2020 Recruiting Thread

[eagletx]

A bit off topic, but VaT problems seem to continue from last year; Athletic rates them second most disappointing class in the nation:

2. Virginia Tech

Ranking in 2020: No. 71 overall, No. 14 in ACC, .8498 average player rating
Previous 5 years:
• 2019: No. 26 overall, No. 3 ACC, .8739 average player rating
• 2018: No. 24 overall, No. 5 ACC, .8746
• 2017: No. 26 overall, No. 4 ACC, .8613
• 2016: No. 42 overall, No. 8 ACC, .8485
• 2015: No. 29 overall, No. 5 ACC, .8635
Average national ranking from previous 5 years: No. 29
Realistic expectation: Top 25 classes every year

The reasoning: There are 65 Power 5 teams in college football — and Virginia Tech signed the No. 71 class. By ranking alone, it should be clear why the Hokies find themselves on this list. Yes, Virginia Tech is just a year removed from a losing season. Yes, iconic defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s retirement was preceded by a year-long discussion of how long he would coach. And, yes, Virginia Tech had a small senior class and it only signed 15 players.

But No. 71? Really?

Virginia Tech is a solid program in a conference that is weak outside of Clemson. But this class is one of the worst Power 5 classes in recent memory.

Virginia Tech didn’t sign a top-20 player out of Washington D.C., Maryland or Virginia. The highest-rated player the Hokies signed out of their state (heck, the only player out of their state) is three-star receiver Lakeem Rudolph of Virginia Beach Green Run, who ranks No. 21 in Virginia. Among the schools signing higher-ranked in-state players: Kentucky, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Indiana and … Old Dominion.

In the recruiting classes from 2016-19, Virginia Tech signed 28 total players from either the DMV area or the Tidewater, which are the two most talent-rich areas in their natural recruiting footprint; that’s seven players per class. In 2020, the Hokies signed three: two from the DMV and one from the Tidewater.

At the least, Virginia Tech must do better in Virginia. From 2003-05, Virginia Tech signed 10 of the state’s top 15 players. But in the 15 years since, the Hokies have signed just 12 top-five players in Virginia. That’s less than one top-five player a year — from their backyard. Recruiting is about geography, and the Hokies failed miserably in 2020.

Virginia Tech replaced three assistants and hired former Hokies All-American Darryl Tapp, a native of Portsmouth, Va., as a defensive assistant. He’ll try to help Virginia Tech get back to keeping top talent at home. Virginia Tech has a bigger brand than any program in the DMV area; it needs to recruit better.
The class signed by Justin Fuente and Virginia Tech is noteworthy for its lack of top-end in-state talent. And there is good talent in Virginia.

[claver2010]

their coach tob'ing himself out for every open p5 job probably did wonders

[hansen]

I’m guessing UVA becoming a better team recently hasn’t helped their recruiting efforts.

[ATLeagle]

Fuente is an incredible asshole. He has pissed on local coaches and run off a ton of talent. The problem with running off talent is that if you do it too fast or too much, you can 't replace it fast enough with new bodies.

[BC923]

Matthew Taylor, OL from STA in FL is in as a PWO. Had Ivy offers. Not a bad program to build a relationship with.

[eagletx]

I may have missed this elsewhere, but, has the complete final list of commits been published somewhere?

Never mind....found it on BCI.

[BCSUPERFAN22]

Andrew Landry from Newton North committed as a PWO.

Jaden Hardy who allegedly committed then decided to visit Baylor (only to have them not offer or not accept his commitment) is doing a PG year at The USA Academy in Alabama (Kenyatt Watson is associated with them now).