Looking at the offensive line, where a key situation or two has changed since last week.
Prior to his weekend visit to Michigan, I didn't consider the Wolverines much of a threat for Highland Springs (Va.) four-star
Mekhi Becton. The Rivals250 tackle was a take for the Maize and Blue, but not high on their board, so the assumption was that they wouldn't push for him (leaving VT and Virginia Tech still feeling pretty decent about their chances). However, the visit went better than expected in both directions: U-M liked the way he looked physically - especially in comparison to other O-linemen who were visiting - and that inspired them to turn up the heat. The Maize and Blue are perhaps a true threat now.
That doesn't mean he's bound for Ann Arbor, but it definitely
does slow down his decision-making process just a bit, which might work against him if Virginia Tech is his ultimate choice. The Hokies are not quite ready to move on from him, but they also don't intend to wait until Signing Day before focusing on other linemen, either. It's a situation to monitor, especially with no trip to Blacksburg planned in any concrete terms.
Other linemen on the board include Courtland (Va.) North Stafford prospect
Tyran Hunt, who plans to take his official visit to Virginia Tech for the regular season finale (which could be good for the Hokies, given that UVa seems to be the other prime contender for him at this time - and a head-to-head win could tip the scales a bit). He seems less intent on waiting out the recruiting process, which is a positive for the coaching staff.
Depending on how they feel about those two (remember, there are actually two linemen in the 2017 class for all intents and purposes, with 2016 signee Silas Dzansi taking a prep year at Fork Union but still joining the Hokies, along with two-star
Aiden Brown in the 2017 class proper), the net may expand a bit. N.C. State commit
Bryson Speas is a teammate of quarterback commit Hendon Hooker at Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley, and had planned to visit Tech along with Hooker prior to flipping his commitment from UVa to the Wolfpack. The Hokies haven't offered, though they've taken a look, and they could move on Speas if the recruiting process plays out in such a way as to necessitate it. Would he make the flip? He's not a particularly forthcoming kid in interviews, so it's tough to say, but Hooker would certainly be in his ear about that decision.
