Jay Payton has never made a secret of his affinity for Virginia Tech. Tech's standing with the standout linebacker prospect only strengthened this past weekend, when Payton attended the Hokies' victory over ACC-rival North Carolina.

"Honestly, just the whole atmosphere was great. It was the first college game I've been to," Payton said of his experience in Lane Stadium on Saturday. "Coming out of the tunnel, taking pictures, having people come up and talk to you... it was great. The fans know you by name. It's a good feeling. It was a really good feeling for me because I've never had that kind of attention."