Welcome to Tunnel Talk, with the latest inside the world of Virginia Tech football recruiting.
High-profile 2022s
You may have noticed that, while a few high-caliber players here and there received their customary recruiting edits (and posted them on social media) over the course of the last 24-plus hours, the majority of the buzz on social media has been either lesser-regarded players, newer targets, or even guys without offers. While that may seem like a negative, I'm told (and have confirmed with at least a couple prospects) that a more personal touch has been the priority with the bigger names.
In fact, most of those guys also got the same "Hard Hat Mentality" picture with their name on it, but - as is often the case with high-profile players - don't post a ton of the recruiting material they receive online. Given that VT's initial salvo in that department was a template-style edit, not a lot lost there.
Of course, "generating buzz among higher-ranked prospects" has also been one of the weaknesses of this staff in recent recruiting classes, so there's some give-and-take there when it comes to the Hokies' needs beyond just the attention on the specific prospect receiving the recruiting material.
In coming days and weeks, the activity will be more meaningful (and the higher-regarded guys will convey that in their public statements, interviews, etc.).
Changes to the recruiting staff
Alex White comes over from Appalachian State - where she only took the job in January, upon graduation from North Carolina - to head VT's on-campus recruiting efforts. That's a job that's essentially a visit coordinator, and is one of the key administrative people within a recruiting department.
All the sources I've spoken to (both within the football office at North Carolina, along with past recruits who both ended up elsewhere and some who play for the Tar Heels) can't say enough positives about her ability to organize and connect on a face-to-face level with prospective student-athletes. The Hokies haven't lacked that - indeed, actually getting players to enjoy campus visits has been one of the strengths of this staff throughout - but taking it to another level would be a positive, and sounds like a possibility if she meets the hype.
My one worry is that VT has hired another younger staffer without high-level coaching or playing experience inn college. It's not a necessity, but when one of the weaknesses of the (non-coaching) recruiting staff has been a bit of a lack of experience, someone fresh out of college is a risk. Putting former players like Corey Fuller and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow inn the more prospect-facing roles while the more-administrative duties get eyes on them on a more full-time basis should mitigate that - and end up a net positive.
As noted in the section above, it does seem like the staff is doing a slightly better job making top-priority players feel as though they occupy a higher spot on the staff's recruiting board (there's no secret that's been one of the biggest struggles with the difficulty in managing the process since Chuck Cantor left), so the proof will be in the pudding long-term.
Christian Charles
My folks in Georgia tell me that Gainesville (Ga.) Chestatee QB/S/Ath Christian Charles continues to feel the love from the Hokies. The prospect himself stays very quiet on the recruiting trail, but those immediately around him like VT's chances:
I honestly have had a hard time determining just how serious a target he is for the time being, though: with multiple safeties already in the fold, and quarterback locked down, this looks like the type of position that is the definition of "luxury recruit," especially going into a year where the Hokies will almost certainly return some players who should be graduates after the 2020 season but will make use of the NCAA's eligibility freeze. A department that's already discussing a funding gap may not give its coaches the opportunity to go well above and beyond the typical 85-scholarship limit.
I do like Charles a lot as a player, and think he'd be a fit for what VT needs. In a more-typical year, he'd have gotten the full-court press and possibly been committed by now.
Seeing how the 2020 season plays out, and how the ripple effects of the eligibility freeze look like they're going to impact college football (and VRT specifically) should go a long way toward determining what happens here and in a few other potential "best available" spots. Obviously offensive and defensive tackles are no such luxuries, and those positions will need to be filled either way.
High-profile 2022s
You may have noticed that, while a few high-caliber players here and there received their customary recruiting edits (and posted them on social media) over the course of the last 24-plus hours, the majority of the buzz on social media has been either lesser-regarded players, newer targets, or even guys without offers. While that may seem like a negative, I'm told (and have confirmed with at least a couple prospects) that a more personal touch has been the priority with the bigger names.
In fact, most of those guys also got the same "Hard Hat Mentality" picture with their name on it, but - as is often the case with high-profile players - don't post a ton of the recruiting material they receive online. Given that VT's initial salvo in that department was a template-style edit, not a lot lost there.
Of course, "generating buzz among higher-ranked prospects" has also been one of the weaknesses of this staff in recent recruiting classes, so there's some give-and-take there when it comes to the Hokies' needs beyond just the attention on the specific prospect receiving the recruiting material.
In coming days and weeks, the activity will be more meaningful (and the higher-regarded guys will convey that in their public statements, interviews, etc.).
Changes to the recruiting staff
Alex White comes over from Appalachian State - where she only took the job in January, upon graduation from North Carolina - to head VT's on-campus recruiting efforts. That's a job that's essentially a visit coordinator, and is one of the key administrative people within a recruiting department.
All the sources I've spoken to (both within the football office at North Carolina, along with past recruits who both ended up elsewhere and some who play for the Tar Heels) can't say enough positives about her ability to organize and connect on a face-to-face level with prospective student-athletes. The Hokies haven't lacked that - indeed, actually getting players to enjoy campus visits has been one of the strengths of this staff throughout - but taking it to another level would be a positive, and sounds like a possibility if she meets the hype.
My one worry is that VT has hired another younger staffer without high-level coaching or playing experience inn college. It's not a necessity, but when one of the weaknesses of the (non-coaching) recruiting staff has been a bit of a lack of experience, someone fresh out of college is a risk. Putting former players like Corey Fuller and Jeron Gouveia-Winslow inn the more prospect-facing roles while the more-administrative duties get eyes on them on a more full-time basis should mitigate that - and end up a net positive.
As noted in the section above, it does seem like the staff is doing a slightly better job making top-priority players feel as though they occupy a higher spot on the staff's recruiting board (there's no secret that's been one of the biggest struggles with the difficulty in managing the process since Chuck Cantor left), so the proof will be in the pudding long-term.
Christian Charles
My folks in Georgia tell me that Gainesville (Ga.) Chestatee QB/S/Ath Christian Charles continues to feel the love from the Hokies. The prospect himself stays very quiet on the recruiting trail, but those immediately around him like VT's chances:
I honestly have had a hard time determining just how serious a target he is for the time being, though: with multiple safeties already in the fold, and quarterback locked down, this looks like the type of position that is the definition of "luxury recruit," especially going into a year where the Hokies will almost certainly return some players who should be graduates after the 2020 season but will make use of the NCAA's eligibility freeze. A department that's already discussing a funding gap may not give its coaches the opportunity to go well above and beyond the typical 85-scholarship limit.
I do like Charles a lot as a player, and think he'd be a fit for what VT needs. In a more-typical year, he'd have gotten the full-court press and possibly been committed by now.
Seeing how the 2020 season plays out, and how the ripple effects of the eligibility freeze look like they're going to impact college football (and VRT specifically) should go a long way toward determining what happens here and in a few other potential "best available" spots. Obviously offensive and defensive tackles are no such luxuries, and those positions will need to be filled either way.
