The staff would be wise to lean hard into selling him on track here:

Malcolm Johnson keeping tabs on the Hokies

A couple changes here: for the time being, I'm switching to two hotboards per week (mostly so that we don't go six weeks between updates to a given position), Monday and Friday instead of mid-week like I had been doing. When the overall board gets pared down a little bit more and I can just go offense/defense it'll be a little easier to just go back to one a week. Secondly, instead of words for "the shot" portion, I'm switching it to percentages. That's a little easier to digest and a bit more meaningful in terms of comparing different individuals:

Virginia Tech Hokies 2021 recruiting hotboard: Offensive backfield

What say you, Hokie fans. Who's looking good at running back (uh, not a ton of great options who are also high on VT! Just a couple realistic-and-exciting combos guys in there).

Mississippi State transfer Keytaon Thompson:

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He got playing time for the Bulldogs in 2017 and 2018 before redshirting this past Fall to preserve two years of immediate eligibility at his next school.

He wants to take all five official visits and still make a commitment before his season. Either the emergency Dead Period will have to end reasonably soon, or he's going to have to alter that plan:

After recent offers, safety TJ Quinn thinks about timeline

Louisville's entry into his recruitment may not move VT out of his top spot, but it certainly introduces another serious contender to the mix. The visits are going to be important.

Tim, Do you have info on the new transfer from Rutgers?

Hope he crushes it there

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It seems to me that there is a lot of momentum building in Charlottesville around recruiting. Meanwhile, things appear to be moving at a much slower pace in Blacksburg. I realize things are not always as they appear but I wish we had a little more enthusiasm. From what I gather from other Hokie boards is we have some notable “silent commits” that will make a big impact on this recruiting class. If that is true, I wish they would come forward sooner than later. I’m just afraid that DD may start rethinking his decision if we can’t ramp up our pace a little.

I may be totally off base here, hope I am.

Decision time has come for Johnston (S.C.) Strom Thurmond 2021 defensive lineman Brandon Williams Jr. While the three-star has made lots of noise about wanting to visit every program that has offered before making his pledge - a goal which obviously can't see any progress during the current emergency Dead Period - he intends to end things Wednesday.

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The 6-5, 230-pounder will include Virginia Tech among his finalists (it's been a vague list at times, but Wake Forest is another primary contender). That's notable, but it's also worth noting that the Hokies didn't consider him a "take" as recently as last week. The staff wanted to see him on-campus for an unofficial visit before really solidifying that he'd have the opportunity to commit to the Hokies. Their preference was also that they'd get him in a camp setting to work him out when he made his visit.

Like his plans have had to adjust on the fly due to the coronavirus pandemic, so too have the staff's plans. The Hokies are willing to accept his commitment, should he opt to don the Orange and Maroon this week. Whether their time of having an "offer" on the table hurt them in the process at all may be a different question. He's keeping a strong poker face, and not giving anything away about where he may be leaning.

Stay tuned this week, because a position group with a lot of pretty significant options on the board (which is one of the reasons Williams had been on the back-burner) could see a domino fall. If it falls in favor of the Hokies, the space available for some of the other top prospects becomes a little bit tighter. If Williams chooses to play elsewhere... well, there are plenty of other players on the board, and many of them with more impressive resumes. It wouldn't make or break the recruiting class, to say the least.

Could be a good test for the Tapp-N-Teerlinck duo at the position group:

Tywone Malone begins process of narrowing his list, includes Hokies

Even more so, probably a good litmus test for whether the Hokies' performance on the field this Fall can put them back among the elite recruiting programs in the region.

I like the Hokies' chances here as things stand today, despite the stiff competition:

Hokies make the final 10 for Donovan McMillon

The Strength & Conditioning coach had followed Buzz to Texas A&M:

David Jackson returns as S&C coach for Hokie hoops

Have to think that some of the late-season fatigue that became apparent (and then snowballed) was a factor in bringing back a proven coach in this department.

I fear I may have swung too far in the "timeline and likelihood" direction after being a little too heavy on the "talent and need" criteria wagon last time.

The HokieHaven Sweet Sixteen: May edition

Of course, it's all subjective, so who do you want to see in the class? Who looks realistic to you?

From @RivalsWoody, Khalil Herbert gets a mention:

Transfer Tracker: Ranking RB transfers for the 2020 season

A commitment is not a foregone conclusion, but I would say VT is in strong shape here:

Hokies offer 2020 prospect released from Baylor LOI

(It's very comprehensive, college-caliber stuff). I don't know that there's a ton of upside for a guy who can only play one year... but even without any upside, he'd still be an upgrade at DE over the other current players. If he hits a bit of upside, he could have a big year:

From the film room: Justus Reed

A few changes since last time we took a look, though some of them (like Justus Reed’s transfer) won’t affect future classes:

Virginia Tech scholarship count and needs: Quarantine 2020

Is he now 2021 or still 2020 and I’m hearing good things about him being a Hokie. Is this just smoke?

From @MFarrell. Tre Turner stacks up pretty well:

How top-ranked 2018 signees from the ACC are faring

The picture at safety should become much clearer within the next month. Once we know what Jalen Stroman's definite plans are, get a better feel for how TJ Quinn will react to being unable to take visits, etc., we'll have a good idea where things stand there (obviously still feeling pretty good with both those guys at this point anyway).

At corner, staying right at or near the top of the list for Philip Riley seems like the best bet to bring in an elite prospect, but a guy who hasn't visited and can't any time soon is going to be tough to keep up with. Still, Hokies in good position there, and need to maintain it.

Virginia Tech Hokies 2021 recruiting hotboard: Secondary

I think you could realistically see six or seven guys hear their names called, assuming we get a normal college/NFL/Draft football landscape in the next year

A look at the 2021 Draft prospects at Virginia Tech

Frankly, I'm surprised this wasn't the move even before putting his name in the transfer portal (or at least at the same time as doing so). He's a kid interested - above all else - in getting to the NBA. Makes sense to at least give it a go:

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As Corey says in the tweet (and as you should remember from last week), Nolley's committed to transfer to Memphis if he doesn't head to the professional ranks.