It's been a few weeks, and last weekend was the planned visit to Georgia, so it's time to check in with 2024 CB commit Marcellus Barnes.
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I reached out to a few people around him (and in the interest of full disclosure, one
very close to him reached out unprompted), and it does not sound like the lack of a flip to Georgia after his trip to Athens this weekend is good news for the Hokies. In fact, it seems based around the fact that he's now exploring
two non-VT options (and reading the not-so-subtle tea leaves, Virginia Tech is barely even under serious consideration at this stage). Ole Miss has become a real contender for the three-star - imo a future four-star - out of Chattanooga (Tenn.) McCallie School. Indeed the one who reached out unprompted had the following to say.
"Marcellus said he was likely flipping to Georgia or Ole Miss. Not sure when it's going to happen."
That leaves a little wiggle-room for sticking with VT, certainly, but a little wiggle-room is not exactly going to provide tons of warm fuzzies at this point. Even as the Hokies' season has gotten right back on track, the reality of trying to compete with a couple top-15 teams from the SEC when it comes to the case of a stock-up player from Tennessee... it's tough in the best of circumstances. I'm expecting to get word from Barnes himself (he's always willing to respond, but sometimes won't return a text for a few days at a time) exactly where his head's at sometime this week.
There
is one thing that provides a glimmer of hope given all the above: it may feel like he's looking for
any non-VT option. But the fact that he was
not-so-secretive about the intent to flip to the Dawgs, and then returned from Athens without doing so (and while suddenly telling everyone who would listen about a new contender in the mix)... it seems like UGa may not have given him the combination of "we have space in the class for you, and a role on the field for you" messaging he was looking for. If the favorite is not the option he'd hoped it would be, it feels more likely that the Hokies can beat back Ole Miss than if they'd had to go head-to-head with the reigning champs.
I have not yet heard (as of Wednesday, the Hokies are not expecting him) whether he's planning to make it to Blacksburg this weekend. If so, the Hokies certainly have a lot to sell: not only a team that's recovered from a 1-3 start to reach the cusp of bowl eligibility, but also
the reigning ACC defensive back of the week - a testament to VT's development, and likely a player that the Hokies will have to replace this offseason if Dorian Strong heads to the NFL after four years on campus.
IF Barnes gives the Orange and Maroon one last chance to hold onto him, the selling points are much strong in recent weeks than they were when he started looking around. But that may remain a strong
if.
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