Virginia Tech quarterback Jerod Evans and wide receiver Isaiah Ford have joined tight end/wide receiver Bucky Hodges in declaring for the NFL Draft.
Hodges declared a few days ago, and Evans and Ford joined him today, with an hour of each other. First Ford:https://twitter.com/IAF_1/status/816046896993226755
Then Evans:
https://twitter.com/rodfor6_/status/816056904510308354
Throughout the season, there was plenty of speculation that Ford would declare early. He’s projected to be off the board in the second or third round. He ends his Virginia Tech career as the school’s leading receiver with 210 receptions for 2,967 yards and 24 touchdowns, all three school records.
Nobody thought about Jerod Evans leaving until information came out over the weekend, as first reported by TSL's Ricky LaBlue on Twitter, that he was leaning towards declaring.
https://twitter.com/RickyLaBlue/status/815046834175483904
Evans broke numerous school records this year while completing 63.5% of his passes for 3,546 yards. He threw 29 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions. Evans was also Virginia Tech’s leading rusher, carrying the ball 204 times for 846 yards (that includes losses from sacks) and rushing for 12 touchdowns.
With the loss of Evans, 2017 quarterback recruit Hendon Hooker is now expected to enroll early in January, as reported by 247Sports.com.
https://twitter.com/VTScoop247/status/816046434780872705?lang=en
Hooker is listed by MaxPreps.com with 28 touchdown passes (with just 5 interceptions) and 27 rushing touchdowns as a senior this past season.
Hooker and redshirt-freshman Josh Jackson are currently the only scholarship quarterbacks scheduled to be on the roster in 2017. However, Virginia Tech has been linked with Notre Dame graduate transfer Malik Zaire, and you can bet that Justin Fuente and Brad Cornelsen will bring in at least one more quarterback to add to the competition.
One earlier report indicated that cornerback Brandon Facyson was also considering entering the draft, though Facyson has made no announcement.