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So the day has finally come. It’s been a long time coming, at that. Many visits through all of high school. Two coaching staffs. One goal: get Devon Hunter to Virginia Tech.
It’s not over yet. The ink hasn’t been put on his LOI on signing day. But everyone on the coaching staff now and then have done it. They got Devon Hunter to commit to Tech. 6’-1”, 206lbs of angry hitting power. 5 stars on Scout, 4 stars on ESPN, Rivals, and 247. A LOT of ink and type. And now, after being the top target for years, at the half-time of the varsity basketball game at Indian River, it’s over. They landed one of the best safeties in the country and one of the top two players in the state- a US Army All American, even. And it has been a long time coming, but today the announcement came. Hunter is a Hokie.
Hunter debuted the jersey for the Battle at Bristol for a reason. The coaching staff wanted him BAD. They bent over backward; went through hell and high water.
HokieNation nothing but Love‼️
— 7️⃣ Hunter (@devonhunter11) August 20, 2016
You Ready❓ #BattleAtBristol #ThisIsHome pic.twitter.com/HxpG7PGeYD
The Hokies brought out the big guns. Kam Chancellor and DeAngelo Hall, two of the finest secondary players that this program sent to the NFL to play in the secondary, both were pulling for the Hokies. Kam was even THERE for the announcement!
Looking forward to seeing where @devonhunter11 will decide to spend his next chapter of life!!!! #BigDayTomorrow
— The Enforcer (@Kam_Chancellor) January 19, 2017
@devonhunter11 @Kam_Chancellor you and I know where he belongs!!!!!!!!
— OG aka CAPTAIN 23 (@DeAngeloHall23) January 20, 2017
@Kam_Chancellor showing up to support @devonhunter11 pic.twitter.com/THobOJY8Ql
— EvanGWatkins247 (@EvanGWatkins247) January 21, 2017
Even Coach Fuente got in on some multi-level tweet action.
#TBT #Statement17 pic.twitter.com/shCh8QZWWu
— Justin Fuente (@CoachFuente) January 19, 2017
But let’s just get to the tape. We can finally breathe again. For now.
Devon Hunter (Chesapeake, VA. 6’-1”, 205lbs. Safety)
Hunter’s a do-it-all athlete. Kick returns. Tackling. Running the ball. Pass coverage. Obviously he’s going in on the defensive side because he hits like a ton of bricks and closes like a Sidewinder missile. He’s got great offensive and defensive vision, which make him a monster in the open field no matter which side of the ball he’s on. It doesn’t hurt that he’s pretty darn strong as well. Where he fits in the rear of Bud Foster’s offense is up in the air- he’s got the kind of frame and versatility to play both rover and free safety. He’s got the closing speed for either one- coverage or tackling purposes included. Heck, sometimes Indian River would line him up in the box because of his size and quickness. He gets fit well and closes and locks in on tackles very maturely for his age. I know that he doesn’t ‘POP OFF THE PAGE’ like some of these services would like their 5-stars to do, but he definitely shows up in how smooth and natural all his plays look, making even good plays look rather dull and routine. I could see him either immediately taking one of the safety spots depending on what kind of rotation that Bud establishes in the secondary, or getting playing time in a VERY short order.
Let’s go Hokies. We landed a good one.