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Hope everyone's had a great summer, that sure went by quickly didn't it? As many lament the end of summer, we will at least have our beloved football to keep us company for the next five to six months!
Last we left off with Virginia Tech football recruiting was my 4th of July edition and we've added a few more commits towards the 2015 class. With some of the "bigger fish" still in the fold, lets review who pledged their word to Coach Frank Beamer and staff.
SUMMER COMMITS:
Shortly after the 4th of July Holiday, Virginia Episcopal School (Lynchburg, VA) Outside Linebacker Damien Dozier (6'4", 210 lbs) committed to the Hokies over offers from Cincinnati, UCONN, Marshall and WVU.
I'm excited to announce my commitment to be a Virginia Tech HOKIE see ya in Blacksburg.#HOKIENATION #2015 #blessed
— Damien Dozier (@TheDDozier) July 7, 2014
Ranked as a mid three-star (247sports) prospect, Dozier possesses great quickness and range and could play a couple of positions on Coach Bud Foster's defense once he makes it to Blacksburg. Watching his junior year film, Dozier can play with his hand in the dirt at Defensive End or stand up and rush off of the edge at OLB. He reminds me of a bigger Cam Martin, who was OLB, WHIP in his days with the Hokies.
Take a look at Dozier's fim (Courtesy hudl)
DBLOCK ADDS SAFETY COMMIT FROM NORTH CAROLINA:
Kam Chancellor's success in the NFL with the World Champion Seattle Seahawks seems to have made an impact with Independence High School (Charlotte, NC) Safety in three-star (247sports) prospect Adonis Alexander. Alexander chose Tech over offers from ECU, Marshall and Wake Forest.
Standing at 6'3" and weighing in the neighborhood of 190lbs, Alexander brings the size, range and speed the Hokies have missed in it's defensive secondary since Chancellor departed VT to become an All-Pro in the NFL.
Those are pretty lofty standards to live up to, especially since Kam was talented enough to play as a true freshman and play CB, ROV and FS throughout his career.
Check out Alexander's junior year film courtesy of hudl:
OSCAR SMITH STAR RB COMMITS TO HOKIES:
A few days after Alexander committed, Tech received its first offensive commit of the 2015 class when they received an oral commitment from Oscar Smith High School (Chesapeake, VA) star Running Back Deshawn McClease.
Despite the Hokies backlog of quality backs in the stable, we've learned the hard way the past two seasons that you can never have too many talented offensive threats, and McClease is just that. Though only 5'9" and 175lbs, McClease is not afraid to mix it up and run between the tackles. He has that chip on the shoulder aggressiveness about him and that should translate well at the next level.
Not only is this a great get as far as the offense is concerned, it's a huge for the fact that McClease represents a big win for Tech coaches in the "757" where we've dropped off a bit in recent years. This also gives the Hokies an advantage in recruiting his teammate in #1 overall ranked recruit Josh Sweat. Lots more on Sweat in the coming months.
ANOTHER EDMUNDS JOINS THE TECH FAMILY:
Nobody can doubt the family connection and atmosphere in Blacksburg, as we've seen in the past with the Warren's, Martin's, Shuman's, Wang's, Vandyke's, Fuller's, Vick's (I may be missing a few here) and now the Edmunds' continue that trend with the third of the Edmunds' boys pledging his commitment to VT.
Tremaine Edmunds, 6'4" and 220lbs (Dan River High School, Ringgold, VA) will join his brothers Trey and Terrell in 2015. A high three-star prospect (247sports), Edmunds had over 12 offers from the likes of Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina, UVA and USC (The Trojans!).
VT Family! #VTFanDay pic.twitter.com/VhnJYbZG7Y
— Coach Stiney (@BryanStiney) August 9, 2014
(Tremaine, left pictured with his brother Trey (right) pose for a picture earlier this month with the beloved Coach Bryan Stinespring).
Tremaine is project to start off at the OLB - WHIP position to take advantage of his great athletic ability and coverage skills to go along with his big frame.
Check out Tremaine's junior year film courtesy hudl:
TIGHT END FROM FLORIDA BECOMES SECOND OFFENSIVE COMMIT:
Chris Cunningham (6'3", 225lbs) three-star (247sports) prospect from Atlantic Coast High School (Jacksonville, FL) chose the Hokies a little over two weeks ago over 20+ offers from the likes of Louisville, UNC, Mississippi State, Maryland and Kentucky.
OFFICIALLY COMMITTED TO VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY! #hokies #blessed pic.twitter.com/Om1zh968p2
— ✈️Chris✈️ (@Chrvs_85) August 8, 2014
Cunningham, a solid down field blocker and pass catcher is also versatile enough to play defensive end.
We have a bit of a treat with some spring practice film for Cunningham (courtesy hudl). Let's hope this Florida athlete continues the successful trend the Hokies have had from the sunshine state.
HOKIES BREAKTHROUGH OCEAN LAKES HIGH SCHOOL:
Ocean Lakes High School (Virginia Beach, VA) three-star (247sports) Safety/Cornerback Jahque Alleyne became the 12th commit of the 2015 class. Alleyne represents the fourth commit from the vaunted "757" and breaks a bit of a drought at Ocean Lakes.
Alleyne committed to the Hokies a week ago and has over 10+ offers from the likes of Oregon, Louisville, Kentucky, UVA and WVU. At 6'1" and 180lbs, Alleyne will have time to perhaps gain another inch and add some bulk to be able to play many positions in Coach Torrian Gray's defensive backfield.
(Courtesy hudl)
At this point in the recruiting year, Tech has generally been in the mid teen's in terms of quantity of players. Three players from the 2014 class will have to prep this year so that will count against this years' numbers. Tabyus Taylor, Tyrell Smith and Xavier Burke look to qualify and join their teammates in Blacksburg in 2015.
Coach Beamer and staff are in on a couple of big fish, namely Josh Sweat (DE), Matthew Burrell (OG), Mike Arnold (OT), Jaylen Dalton (DE), Darrell Taylor (DE), Houshun Gaines (DE), Tim Settle (DT), Darvin Taylor (DT), and Ricky DeBerry (OLB). Defensive line, anyone? This list is littered with four and five star studs, let's hope the coaching staff can close the 2015 class strong and erase memories of past frustrations!