Virginia Tech football recruiting: Top target has Hokies in top 5 schools

The Virginia Tech Hokies were listed among the top five schools for a big defensive line target on Wednesday evening.

Rashaud Pernell, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive lineman from Highland Springs High School in Highland Springs, Virginia, put out a top-five list that included the Hokies, Minnesota, Wake Forest, Coastal Carolina and Boston College.

Boston College continues to be aggressive in Virginia after pulling cornerback Shawn Asbury away from the Hokies in the 2021 class.

Pernell, who was recruited by former Hokie legend — and assistant defensive line coach — Darryl Tapp, is apparently still being recruited by Tapp, who responded to Pernell’s tweet on Wednesday.

Tapp left Virginia Tech earlier this year for the same role with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.

Pernell is considered a three-star recruit by 247Sports. However, I wouldn’t pay too much attention to that ranking. Pernell can play, and he plays for one of the top teams in the state — coached by former Hokie, Loren Johnson.

He fits the mold in the type of defensive linemen that Justin Hamilton and Bill Teerlinck like. He is big, athletic, versatile and has room to grow.

Pernell is also important to this class as Tech tries to get back into Highland Springs. The Hokies added priority walk-on, Jabari Parker, from Highland Springs in 2021. The Hokies need to land more kids from the talent-rich Springers, and Tapp did outstanding work there during his one season back in Blacksburg.

Pernell doesn’t have an exact timeframe for his decision.