Here is the latest edition of Countdown to Signing Day, an overall look into Virginia Tech's 2007 football recruiting class. In the weekly check of where the Hokies are in relation to the rest of the nation, Virginia Tech's class is rated in the top 20 nationally by Rivals.com (#20) and Scout.com (#16). Take a look at who the Hokies are targeting with the few remaining scholarship spots as well as some insight as to the benefit of landing so many commitments last summer.

Signing Day: February 7, 2007
Calendar: Recruiting is currently in the Contact period. November 26th marks the beginning of the Contact period. During this period, coaches can make in-home visits to recruits. Here is the definition per NCAA.org...

Contact period: November 26, 2006, through February 3, 2007.
Six in-person off-campus contacts per prospective student-athlete shall be permitted during this time period with not more than one permitted in any one calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) or partial calendar week.

Exceptions up until Signing Day: February 4th is a Quiet period. February 5-8 is a Dead period.

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Virginia Tech commitments: 21
Breakdown by position:
QB (1): Tyrod Taylor, Hampton (VA)
RB (1): Darren Evans, Warren Central (Indianapolis, IN)
WR (2): Danny Coale, Episcopal (VA); Patrick Terry, Halifax County (VA)
TE (3): Chris Drager, Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson City, PA); Rhett Ellison, St. Francis (Mountain View, CA); Andrew Lanier, Dorman (Roebuck, SC)
TE/OT (1): Greg Nosal, Kellam (Virginia Beach, VA)
OL (4): William Alvarez, Hylton (Woodbridge, VA); Jaymes Brooks, Denbigh (Newport News, VA); Blake DeChristopher, Clover Hill (Midlothian, VA); Khalil Latif, Manchester (Midlothian, VA)
DL (3): Kwamaine Battle, Southern Nash (Bailey, N.C.); Courtney Prince, Gwynn Park (Brandywine, MD); Justin Young, Northwest (Germantown, MD)
LB (3): Quillie Odom, Osbourn Park (Manassas, VA); Hunter Ovens, Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota, FL); Barquell Rivers, Anson County (N.C.)
CB/WR (1): Cris Hill, Highland Springs (VA)
S (1): Davon Morgan, Varina (VA)
ATH (1): Alonzo Tweedy, Hermitage (Richmond, VA)

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Remaining targets with offers:
Breakdown by position:
OL: Maurice Hampton, Phoebus (VA); Desmond Roberts, Northampton (Gaston, N.C.)
DE: Kourtnei Brown, Victory Christian (Charlotte, N.C.); Michael Connolly, Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota, FL) (note: Connolly currently only has an offer to walk-on and have a scholarship by his second year)
DT: Chima Okoli, Salem (Virginia Beach, VA); Tydreke Powell, Hertford County (Ahoskie, N.C.)

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Recent news and notes...

You'll notice that Garner (N.C.) RB Josh Oglesby and Lincoln County (Lincolnton, GA) TE/WR Brandon Barden are no longer on the commitment list. That's because both players have enrolled at Virginia Tech. They can count towards the '06 class or the '07 class, whichever the staff chooses. ... DL Chima Okoli is the only uncommitted prospect scheduled to be in Blacksburg on an official visit this weekend. He is down to Michigan State, Virginia Tech and Penn State (no order). ... Virginia Tech will meet with DE Kourtnei Brown this week to try and persuade him to make an official visit to Blacksburg. He made an official visit to Alabama and has an official visit scheduled to Clemson this weekend. ... Corey Mosley, a talented athlete out of Henrico High School in Richmond, Virginia, verbally committed to UVa on Sunday night.

Targets overview

TARGETS

Michael Connolly - DE; 6-2, 240 pounds; Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota, FL)
Recruitment: Connolly made an official visit to Kansas on the weekend of January 6th. No other official visits have been solidified.
TSL's take: Connolly continues to weigh out his options. I don't think he goes to Kansas based on our interview last week. He liked the visit, but didn't like the distance. He is not high on Virginia Tech's current offer - recruited walk-on who would earn a scholarship his second year - but he remains interested in the Hokies. He seems to be waiting to see if there are other options out there before making a final decision on where he will be next year.

Maurice Hampton - OL/DL; 6-3, 275 pounds; Phoebus (Hampton, VA)
Recruitment: Hampton goes to Maryland this weekend and has set an official visit to Virginia Tech for the weekend of February 2nd.
TSL's take: Hampton still likes Maryland and Virginia Tech as his two favorites. He didn't name any leaders at this point. Hampton does not seem to be a top priority for the Hokies at the moment, but the staff continues to stay in consistent contact.

Desmond Roberts - OL; 6-5, 265 pounds; Northampton (Gaston, N.C.)
Recruitment: Roberts made an official visit to N.C. State last weekend. At this time, he also plans to visit Penn State (01/19), Virginia Tech (01/26) and UNC (02/02).
TSL's take: Roberts had a good visit to N.C. State and reaffirmed his commitment to the Wolfpack, but he has yet to cancel his remaining official visits. He is going to discuss the situation with his mother and will decide this week on whether or not he will make his remaining visits. Obviously, Tech is just trying to hang in there and hoping he makes an official visit to Blacksburg.

Kourtnei Brown - DE; 6-5, 230 pounds; Victory Christian (Charlotte, N.C.)
Recruitment: Brown made an official visit to Alabama last weekend and heads to Clemson this weekend.
TSL's take: At this point, the first step for Virginia Tech is to lock Brown in on an official visit. Right now, Tech seems to be a long shot. Brown reportedly had an excellent visit to Alabama and could be close to firming up his commitment with the Tide. It looks like he will follow through with his visit to Clemson this weekend.

Chima Okoli - DT; 6-5, 270 pounds; Salem (Virginia Beach, VA)
Recruitment: Okoli has taken official visits to Marshall and Michigan State. He goes to Virginia Tech this weekend and has scheduled an official visit to Penn State for next weekend.
TSL's take: Okoli has narrowed his list to three: Michigan State, Penn State and Virginia Tech. He genuinely seems wide open and did not name a favorite, though I do think Penn State and Virginia Tech have the edge assuming neither fills up. Tech is no longer recruiting Okoli as a grey-shirt, which helps. The staff will need to convince Okoli that he will be given a first shot at defensive end. He believes his other finalists are recruiting him as a defensive end, but feels Virginia Tech likes him as a defensive tackle. He wants to play end on the next level. This weekend will be key for the Hokies, so stay tuned on Sunday for the latest.

Tydreke Powell - DT; 6-3, 285 pounds; Hertford County (Ahoskie, N.C.)
Recruitment: In January, Powell has made official visits to East Carolina (01/06) and Clemson (01/13). This weekend, he will head to UNC and plans to go to Virginia Tech next weekend with Penn State scheduled for the first weekend in February.
TSL's take: In last week's CTSD, I stated that Virginia Tech certainly could have a shot should Powell make his scheduled official visit. I stand by that statement, although things got a little tougher for the Hokies when UNC head coach Butch Davis retained coach Ken Browning. Browning is Powell's primary recruiter and has formed an outstanding relationship with the talented defensive tackle. While I do think Virginia Tech has a chance, I continue to believe that UNC will be the ultimate choice.

Commentary

Since August 20, 2006, which is the date Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota, FL) LB Hunter Ovens solidified his commitment to Virginia Tech, recruiting news, as far as Virginia Tech's 2007 class is concerned, has been relatively scarce. Typically, this is the time of year when coaches and fans are eagerly anticipating decisions and wondering just how the current class will shape out. Virginia Tech, however, had most of its class completed by the end of August. Ovens was Virginia Tech's 22nd verbal commitment for the 2007 class and the Hokies, with not much room for more, have only landed one more commitment since -- a big one, from Highland Springs CB/WR Cris Hill.

Virginia Tech's summer run enabled the staff to be choosy with its final 2007 class spots, but it also enabled them to get a jumpstart on the 2008 class.

"The Virginia Tech staff has done a good job of getting through to the junior kids quickly," said Landstown head coach Steve Canter. Landstown S/QB Xavier Boyce already has an offer from the Hokies. "They've been hitting the juniors pretty hard.

"I think those guys were fortunate enough to be able to get through to the juniors because there hasn't been the urgency to see the seniors. They've been able to come through as many times as the rules enable them to."

Virginia Tech is already off to a great start for 2008. Myrtle Beach (S.C.) star LB Bruce Taylor is on board. So are a pair of 2007 class recruits who will head to prep school -- dynamic Patrick Henry (Ashland, VA) RB/DB D.J. Thomas and Sumter (S.C.) ATH Kendrick Pressley.

Among the in-state junior prospects currently holding offers from Virginia Tech are: Boyce; Goochland WR/ATH D.J. Coles; Salem (Va. Beach) LB Lyndell Gibson; St. Anne's-Belfield OL Kyle Long; Maury OL Vinston Painter; Halifax County LB/DE Allen Stephens; Salem (Va. Beach) RB Kevin Whaley; Stonewall Jackson RB Ryan Williams. And there are a number of prospects seemingly very close to receiving offers from the Hokies. Tech is in great shape to land a stellar in-state recruiting haul for 2008 and getting an early start on these kids will certainly help.

There is no doubt that the staff still has a few top targets remaining in the 2007 class, but the staff no doubt is excited about what 2008 holds as well.

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