For those interested, the full audio and transcript from yesterday's media teleconference with new WRs coach Zohn Burden:

Burden answers questions

Brrrrrr, it's been some frigid temperatures here in the NRV! Warm up with us at 12:30 pm ET tomorrow for our weekly VT INsider chat. As always, I'll be answering any Hokies-related questions you have, from recruiting, football, basketball, baseball and anything else VT. Come take advantage of and get the very most our of your subscriptions!

Click HERE for this week's INsider Chat!

Any news on how Kendall and others are recovering from injuries/surgeries?

Guys, just a heads up that the next date VT is expecting more recruiting visitors is Feb. 28. The Hokies aren't really calling it a junior day, but rather an invite or something like that. They're hoping to draw some specific guys in who have offers or are about to, in order to really devote more time to them.

Invited & otherwise?

Rivals100 wide receiver Ahmir Mitchell has a top 8 of FSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Rutgers and Virginia Tech. In the article linked below he explains where each school currently stands with him. Mitchell is planning on graduating early so he wants to make his decision some before or during the season.

This post was edited on 2/17 5:16 PM by Jason Stamm

Mitchell On Top 8

Guys, I spoke earlier with Collins Hill (Ga.) LB Emmanuel Belmar. Right now, he's a big-time sleeper, as Virginia Tech offered him a few weeks ago and Georgia State offered him today. But those are his only offers for now. Wake Forest has also been in touch a lot of late.

It's still very early with this one. Belmar hasn't been anywhere for visits this year, though he did see games last fall at Georgia, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. But he'll be at Virginia Tech's recruit assembly Feb. 28.

With VT, Belmar still said he doesn't know a lot. He said he keeps up with assistant coach Torrian Gray regularly, including on Twitter, but right now, the only thing he said he really knows about the Hokies is that they beat Ohio State. Belmar likes Gray, but he doesn't have much else to say right now.

This one will be interesting to see how the Feb. 28 visit goes. We'll be able to gauge a lot more then, but this one is still wide open.

Full story coming, but as always, what's posted here, STAYS HERE. Don't de-value your own subscription by giving away information to others who don't pay like you do. It's also a violation of our terms of service and will result in the termination of your subscription[/B]

Emmanuel Belmar profile

Tough second half for the Hokies, down by three at halftime, but fell 76-52 at Miami tonight. Game story from AP:

Miami 76-52

Guys, for those interested, Rivals.com uploaded some new video highlights today of CB signee Mook Reynolds from the state title game in December:

Reynolds at state champ

Adam Friedman's latest story on 2017 DT Darnell Ewell, who now has 13 offers. I saw Ewell in December at the state championship game and was very impressed. Still wide open here, but where VT stands with Ewell's teammates, Wayne Davis and Keyvone Bruton, definitely helps here.

Ewell talks recruiting

Another story from Adam Friedman, on Rivals100 DE Ron Johnson, who was at VT's junior day Feb. 7:

Johnson talks VT, others

Guys, I caught up with Lake Taylor (Va.) four-star cornerback Wayne Davis earlier just to catch up. Partly too, because not sure if you saw, but he tweeted a picture of himself wearing Hokies gear last night, shown below.

Davis, the No. 7 player in VA, is now up to 12 offers, with the most recent ones coming from Michigan, Duke and East Carolina. VT just offered last week. But it doesn't sound like the Hokies are having to do much catching up.

Davis said he'll be at VT Feb. 28 for the next recruit assembly. He told me he's been talking to assistants Bryan Stinespring and Zohn Burden, but he might have a closer bond with Burden. Davis said he called Burden his second day on the job to check in and Burden told him how much he wanted him on Feb, 28. Davis has never been to VT, but another clue was that when I asked what he needed to be working on, he told me zone turns because "I know Tech plays a little of that."

We'll see how this one goes after his visit, but the Hokies do appear to be the favorite here. I saw Davis in the state championship game in December and he told me then that VT was an offer he was waiting on. Surprised it took this long, but the Hokies are in great shape. He has no other visits planned and no timetable on a decision.

Full story coming, but as always, what's posted here, STAYS HERE. Don't de-value your own subscription by giving away information to others who don't pay like you do. It's also a violation of our terms of service and will result in the termination of your subscription

[/B]




Wayne Davis[/B]‏@Waynedavis1_
Snow with the #NotACommitmentTho














Wayne Davis profile

Here is the updated Rivals250: Risers and sliders. As always I will be here all day to answer any questions you may have about it.

Yesterday the updated Rivals100 was released here are all the relevant links:

New 2016 Rivals100
Rivals100: New five-stars, big movers
Eason still No. 1, 2 new 5-stars
Year of the LBs?

Please keep in mind that I cover prospects in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. If you have a question about a player from another region I will do my best to ask the appropriate analyst to come over and answer your question.

The rest of the rankings releases will follow this schedule:

Wednesday: 4-stars outside the Rivals250
Thursday: Position rankings
Friday: Three-star updated
This post was edited on 2/17 12:16 PM by RivalsFriedman

Guys, just wanted to pull out some of the key targets that VT is recruiting for 2016 who made the Rivals100:

Rashan Gary, DT, No. 4
Levonta Taylor, CB, No. 9
Shavar Manuel, DE, No. 10
Rahshaun Smith, LB, No. 11
Dexter Lawrence, DT, No. 13
Keion Joyner, LB, No. 17
Saivion Smith, safety, No. 21
Scott Bracey, WR, No. 32
Ahmir Mitchell, WR, No. 50
Naseir Upshur, TE, No. 61
Dwayne Haskins, QB, No. 68
Ron Johnson, DE, No. 96

Full Rivals100 Rankings

Adam Friedman caught up with five-star DT Rashan Gary, who talked about his VT visit Feb. 7, as well as some of the other schools he's in with right now.

Gary talks recruiting

"Tyrod Taylor, quarterback[/B]: The Ravens drafted Keith Wenning in the sixth round last year for a reason. That likely spelled the end of Taylor's future with the team. Even if the Ravens don't think Wenning is ready to become the primary backup, they could probably find a one-year stopgap that's just as viable as Taylor. Chances of returning: 20 percent. "
-ESPN.COM

Where will Tyrod end up this year? I think the team that gets him will be getting a winner. If he can get a starting job so he can get some playing time, he's gonna develop in to something special.

Thanks.

Hey guys, big Northwestern fan here. I see that there's a strong chance that NU might get Joey Van Zegeren. I'm a little curious about what happened with him at Va Tech. I always liked how Northwestern runs a clean program and I hope that Chris Collins wouldn't stoop to taking a transfer with a troubled past. I don't know if that statement describes Van Zegeren. Curious what happened.

Guys, I measured 7 1/2 inches of snow outside of my house in the NRV, but surprisingly, VT had a recruiting visitor today. Prince Avenue Christian (Ga.) three-star tackle Robert Kraeling made the visit with his dad.

It's been a busy last few days for Kraeling. He visited Alabama on Saturday, where he was offered, went to Wake Forest's junior day yesterday and then made the drive to Blacksburg early this morning before the snow came. Tomorrow, Kraeling is going to Tennessee for a visit.

Today, Kraeling said he saw the facilities, hung out with a few of the linemen in their dorms and loved having a private visit. He met one-on-one with assistant coach Stacy Searels, his primary recruiter, as well as coach Frank Beamer. Kraeling really likes Searels. He briefly met his family and said it's been a "complete blessing" to talk with Searels. Kraeling likes Searels' history and believes he's passionate about his job.

This is a kid who's starting to blown up, as evidenced by his Alabama offer. The Hokies offered a few weeks ago and getting him to visit today was huge. It really gives them a chance and I'm told Searels and the staff really like Kraeling. But this kid will approach 20 offers, if not more and said he won't be deciding until late October at the earliest.

Full story coming, but as always, what's posted here, STAYS HERE. Don't de-value your own subscription by giving away information to others who don't pay like you do. It's also a violation of our terms of service and will result in the termination of your subscription[/B]

Robert Kraeling profile

Just a reminder, the new Rivals250 presented by Under Armour will be released shortly. I'll post the link here and also post on the front page.

Respect to UVa on the bball success but the game on ESPN tonight is, at least for me, horrible to watch. Had me thinking so I put this poll together.

With arrival of the Vicks and DeLo (Deangelo Hall)---- Techs program took off....for a 5-10 yr period.....ESPN.Gameday was
made frequent visits for about 3-5 yrs.....VT was an "IT" program........then rumours and newspaper reports of fights
and issues in town and on campus started to surface.... I feel Beamer associate the 4 & 5 * players as problems waiting to happen......and definitely took the stance of taking 3 stars and making them 4 stars (without the off the field drama)

while still having very good records.... after the VICKS,.the program started to lose its cache....and VT would open the fball season on national tv against some heavy weight powers....and proceeded to not be able to seal the deal.....

the program lost its cache. Other than workmanlike & tenacious defense (which struggled at times this past year with surprising losses to ECU & Wake undermined this past season & the program. Hopefullythis years recruiting class (rated in top 25) has signaled a rebirth.....The military bowl win against a tough cincy club has provided an additional shot of adrenaline.

Hopefully, some recent coaching changes and the success in recruiting will reinvigorate the program to return to its routine 10 win stature without beating up on D-1AA , the directional schools , and the other sisters of the poor.

I am much more encouraged this year than I was at this time last year. Crossing my fingers, toes, legs, and eyes that we are on the way back.




This post was edited on 2/11 5:31 PM by vtdiehard

Q&A No. 9, on Rivals250 QB Dwayne Lawson. I like this kid. It might not happen right away, but I think he'll be a difference maker for the Hokies.

Lawson Q&A

The new 2016 Rivals100 has been released. Here are all the relevant links:

New 2016 Rivals100
Rivals100: New five-stars, big movers
Eason still No. 1, 2 new 5-stars
Year of the LBs?

Please keep in mind that I cover prospects in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. If you have a question about a player from another region I will do my best to ask the appropriate analyst to come over and answer your question.

The rest of the rankings releases will follow this schedule:

Tuesday: 2016 Rivals250 at noon EST
Wednesday: 4-stars outside the Rivals250
Thursday: Position rankings at noon EST
Friday: Three-stars updated
This post was edited on 2/16 12:11 PM by RivalsFriedman

Guys, I spoke earlier with one of the Hokies' most recent offers, Roswell (Ga.) three-star LB Tyrone Hopper. VT offered him in person a few weeks ago on a visit.

Hopper right now has offers from VT, Memphis and Georgia Southern. Also has been getting interest from Tennessee, NC State, Wake Forest, North Carolina, West Virginia and Florida Atlantic.

With the Hokies, defensive coordinator Bud Foster and assistant coach Torrian Gray both made the visit and Hopper said they just talked about VT's defense. They also asked about him and told him what they like about him. Hopper said he liked meeting with them and now plans to be at VT's next visit day, Feb. 28.

Hopper was at Wake Forest's junior day today and was at NC State two weeks ago. He spoke highly of the academics at both places, but wasn't overly excited about either, it didn't sound like to me. It's still pretty early here. Hopper is a kid who will probably get close to, if not double digit offers. The Hokies being his major offer should help, but it's kinda too early to say whether he's leaning towards VT at all.

Full story coming, but as always, what's posted here, STAYS HERE. Don't de-value your own subscription by giving away information to others who don't pay like you do. It's also a violation of our terms of service and will result in the termination of your subscription[/B]

Tyrone Hopper profile