Virginia Tech's 757 Recruiting Downfall Over the Years

For more than a decade, the Virginia Tech football program’s success has come from consistency and the ability keep in-state recruits in the Commonwealth. Starting in the late 90s and early 2000s, Tech began to rely heavily on the talent rich 757 area code on the eastern shore of Virginia, including Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Franklin, and Suffolk. This area has produced Hokie legends Bruce Smith (Norfolk-Booker T. Washington High School), Michael Vick (Newport News-Warwick High School), and so many more.

But the Hokies’ last great recruiting classes to come out of the 757 come from a decade ago.

2002

Name	Position	City	High School	Rating (Stars)
Brenden Hill	WR	Newport News	Warwick	*
Robert Parker	WR	Chesapeake	Oscar Smith	**
Aaron Rouse	DB	Virginia Beach	First Colonial	***
Darryl Tapp	DE	Chesapeake	Deep Creek	***
Marcus Vick	QB	Newport News	Warwick	*****
Jimmy Williams	DB	Hampton	Bethel	***

2003

Name	Position	City	High School	Rating (Stars)
Xavier Adibi	LB	Hampton	Phoebus	****
Chris Ellis	DE	Hampton	Bethel	****
Vince Hall	LB	Chesapeake	Western Branch	****
DJ Parker	ATH	Hampton	Phoebus	**
Carlton Powell	DT	Chesapeake	Great Bridge	***

These players would be a critical factor with the Hokies move into the ACC, and most would go on to help contribute to winning the Coastal Division in 2005 and 2007, and winning the ACC Championship in 2007. Marcus Vick was electrifying on the field and continued the trend of a mobile quarterback in Blacksburg, while all the defensive players helped surge Bud and his boys to acquiring top ranked defenses over these year

The Hokies would be okay throughout the years after these classes. But recruiting in the 757 started to become a little tricky beginning in the early 2000s as it was hard to ignore the talent coming out of the area. With that, out of state schools began their attack. But for right now let’s take a look at what Tech was able to gain out of the 757. We’ll take a look at the bad and the ugly later.

2005

Name	Position	City	School	Rating (Stars)
Greg Boone	ATH	Chesapeake	Oscar Smith	***
Stephen Friday	DE	Hampton	Phoebus	****
Elan Lewis	RB	Hampton	Phoebus	****
Todd Nolen	WR	Hampton	Hampton	****
Devon Simmons	LB	Virginia Beach	Landstown	****
Demetrius Taylor	LB	Virginia Beach	Floyd Kellam	***

This isn't a bad class, but look at how many names you recognize. Three maybe? The ones that stand out are Boon, Friday, and Taylor. I’d say Boone is the big name. Was a quarterback and safety at Oscar Smith but developed into every Hokies’ favorite tight end and Wild Turkey (formation) quarterback. I miss the Boooooooooone days.

2006

Name	Position	City	School	Rating (Stars)
Kam Chancellor	QB	Norfolk	Maury	***
Matt Wright	LB	Hampton	Phoebus	***

Needless to say, Kam Chancellor is the epitome of what coaches can do at Virginia Tech. They take a three star quarterback; transfer him to safety, now he’s considered one of the best in the NFL, and a Super Bowl champion. But only two recruits out of the 757? What?

2007

Name	Position	City	School	Rating (Stars)
Jaymes Brooks	OL	Newport News	Denbigh	***
Greg Nosal	TE	Virginia Beach	Floyd Kellam	**
Tyrod Taylor	QB	Hampton	Hampton	*****

Both Brooks and Nosal became above average linemen and earned All-ACC honors while at Virginia Tech. And Tyrod Taylor, need I say more? It came down to Tech and the Florida Gators for Taylor. Fortunately, for the Hokies, the best dual threat quarterback in the nation decided to stay at home and produced many memories for us Hokie fans.

2008

Name	Position	City	School	Rating (Stars)
Xavier Boyce	ATH	Virginia Beach	Landstown	***
Marcus Davis	ATH	Virginia Beach	Ocean Lakes	***
Randall Dunn	WR	Virginia Beach	Ocean Lakes	***
Lyndell Gibson	LB	Virginia Beach	Salem	***
Tony Gregory	RB	Virginia Beach	First Colonial	***
Joe Jones	DE	Virginia Beach	Green Run	**
Vinston Painter	OL	Norfolk	Maury	****

Tech saw a resurgence this year but still let some big in state recruits slip. Boyce would never produce much, while Davis became a wide receiver project and was somewhat successful. Gregory’s injuries did him in and we never really saw his true talent and speed put to use. But on the other hand, Painter was a success. 2008 was another down year to say the least.

2009

Name	Position	City	School	Rating (Stars)
Telvion Clark	LB	Norfolk	Granby	***
James Gayle	DE	Hampton	Bethel	***
Tyrel Wilson	DE	Hampton	Hampton	***

While Clark was supposed to see some playing time at linebacker with Tech’s thin depth chart, he never did as he was eventually dismissed from the team for violating team rules. But in 2009 the coaches were able to snatch up two future starting defensive ends, with a future NFL player in Gayle.

2010

Name	Position	City	School	Rating (Stars)
Nick Dew	DB	Virginia Beach	First Colonial	****
Dominique Patterson	ATH	Suffolk	Kings Fork	***

Both Dew and Patterson looked to have bright futures in Blacksburg. Dew (an Underarmour All-American) was a safety/linebacker hybrid while Patterson looked for time at running back. But eventually, both players left the program. Whomp.

2011

Name	Position	City	School	Rating (Stars)
DeWayne Alford	DE	Suffolk	Nansemond River	***

Well, only one player in 2011. Tech missed two big names this year, but Alford logged in some good playing time in 2013 and will look to improve into a major role for next season.

2012

Name	Position	City	School	Rating (Stars)
J.C. Coleman	RB	Chesapeake	Oscar Smith	****
Der’Woun Greene	DB	Portsmouth	Woodrow Wilson	***
Alston Smith	DT	Virginia Beach	Cox	***
Thomas Smith	WR	Williamsburg	Layfayette	***

J.C. Coleman came to Blacksburg and made an immediate impact, but doesn't look to be the Hokies’ every down feature running back. Meanwhile, Alston Smith (son of Bruce Smith) looks to hopefully make an impact after moving to offensive line. And red-shirt freshman safety Greene looks to be an effective piece on defense in the next few years.

2013

Name	Position	City	High School	Rating (Stars)
Charles Clark	DB	Suffolk	Kings Fork	***
Bucky Hodges	QB	Virginia Beach	Salem	****
Andrew Motuapuaka	LB	Virginia Beach	Salem	***
Deon Newsome	ATH	Hampton	Hampton	***
Parker Osterloh	OL	Williamsburg	Warhill	***

The big name here is Bucky Hodges. Hodges looked to be Logan Thomas’ replacement for a while with a similar build and skill set, but since then has moved to tight end. Meanwhile, Osterloh looks to be in the mix for starting on the offensive line in the near future. This is a decent class out of the area, but Tech still lacks the elite talent edge.

2014

Name	Position	City	High School	Rating (Stars)
Jaylen Bradshaw	WR	Chesapeake	Oscar Smith	***
Ricky Walker	DT	Hampton	Bethel	****
Marshawn Williams	RB	Hampton	Phoebus	****

Could this be the class? Only three recruits from the 757, but all three names are appealing. Bradshaw could develop into a good target a wide receiver. Walker looks to what looks to be another talented front four on defense. And Williams could possibly be Tech’s next feature back. Only time will tell.

The early 2000s were great for Hokie recruiting and football. We saw ten win seasons, conference championships, and a slew of All-ACC players and All-Americans. But since then, in-state recruiting (especially in the 757) has taken a major hit. Out of state schools and even UVA are luring players away from Blacksburg.

Here are some big in-state names the Hokies have missed out on over the years

Name	Position	City	High School	Rating	College
Ahmad Brooks	LB	Woodbridge	C.D. Hilton	*****	Virginia
Percy Harvin	WR	Virginia Beach	Landstown	*****	Florida
E.J. Manuel	QB	Virginia Beach	Bayside	****	Florida State
Mike Glennon	QB	Centreville	Westfield	****	N.C. State
Morgan Moses	OL	Richmond	Meadow Broook	****	Virginia
Tajh Boyd	QB	Hampton	Phoebus	****	Clemson
Jerod Askew	LB	Chesapeake	Oscar Smith	****	Tennessee
J.R. Ferguson	DE	Chatham	Hargrave	****	LSU
Phillip Sims	QB	Chesapeake	Oscar Smith	****	Alabama/UVA
Justin Hunter	WR	Virginia Beach	Ocean Lakes	****	Tennessee
Curtis Grant	LB	Richmond	Hermitage	*****	Ohio State
Demetrius Nicholson	DB	Virginia Beach	Bayside	****	Virginia
Eli Harold	DE	Virginia Beach	Ocean Lakes	****	Virginia
Alex Carter	DB	Ashburn	Briar Woods	****	Stanford
Kwontie Moore	LB	Norfolk	Norfolk Christian	****	Virginia
Taquan Mizzell	RB	Virginia Beach	Bayside	*****	Virginia
Da’Shawn Hand	DE	Woodbridge	Woodbridge Sr.	*****	Alabama
Quin Blanding	DB	Virginia Beach	Bayside	*****	Virginia
Andrew Brown	DT	Chesapeake	Oscar Smith	*****	Virginia
Jayln Holmes	DE	Norfolk	Lake Taylor	****	Ohio State
Derrick Nnadi	DT	Virginia Beach	Ocean Lakes	****	Florida State

The list shows names dating back to 2002 and continues to this year’s 2014 recruits. I’d say most of these players are program changers. They have elite talent and could’ve put the Hokies up there with the other elite programs in college football. Think about Tech having Percy Harvin, Morgan Moses, or Justin Hunter. With more talented skill position players the Hokies would've been contenders for the National Championship year in and year out with that stifling defense.

The list shows mainly 757 area recruits but also includes recruits out of the area. It’s obvious by this that Tech is having trouble maintaining control not only of the 757 but the state of Virginia also. Yes, the Hokies will continue to get their average in state recruits and develop them into what they want them to be. They will get their above average four star recruits who either boom or bust. But they continue to lack the control of elite recruits in the state as a whole and especially the 757. Players are seeking opportunities elsewhere, whether it is out of state or over at UVA as Mike London has hit the area hard in the past few years.

The 757 is no secret. But the Hokies staff must make a hard push back into the area and regain the control of recruits in the Tidewater if gaining elite talent is a concern. With elite talent comes wins. And with wins come respect, interest, more elite recruits, and hopefully a National Championship.

Virginia Tech is supposed to be the face football in the state of Virginia, and we can't even recruit on our own talent rich soil.