Welcome to Tunnel Talk, with the latest on Hokie recruiting!
Khalib Johnson
As I started working on this piece last night, I was working around a little piece of scoop from a source that Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville quarterback Khalib Johnson is in limbo for a number of his suitors (or, at least, the ones that matter).
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While Johnson's finalists were nominally Kansas, Louisville, USF, and Virginia Tech, he really intended to end up a Cardinal or Hokie. When VT ramped up interest on (and landed a commitment from) Devin Farrell, it indicated a bit of declining interest in Johnson, a similar type of quarterback. Although the staff intends to take two passers in this class, a little bit more variety in their styles of play - or at least size, with the generously-listed 6-0 Farrell in the fold - makes sense. So what happened last night? We learned that Louisville wants Johnson to continue focusing on academics for the time being. For that reason, the Cards weren't ready to accept a commitment this weekend.
Like clockwork:
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In the long run, it'll likely mean more options for Johnson (as long as he shows that any concerns about his academics are unfounded). It may even increase the likelihood that he's a priority for Virginia Tech when it comes time to make his choice further down the road. But for now, because he's not an option for his top choices, he's not planning to make
his choice Saturday.
In-state momentum?
It's been a regular drum we've beaten: the Hokies don't necessarily need to dominate their own state, but they need to make the decision to focus elsewhere worth their while. Well, the risk is that if you
don't dominate your state and
don't make it worth your while elsewhere, you've robbed Peter to... also not pay Paul. That's what we've seen in the 2018-21 recruiting classes. It's easier to get top players from close to home than it is to get them from far away (it's easy to get a player of similar caliber - no matter what that caliber is - from closer to home, the issue for VT is just that there are
fewer of them close to home, which explains why it can still be a smart decision to go to Georgia or Texas or wherever else).
So, we've seen success in Florida and Georgia in making up for poor recruiting closer to home. We've seen tons of resources and limited returns from those resources in Texas. That's a mixed bag.
The highest upside remains a steady level of performance closer to home, and augmenting with top-notch talent (or the solid players VT is already getting) from out-of-region. That balancing act has been a tough one. The missing on players close to home has made it untenable long-term. Landing the McDonald twins or DJ Sims is nice - but let's not pretend like they were the staff's first-choice players, whether in-state or anywhere. They help bridge a gap, yes, but it's not the type of recruiting return that the Hokies are looking for.
There's reason to believe - as I've said in previous Tunnel Talks - that the staff is starting to build some momentum in key areas (namely Richmond and the Tidewater). DC is still a struggle, but landing a number of 2021 preferred walk-ons from the area helps re-build those relationships. Even if the players end up leaving the game by the time they arrive on campus, the relationships built by recruiting them, showing love to the right regions, etc. help. Look at CJ Scott, whose dad Chris is the head coach at Oscar Smith after leaving Bishop Sullivan Catholic: he never played a down for the Hokies and isn't with the football program anymore, but having him involved for a year can only benefit the Orange and Maroon in the 757 area.
It will still be a bit of a slog in getting back to where VT wants to be - and ultimately, kids want to see (and don't currently see) that they can compete for titles if they stay in-state - but the groundwork is being laid. The first major commitment from the Commonwealth in the 2022 class could be the bellwether that indicates the efforts will pay off. Following through on the field will help truly get things moving if and when it happens.
Braelin Moore
Moving out of state, you can look to a few obvious options if you're trying to predict the next Hokie commitment. One potential player is Bethlehem (Pa.) Freedom offensive lineman Braelin Moore.
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The 6-3, 290-pounder is the younger brother of VT redshirt freshman Kaden, and the staff has prioritized him to a solid extent early on. Some of that may be the ol' "let's get this ball rolling with some commitments" sort of thinking (which is fine at this point in a recruiting cycle that should see commitments well into the 20s - the 2021 class may have been better off pushing for some early commitments as well, rather than betting on a strong season (we know how that turned out) to open some doors). Either way, the staff has hosted Moore on virtual visits, which obviously augment his previous opportunities to see VT in the flesh thanks to his brother's process, too.
I wouldn't say he's right on the cusp of committing just yet, but if you're looking for an early one, you'd be wise to keep an eye on him.
Bonus section
Speaking of early commitments, the wave of offers among Farrell's teammates at Alpharetta (Ga.) Milton might be a good place to look. The Hokies are the only Power-5 offer for most of them, and for OL Gilles Tchio, the only offer
at all. Better yet: players, coaches, and trainers in Atlanta are a little more understanding of the broader recruiting game, and aren't going to hold grudges nearly as much if VT were to take a commitment now and then taper of interest down the road (leading to a decommitment), so the risks of landing those players early wouldn't be as great if the Hokies end up being able to aim higher. \
These commitments likely wouldn't happen without a visit to Blacksburg, but with Farrell in VT's corner, they're all strong possibilities to drop.
As always, thanks for visiting HokieHaven.com. Feel free to use this thread for discussion of the topics herein.
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