There aren't a ton of uncommitted prospects around the country right now, but Virginia Tech is content to look at other schools' commitment lists to finish off their own, as well.
When Virginia Tech initially offered Hampton (Va.) athlete Dazz Newsome a few weeks back, it felt like an inevitability that the three-star athlete would follow older brother Deon to Blacksburg. However, the 5-10, 170-pounder remained committed to Maryland, and it seemed like interest from the Hokies' end had faded with VT content to let him remain a Terp. An official visit to North Carolina over the weekend saw him pull back from his Maryland pledge, though, and it will be interesting to see where the Hokies decide to take this one. He may not be priority No. 1 for the rest of the class, but they intend to get Newsome on-campus in the last two weekends before Signing Day. The prospect himself isn't talking, so was the re-opening of his recruitment a result of a better-than-expected trip to Chapel Hill, or a more general move that should see the Hokies step up in a major way?
Toms River (N.J.) North three-star Bryce Watts is another defensive back option suddenly back on the market, with Rutgers as the Big Ten school suffering a decommitment this time. Watts has been trending this way for some time, and had long told us that a trip to Blacksburg was likely (even when his Rutgers commitment looked solid to outsiders). He'll make it to campus this weekend, and it would not surprise to see him pull the trigger. In fact, it's unclear who any other contenders are, barring the Hokies not having enough room and leaving him heading back to Rutgers.
One player didn't decommit from his Big Ten school over the weekend, but as predicted recently, Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes receiver Sean Nelson will visit Blacksburg the weekend before Signing Day - while remaining committed to Maryland. The three-star is a 6-2, 180-pound outside receiver, and that has become a position of need following early departures to the NFL (especially since, according to sources, the long-rumored academic issues for four-star Ryan Jones have him as a non-take for VT right now - it's unclear if he'll even take an official visit before Signing Day at this point). Given the depth chart at his spot, the need may be great enough to give Nelson serious thought to making the flip. Another to keep an eye on this weekend.
There should be one other (new) elsewhere-committed prospect on an official visit to campus this weekend, according to a source close to the player. This ACC pledge plays a position of need, but we're not quite ready yet to put his name out there - the Hokies' coaching staff appears to be trying to keep this one on the DL for the time being. If we get the go-ahead, we'll share his name soon.
When Virginia Tech initially offered Hampton (Va.) athlete Dazz Newsome a few weeks back, it felt like an inevitability that the three-star athlete would follow older brother Deon to Blacksburg. However, the 5-10, 170-pounder remained committed to Maryland, and it seemed like interest from the Hokies' end had faded with VT content to let him remain a Terp. An official visit to North Carolina over the weekend saw him pull back from his Maryland pledge, though, and it will be interesting to see where the Hokies decide to take this one. He may not be priority No. 1 for the rest of the class, but they intend to get Newsome on-campus in the last two weekends before Signing Day. The prospect himself isn't talking, so was the re-opening of his recruitment a result of a better-than-expected trip to Chapel Hill, or a more general move that should see the Hokies step up in a major way?
Toms River (N.J.) North three-star Bryce Watts is another defensive back option suddenly back on the market, with Rutgers as the Big Ten school suffering a decommitment this time. Watts has been trending this way for some time, and had long told us that a trip to Blacksburg was likely (even when his Rutgers commitment looked solid to outsiders). He'll make it to campus this weekend, and it would not surprise to see him pull the trigger. In fact, it's unclear who any other contenders are, barring the Hokies not having enough room and leaving him heading back to Rutgers.
One player didn't decommit from his Big Ten school over the weekend, but as predicted recently, Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes receiver Sean Nelson will visit Blacksburg the weekend before Signing Day - while remaining committed to Maryland. The three-star is a 6-2, 180-pound outside receiver, and that has become a position of need following early departures to the NFL (especially since, according to sources, the long-rumored academic issues for four-star Ryan Jones have him as a non-take for VT right now - it's unclear if he'll even take an official visit before Signing Day at this point). Given the depth chart at his spot, the need may be great enough to give Nelson serious thought to making the flip. Another to keep an eye on this weekend.
There should be one other (new) elsewhere-committed prospect on an official visit to campus this weekend, according to a source close to the player. This ACC pledge plays a position of need, but we're not quite ready yet to put his name out there - the Hokies' coaching staff appears to be trying to keep this one on the DL for the time being. If we get the go-ahead, we'll share his name soon.
