ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hopewell DE Darrell Taylor
Hopewell (VA) senior defensive end Darrell Taylor will announce his college choice this evening at halftime of the Blue Devils' homecoming contest against Thomas Dale. Kickoff is 7:30 pm, so the announcement should come around 8:30 or so. TSL will be on hand for the decision.
Once considered the favorite for the 6'4", 227-pound prospect, there are rumblings on Virginia Tech's 247Sports site that Taylor may be headed out-of-state. Blue Devils head coach Ricky Irby indicated earlier this month that his standout athlete was down to Florida, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech. He has not visited Florida or South Carolina, though, and in fact cancelled a scheduled trip to Gainesville earlier this month.
Stay tuned to TSL this evening to learn where Taylor commits (I'll post the decision on the TSL Pass Recruiting Board when he makes it) and what his plans are from here (if he will visit other schools or shut down his recruitment).
Nash Central (Rocky Mount, N.C.) DE Houshun Gaines
As of now, Gaines is planning to announce his college choice next Friday, October 3; however, according to this report from the Rocky Mount Telegram, the talented senior may wait to commit.
Tech defensive line coach Charley Wiles is expected to watch Nash Central's game this evening. Gaines plans to head to NC State this weekend for an unofficial. At this point, with Florida perhaps backing off, Gaines' decision could well come down to the Hokies and Wolfpack. UNC could be a wildcard if Gaines holds off on a decision, but as of now the Tar Heels have not offered.
WEEKEND NEWS & NOTES
- As of now, the only uncommitted official visitor we have confirmed will be in Blacksburg this weekend is 4-star defensive tackle Tim Settle. Virginia Tech will be the first official visit destination for the 6'3", 310-pound senior, a product of Stonewall Jackson High School (Manassas, VA).
Settle likely will take all five official visits before committing. He plans on announcing his decision on December 20 and Virginia Tech definitely has a shot, as evidenced by the fact that he is taking an official. His friend and former Stonewall Jackson teammate, Greg Stroman, should be a prominent figure this weekend.
- Hokie fans are anxiously awaiting news on the offensive line recruiting front. Yesterday, Virginia Tech apparently extended a scholarship offer to 6'7", 300-pound offensive lineman Frederick Johnson, a senior out of Royal Palm Beach (FL). Johnson announced the news on Twitter.
I got offered by the university of Virginia Tech yesterday.. #GoHokies #Blessed pic.twitter.com/sob9h1rvPZ
— Fredrick Johnson (@Climax_14) September 25, 2014
I hope to catch up with Johnson for more on his recruitment as soon as possible.
- Buzz Williams and the Tech men's basketball program are hosting some important visitors this weekend. Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, VA) senior shooting guard/small forward Chris Clarke will be in Blacksburg on an official visit. He has visited U-Conn and Creighton in recent weeks and also plans to trek to Tennessee next weekend.
Corey Evans of HoopsIntel.com and NY2LA tweeted that Tech will also receive a visit from 4-star Orlando (FL) Evans power forward Kerry Blackshear. Vanderbilt is among the other programs vying for the talented senior's signature.
Also, Matt Coleman, a top class of 2017 point guard target out of Maury High School (Norfolk, VA), will be at Tech tomorrow on an unofficial visit. Tech is among the early offers for Coleman, who also has been offered scholarships by Virginia, U-Conn, Memphis and others.
TREVON HILL, ACE RECRUITER?
Salem (Virginia Beach, VA) senior defensive end Trevon Hill hasn't been shy about trying to help Virginia Tech's coaches score some top commits. The 6'4", 220-pound prospect admits he doesn't want to push too hard, but he is certainly active on the recruiting front and seems to enjoy it. Might he be a coach in the making?
“I told Coach (Cornell) Brown they were going to have to start paying me, especially if I get a couple of 5-star commitments,” Hill said with a laugh. “It’s not always about me. It’s about the team doing something great. The offense is doing pretty well, but the defense is struggling some this year. That wasn’t the case before. You have to click on all cylinders. I want to get guys to come and compete on the team.”
Five-star prospects on Hill's wish list include senior defensive end Josh Sweat, senior cornerback Kevin Toliver II and senior defensive end Jalen Dalton. I asked Hill for his feeling on those three recruits plus senior linebacker Victor Alexander, a teammate of Toliver's at Trinity Christian (Jacksonville, FL).
Sweat had planned to take an official visit to Virginia Tech last weekend, but a serious knee injury last Friday night prevented him from following through with those plans. Toliver (official visit), Alexander (official visit) and Dalton (unofficial) were all in Blacksburg last Saturday. As was Hill, who took his official visit.
“I really don’t know, but when I went to see him I knew he really wanted to go [on an official visit to Virginia Tech last weekend],” Hill said. “He was telling his mom to go. I really think we have a good shot at getting him. Time will tell.”
Kevin Toliver II and Victor Alexander
“I honestly talked to Vic more than Toliver, but Toliver really liked it, too,” Hill said. “Vic liked it but didn’t give too many details. I didn’t even know he had committed to UCLA. From what he told me, he was feeling the atmosphere. I think he wants to take a few more official visits. Definitely one to UCLA. I just told him it’s a long way from Florida to California.”
Jalen Dalton
“Actually, me and him also went to UNC’s Freak Show,” Hill said. “He was talking about Tech down there. I think we have a pretty good shot. I asked him what was going to make up his mind. He said he didn’t know.”
Trevon, who chose Tech over UNC, reflected on why he committed to the Hokies.
“They were the only school that had four people recruiting me. That showed me they cared,” Hill said. “And Coach Beamer was the only head coach to come to one of my games.”
Hill enjoyed last weekend's official visit experience.
“It’s definitely way different than a regular visit,” said Hill, whose hosts included former Salem teammates Bucky Hodges and Andrew Motuapuaka. “Of course, the school pays for everything. When I got to the hotel, I really couldn’t speak because the whole layout was crazy. They had a cookie cake with my number on it. Going to tailgates right before the game, people knowing who I am, was just crazy. Then the food was ridiculous. I’ve never had lobster before.
“Just being around the campus and around the student body and being a part of the football team, it was great.”