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. 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). The Hokies like the new additions on the offensive line, wide receiver and the defensive backfield. He and Drones struck up a fast relationship during their visit, and both committed. 197, QB / 6-1 / Ultimately, it wasnt enough. New Virginia Tech football offer: Deuce Walker. What Is Virginia Tech Getting In Kyron Drones? But now we got a third guy in the mix. There is still work to do in Northern Virginia and the 757, but Pry and his staff are off to a terrific start. Bodie Kahoun recently picked up an offer from Virginia Tech, and the Roanoke native will be in Blacksburg tonight. Teams; CBS Sports; CBS SPORTS HQ; SportsLine; MaxPreps; Shop; . READ MORE, Despite being a UVA legacy, Grant Karczewski will walk-on at Virginia Tech after specific advice from his parents. Hes the first tight end/H-back in the class after Tech took three last year DaeQuan Wright, Harrison Saint Germain and Gosnell. In order to create the most comprehensive Team Recruiting Ranking without any notion of bias, 247Sports Team Recruiting Ranking is solely based on the 247Sports Composite Rating. Chance Fitzgerald and Ayden Greene were late additions as the Hokies had to beat out some good programs to land both. (On3 ranks him 33rd, bringing down his average.). It wouldnt be easy after Justin Fuente ignored the state for years. 8 Virginia Tech Wrestling Travels To Raleigh For ACC Tournament By: Jack Brizendine | March 2, 2023 Let's take a closer look at who visited. READ MORE, Alex Taylor has made multiple trips to Virginia Tech, and recently included the Hokies in his top seven schools. Zeke Wimbush, a versatile tight end who committed out of Stone Bridge High in Ashburn earlier this week, plans to enroll this summer but will likely not immediately be on scholarship. Caleb Woodson is another who had interest from others. The last Tech signee ranked that high came in 2019 when wide receiver Jaden Payoute was a consensus top-five recruit in the state and fellow receiver Tayvion Robinson cracked the top five on Rivals. Cotman was the latest defensive player the Hokies snagged. (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.). It helps when you can go to an area and theres a young man youre interested in that youre getting to know, Pry said. "We do have time to schedule meetings, involve parents or families or coaches, if we need to, on young men considering forgoing their senior year to go to the NFL, guys considering going to the transfer portal, or guys you potentially want to help them get somewhere where they've got a better chance to play and be successful. My background is man coverage, man-press coverage, aggressive., cornerbacks coach Derek Jones said. Since the conclusion of the 2022 season, Conner has participated in the 2023 Reese's Senior Bowland has prepared himself for the NFL Combine. ACC Championship. 6-5 / -, S / 6-4 / 0.8478. Virginia Tech's 2023 National Signing Day class ranks as the sixth best in the ACC according to 247Sports Composite and Rivals. By Bryan D. Manning @BryanDManning. READ MORE, TechSideline.Com Johnson had other options before committing to Virginia Tech but chose the Hokies. Watsons size was a detriment to some, but turn on the film, and you see an electric runner with a strong arm. 231-4132. Copeland is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound from Appomattox. The first order of business at the combine was the measurement portion, on Friday morning, where the Virginia Tech defensive back verified his frame. If allowed to develop for two years, Watson could be a terrific college quarterback. Visit our message boards:TSL Recruiting Board (TSL Pass)TSL Football Board. Again, its about being transparent and open and honest and having conversations ahead of time. 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. . The Hokies wanted to add talent to the wide receiver position, and they certainly did. 233, Edge / 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. 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. FB Recruiting Six players I am most excited to see during spring ball for Virginia Tech VIP Evan G. Watkins FB Recruiting Top target Keylen Adams returns to Virginia Tech VIP Evan G.. NC State. Virginia Tech missed out on some key in-state linebacker prospects. Football Coaches - Virginia Tech Athletics 305, / Varner is a 6-foot-2, 280-pound first-team All-AAC pick from Temple, where he had 7.5 sacks last year. What we sold them on is, we dont necessarily recruit just corners and safeties. Varner has been dealing with a foot injury, but if healthy, he will be Virginia Techs best pass rusher immediately. Virginia Tech football: Hokies hosting a big recruit this weekend Pennix is another local standout from Appomattox. Virginia Tech is hopeful to get defensive tackle Norell Pollard back too, though nothings been finalized on that front. All four have legit size and Ghannam could play early in his career. The good thing about that position is they have the same qualities, Mines said. 6-1 / 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. Im not going to say there wasnt concerns and there wasnt conversations that had to be had, but most times you can work through those things, and were able to do that with those guys. 788 37 8. 0.8786. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Drones was Techs top transfer quarterback target. Find the latest updates on Virginia Tech's roster below. Will these recent good fortunes pay off down the line? If Joe Rudolph picks them, you should like them, too. 6-5 / Football Nov 11 TBA. Brandon Patterson breaks down that game. 210, DL / 237, WR / 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. The 247Sports' NCAA Transfer Portal Database can be found here, Cornerback DJ Harvey announced he plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal 11/28, Defensive end Mattheus Carroll announced he plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/2, Defensive end Lakeem Rudolph announced he plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/4, Defensive tackle Desmond Mamudi announced he plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/4, Cornerback Armani Chatman has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Wide Receiver Kaleb Smith has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Walk-on long snapper Enzo Anthony has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Linebacker Keshon Artis has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Walk-on wide receiver Tink Boyd has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Walk-on wide receiver Will Kakavitsashas entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Quarterback Jason Brown has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Walk-onlinebacker Tyler Matheny has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/5, Defensive End Eli Adams has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal - 12/6, Safety Nasir Peoplesannounced he will return for the 2023 season. And certain areas are listening, as it seems Prys early work is already paying off in Richmond. This is a guy whos going to bring a different demeanor from what we have, Mines said. The Hokies picked up defensive end Darian Varner, formerly of Temple, who has multiple years of eligibility remaining. Note: We are told that Ezekiel Wimbush, previously listed as a commitment, is currently preferred walk-on status. One concern for the Hokies is they didnt do enough on the defensive line. (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. 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. Drones immediately enters the battle for the starting spot, with Wittke, an early commitment from a powerhouse Georgia program in Buford, and Watson, a scintillating late addition out of Massachusetts who flipped from Nebraska earlier this month, getting into the developmental pipeline. 205, RB / These guys were recruiting, thats an important trait that were always looking for.. Theres 80-20 in my room. Thanks for the effort, fellas! And I think he has a chip on his shoulder. Dec 20, 2022 31 BLACKSBURG, Va. So this is what recruiting momentum feels like? Welcome to Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Signing Day Central for the Class of 2023. Projecting the depth chart By Andy Bitter Jan 4, 2023 38 BLACKSBURG, Va. New year, new roster and an evolving one at that. 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. 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. 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. Liz Kitleys 53rd double-double, matched by Taylor Soules double-double, and G sinks 5 Threes! Related: Virginia Tech DB Chamarri Conner receives a pre-Combine draft score. Who starts at QB for Virginia Tech in 2023? Projecting the depth chart 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. Lets break down Techs high-school class by position: Watson was a late flip and has a chance to be Virginia Techs successor to Drones if things go according to plan. Obviously, we think our guys can continue to develop, the young guys in our program. 180, QB / Virginia Tech Football Class of 2023 Signing Day Central Will Virginia Tech Soon Break Through In Ohio? READ MORE, Kyron Drones is a quarterback transfer from Baylor who got meaningful snaps in one game for the Bears. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Conners size and versatility could buy him time on a roster, but he might need to keep fighting for his spot. PUBLISHER. The 6-foot 202-pound play-maker has played safety, nickel and cornerback in his Virginia Tech career. 1 player in the state in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports' in-house rankings. And those guys are going to know each other from tournaments and playing one another and growing up in Pee Wee ball and different things. READ MORE, Virginia Tech recently became the fifth program to offer Kentucky wideout receiver Montavin Quisenberry, who has yet to take a visit. Pry said Tech has three or four spots its looking to bolster. Here are a few more thoughts on the class as things come to a conclusion: The latest addition Monday night was tight end Zeke Wimbush, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound three-star prospect from Stone Bridge High in Ashburn who decommitted from Charlotte on Sunday, just days after receiving a Hokies offer. 6-3 / Virginia Tech Football Transfer Tracker: Winter 2022-2023 By VTScoop247 Jan 13, 5:00 PM 207 Virginia Tech Head Coach Brent Pry expects roster turnover this offseason as he attempts to. Virginia Tech Football Recruiting - Gobbler Country READ MORE That means the Hokies need to have another wave of attrition at some point, be it when the new semester starts in January or later once spring ball concludes and a second transfer window opens up, just to get to the 85 max number. Signed. 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. Odds & lines subject to change. 6-6.5 / 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. You can win those jump balls, 80-20, is what I call it. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. All-New 24/7 Sports News Network: Stream Now! This guys going to make Grant better. Payoute barely played before taking a medical retirement in March, while Robinson was a 2 1/2-year starter at receiver and punt return star before transferring to Kentucky last year. All original material and images are copyrighted by TechSideline.com and may not be reused or reprinted without permission. The 2018 class is probably the last one with a strong finish that paid dividends on the field, with the Hokies landing future NFL tight end James Mitchell before the early signing period that December and coveted linebacker Dax Hollifield in February to punctuate a class ranked 22nd nationally, back before the wheels fell off during Justin Fuentes tenure. Virginia Tech has offered Salisbury (N.C.) 2024 cornerback Deuce Walker. Braylon Johnson is the son of Highland Springs head coach and former Virginia Tech cornerback Loren Johnson. I thought it was tough when we got Jason (Brown) and Grant last year at the same time. 230, CB / The Hokies now have six confirmed seniors who are taking advantage of their additional year of eligibility from the COVID-19 season. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. OT / The Hokies did plenty of work in Tennessee in this class, an area that Tech hasnt tapped into all that much in recent years, getting four signees from the Volunteer State. 10 ranked all-time Virginia Tech Hokie in career tackles. You can access the playlist below, beginning with Dante Lovetts video, and stepping through all 25 videos. Virginia Tech added Baylor transfer QB Kyron Drones. Virginia Tech Hokies Football Recruiting News | On3.com 150. Hes the No. ", Chamarri Conner Interview on Coverage, Favorite Position, Why he plays Football, Chammari Conner says he met with the Dallas Cowboys, Tuesday, February 28 - Registration, Pre-Exam, Orientation, Team Interviews, Wednesday, March 1 - General Medical Exam, Pre-ordered Studies, Team Interviews, Thursday, March 2 - Orthopedic Examination, Media Interviews, NFLPA Meeting, Team Interviews, Friday, March 3 - Measurements, On-field workout, Saturday, March 4 - Bench Press, Broadcast Interviews, Depart Indianapolis. 623 55 9. 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. He is from Maury High School in Norfolk alma mater of Virginia Tech legend Kam Chancellor. 190, DL / 2023 Virginia Tech Athletics - All Rights Reserved. 6-2 / But for now, Techs riding some good waves heading into the early signing period that begins Wednesday. Felton is a big-play guy who, along with Jennings, gives the Hokies two quality veterans to line up outside in 2023. We recruit defensive backs. Try a week on us. Enjoy! Several schools out there went hard after a few Hokies commitments. 190, LB / Though both are 6-foot-2, joining the 6-5 Felton, getting bigger wasnt necessarily a primary objective of the Hokies coaches. 5-11 / Though none is ranked better than a three-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite, all four are 652nd or higher nationally, boosting what had been a solid but not spectacular class in the final month, with the Hokies now up to 34th in the national team rankings and sixth in the ACC. Hes a twitchy guy, and particularly when he gets closer to the football, he was a problem for people.. READ MORE, Within 10 minutes, 4-star linebacker Gabriel Williams had received a text message from nearly every member of Virginia Techs coaching staff. 5-10 / - / 5-10 / However, Aycen Stevens is a name to know. StubHub Ticket Marketplace, AAA Travel Center & Info, English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park Fan Guide, ACCN ACC Network, Video Library presented by COX, Virginia Tech Sports Network Radio Affiliates, Sport Psychology/Counseling and Athletic Mental Performance, Student-Athlete Academic Support Services, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Tech landed Kyron Drones on the transfer market, a former four-star QB who spent the past two seasons with Baylor. Lord Botetourt Contingent Makes The Trip - 12/6, Pheldarius Payne - Defensive End (per Andy Bitter), Mario Kendricks - Defensive Tackle (per Andy Bitter), Jalen Holston Running Back (No NCAA eligibility remaining), Jaylen Griffin - Defensive End (No NCAA eligibility remaining), Silas Dzansi - Offensive Line (No NCAA eligibility remaining), Ali Jennings - Wide Receiver - Old Dominion, Griffin Armstrong - Long Snapper - Louisiana Tech* Walk-on, Quan Felton - Wide Receiver - Norfolk State, Jaylin Lane - Wide Receiver - Middle Tennessee State, Derrick Canteen - Cornerback - Georgia Southern, Bhayshul Tuten - Running Back - North Carolina A&T. 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. 12/19/2022. Email Address. Welcome to Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Signing Day Central for the Class of 2022. 6-4 / Baylor is from Radford, and his combination of size and speed is exciting. After a showy signing day ceremony, the hay is in the barn now, with Pry finalizing his first full class with the Hokies, a group that ranks 35th in the 247Sports Composite and sixth in the ACC, not far from Virginia Techs historical norm. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. And for some of those players, Pry either flipped from other schools or beat some good competition to land those signatures. In addition to Drones, the Hokies signed two high school quarterbacks, bringing Dylan Wittke and Pop Watson into the fold. 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. On Saturday, Conner will complete the drill portion of the NFL Combine with the Bench Press before departing Indianapolis. Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Virginia Tech football: Hokies land 4-star JUCO pass-rusher James Jennette Jennette is a promising edge rusher. He had 729 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, 840 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns and 17 catches for 338 yards and three touchdowns, showing plenty of athletic chops for someone his size. I also wouldnt be shocked if Pry looks for a defensive tackle via the transfer portal. Conner has played in 61 games, starting every game over the last four seasons. They worked late to flip a couple of players who committed elsewhere and came close. Really high football IQ, great wheels and can spin it. 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. Virginia Tech 2023 Football Commits - 247Sports Competition at quarterback. He offers consistency, Mines said. I had him in an all-star game or I coached him at camp or I went to college with his mom and dad. Those are the relationships that are meaningful, when you can get as much information about a guy to make sure youre taking the right kid, that youre doing the right thing.. 6-2 / 6-0 / 282, RB / 2022 Virginia Tech Football Commitment List Total Commitments 24 By Tim Weaver | February 27, 2023 1:37 pm ET. 6-6 / We needed somebody to come in here and compete with Grant (Wells). Coney could also play linebacker, but it sounds like the plan is to stick in the backfield. NA 135 140. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 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). Since the end of the season, seven of the eight commitments the Hokies have gotten either from the transfer portal or the high school ranks have been on offense, which makes sense, given Techs struggles on that side of the ball last season. Both look like future starters at cornerback for the Hokies. 6-2 / Virginia Tech football recruiting: Hokies land another offensive line 6-0 / Later on Friday afternoon at 3 P.M., Conner will participate in the Defensive Back drills.