 2018. 190, DL / The final transfer was speedy 6-foot-4 wide receiver Quan Felton from Norfolk State. 231-4132. Virginia Tech Football Class of 2023 Signing Day Central Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. New Virginia Tech football offer: Deuce Walker. Shannon Lewis. And I think he has a chip on his shoulder. 5-10 / 300, LB / The Lady Hokies shine after a break, and trounce, throttle, and outscore the Miami Hurricanes in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals. Period. 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. While no one will confuse Virginia Tech's incoming class with Alabama . Nine scholarship players have already gone into the portal. The Hokies had circled him as a possibility before he went in the portal, so once he officially put his name out there, offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen had done his homework and was the first coach Drones welcomed on an in-home visit. The Hokies currently have 19 commitments in their 2023 recruiting class, which will probably grow a little bit here. 6-5 / He'll visit Blacksburg for Junior Day next weekend. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. While On3 rates him as the No. 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. Here are Techs offensive additions in the past two weeks: WR: Jennings (transfer), Fitzgerald (HS), Greene (HS). There are 25 high school signees, plus four transfer additions. All original material and images are copyrighted by TechSideline.com and may not be reused or reprinted without permission. The 6-foot-1 wide receiver has over 20 scholarship offers and is the No. Length offers the quarterback a little bit easier target. All original material and images are copyrighted by TechSideline.com and may not be reused or reprinted without permission. Lewis plays running back at Salem High School in Salem, Virginia. 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. With a Burst of Energy, Brent Pry Throws All-Out Blitz at Virginia's Recruiting Trails. Virginia Tech football commits Thomas Williams, Misun Kelley to bring How long has it been since the Hokies have had these kinds of feel-good vibes around signing day? 6-6 / TechSideline.Com Virginia Tech and Brent Pry picked up their 18th commitment in the class of 2023 on Sunday night with the pledge of three-star defensive end Ishmael Findlayter (Ontario, Canada). Virginia Tech football: A look at the Hokies' 2023 recruiting class 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. The No. 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. 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. I think thats definitely going to help us on the perimeter, being longer, being faster and being more consistent.. 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. The plans are for him to go on scholarship in January of 2024, though how the numbers shake out could push up those plans. Virginia Tech Football Recruiting | The Key Play 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. March 3, 2023 9:10 am CT. Peyton Lewis, a running back prospect from the 2024 recruiting class, picked up an offer from the Alabama coaching staff on Thursday. GO HOKIES!!! 6-4 / #8 Virginia Tech Hokies Dominate Miami to Reach the ACC Tournament Semi-Finals: 68-42. And Florida State made a late push for linebacker Caleb Woodson. Hailing from north of Charlotte . They'll all decide what's best for them individually in the upcoming weeks. His size, athleticism and football IQ had him extremely undervalued. Virginia Tech Hokies DB Chamarri Conner takes on the 2023 NFL Combine 305, DL / The recruiting classes for the champions of both . So a guy that can supply some depth and come in and be a rotational guy, give us a chance to develop this young group.. Arena is Virginia Tech's fourth commitment for 2023, joining offensive linemen Lance Williams (Alcoa, Tennessee) and Hannes Hammer (Roanoke, Virginia via Germany and defensive end Jason. (Christian Moss is the only scholarship receiver on the roster whos 6-3.). North Carolina was all over cornerback Cam Fleming in the final two weeks. Theres 80-20 in my room. BLACKSBURG, Va. While signing day went off without a hitch for Virginia Tech, that doesnt mean there werent some nervous moments leading up to it. Thomas Williams is a sensational athlete and could also figure into the mix here. Woodson is a fun player with good size and speed, who many believe ends up at linebacker. Virginia Tech football is putting a stamp on its 2023 signing class with as good of a finish as you could. 6-7 / While no one will confuse Virginia Tech's incoming class with. Football Nov 11 TBA. Thanks for the effort, fellas! 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. 285, DL / Area Code 540. 6-5 / 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. 280, PRO / 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. 6-3 / 6-0 / 6-1 / This time around, the focus was more on the perimeter, with Tech signing seven defensive backs and seven receivers, some with positional versatility to possibly end up on either side of the ball. 1 player in the state in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports' in-house rankings. Virginia Tech football recruiting: Four-star RB Ramon Brown commits to This site utilizes responsive web design, which renders the site properly on all platforms (PC, tablet, mobile). READ MORE, Virginia Tech recently became the fifth program to offer Kentucky wideout receiver Montavin Quisenberry, who has yet to take a visit. Caleb Woodson is another who had interest from others. Virginia Tech football: Hokies hosting a big recruit this weekend Bodie Kahoun recently picked up an offer from Virginia Tech, and the Roanoke native will be in Blacksburg tonight. All six could reasonably be considered starting candidates next season. Virginia Tech football recruiting: Hokies land another offensive line HokieHaven Jonathan Pennix and Krystian Williams are athletes who could start out on either side of the ball. Related: Virginia Tech DB Chamarri Conner receives a pre-Combine draft score. PUBLISHER. 6-2 / He misses too many tackles due to risky angles and struggles coming to balance in the open field. 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. Ishmael Findlayter, Linebacker: Tavorian Copeland, Aycen Stevens. 8 Virginia Tech Wrestling Travels To Raleigh For ACC Tournament By: Jack Brizendine | March 2, 2023 Early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. 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. 230, LB / Find the latest updates on Virginia Tech's roster below. 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. Jason Abbey is a defensive end from Richmond that has coaches excited. 210, DL / In the composite rankings, Adams is. It helps the quarterback not have to be as accurate. READ MORE Ari Watford Preparing For Visit To Virginia Tech By: Jason Stamm | January 20, 2023 Ari Watford will be one of the top prospects in the state in the 2025 class. Welcome to Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Signing Day Central for the Class of 2023. -, IOL / Montavin Quisenberry Picks Up Virginia Tech Offer, Grant Karczewski Spurns UVA Ties To Walk On At Virginia Tech, Joshua Clarke Sees VT Again, Closes In On Cuts. I think they appreciate that were trying to do this with guys from our footprint, and specifically with guys from the state of Virginia. Tralon Mitchell is another who could up at running back, wide receiver, or on defense. In addition to key transfers in quarterback Kyron Drones and receiver Ali Jennings III, the Hokies have gotten six high school commitments this month, with four coming from players who are among the top-six ranked recruits in Techs class receivers Chance Fitzgerald (2) and Ayden Greene (3), cornerback Antonio Cotman Jr. (5) and quarterback Pop Watson (6). Brent Pry and the Hokies signed 25 prospects to their 2023 class on Wednesday. As much as I like the cornerback class, I equally like the safeties. The Hokies have been recruiting Walker for quite some time, but the offer has finally come through. Wimbush did a bit of everything last year for Stone Bridge, sometimes playing quarterback and sometimes lining up out wide. Recruits can send in their National Letter of Intent (NLI) starting at 7 a.m. Well begin providing updates at that time, and well be here all day. He has that mentality to play this position at a high level.. Eligible to return for a super-senior season (awaiting decision). Virginia Tech Football Transfer Tracker: Winter 2022-2023 (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.). on February 2, 2022, 7:20 AM | 36 comments. Obviously, we think our guys can continue to develop, the young guys in our program. This is why were making this decision. 6-4 / Note that this isn't necessarily a complete list of recruits who are in Blacksburg; it's only a list of those who we can confirm visited via social media. Let's take a closer look at who visited. 207, TE / Cotman was the latest defensive player the Hokies snagged. Some of them, you had a new head coach in the Big Ten celebrating, This is our first offer, a Virginia Tech commitment! And it went as far as guys had graphics of taking official visits to other places, which they never did. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 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. 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. 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. At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, the Life Christian Academy product has good size for a defensive back and is one of the more intriguing prospects in the class, just based on the diversity of his ranking. The last one who fit the bill was defensive tackle Tim Settle from the 2015 class. 6-3 / Those are the rankings to focus on as they combine the different recruiting services. Heath looks like a future star. The Hokies added four offensive linemen. 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. Virginia 2023 Football Commits - 247Sports 5-11 / Presented by. Hell likely play tackle with the Hokies. If allowed to develop for two years, Watson could be a terrific college quarterback. The Hokies have not had many top-five in-state signees in any of the major recruiting sites lately, so Cotmans addition is welcomed. Youve got to be able to have people to do that. We want to reach out and make sure you hear it from us first. 2023 Virginia Tech Athletics - All Rights Reserved. That thing will probably double over the next several days with it officially opening on Monday (December 5). What we learned about Virginia Tech's Class of 2023 as the early signing period began Wednesday, with 25 prep players and four transfers. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Life Christian Academy (Colonial Heights, VA), Clarkson Football North (Mississauga, ON), RB /