The "Recruiting Report" is back with the latest scholarship numbers, key dates, and recent developments on the Virginia Tech football recruiting front.

THE NUMBERS

Scholarship Count, 2016 Season

Chris Coleman had an excellent scholarship breakdown of the 2015 season (read it by clicking here). Based off of that report and also including the recent news that class of 2015 defensive tackle recruit Eric Whitehead is headed to junior college, the current projected scholarship count for the 2016 season is 78. Note that this does not include class of 2016 verbal commitments, but it does project place-kicker Joey Slye to be on scholarship and it does include running back Shai McKenzie, who is currently suspended.

Below is a breakdown, by position, of the projected scholarship number in the 2016 season.

- 4 Quarterbacks, including one senior (Brenden Motley)
- 6 Tailbacks, including one senior (Trey Edmunds)
- 2 Fullbacks, each of whom is a senior (Sam Rogers, Jerome Wright)
- 8 Wide Receivers (slotting Coleman Fox here), including two seniors (Joel Caleb, Charley Meyer)
- 5 Tight Ends, including one senior (Dakota Jackson)
- 17 Offensive Linemen, including four seniors (Augie Conte, Jonathan McLaughlin, Alston Smith, Jack Willenbrock)
- 7 Defensive Ends, including one senior (Ken Ekanem)
- 6 Defensive Tackles, including two seniors (Woody Baron, Nigel Williams)
- 5 Linebackers (no seniors)
- 1 Whip Linebacker (no seniors)
- 7 Cornerbacks, including two seniors (Chuck Clark, Kendall Fuller)
- 8 Safeties (Free Safeties/Rovers), including two seniors (Desmond Frye, Der'woun Greene)
- 2 Place-kickers (No seniors)

Here is the projected position breakdown for all nine of Virginia Tech's class of 2016 recruits, who are not included in the breakdown above...

- 2 Wide Receivers (Sam Denmark, Conner ODonnell)
- 1 Offensive Lineman (Thomas Jarrett Hopple)
- 1 Defensive Tackle (Clay Dean)
- 1 Linebacker (Vic Greene)
- 2 Cornerbacks (Troy Pride Jr., Myles Wolfolk)
- 2 Athletes (Reggie Floyd, JoVonn Quillen Jr.)

Including the current scholarship players as well as the verbal commitments, Virginia Tech projects to have 87 players on scholarship in the 2016 season. Each FBS program is allowed only 85 scholarship players. Estimating 10-percent attrition, Virginia Tech would have seven scholarships left available in the class of 2016. Given how fluid recruiting is, though, I'd say Tech will probably end up with 16-20 recruits in the class of 2016.

Remaining Scholarships: Offense

Virginia Tech wants at least one sure-fire quarterback in this class. Tailback is still not a big need in my opinion, unless McKenzie does not return. With possible tailback Reggie Floyd in the fold, don't be surprised if Tech is finished recruiting the position in 2016.

Wide Receiver is definitely a position the staff wants to address. Denmark is in the fold. So is ODonnell, but from what we understand he may not end up at Virginia Tech. There are already conflicting reports on him - Rivals does not list him as a commitment, while 247Sports does. I expect Virginia Tech to try and add two more receivers to the class.

Tight end is looking solid right now, but adding another prospect there would solidify the position even further. On the offensive line, Tech has one prospect in the fold already in Hopple. At least one more offensive line addition is a definite, and two more would be ideal given how uncertain offensive line recruiting can be.

QB, WR, and OL are the positions the Hokies will surely address with the remaining scholarships.

Remaining Scholarships: Defense

Defensively, cornerback has been a clear position of emphasis for Virginia Tech in this class. With Kendall Fuller likely gone after the 2015 season and two seniors set to be on the roster in 2016, you can see why the coaches want to add depth there. Two good ones -- Pride and Wolfolk -- are in the fold, although I think Wolfolk has the potential to play corner or safety. I look for Virginia Tech to take at least two more defensive backs in this class, with one of those being a sure-fire corner.

Aside from the defensive backfield, I definitely see the Hokies adding at least one true defensive end, and likely another defensive tackle considering Whitehead is headed to junior college. Look for at least one more linebacker as well.

KEY DATES

4-star LB Yulee will announce his college choice on June 4
4-star LB Yulee will announce his college choice on June 4

- June 4 - Indian River (Chesapeake, VA) 4-star rising senior linebacker Jaquan Yulee plans to announce his college choice. The finalists include Alabama, Florida State, Michigan State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.

Fellow Indian River linebacker Tavante Beckett, who scored an offer from VT this spring, mentioned that he may commit on June 4th as well. This is not a definite, however, as Beckett expressed his desire to want to explore his options this summer. Wisconsin, ECU, Indiana and Marshall have also offered the productive prospect.

If Beckett does commit soon, Virginia Tech is the clear leader.

- June 5 - In-state offensive lineman Josh Ball revealed that he plans to announce his commitment this coming Friday. The Stafford (VA) rising senior announced this news this weekend, and given the fact that he visited Florida State on Saturday, the Seminoles may be the safe bet.

Ball revealed a top 15 earlier in May. Virginia Tech made the cut, but again it appears Ball will head out-of-state.

- June 13, 14 are one-day camps at Virginia Tech. This could also end up being a significant weekend visit-wise, so stay tuned.

- June 19 - In-state class of 2016 WR Eric Kumah plans to announce his commitment. Virginia Tech is one of the top schools in the running for the Forest Park (Woodbridge, VA) product.

- July 4 - WR Trevon Diggs, one of the top prospects at his position in the nation in the class of 2016, will announce his commitment. He tweeted this news today, adding that he plans to visit Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Miami, Auburn, Virginia Tech and Georgia in June. Click here for his tweet.

Maryland is not listed as one of the June visit destinations for Diggs, but the home-state school is a top contender. Diggs and quarterback Dwayne Haskins have seriously discussed playing for the same school. Last month, Haskins pledged to the Terps.

- July 26 - Virginia Tech has another one-day camp.

- July 29 - DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD) rising senior WR Tino Ellis has stated he will commit on this date. Virginia Tech is a top contender here.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

- As mentioned, Virginia Tech class of 2015 defensive tackle recruit Eric Whitehead will attend Nassau Community College (Garden City, N.Y.) this year. He is expected to be there for two years. The academic status of another defensive tackle, Tim Settle, is also in question. QB Also, Dwayne Lawson has yet to gain admission, but his high school coach is optimistic that he will be in Blacksburg this year.

- Aforementioned wide receiver target Eric Kumah has stated that he plans to commit on June 19. In what certainly is promising news for Virginia Tech, Kumah tweeted that he plans to visit Virginia Tech the weekend before.

- Ron Johnson, a 6'4", 235-pound defensive end prospect out of Camden, New Jersey, includes Virginia Tech in his top 15. Johnson, who visited VT in February this year, also lists Michigan, South Carolina, Rutgers, Ohio State, Alabama, Miami, Missouri, Penn State, Ole Miss, Oregon, North Carolina, Arizona State, Wisconsin and Tennessee on the list.

- Virginia Tech is in the top three along with South Carolina and Ohio State for 4-star safety Marlon Character.