It's been obvious for a couple a years now that Fuente cannot coach at the highest level nor can he recruit mid-level instate talent much less the top talent. The losses to programs such as Liberty and ODU's of the world are simply not acceptable. It's time for Fuente to go. I hope the AD makes the change soon and focuses on getting the next HC.

The season may be young, but let’s take a look at the big picture here:

Virginia Tech bracketology and rooting guide: Dec. 28, 2020

Any chance Fuentes goes after Torrian Gray? Seems he is out of a job.

Only a few serious targets remain, but I included the guys who haven't been serious targets for a while now, in order to give a 10,000-foot view at this point:

Virginia Tech Hokies 2021 recruiting hotboard: Signing Day interregnum

The majority of the Hokies' additions will be Transfer Portal players at this point, but I wouldn't rule out an expansion of the offer list.

With a few offered prospects in there, including Deone Walker, who just picked up his Hokie offer yesterday:

The Show: OL-v-DL 1-on-1

Ernest Udeh Jr. texted me today to say that he's now getting interest from Harvard and Princeton. He also said that Florida, Temple, USF, Georgia State, Louisiana and Virginia Tech "are probably the most consistent in contacting me."

I just came back from The Show camp in Florida, where Detroit Cass Tech 2022 DT Deone Walker was one of the top performers. Sounds like Virginia Tech saw/heard about it because they just extended Walker an offer.

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DB Tae Daley.

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More to come momentarily.

Basketball has been a pleasant surprise so far in what's been a difficult year for us. With the ACC apparently being down this year, (maybe too optimistically) as strong as we have looked, I gotta wonder if we have a shot at taking this league. Can't wait till we suit up against the big boys and see if we are for real, but we have size and strength we haven't had for a long time. maybe ever.

We'll be chattin' in this very thread during the game, as well:

Virginia Tech Hokies basketball preview: Miami

Like OL, a position that the staff may very well address (have to address) in the transfer market:

A player from Texas (Hokies want it to be a pipeline) who played as a true freshman at Charlotte (willing to leave the region, good enough to be a true freshman contributor in FBS) along the offensive line (major position of need):

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Primarily went to Charlotte because he wasn't qualified until late, but if he made it through his freshman year at Charlotte, one must imagine his grades are shored up (or his landing spot after being in the portal will be a junior college).

Including because of what's not in there: any mention of the Hokies. The staff doesn't have to land every top in-state kid, but they have to do a better job of at least getting to "name on a list" territory.

This week I am down in Florida covering The Show 7v7 and connected with Tampa four-star 2022 WR Gregory Gaines. He would not reveal his top schools, but did tell me Virginia Tech, Penn State and Georgia Tech were recruiting him the hardest:

“Coach (Corey) Fuller, coach (Jafar) Williams, coach Fu (Justin Fuente), I am actually pretty close with a lot of those guys up there. I can definitely see some things coming up in these next few seasons. This season showed a lot. They like to throw the ball. Personally, I’ll block for you, but when the ball is in the air I’m going to get it for you."

Gaines is nowhere close to a decision and expects to take his recruitment into senior season.

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James Mitchell to return for his senior year

Honestly, with the year he had this season (not bad, but not "gotta go to the NFL" good), he'd slipped my mind as a potential departure. The only one I'd think still has an NFL-or-VT decision to make is Tre Turner.

Hearing he is going to come back for his Senior year!! Finally some good news!!

From Josh Helmholdt:

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A look at where things stand today:

Hokies OL situation in flux headed into 2021

VT will almost certainly have to continue mining the Transfer Portal to put a two-deep on the field next year, much less find success up front.