by CFB Saturdays.

https://cfbsaturdays.com/introducing-the-cfb-saturdays-college-football-ot-rankings/

I actually think that's low and with Hooker and a better running game people will realize how good this guy actually is. Darrisaw is a beast and it is good to see him get some credit nationally but he will go up this year...

Honestly, not too upset where VT slots in here, but Miami is waaaaaaay too high ("this is somewhat similar to what they wore when they were good and it reminds me of that" is not a great evaluation method for an aesthetic), as is Georgia Tech.

Who has the best look? We rank the ACC uniforms

What are your quibbles with it? (I'll share some further thoughts in a little while - I want to see what some of y'all say first).

Welcome to the latest edition of Tunnel Talk, with some insider tidbit and analysis on topic of recruiting and team interest to the Hokies.

I want to start before diving into the topics of more interest on the commitment of local offensive lineman Troy Everett to Appalachian State. The Hokies would have taken him, but I have a hard time framing it as "losing a recruit to a mid-major program." Simply put, VT didn't have the need at his position to sell him on a major role, and he went with the school that needed him, rather than one that would take his commitment. For the time being, it's probably best for VT: using a scholarship on a guy you're not sure has the ability to be a high-level contributor is a risk. It would have been nice to keep him on the board for a little while longer since Daleville Lord Botetourt has a number of the area's top prospects and getting group visits together is always a boost. However, if the staff is impressed with Everett's senior film, I have little question a renewed push would be enough to land him.

TJ Quinn

Another prospect for whom Virginia Tech has been in good position over the course of recruitment is Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes three-star safety TJ Quinn.

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With the addition of safety Jalen Stroman last weekend, you may naturally wonder whether there's room for Quinn, but fear not: the Hokies have space for not only him, but actually two safeties to join Jalens Hoyle and Stroman in the 2020 class. The staff wants to load up at the position (and of course, the versatility of Hoyle to play as a hybrid and Stroman to potentially slide out to corner means it's perhaps not as crowded as it looks).

That said, Quinn isn't the slam-dunk he once was. I've shared on a few occasions that his tentatively plan was to commit to VT on his (since-canceled due to the emergency Dead Period) mid-June official visit to Blacksburg. However, his recruitment has seen more changes than just the forced rescheduling of that trip.

His father, Terry, played at Louisville in the early 90s, and the entire Quinn family grew up with an affinity for the Cardinals. Now that they've offered TJ, they stand a good chance to convince him to follow in the family footsteps. That's not to say the family ties make him a lock: his older sister attended Louisville's hated rival, the University of Kentucky, so Terry has put his money where his mouth is when it comes to wanting the best fit for his children.

The VT staff continues to recruit Quinn, and this should come down to a Louisville-VT battle if they keep up the attention. I still like the Hokies' chance to land him in that instance. If VT is able to seal the deal, holding out for a top-flight safety over the course of the Fall seems the most likely move.

Will Raheem Blackshear play this year?

At this point, the likelihood of Rutgers transfer Raheem Blackshear seeing the field during his first year in Blacksburg sounds like it comes down to a blanket waiver for all transfers this offseason due to the coronavirus's downstream effects. Indeed, perhaps unintentionally, it seems like the NCAA's process for reviewing and granting other varieties of immediate-eligibility transfer waivers is even slower (and perhaps more arbitrary) than usual.

Virginia Tech hasn't gotten word on a status through the typical waiver process, and while that's to be expected - it's rare that the public or even the applicants get mid-stream updates from the governing body, except in the instance of requesting documentation - obviously the unique nature of this offseason means that the news is somehow both way more and way less time-sensitive when it comes to preparing for the season.

My guess is that it does turn out that he's either subject to a blanket waiver for everyone, or he has to sit out his transfer year this Fall. The latter might actually be a better situation for VT's roster needs anyway, with Kansas transfer Khalil Herbert looking to be the primary back with a hopefully-healthy Jalen Holston and Keshawn King (both of whom have eligibility into 2021) as members of the platoon. Having Blackshear as a like-for-like replacement while Holston and King bring continuity to the following season makes sense.

Bet it on Black

Speaking of the running back position, with some of the Hokies' top targets off the board, the coaching staff seems to be looping all the way back around to a guy who was one of the first players pursued in the 2021 class: Roebuck (S.C.) Dorman's Chance Black.

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That's right: he's listed in the Rivals database as a wide receiver, but the pass-catching skills that he shows as a high school tailback are an added feature to his game as a runner, rather than the primary focus for his college years. His preference is to remain a running back, and that's where the VT staff likes him.

The interest faded a bit over the course of his long recruitment, and took an additional blow when former teammate Jacoby Pinckney opted to depart Blacksburg for Appalachian State (take that data point into context when you're evaluating the Everett point above, by the way). However, there aren't hard feelings between Pinckney and VT, just an understanding that App was his better opportunity to see the field. His continued positive feelings about his former program have been a boost for Black.

The timeline of Black's recruitment is something he keeps a closely-guarded secret, but it wouldn't surprise if he were to pop before the beginning of the 2020 season, and Virginia Tech feels like it's in the driver's seat for now.

Ryan Barnes cuts his list by just over half:

Hokies in the top 15 for Ryan Barnes

Unfortunately, could never get healthy enough to contribute, and in the interim, a couple top-flight corners developed on the roster:

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Story to come.

Pending a trip to Durham, this is a VT-Maryland battle and while it's been back-and-forth a bit, I like where the Hokies stand as long as they continue to prioritize him (which is honestly no guarantee, because DE is one of the few position groups where they're going to have to turn away pretty good recruits because they look good for players ahead on the board).

Hokies in the final three for Mattheus Carroll

From our Corey Evans:

Introducing quickly emerging forward Rafael Castro

Members on our premium message board, The Gobbler had questions, I had answers:

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Still questionable combination of realism/talent at cornerback at this point, but I think safety looks pretty strong, as long as you're a fan of Stroman (which I am) and TJ Quinn (who is fine). The initial plan for Hoyle has been more of a hybrid role, which I think he's purpose-built for.

Virginia Tech Hokies 2021 recruiting hotboard: Secondary

According to our Dan McDonald:

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Unlike other departures this offseason, this one's going to hurt more than the simple talent of the player (if Horne does indeed elect to leave, that is; it'd be a weird choice given the role he's played).

Drop your questions in this thread, I'll do my best to answering them all in a front-page item in a few days (most likely Saturday).

Football, basketball, recruiting, off-topic... all fair game. Fire away!

...and that may not be the best thing for the Hokies. From Corey Evans:

John Camden in no rush

Welcome to the latest edition of Tunnel Talk, wherein I go in-depth on a couple recruiting topics with background and inside information aplenty.

Jalen Stroman

I remain confident that legacy defensive back Jalen Stroman's commitment tonight will be to the Hokies. Following in the footsteps of older brother Greg (and it helps that Greg was a mostly-anonymous three-star recruit who parlayed Virginia Tech into an NFL opportunity) makes a lot of sense for Stroman. The fact that the official team social media accounts have been hitting the "brothers play here" message pretty hard this week is no coincidence.

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That said, I wouldn't call his pledge a done deal. At last check, the VT coaching staff hadn't been officially informed of a final decision, and Virginia has put a lot of effort into winning the hearts and minds of the second Stroman recruitment. Pitt is nominally involved as well. Virginia Tech is the favorite, but certainly not to the degree that I'd guarantee anything. Maybe a 65-30-5 split in percentages from Hokies to Hoos to Panthers, respectively.

I'll call it "steady but not settled" with the expectation still that his choice - coming via social media at 5 p.m. - will be Virginia Tech.

Tahjamell Bullock

After Dematrius Davis's decommitment, the staff immediately set out to find a replacement at the quarterback position in the 2021 class. Their first choice was Texas three-star Lucas Coley. However, it was clear pretty quickly that cracking into the group of favorites that had already begin to separate itself was going to take a lot of effort. Frankly, Coley's talent is very solid, but may not have justified the level of effort required (especially given the long-standing difficulties in winning over top Texas prospects for a variety of geographic reasons when they like their options closer to home already).

The staff pivoted to a player from a powerhouse program quite a bit more convenient to home - and from an area where the Hokies have had quite a bit more success, in Northern New Jersey - in the form of St. Peter's Prep three-star Tahjamell Bullock. A solid dual-threat type with the game to play in the Hokies' system and a much greater likelihood of visiting Blacksburg makes some sense.

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Personally, I think Bullock is a better prospect anyway (in addition to being at least as good a fit as Coley), so there's not much lost with a pivot to a second target.

Of course, the Hokies have to land that target to make the choice meaningful anyway. New Jersey has been fruitful for Virginia Tech in recent years, and players from St. Peter's Prep tend to at least visit a handful of schools before committing, so there's a shot. Things shouldn't progress quickly here, but he'll be the guy to keep an eye on for the time being.

Looking to the future

The coaching staff has gotten back on the "issue a ton of offers" trend in recent days, and aside from the quarterback position, those have largely been for underclassmen (it was "running backs or underclassmen" a couple weeks ago). There's also the occasional rising senior offensive lineman, but for the most part, the recruiting board for 2021 is set, pending evaluations when senior film starts to become available.

The goal for the staff is to develop the relationships they have with 2021 prospects, and get on the minds of 2022 (and beyond) guys now, setting them up to watch the Hokies on TV this Fall.

The strategy there becomes a little clearer when phrased that way: the coaching staff is expecting a very good 2020 season, and hoping that success on the field will make their lives easier when it comes to recruiting, as well. If you're a team in the back of the mind for a young player, they're going to watch you play, and if your on-field actions speak positively of your future, the product starts to become a recruiting pitch itself without much talking needed in terms of a sales pitch.

It's a little bit of a gamble for the staff, but it should come as no surprise given what I've said this offseason that I think it's a pretty smart one: VT may not beat Penn State, they may not win the ACC, but if this coaching staff is going to be the one that works out for VT, the season should go very well if and when it happens. If the season doesn't go well... well, setting up for a future that likely doesn't include you isn't super-necessary, anyway.

The focus on underclassmen in terms of casting a wide net and upperclassmen in terms of narrowing in on top targets will continue to be an interesting trend to watch whenever the emergency Dead Period ends. Speaking of which...

Football back?

The NCAA's decision to allow limited voluntary workouts at team facilities starting June 1 will be an interesting test case for how the recruiting and playing prospectuses for college football move forward. If a slight re-opening leads to more outbreaks, I wouldn't count on those other phases of college athletics taking steps forward. If colleges around the country take the necessary precautions and everyone stays safe, incremental re-opening can happen.

I'm a little skeptical that this is going to go well (hopefully, given that we're talking mostly about healthy 18-22-year olds, the effects aren't too significant). The trends haven't been positive enough for long enough to ensure limited spread of the disease as things begin to open back up. The medical experts tend to be extremely skeptical that some of the things that are happening here are wise.

I'd love to be proven wrong, though, because I miss football as much as anyone. The key simply has to be ensuring safety as the sport returns.

...to prove that his low stats in high school aren't representative of a limit to his potential in college. From @samspiegelman

South Central Spotlight: WRs that would've benefited from camps

Welcome to another edition of Tunnel Talk. We run through some of the latest - and upcoming - developments in Virginia Tech recruiting, with an insider perspective.

Who's next?

With an in-state commitment Friday afternoon, there's a little bit of momentum behind the Hokies on home turf. Jaylen Jones - the No. 48 player in the state in the latest rankings - is not going to be a game-changer in terms of altering the perception, but it's at the very least a step in the right direction.

Don't forget, legacy DB Jalen Stroman will be announcing a commitment between VT, Virginia, and Pitt Friday afternoon (you can always see the upcoming recruiting schedule here), and I've long maintained the the Hokies are the favorite as long as they continue to want him. They certainly would still love to have Greg Stroman's younger brother follow in the former All-ACC selection's footsteps, so that's one box checked. Have the coaches been putting in enough effort to maintain the distance they had on the field? My belief is that they have, though Virginia has pushed hard for the younger Stroman, as well.

I would nonetheless expect good news Friday, though Stroman has been quiet enough in the late stages of his recruitment that surprises are theoretically possible.

The in-state momentum is beginning to build a bit more buzz with players who could help it build. Local offensive lineman Troy Everett sort of surprised me when he didn't immediately pull the trigger on the VT offer he received April 9. He has a number of Ivies among his mid-major and lower-level offers, but the Hokies remain his only Power-5 opportunity, and he grew up a fans who visited multiple times before picking up the offer.

As I've maintained close contact with him, the hold-up has seemed to be simple due diligence about figuring out where he fits in the Hokies' minds. He doesn't want to commit just to become a pawn in some "see, look, we're recruiting the in-state players" game, nor one simply to help keep relationships strong at his school, given Lord Botetourt is emerging as something of a talent magnet (including a Rivals100 lineman in the 2022 class). A mid-major program provides a clearer path to contributing on the field, so Everett wants to make sure that the staff values him as a football player and student-athlete, not just PR cover.

Of course, it is indeed the case that offensive line coach Vance Vice truly likes the kid's game. Everett has developing skill to go along with natural talent - and the nasty attitude that Vice so enjoys - and a frame that's adequate for a Power-5 player.

As Vice has continued to reiterate those points with Everett, he may get closer to a decision in the short-term.

Jones the choice

For a while, Dillon (S.C.) wide receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce looked close to a sure-thing to be a member of Virginia Tech's class. He visited Blacksburg much more than he visited any other campus (probably more than he visited all others combined), and made no secret that the Hokies were his top choice.

However, that's faded over time. If the Hokies had pushed, they may have been able to snag a very early commitment from him, but they wanted to make sure they did their due diligence at the position before nabbing the "sure thing" commitment. With that decision, he's only at a point where he's naming a top 12 (story on that later today). Your mileage may vary as to whether getting some positive recruiting buzz a few months ago would have been the right move.

However, it's fair to say that the coaching staff has, to some extent, chosen the versatility of Nykelius Johnson and Jaylen Jones at the slot position over Huggins-Bruce, who's mostly constrained by skillset to slot.

The buzz in Blacksburg is that a more finished product like Huggins-Bruce - but with a lower upside in the long run - wasn't determined to be the greatest need. Tayvion Robinson will be just a junior when the Class of 2021 arrives on-campus, giving the incoming players at his position some time to develop behind him before they'll be relied upon. A player with Jones's great upside makes sense in the class, even if he's not going to be an immediate contributor. Of course, he still has another year at the high school level to start approaching that ceiling, as well (though some of the things he'll need to work on - such as adjusting to a higher level of competition - won't be possible until he arrives at the next level).

From this observer's perspective - and keep in mind that Huggins-Bruce will remain an option down the road, the choice was largely just that he's not in the class yet when he might have otherwise been by now - the strict talent and floor/ceiling decision was probably the right one. In terms of ripple effects, it remains to be seen, but certainly there's a case for either choice.

Just a couple in-depth updates in this edition. As always, stay tuned to HokieHaven.com for the latest.

When you look at the best individual seasons for players in the past four years, it become immediately stark how the poor recruiting 2014-16 really led to the struggles of the 2017 and 2018 seasons in particular:

Virginia Tech's All-Fuente team: Defense

A few obvious great players (Edmundses, most notably), but really mailing in the recruiting in those years - or a struggle to recruit immediate contributors in the transition year, even if some of those guys are proving to be serious talents after some development - was clearly one of the biggest issues.

A linebacker/athlete from South Florida:

Hokies in the final 10 for Jaydon Hood

Nope. Not able to social distance and most think its coming back again for a second wave. I've seen online that the Spanish Flu killed 3-5 million the first time around and 10 times that amount during the second wave.

I like his potential, but there are a lot of questions about how much the specific things he shows on film will translate immediately (and some of them, at all)

From the film room: Jaylen Jones

A sports science expert is practically a must-have nowadays. You can get a lot of mileage out of a guy who knows how to make the most out of the available data nowadays.

Marc Lewis joins Tech’s Football Strength & Conditioning staff