Bad news to those who annually look forward to the team auctioning off helmets for charity in the off-season. Hokie sports and the athletic department are currently NOT scheduling any auctions. Said they would update if they decide to in the future.

I'm always in the market for helmets if anyone happens to know any other resources (other than the obvious ebay, which is unreliable), would LOVE to hear about them, looking to expand the wall at the home office

Stay safe out there hokies.

...thought you guys would like this one too

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One of my all-time favorites.

Funny story...when I was a kid I would always go to see Redskins training camp at Dickinson College. I was hell-bent on getting Bruce Smith's autograph one year and after lunch you could always get one or two autographs as the players walked back onto the practice field. My grandpa, mom, brother, and I grabbed a quick bite at some diner close to where the players' would walk out of the dining hall and I sprinted over to the rope line. I crossed the street without looking and as I stepped up onto the sidewalk Bruce Smith nearly clipped my on his bicycle. He was hauling ass to get some food before the afternoon practice. I think he yelled some obscenity at me but it didn't matter to me.
@TimSullivan

I think I may be able to provide some further insight on Carti thanks work the leader of your site is doing, but in the mean time here is something I wrote about him a couple of weeks ago in the event he did return to K-State. Really just broke down his season and projected what type of player he could be next season: https://kansasstate.rivals.com/news/roster-outlook-cartier-diarra

Also, here are a few looks at Diarra speaking to the media:

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Would not surprise me if it gets extended again, either. Stay home if you can, y'all!

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More to come momentarily, but:

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We should be solid at those positions for a while.

Henderson's highlight films are off the chart. He has size, speed, and vision. He can run up the middle and around the edges and outrun everyone. It's awesome to see someone his size do that. He also loves to cut back.

After a few impressive carries, his presence on O would have all the D's attention which would open up the passing game with run fakes.

We won't live or die with or without him, but his presence would help us get back into the top 20 and even better.

If we don't get him we have a lot of new faces at the RB position to complement what is already on the team so I hope we can figure out who can contribute the most.

A top group that the prospect calls "unofficial" is not front-page worthy, but:

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As I noted when he got his offer, he didn't visit along with the rest of the Premier group when they headed to Blacksburg, but he's planning to see Virginia Tech as soon as the emergency Dead Period ends.

Certainly takes some of the sting off today's Transfer Portal interactions:

Virginia Tech snags top grad-transfer Cartier Diarra

Much more to come.

Very lightly edited, just as it came to my mind, almost stream-of-consciousness:

The impact: Hokies miss on TreVeyon Henderson

I've been a little charitable to the staff when they've missed out on other recruits, but when the losses start to add up, it points to a bigger trend. And they're simply not doing a good enough job.

Thomas Guerry's departure for Georgia Tech was probably necessary - he didn't put up good enough results (or anything close to it) to justify retaining him. But under the current non-coaching recruiting staff, the results may be slightly better (you weren't seeing Dematrius Davis types in the previous couple years), but the overall picture just seems too unfocused (or focused on the wrong things) to ensure consistent success.

Includes two players who have visited since January:

2022 Rivals100 revealed: Part two

I would say VT is the tentative favorite for Zach Rice, and would be for Malaki Hamrick if an offer were on the table. It's TBD whether Hamrick's lack of an offer is a difference in evaluation from the staff or one of the downstream effects of trying to focus out-of-region at the expense of giving appropriate attention to in-region players (sources indicate it's the former, but... you never know).

Looking at the running back situation:

Hope springs eternal: Running back

I think this is the position group that is most hurt by not having spring practices. That's not on an individual basis, really, but rather that the group could have been much better-prepared to achieve team success with 15 practices to get comfortable in the system, etc.

Tim just want to say thank you for doing a great job keeping us engaged during this trying time. I think you’ve done a great job with coming up with article subjects.

New Virginia Tech football offer: Cameron Johnson

Hokies have had a bit of a tough time cracking into St. Frances Academy, but you never know if you don't try (and it makes at least as much sense as messing around in Texas or California).

Including SWVA offensive lineman Brody Meadows:

Rivals begins unveiling Class of 2022 top 100

...and whether missing out on spring ball is particularly damaging:

Hope springs eternal: Quarterback

I think it's extremely likely that Hendon Hooker was taking the strides with or without spring practice, but that won't be the case for every position.

Brutal blow for the Hokies, who had been really ramping up the attention in him recently:

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Once recruitment isn't the end of the world, but something absolutely has to change with the way this staff closes on prospects. They have simply not done a good enough job to maintain the level of talent that VT needs in order to win.