Last week went pretty well for VT.

Hokie opponent watch and rooting guide 2020: Week eight

Can the out-of-town scoreboard help the Hokies out again this weekend?

I caught up with our Wake Forest colleague, Kelly Quinlan, to see the latest on the Deacons:

Behind Enemy Lines: Wake Forest

from our Indiana site:

2022 four-star Tyler Nickel discusses recruitment

From @Adam Gorney. Unfortunately, I have a hard time seeing VT make the cut:

Four-star QB AJ Duffy plans to trim list soon

There are some connections that could possibly keep the Hokies in the hunt (he's friends with guys like DJ Harvey, for example - and VT is one of the more notable offers for his friend, TE Jack Pederson), but it's always tough with kids from the opposite coast - particularly in a period when they couldn't even visit if they really wanted to.

Still some head-scratchingly low ones (I always advise against treating these like gospel - they're informative, but not all-knowing), but nice performances in there, as well.

Pro Football Focus: Snap counts and grades from big win over BC

I don't know that there'll be a ton of traction with either of them (my guess is at least not right away), but both Tennessee DT commitments had some serious interest in VT earlier in the process.

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KaTron Evans is a former 757-area prospect, and now plays his high school ball at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore. The Hokies have had trouble getting a major foothold at SFA (including onetime LB commit Aaron Willis, who is now at Life Christian Academy in the Richmond area - and also committed to the Vols), but the geographic convenience and the personal connections were always stronger selling points for Evans than it seemed. A second look at him could draw a bit of attention (particularly since the Hokies' lack thereof - when the need didn't feel at urgent - was a factor for him the first time around).

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Isaac Washington didn't have quite the level of connection to Virginia Tech, but hailing from an area of North Carolina close to the Greensboro region in which the Hokies have had major success in recent years, but even closer to Blacksburg is a pretty interesting connection. Even though the mutual interest cooled quite a bit when former DL coach Charley Wiles was relieved of his duties, the needs and urgency for Virginia Tech have certainly changed (and the co-DL coaches have really found a stride on the recruiting trail - too late for the majority of the 2021 class, but looking good going forward, and reeling in some guys who become suddenly available in 2021 could set momentum in a positive direction for the future).

VT is still continuing to focus on some of the guys who are either long-standing targets (like Robert Jackson) or who entered the recruiting board within the past few weeks (like Ian Mathews). Still don't be surprised if they not only kick the tires with these guys, but get a little bit of interest in return.

Rob Cassidy and I have made no secrets in the past week-plus that we've expected the Hokies' pursuit of 2021 point guard Sean Pedulla to pay off, and that happened late last night:

Sean Pedulla is a Hokie!

He's the first piece in Mike Young's 2021 group.

Devin Taylor speaking now

...whatever happened to Chance Hall, 2016 OL, and Coleman Thomas, 2014 OL both of whom signed with UT?

Pretty flawless game by him running the O and the ball.

The depth issues at this point on the season - with player unavailability - is not something the staff expected.

A less-big week than the recent past, but a few key guys doing well is going to be important:

HokieHaven Friday Night Lights 2020: Week nine

Uh, Wake and Louisville are all that stands between a matchup between the top-15 Hokies and ranked... Liberty?

Hokies climb in both major polls