Recruiting Update: Keeping Tabs On Tech Targets

As we embark on the last week of spring practice in anticipation for Saturday's Spring Game, the Tech coaches will begin to focus their full attention on recruiting. The Hokies have had an inauspicious start to the 2015 class, suffering an unusual number of early de-commitments thus far.

There's no doubt the coaching staff would love to use a beautiful 75 -degree day in Blacksburg to host a successful Spring Game in order to regain some momentum, and catapult this class moving forward. Coach Frank Beamer and company will again have to leverage their upcoming summer camps, which have yielded many great Hokie players in the past.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE KEY RECRUITS

Kai Locksley, Gilman School (Baltimore, MD) - 4 Star (247Sports and Rivals)

• The 6'3", 188lb Dual Threat QB - Wide Receiver prospect, is the son of Maryland Offensive Coordinator Mike Locksley.
  
• Locksley, offered by the Hokies in November 2013 attended Junior Day in Blacksburg on February 8th.
  
• Locksley recently (4/19/14) trimmed his list of potential programs down to ten, which included Virginia Tech. Maryland seems to be the overwhelming favorite at this point.
  

Austin Clark, Rockbridge County (Lexington, VA) - 4 Star (247Sports and Rivals)

• The towering 6'6", 300lb Offensive Tackle made another return trip to Blacksburg this past Thursday (4/17/14) as new O-Line Coach Stacy Searels is working hard to convince the in-state star to stay close to home.
• At this point, it seems to be a two horse race with the Hokies and Tennessee Volunteers in which Clark has made no secret of enjoying on each of his visits to Knoxville.
• If you missed GC's recruiting article covering Austin Clark a few weeks back, here's a link to get you caught up: Austin Clark Recruiting Article
• Clark is without a doubt a key target for the Hokies as they look to continue to improve the quality of linemen in the program.
• Clark recently participated in the Rivals 5-Star Challenge Camp in Baltimore with other big Tech targets Josh Sweat, Jahvoni Simmons and Marcus Lewis (former commit, now Florida commit):

Chris Cunningham, Atlantic Coast (Jacksonville, FL) - 3 Star (247Sports)

• Cunningham made a visit to Blacksburg on Saturday (4/19/14) after spending the previous day in Winston-Salem checking out Wake Forest.
• Cunningham boasts 15 offers with the likes of Louisville, Kentucky, Mississippi St., UNC, South Florida and Wake Forest.
  
• The 6'3", 225lb TE prospect was extended an offer by Tech coaches last month and genuinely seems impressed with the VT program:

OTHER RECRUITING TIDBITS

Adonis Alexander, Independence (Charlotte, NC) - 3 Star (247Sports)

• The 6'3", 193lb Safety has seen his recruitment gain steam as of late, with VT being his biggest offer thus far.
  
• The recruiting pundits at 247Sports have the Hokies as the early favorites for Alexander.

Darvin Taylor, Thomas Dale (Chester, VA) - 4 Star (247Sports and Rivals)

• Reports are Taylor will narrow his list of schools soon, VT looks to be a top contender.
• Taylor's High School teammates CJ Reavis and DJ Reid will arrive in Blacksburg this summer, with former Thomas Dale product Safety Desmond Frye a rising junior in the two deep.
• A big time DT prospect, it appears our nemesis in Florida State has the upper hand at this point. Coach Shane Beamer and Charley Wiles will have their work cut out for them.
  
• Losing another in-state 4-Star DT to an out of state conference rival would be crushing.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

As we approach the summer months, this has historically been when the Hokies have gained the majority of its pledges. With only two verbal commits thus far (three have de-committed since the beginning of the year) the Tech coaches will no doubt need to put the foot on the gas as the trend for many prospects has been to have their recruiting out of the way and done by the time their senior years begin. With another loaded class out of the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is imperative that the Hokies take advantage of talented home grown products.

As Coach Beamer preaches, "Win the State."