The May Evaluation period was the most intense recruiting period during the year back in the 1970’s and 1980’s. However, since the debut of Rivals and Scout, the recruiting process has been sped up. Most kids commit well before their senior years and that has caused the majority of coaching staffs to adjust to how they go about offering a certain recruit.
Currently, the Hokies have offered 39 players this season, with two already committed. With only 11 scholarship seniors on roster heading into the 2010 season, the coaching staff has been dealt a bit of a raw hand. With London looking to make a charge at UVA, the Tech coaching staff has been forced to back off a few recruits just because they have higher priorities still on the board.
When you have a smaller recruiting class, as a coach you have to focus on filling a position of need more so than brining in the best player that’s not at a position of need. It’s amazing how many coaches will still recruit four and five star running backs and wide receivers even when their offensive and defensive lines are the issue that is holding the program back.
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Below we will examine the quarterback, defensive tackle, linebacker, and offensive line positions and whom the coaches are recruiting to fill the holes that will be left by this year’s senior class.
Quarterback
I find it odd that the coaches are trying to take two more quarterbacks after landing both Mark Leal and Ricardo Young in 2009. However, as valuable as quarterbacks are in today’s game, taking two or so every year may not be such a bad idea. Currently, Tech has offered three QB’s in this 2011 class including Lafante Thourogood, David Watford, and Marquise Williams.
Thourogood hails out of Ocean Lakes High School and is probably the most likely to become a Hokie at this point. Thourogood maintains that West Virginia and Virginia Tech are his top two but it appears that the Hokies are still the team to beat. Lafante has stated that he wants the opportunity to be a quarterback in college and he will get the chance at Virginia Tech, however if that doesn’t work out he is the best candidate to possibly move to tight end or wide receiver.
Watford and Williams are two very intriguing prospects albeit very different from one another. Williams is a bulky 6’3 and 220 pounds. He has a great arm although he is lacking in the accuracy and mechanics department. Although he is a great runner, he doesn’t have the lateral moves that Tyrod or Randall had at Virginia Tech. Watford has solid mechanics, a little less powerful of an arm, but has the scrambling skills similar to Ricardo Young who enrolled in January. Needless to say, I think Virginia Tech fans should be happy getting any one of these players.
Defensive Tackle
The Hokies have already received a commitment from Warren Central star Kris Harley. With only one scholarship left at this position, I would imagine the coaches have already narrowed their search. Corey Marshall out of Dinwiddie, Virginia seems to be the primary candidate to join Harley on the defensive line in this class. Marshall has stated that Virginia Tech is his leader and should be set to announce his decision after his visit to Michigan in late May. As of now, Marshall is really the only other defensive tackle the Hokies are pursuing. That alone must tell you something.
Linebacker
Who the Hokies end up with at Linebacker will drastically enhance or diminish the grade of this recruiting class. Curtis Grant is on pace to be the state of Virginia’s only five star prospect and could end up being the number one linebacker in the entire country. Grant has remained tight-lipped on his favorites and will carry on his recruitment until the end of his senior year in order to help some of his teammates get recruited. However, some say that the Hokies are the team to beat in this race and if that is true, Bud Foster could get his first ever five star recruit to play on his defense (Macho doesn’t count seeing that he was recruited as an athlete).
There are plenty of other linebackers in the area if something does go awry. Stephone Anthony listed Virginia Tech as his leader last month but has since downgraded the Hokies to number two behind Florida. Anthony still loves Virginia Tech but this could end up being a battle down till the end. Travis Hughes is another linebacker in-state that is considering his options still. Most analysts claim that he is really down to Maryland (where his brother plays) and Virginia Tech. If Tech can land both Grant and Hughes, I’m sure many Hokies would instantly compare them to Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi who entered in the same 2004 class.
Offensive Line
Landon Turner out of Harrisonburg, Virginia is number one on the Hokies recruiting board, as far as the offensive line goes. Turner is a massive prospect who has the potential to be a three or four year starter for whoever he chooses this year. Right now it appears to be a UNC, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia battle for the future four-star prospect.
After Turner, the offer list gets a little murky. Mack Crowder is a solid prospect and claims to have a Virginia Tech offer but pulling a player out of Tennessee is nearly impossible to do. Donoven Smith out of Maryland is a nice looking recruit but he hasn’t given Virginia Tech very much interest yet. Kiaro Holts, Kris Harley’s teammate at Warren Central, likes Virginia Tech but most feel that he will end up at Florida.
At this point, I wouldn’t be too surprised to see an offensive lineman or two leave Virginia Tech’s June camp with an offer.
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