December’s early signing day and February’s late signing day may still be a ways off, but recruiting has accelerated in recent years to the point where most recruiting classes are full months in advance. Of course, there are plenty of flips and layoffs happening all over the country, but for most Power 5 programs, including Virginia Tech, there is a huge amount of upside in the classroom.
Something that happened earlier this cycle is that the Hokies have 9 commits in state, which is the first time Tech has been on track for 9+ in-state signees since the Frank Beamer era. That’s largely built on the success of the Richmond area this cycle, with Tech having a team with many recruits from the area for a long time and strong additions from northwest to southwest Virginia.
However, there is one notable location in Virginia that Tech has closed on the recruiting trail so far, 757.
Interestingly, signs have been pointing in the Tar Heels’ direction for some time now that Virginia Tech three-star WR Paul Billups is uncommitted to the 757 range, recently choosing UNC over Tech and Michigan State.
This three-star ATH recruit, Jordan Bass from Hampton Phoebus HS, is the only 757 Tech offer undrafted by 247 Sports Records. Bass is scheduled to commit next week with the Hokies and Pittsburgh as the top contenders, and Bass plans to release a multi-part commitment video over the course of several days.
If Tech loses out on Bass, the Hokies will be in even greater danger of losing 757 signings straight out of high school for the first time since 1993 (shout out to Tech’s savvy recruiting class records. ).
I’ve talked to a couple coaches at 757 and in addition to the conversations and public tweets at 757, Brent Pry and his staff have had great success in mending relationships that were broken under Justin Fuente.
So why is Tech still committing to the 757 this late in the cycle? There are many reasons why you might feel a little guilty at this point.
You have broken relationships from the Fuente era that will take time to repair regardless of who the head coach is. Tech lost a few recruiting battles in the 757.
The 757 has a lower cycle rate compared to the rest of the range, especially at higher levels. For reference, the 2023 757 class starting with the 2000 class marks the first time in the history of the 247 Sport Collection standards that the 247 Sport Collection does not have a four- or five-star recruit.
757 are also recruited up and down the charts more than ever and Blacksburg is over 4+ hours from the start of the region which opens some doors for some recruiting battles, especially for schools in the Triangle like UNC and the opposition. Duke hired Zohn Burden, a well-known 757 recruiter, this season.
Given some of these exceptions and how Virginia Tech still does 9 in the state, the randomness of the recruiting may be the best reason, so it doesn’t seem like some of Fuente’s classes have left the commonwealth, especially the 2020 class that signed only 1. Hiring in state, Lakem Rudolph from 757.
Of course, Tech could still land the bass, and even if they don’t, that doesn’t mean the prospect of signing Tech’s 757 scholarship recruits this cycle is gone.
It’s easy to imagine a push to flip Tech elsewhere, such as three-star Duke RB Peyton Jones due to a lack of true RB duties, or West Virginia WR Torey Johnson Jr., who is currently undrafted but received. It can be a fun TE game with a tech interest. In those cases, or with other reverse targets, that’s easier said than done.
Tech certainly hasn’t offered one yet, but someone like Johnson or Virginia Beach’s C.J. Frazier shows a lot of promise and shows a lot of potential and will be looking for a strong senior season away from Tech’s offer.
In the year Tech also made a lot of strong impressions early on with many 2024 757 recruits and for some of those guys it looks like a new hire is probably in better shape than it is for most of the 2023 757 recruits this cycle.
While this may worry some tech fans, all signs point to this being a random glitch if the bass can’t land or sign anyone instead of marking things coming from the 757 this cycle. Additionally, the rebuilding of the Tech relationship has shown signs of fruition among high school coaches, with consistent recruiting.
Of course, this entire post will be irrelevant next weekend if Tech beats out Pittsburgh and others for Phoebus Gola Jordan Bass.
