The 2010 class was kind to the Hokies as Tech found two very talented quarterbacks in Ricardo Young and Mark Leal. Young enrolled early this year and was able to take a few snaps in the Spring game, showing off his athleticism and arm strength on a couple of passing attempts. Leal will enroll this July and will redshirt this fall, leaving his debut for next spring.
Even with the current depth at the quarterback position, the Tech coaching staff is set on finding at least one true quarterback in this class with the possibility of bringing in a jumbo athlete who could also play quarterback down the road. Since we did bring in two QB’s last year, I’m a little shocked that the coaches are trying to find two more in this class.
Although when you look at the depth chart, it does make sense to bring in as many bodies to compete and let the best emerge from the group. The Hokies had Sean Glennon, Greg Boone, and Ike Whitaker at quarterback at one point only to move Boone to tight end and Whitaker to wide receiver. We all know how that worked out but in this day and time, you can never have too many good quarterbacks.
This 2011 class will enroll after this season, meaning that everybody on this chart will gain a year of eligibility before anybody in 2011 even steps onto campus. This means that when you’re recruiting a quarterback for this class, you’re not recruiting them to replace Tyrod Taylor; instead you’re recruiting them to replace the next quarterback. In this case, it would be either JuJu Clayton or Logan Thomas.
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This means that the Hokies have the opportunity to find a quarterback or two that they can develop over the length of about three years before unleashing him. Although getting a commit from Christian LeMay would have been nice, there was no reason for Tech to pursue that type of quarterback since it would take him three years before he could see the field as a starter.
With that being said, the Hokies are eying about four players to fill potentially two spots. We will now examine those players and see what they bring to the table.
Marquise Williams – Mallard Creak High School – Charlotte, NC
Perhaps the highest ranked quarterback the Hokies are pursuing this year is Marquise Williams out of Charlotte, NC. Williams is a bulky player, measuring in at 6’3” and 220 pounds at the end of last season. What sets him apart from the rest is his running ability. Mallard Creek’s offense revolves around Williams either running the ball himself or throwing it down field.
Marquise Williams
I have Williams third on my quarterback wish list, mainly because I have a few concerns. I think Charlotte product is a great athlete but his throwing motion and mechanics need some work. He tends to push the ball rather than letting his natural arm motion do the work, this also causes him to loose a little bit of accuracy on his passes. Also, Mallard Creek runs more of a spread option attack meaning that Williams has very little knowledge of how to break down an opposing defense.
The good news is that the Hokies don’t need somebody to step in and play right away. Williams could come to Tech; sit behind Logan Thomas for three years then battle with Young and Leal after his redshirt sophomore season for the starting job. If Williams can sure up his mechanics and learn some of the nuances needed in college football, then he could easily be the best quarterback on this list.
Williams is set to decide at the end of June between Michigan, UNC, and Virginia Tech. Sources indicate that the Hokies have a good shot but with UNC and Michigan both getting visits after his last Blacksburg trip, it does limit the Hokies chances in this one. At this point I’m not going to admit that the Hokies are out of the race but unless he visits Blacksburg again before he decides, I think he is either UNC or Michigan bound.
Lafante Thourogood – Ocean Lakes High School – Virginia Beach, VA
Ocean Lakes has become a hotbed of talent in recent years and so far the Hokies have been the primary team to beat for most of the recruits who have graduated from that school. Thourogood fits into that “Jumbo-Athlete” category I talked about at the beginning of the article. Although he wants to start out at quarterback, LT could play a few different positions including tight end or wide receiver in college.
Lafante Thourogood
The good news is that Thourogood does have the ability to be a quarterback in college but he too will need some time to develop and learn how to play the position. At the Nike combine in Blacksburg, Thourogood showed a strong arm and a little bit better mechanics than Williams. He also has the size that one would want in a quarterback. LT is about 6’3” and weighs in at 224 pounds but is a little skinnier than Williams if you compared the two.
By looking at his recruitment, I think this will be a West Virginia and Virginia Tech battle up until he commits later on this summer. There is a possibility that he could take his official visits but that appears unlikely at this point. If Williams does commit elsewhere then I would expect the Hokies to begin focusing on LT and David Watford, who is up next.
David Watford – Hampton High School – Hampton, VA
The last two division one prospects to come out of Hampton High School (Tyrod Taylor, Tyrel Wilson) have both committed to Virginia Tech. Odds are Watford will continue that Hokie pipeline. David is a tad undersized at 6-foot and 190 pounds but is very similar to Tyrod at this stage in his development. Obviously, Watford isn’t quite as talented but he does have good mechanics and a strong arm.
David Watford
The Hampton signal caller holds three offers at this point from UVA, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia. With a late summer, early fall decision likely for Watford; I would expect the Hokies to be the team to beat. However, with no visits planned, I could see Watford holding off until either the middle or even after his senior year before he commits anywhere.
Off all of these quarterbacks, I don’t think the Hokies coaches will choose which ones to take. The first two on board will be the first two they take. With Williams you would be getting a Jamarcus Russell type who is built to sustain the big hits. Thourogood brings a little bit better balance from a running and passing standpoint. Then, Watford brings the best mechanics and is perhaps the most college ready of these three players.
Tech will look to add two more in this class and with Leal and Young already on campus, the future looks bright at the quarterback position.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Who will be the next recruit to commit to the Hokies? Where do we stand with Landon Turner, Kiaro Holts, Demetrious Nicholson, Corey Marshall, Damian Swann, Mack Crowder, and Dominique Terrell? Which of the linebackers do you think will end up in Blacksburg when it is all said? Lastly, are we close to landing any 2012 commits? Sorry about the long question, i check your blog and hokiehaven and I am dieing to find out.
Holts is deciding at the end of June and most feel like its down to VT and Florida, with maybe UNC in the picture. He’s been to VT 3 times and the other schools once, I like VT’s chances. He’s very lowkey though, so who knows. Turner is pretty open still but he should decide before the summer is out, I like VT there also but we’re battling OSU, WVU, and UNC. Marshall is deciding very soon and it should be for VT. Swann isn’t a VT target anymore. Crowder is a bit of an unknown at this point, he seems like a distant plan B if Tuner and Holts don’t work out. Terrell is going to take his time and he seems like he is a ways away from deciding. I would expect a December decision from him. The next to commit to Virginia should come this week, stay tuned.