Welcome to Tunnel Talk, with the latest in the world of Hokies recruiting.
Kenji Christian
We're just a few days away from commitment day for Pinson (Ala.) Valley three-star running back Kenji Christian's commitment date.
Rivals Southeast Analyst Chad Simmons has done a great job keeping HokieHaven subscribers in the loop on the ins and outs of the final days here. There's also been a consistent theme: Virginia Tech is right at the top of the pile.
The question, naturally, would be whether the Hokies want or need another tailback with two of them already in the fold (three-stars Chance Black and Malachi Thomas). Every indication I've received is that - especially thanks to the size of the class that will allow for a few "best-available" prospects to sign, regardless of their positions, it's full steam ahead in accepting a commitment. The staff likes Christian enough to keep his offer fully active.
The slight twist is that the other finalist, Ole Miss, desperately wants him. The Rebels are continuing to push hard, and while the Hokies aren't not pushing, the amount of attention the Mississippi coaching staff is putting in could be enough to make that 11th-hour pass. The VT staff just can't justify using the same amount of resource energy (particularly with the coaches' attention divided from the recruiting trail now that Fall camp is under way) on a three-star guy (even if they evaluate him at a higher level than that) at a position where they've already landed two other players they prioritized more.
My personal take is that, while I do think VT manages to hold on and land him in the end, if Ole Miss is able to wrest him away, it's probably not the most damaging recruiting loss.
Khalil Dinkins
Pittsburgh-area athlete Khalil Dinkins - the son of former NFL tight end Darnell Dinkins - has been on Virginia Tech's board at a couple different positions for several months now. Capable of playing linebacker or defensive end, he seems to have settled on the tight end position for his college preference.
While that remains a key position of need (one of the very few still-unfilled in the 2021 cycle), the Hokies have been only on the periphery of the recruitment for a while. Pitt (the hometown school and Dad's alma mater) and Penn State have long had an edge on the field.
At this point, with Robbie Ouzts and (the suddenly very quiet) Jordan Dingle greater priorities for the Hokies, Dinkins has faded from the staff's recruiting board. The resultant slide in his eyes - with an official narrowing of the list coming in the not-so-distant future - will probably see the parties go their separate ways when he cuts down his options.
Ozzie Hoffler
Speaking of players whose lack of attention from Virginia Tech has helped shape their recruitments, remember Ozzie Hoffler? The three-star defensive end out of College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy took an unofficial visit for one of the junior days this Winter, and it seemed like a matter of time before he committed to the Hokies. In fact, he told HokieHaven that it was only a matter of getting in his due diligence with a few other visits before making his choice, with VT way out in front.
It would be unfair to say the coaching staff ghosted him at that point, but their changing priorities (including a shift to defensive ends that they like quite a bit more - with good reason, in fairness) left that option off the table for him, essentially.
Hoffler has other suitors, and will still end up in the Power-5 (it seems like Kansas State is developing a solid lead in his recruitment). It is interesting that a player at a high-profile program - Woodward Academy has produced two dozen three- or four-star recruits in the recent past, including 2019 Hokies signee Tahj Gary - faded from the board in the way he did. It may be telling that VT hasn't offered 2022 Rivals250 running back Damari Alston, either: the connection-building at Woodward Academy is tough, and Hoffler's recruitment proves that they're not interested in taking players just to develop pipelines.
As always, thanks for reading Tunnel Talk, and feel free to use this thread to discuss the contents herein.
Kenji Christian
We're just a few days away from commitment day for Pinson (Ala.) Valley three-star running back Kenji Christian's commitment date.
Rivals Southeast Analyst Chad Simmons has done a great job keeping HokieHaven subscribers in the loop on the ins and outs of the final days here. There's also been a consistent theme: Virginia Tech is right at the top of the pile.
The question, naturally, would be whether the Hokies want or need another tailback with two of them already in the fold (three-stars Chance Black and Malachi Thomas). Every indication I've received is that - especially thanks to the size of the class that will allow for a few "best-available" prospects to sign, regardless of their positions, it's full steam ahead in accepting a commitment. The staff likes Christian enough to keep his offer fully active.
The slight twist is that the other finalist, Ole Miss, desperately wants him. The Rebels are continuing to push hard, and while the Hokies aren't not pushing, the amount of attention the Mississippi coaching staff is putting in could be enough to make that 11th-hour pass. The VT staff just can't justify using the same amount of resource energy (particularly with the coaches' attention divided from the recruiting trail now that Fall camp is under way) on a three-star guy (even if they evaluate him at a higher level than that) at a position where they've already landed two other players they prioritized more.
My personal take is that, while I do think VT manages to hold on and land him in the end, if Ole Miss is able to wrest him away, it's probably not the most damaging recruiting loss.
Khalil Dinkins
Pittsburgh-area athlete Khalil Dinkins - the son of former NFL tight end Darnell Dinkins - has been on Virginia Tech's board at a couple different positions for several months now. Capable of playing linebacker or defensive end, he seems to have settled on the tight end position for his college preference.
While that remains a key position of need (one of the very few still-unfilled in the 2021 cycle), the Hokies have been only on the periphery of the recruitment for a while. Pitt (the hometown school and Dad's alma mater) and Penn State have long had an edge on the field.
At this point, with Robbie Ouzts and (the suddenly very quiet) Jordan Dingle greater priorities for the Hokies, Dinkins has faded from the staff's recruiting board. The resultant slide in his eyes - with an official narrowing of the list coming in the not-so-distant future - will probably see the parties go their separate ways when he cuts down his options.
Ozzie Hoffler
Speaking of players whose lack of attention from Virginia Tech has helped shape their recruitments, remember Ozzie Hoffler? The three-star defensive end out of College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy took an unofficial visit for one of the junior days this Winter, and it seemed like a matter of time before he committed to the Hokies. In fact, he told HokieHaven that it was only a matter of getting in his due diligence with a few other visits before making his choice, with VT way out in front.
It would be unfair to say the coaching staff ghosted him at that point, but their changing priorities (including a shift to defensive ends that they like quite a bit more - with good reason, in fairness) left that option off the table for him, essentially.
Hoffler has other suitors, and will still end up in the Power-5 (it seems like Kansas State is developing a solid lead in his recruitment). It is interesting that a player at a high-profile program - Woodward Academy has produced two dozen three- or four-star recruits in the recent past, including 2019 Hokies signee Tahj Gary - faded from the board in the way he did. It may be telling that VT hasn't offered 2022 Rivals250 running back Damari Alston, either: the connection-building at Woodward Academy is tough, and Hoffler's recruitment proves that they're not interested in taking players just to develop pipelines.
As always, thanks for reading Tunnel Talk, and feel free to use this thread to discuss the contents herein.
