In part three of this article we will analyze the next six members of the 2010 Virginia Tech recruiting class (here's the link to Virginia Tech 2010 Recruiting Class part 2 and Virginia Tech 2010 Recruiting Class Part 1 ). Those included in this edition are Jerome Lewis, Zack McCray, Theron Norman, Dominique Patterson, Tahrick Peak, and De'Antre Rhodes.
So without further adieu, let's dive into the analysis.
Jerome Lewis
Position: Tight End/Defensive End
School: Bishop Kearney High School
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 241 lbs
40 Time: 4.7 seconds
Experts Take:
Analysis
Ever since Virginia Tech swapped conferences and moved into the ACC, the coaches have shifted their focus on recruiting the south more so than the north. In fact, the last recruit that Tech grabbed from a state north of Maryland is Chris Drager, back in the 2007 class. Jerome Lewis, who is from Rochester New York, is a dynamic athlete who could provide an early impact on this Hokies team.
Lewis played in the Offense-Defense bowl in Myrtle Beach back in early January and illustrated his skills to all of the scouts in attendance. Even though he failed to do much statistically, he showed that he is more of a complete tight end, providing a couple of seal blocks that led to a few big runs by his team.
The biggest question surrounding Jerome is what position will he play upon arrival in Blacksburg. With Logan Thomas sticking at quarterback for the time being it appears that Lewis will start out at tight end. If that’s the case, then look for Lewis to make an early impact with Tech.
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Zack McCray
Position: Defensive End
School: Brookville High School
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 236 lbs
40 Time: 4.5 seconds
Experts Take:
Analysis
After Logan Thomas committed and signed with the Hokies last February, it was almost certain that his cousin would follow suit. Well after a few months of uncertainty, Zack McCray finally ended his recruitment and committed to the Hokies back on June 6th.
There’s not a whole lot you can say about Zack, he’s a very athletic rush end that will be a potential three or four-year starter for the Hokies down the line. McCray actually reminds me more of Chris Ellis at this point then he does any other lineman in recent years for the Hokies. However, McCray is a bit more polished and at this point less injury prone than Chris was at the same point in his career.
With Worilds leaving early for the NFL, there is an outside chance that McCray could step in and play immediately. However, it would be in everybody’s best interest if he were to redshirt. Like I said previously, McCray has a chance to be a four-year starter once he learns the ropes and a spending a year on the scout team would really benefit him down the road.
Theron Norman
Position: Safety
School: Hargrave Military Academy
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 200 lbs
40 Time: 4.5 seconds
Experts Take
Analysis
Theron Norman is one of two members in this 2010 class that was actually set to sign and enroll last summer but they couldn’t make the grades they needed and were forced to spend a semester at Hargrave Military Academy. Norman has achieved the necessary grades and will enroll in January and take part in spring practice in April.
Norman was a dynamic wide receiver at Hermitage High School but will move over to the defensive side of the ball for the Hokies this spring. Theron was a four star safety but has since faded in the rankings thanks to a few injuries that have kept most of the recruiting services from seeing him in action since his junior season in high school.
Not to worry though as Norman has all the physical tools to take over at Rover in the future for the Hokies. The best word to describe Theron is fluid, his running motion and the way he plays is just fluid. He appears to be in control of his body and knows where he is going once the ball is snapped. I think you’ll see the former Hermitage star redshirt then spend the following season battling for the starting job at the Rover position.
Dominique Patterson
Position: Athlete
School: Kings Fork High School
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 205 lbs
40 Time: 4.55 seconds
Experts Take:
Analysis
Dominique Patterson was a product of the camp circuit this past year as he was offered after the Hokies June summer camp. Since Tech was the only division one school to offer him a scholarship, Dominique seized the opportunity and committed to Tech just a few weeks later.
If you were looking for an underrated prospect in this class, Patterson wouldn’t be a bad pick. He has the speed and size to play numerous positions at the collegiate level including linebacker, defensive back, running back, and even wide receiver. However, we like defense here in Blacksburg so he’ll probably end up as either an inside or outside linebacker.
Patterson has some of the most impressive film of anybody in this 2010 class, which is why I’m still a little puzzled on why he is rated so low by most recruiting services. Although most of his film is of him at running back, they did stick in a few plays of him playing outside linebacker. Patterson has excellent closing speed and shows good tackling technique and what little film I saw. Obviously, if he does play linebacker he’ll have to gain some weight, which could limit him some in his first year or two. However, Patterson is definitely a name to remember for the future of this Bud Foster defense.
Tahrick Peak
Position: Linebacker
School: Pulaski High School
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 210 lbs
40 Time: 4.55 seconds
Experts Take:
Analysis
Pulaski County has produced two division one players over the past two seasons with Tahrick’s brother, Nubian, signing with the Hokies last Spring. Tahrick has been compared to Xavier Adibi, and even shares a common nickname with the former Hokie linebacker.
However, Peak is a bit more of pure linebacker at this point where as Adibi was just insanely athletic and used that to make a lot of his plays. Peak will need to commit to the strength and conditioning program during his redshirt season, but a few doors may open once he is able to see the field.
The Hokies will have two juniors and two sophomores at the Mike and Backer positions, which is where Peak is slotted to play at the collegiate level. However, Coach Foster does like rotating players, keeping the starters fresh for the fourth quarter. Its obvious that Peak will probably not earn a starting job until his upperclassman years but with his talent, it will be hard for the coaching staff to keep him off the field for very long.
De’Antre Rhodes
Position: Defensive Tackle
School: Hargrave Military Academy
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 280 lbs
40 Time: 4.95 seconds
Experts Take:
Analysis
De’Antre Rhodes is the 2nd player in this class that had to spend a semester at a Prep school instead of enrolling last summer. However, Rhodes received some bad news a few weeks ago stating that the math course he took at Hargrave is no longer accepted as a core credit class by the NCAA. But, with that being said, Rhodes has a semester now to improve his overall SAT or ACT test scores and make it to Virginia Tech.
I’m a little disappointed that Rhodes couldn’t make it to Blacksburg this spring because I have him penciled in as the fourth defensive tackle ahead of Dwight Tucker for the spring. But with him now on pace to enroll in the first summer session, Rhodes will probably redshirt his first season on campus as long as another one of the defensive tackles steps up.
De’Antre is your prototypical tackle in the way he moves to the ball. He’s definitely more of a run stuffer at this point, but he has the speed to become more of a pass rush threat as his career goes on. He really reminds me of Jonathan Lewis, who was a huge part of our defensive line just a few years ago.
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