Temple transfer defensive end Quincy Roche did indeed make it to town this weekend, and from the Hokies' perspective, all went well. The 6-4, 235-pounder was one of the country's most lethal pass-rushers last season, and VT fans know how much that could be a game-changer for the Hokie D.
The issue remains what it was before: Roche wants to see a few other programs before making his final decision. On the bright side, he had been scheduled to leave for Texas today, with a visit to the Longhorns on the schedule. That didn't happen. Is it an indication he doesn't feel he needs to see other schools? A sign that Texas isn't in it anymore, but other schools are? Ultimately meaningless with no hurry to make those trips (given he won't likely be enrolling until after spring practice anyway)? There's no way to get inside his mind, but I'd certainly lean toward it being a little of column A and a little of column B - and less so column C.
Virginia Tech checks nearly all his boxes - the Hokies need him somewhat direly, with his help they could make some serious noise next season, it's close to home, and on and on - and that's a good sign. The question remains whether VT is a bigtime-enough program after nearly a decade out of the national scene. The coaches feel they've climbed that hurdle (with a message of "a pass-rusher like you is all we need to make 2020 the year of our return), and we'll have to wait and see if Roche agrees.
I'd still keep an eye on other visits, but the staff would love for him to make a decision basically immediately (and given the later start to the semester than some of his other options, VT is one school that could potentially have him in for spring practice, though I haven't been able to confirm if he needs to finish out his Temple degree with one more semester).
We're in wait-and-see mode, but for now, there's cautious optimism.
The issue remains what it was before: Roche wants to see a few other programs before making his final decision. On the bright side, he had been scheduled to leave for Texas today, with a visit to the Longhorns on the schedule. That didn't happen. Is it an indication he doesn't feel he needs to see other schools? A sign that Texas isn't in it anymore, but other schools are? Ultimately meaningless with no hurry to make those trips (given he won't likely be enrolling until after spring practice anyway)? There's no way to get inside his mind, but I'd certainly lean toward it being a little of column A and a little of column B - and less so column C.
Virginia Tech checks nearly all his boxes - the Hokies need him somewhat direly, with his help they could make some serious noise next season, it's close to home, and on and on - and that's a good sign. The question remains whether VT is a bigtime-enough program after nearly a decade out of the national scene. The coaches feel they've climbed that hurdle (with a message of "a pass-rusher like you is all we need to make 2020 the year of our return), and we'll have to wait and see if Roche agrees.
I'd still keep an eye on other visits, but the staff would love for him to make a decision basically immediately (and given the later start to the semester than some of his other options, VT is one school that could potentially have him in for spring practice, though I haven't been able to confirm if he needs to finish out his Temple degree with one more semester).
We're in wait-and-see mode, but for now, there's cautious optimism.
