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. Football Nov 18 TBA. North Carolina was all over cornerback Cam Fleming in the final two weeks. It shows that theyll block and find ways to contribute to the team.. READ MORE, Kyron Drones is a quarterback transfer from Baylor who got meaningful snaps in one game for the Bears. I worry about the lack of defensive tackles in this class, but the Hokies are counting on the top group from last year returning and the development of last years class. It wouldnt be easy after Justin Fuente ignored the state for years. 6-1 / NC State. Thats not to say the Hokies landed top local talent, as ranked by the recruiting sites, in Virginia. Shannon Lewis. More than anything, I think hes going to push these guys on and off the field. (Jerome Miron / USA Today), Twenty-nine players signed with the Hokies on Wednesday. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound Varner was a first-team All-AAC performer at Temple in 2022 and can slide inside on passing downs. 305, / We've got a lot of those conversations, I think I've got 33 or 34 meetings scheduled over the next couple of days.". It wouldnt be shocking to see both play early in their career. 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.. NA 135 140. So the investments real. Braylon Johnson is the son of Highland Springs head coach and former Virginia Tech cornerback Loren Johnson. Try a week on us. 1 wide receiver for the Hokies and a four-star transfer. Hes a leader. We want to reach out and make sure you hear it from us first. Related: Virginia Tech DB Chamarri Conner receives a pre-Combine draft score. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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, Thomas Dale 2025 athlete Shamari Earls recently picked up an offer from Virginia Tech, and he will visit next month. But for now, Techs riding some good waves heading into the early signing period that begins Wednesday. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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. One concern for the Hokies is they didnt do enough on the defensive line. 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. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. He'll visit Blacksburg for Junior Day next weekend. Hes going to make sure those guys are doing extra. Virginia Tech is hopeful to get defensive tackle Norell Pollard back too, though nothings been finalized on that front. Theres 80-20 in my room. I think in this cycle, they understand we meant it. Heath looks like a future star. You have ball skills, theyre usually pretty quick twitch, the short-area quickness. How long has it been since the Hokies have had these kinds of feel-good vibes around signing day? In order to get under the limit with all the players the Hokies still hope to land or could pursue in the future, it wouldnt be surprising if that number doubles by the end of spring. It helps the quarterback not have to be as accurate. Chance Fitzgerald and Ayden Greene were late additions as the Hokies had to beat out some good programs to land both. Much of this incoming class is about development. 197, QB / ACC Championship. (On3 ranks him 33rd, bringing down his average.). Its there. 6-2 / Virginia Tech Hokies Defensive Back Chamarri Conneris participating in the 2023 NFL Combine, looking to boost his stock ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft. Associate AD, Chief of Staff. Its the second consecutive season Tech has been ranked in that neighborhood after middling to forgettable classes in 2021 (44th) and 2020 (76th). That thing will probably double over the next several days with it officially opening on Monday (December 5). 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. Later on Friday afternoon at 3 P.M., Conner will participate in the Defensive Back drills. These guys were recruiting, thats an important trait that were always looking for.. 205, CB / TSL) is an independent publication that is in no way affiliated with or sponsored by Virginia Tech or the Virginia Tech Athletic Department. Jennings is an instant No. The plans are for him to go on scholarship in January of 2024, though how the numbers shake out could push up those plans. 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. 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. 250, S / 150. Period. Really high football IQ, great wheels and can spin it. 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. Spring practice updates Recruiting news NFL Draft . 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. 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. 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. He committed on Sunday, three days after he decommitted from Boston College and a day after an official visit in Blacksburg. Find the latest updates on Virginia Tech's roster below. We just know more about these guys. 231-4132. 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. I think thats definitely going to help us on the perimeter, being longer, being faster and being more consistent.. Gabriel Williams Remains Highly-Coveted By Virginia Tech, The Virginia Tech 2023 Class In The Half-Star System, Alex Taylor Includes Virginia Tech In Top 7, Amir Jackson Picks Up Virginia Tech Offer, Virginia Tech Adds JUCO DE James Jennette, Virginia Tech Football Junior Days, Part 2, Virginia Tech Football Junior Days, Part 1, Chanz Wiggins Takes In Virginia Tech Again, Bodie Kahoun Picks Up Virginia Tech Offer, Ari Watford Preparing For Visit To Virginia Tech. 210, IOL / 6-5 / 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. READ MORE, Virginia Tech was the first P5 program to offer Ohio offensive lineman Jake Wheelock, and he will visit Blacksburg this weekend. They worked late to flip a couple of players who committed elsewhere and came close. Competition at quarterback. (D-lineman Rashaud Pernell signed but did not enroll, ending up at Liberty.). QB. 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. 5-10 / 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 6-foot-2, 225-pound Drones was Techs top transfer quarterback target. In his junior highlight tape, he flashes some burst and athleticism. 6-0 / 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Watsons size was a detriment to some, but turn on the film, and you see an electric runner with a strong arm. And for some of those players, Pry either flipped from other schools or beat some good competition to land those signatures. Well have a good look at things this spring.. The 6-foot-1 wide receiver has over 20 scholarship offers and is the No. They can do a lot of different things with their bodies, so having those qualities is a plus for me. 5-11 / 210, DL / 220, WR / Editor. Virginia Tech. @CoachPryVT @TylerBowen @CoachShawnQuinn @HokiesFB pic.twitter.com/tCR903bBkM, Zeke Wimbush (@zekewimbush7) December 19, 2022. I think they appreciate that were trying to do this with guys from our footprint, and specifically with guys from the state of Virginia. Duke, Virginia Tech offer 2025 top-75 QB George MacIntyre. On Saturday, Conner will complete the drill portion of the NFL Combine with the Bench Press before departing Indianapolis. 236, RB / Coney was a late flip who looks the part. READ MORE, Bodie Kahoun recently picked up an offer from Virginia Tech, and the Roanoke native will be in Blacksburg tonight. The first order of business at the combine was the measurement portion, on Friday morning, where the Virginia Tech defensive back verified his frame. Since the conclusion of the 2022 season, Conner has participated in the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowland has prepared himself for the NFL Combine. Both look like future starters at cornerback for the Hokies. (Gio Heater) On Monday, Virginia Tech's complete 2023 football schedule was releasedon the ACC Network. 788 37 8. Prys focus upon his hiring was to rebuild relationships within the Commonwealth. READ MORE, With the 2023 Virginia Tech recruiting class now complete, it's time to assign our star ratings using the half-star system. Early signing day is Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. OT / But at the same time, we have to be better in that area.. Another outstanding prospect from Highland Springs, Heath is electric and could figure into the mix in 2023 as a slot receiver. A ranking of the 2023 Best College Football Players in West Virginia. 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. 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. Takye Heath is a player to watch. The Hokies picked up defensive end Darian Varner, formerly of Temple, who has multiple years of eligibility remaining. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Thanks for the effort, fellas! Thats always the million-dollar question with recruiting, where signing day stars have a short shelf life and can look quaint once these players have had a few years to develop or, in the transfer portal age, pack up and go somewhere else to finish their career. Dante Lovett and Cameren Fleming were two of my favorites in this class. READ MORE No. Duke is next. 0.8786. Virginia Tech football is putting a stamp on its 2023 signing class with as good of a finish as you could. Virginia Tech has offered Salisbury (N.C.) 2024 cornerback Deuce Walker. The Hokies have been recruiting Walker for quite some time, but the offer has finally come through. 6-2 / 34 nationally, according to the 247Sports team composite rankings. Tech landed Kyron Drones on the transfer market, a former four-star QB who spent the past two seasons with Baylor. Football Nov 11 TBA. The 6-foot 202-pound play-maker has played safety, nickel and cornerback in his Virginia Tech career. New Virginia Tech football offer: Deuce Walker. 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. Receiver Cole Beck, defensive tackles Norell Pollard and Mario Kendricks and defensive end Pheldarius Payne could also come back for another season. He finishes in the record-book as the No. One-On-One With Virginia Tech Football's Brent Pry By: David Cunningham | March 2, 2023 On Wednesday, Tech Sideline's David Cunningham sat down with Brent Pry to discuss individual players, the transfer portal and other topics. (Christian Moss is the only scholarship receiver on the roster whos 6-3.). The 247Sports' NCAA Transfer Portal Database can be found here. Another defensive back: Though Tech did plenty of work restocking the defensive backfield, Pry wants a bridge between the vets and youngsters. Felton is from Portsmouth. A running back: Malachi Thomas is back, but hes coming off an injury-plagued season, and Tech struggled to run the ball physically with anybody else. The Hokies added four offensive linemen. We needed somebody to come in here and compete with Grant (Wells). TSL) is an independent publication that is in no way affiliated with or sponsored by Virginia Tech or the Virginia Tech Athletic Department. That quarterback rooms going to look a little different right out of the gate come January 18th, Pry said. The Virginia Tech Hokies wrapped up the early signing period last week feeling pretty good about the 2023 recruiting class. TechSideline.Com You can see that the area under the curve gets smaller both as the rating for a commit decreases and as the number of total commits for a school increases. Caleb Woodson is another who had interest from others. William Watson III Springfield Central (Springfield, MA) 6-0 / 175. Drones has three years of eligibility remaining. The Virginia Tech Hokies wrapped up the early signing period last week feeling pretty good about the 2023 recruiting class. For our in-house analysis of each signee for Virginia Tech, check out our videos on YouTube. Conner has late Day 3 value as a potential backup., has participated in the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowl, Virginia Tech DB Chamarri Conner receives a pre-Combine draft score.