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INSIDE Endgame in sight for Mekhai White

TimSullivan
Last night, in-state WR Mekhai White let a couple updates on his recruitment out into the public. The four-star from King George (Va.) plans to enroll early at the school of his choice, will shut down his recruitment in July to mull his options (most of July is a Dead Period anyway, for what it's worth), and announce his decision before his final high school season begins. He is, for the most part, wide open among his suitors at this time, he says.

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The 6-3, 174-pounder has his official visit to Blacksburg this weekend. While I noted earlier that his trainer says Maryland and Virginia Tech are the only two under consideration, I'm willing to take White at his word in terms of being wide open (though I would also say that he's open among those in his final eight more so than to any program interested in him). He's slated to visit Blacksburg this weekend, of course, and given the realities of the NCAA recruiting calendar, that means the Hokies get the last crack at him.

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Where does this all end up, though? I've been told on multiple occasions that Michigan has been given the impression that it's the team to beat (there's a reason that all four FutureCasts from Rivals staff are in favor of the Maize and Blue, as well). However, I've received similar messages directly from the VT end of things: White has let the Hokies know they're in the driver's seat - and has confirmed to me that he's said it. So, while Michigan may be right at the top of the list, along with the Hokies, reading too much into the offhand statements of a kid who's inclined to tell people what he thinks they want to hear is going one layer too deep. He's certainly an honest kid, so don't construe that as a knock on him, just a note than sometimes kids say things to coaches or reporters, and knowing which statements are going to have sticking power is important - and boosted when you have a strong network of team sites like Rivals.

With that in mind, Michigan already has commitments from receivers Channing Goodwin and I'Marion Stewart, and is in really good position with a number of other pass-catchers from the Carolinas (you surely recognize Goodwin as a onetime VT target - and his friends and teammates from the area like Jordan Shipp and Terrell Anderson are still on the Wolverines' board, to say nothing of guys from around the country). That's not to say if White sits down and calls Michigan to commit they'd turn him down. But certainly you can bet this weekend that the Hokies will push hard on the fact that they need and want him more than a program like Michigan - from the Wolverines' end of things, I'm told that there are questions about where he would fit into the class. Another Hokies selling point is that VT is his best bet to play with friends like Keylen Adams or Chanz Wiggins at the next level.

So with that in mind, the story on White's recruitment has yet to be written, and not only do I think the Wolverines are there in ink, I wouldn't have them as a clear favorite, at least not until after the Hokies have their best chance to make a strong pitch this weekend.
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INSIDE INSIDE The Tunnel: Calm before the storm

TimSullivan
You have surely noted that there were no major visitors in Blacksburg this weekend. After the first two weekends of June brought important official visitors (and commitments) to campus, this weekend was strictly focused on camp. That may seem odd, given that this is also the only camp weekend with a single date (team 7-on-7 and big man challenge were yesterday), but it's probably the best evaluative camp of the on-campus events.

It also allowed the staff to take a step back and gear up for next weekend's visits without splitting their attention in too many ways. Because next weekend should be a big one. While there have been names falling off the expected visitors list (Obinna Onwuka's commitment to West Virginia means he won't be in town, for example), the expected incoming visitors are plentiful and come with major star power next to their names. As always you can see the running list in this thread. That will only continue to grow as next weekend approaches.

Quarterback commit Davi Belfort will return to campus (he hasn't made a final determination, but the plan is to use an unofficial visit, and save the official for a game in the Fall) to do some in-depth recruiting of the prospects, and given that many of them have commitments coming up, it should be the final visit before a choice for some key targets. Four-star receiver Mekhai White, three-star DE Gerard Johnson, and three-star DE Steven Soles (the jury may be out on how high he is on the board at this stage, but he's always been personally high on the Hokies) are among those who will make their official visits with commitments planned for late June or early July - when there's a Dead Period, so next weekend will be their final chance to check out their options. White, perhaps the top target on the board, has narrowed to Maryland and VT, according to his trainer Kevin Johnson, and eliminating major threat Michigan appears to essentially clear the way for the Hokies to take the No. 1 spot permanently before his July/August commitment timeline. (It's worth noting that Johnson is a good source - and obviously well-connected as the trainer - but not always 100% when he speaks for his athletes. Either way, that he's saying it publicly is at least a bit of knowledge about where White's leaning).

As the list builds out for the weekend, we may see upwards of a dozen official visitors, including basically every top target that has not been to VT yet in June. We'll see if a surprise or two sneaks in there (in-state four-star LB Kristopher Jones would be the dream there, though Johnson mentioned that he won't take an official anywhere next weekend. Same caveat as above applies). Speaking with as little hyperbole as possible, the outcome of the weekend could be the most important off-field determinant for the future of the program.

Should be a fun week, buckle up.
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Recruiting Moritz Schmoranzer visiting Miami

TimSullivan
Seems to (still) be looking for that right fit after feeling like he couldn't commit to the Hokies back in May.

virginiatech.rivals.com

HokieHaven - Miami offers 2024 OL Moritz Schmoranzer, set for official visit

Miami set to host international talent this weekend
virginiatech.rivals.com virginiatech.rivals.com

I actually think at this point he'd be a good fit to close out the OL class as long as Andrew Hanchuk is seen as an OG (which is the staff's current take, and IMO the correct one): a swing on a high-potential OT but it's not gonna kill you if he doesn't pan out because Lynch is in the class.
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