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Virginia Tech Offers Three-Star DE Zion DeBose, Two-Star DE Koby Cumberlander

The Virginia Tech Hokies are making defensive end a priority here at the end of the 2017 recruiting cycle with the Hokies looking to get at least 3 defensive ends in this class with 0 currently committed while potentially getting up to 4. Virginia Tech has a core group of DEs they are targeting with Tyjuan Garbutt, Nathan Proctor, and Brad Johnson being the 3 that stand out as the focal DE targets plus Victor Dimukeje and Robert Porcher IV having the versatility to potentially play DE or DT. However, there's no guarantee that the Hokies get all those guys and another name that has been on their radar received an offer today. https://twitter.com/Zion_LifeGoesOn/status/812410431474114560 Three-star DE Zion DeBose from North Rowan High School in Spencer, North Carolina received an offer today from Virginia Tech. DeBose entered the fall committed to Appalachian State, but his recruitment blew up over the course of the fall with DeBose decommitting from App State and gaining a host of offers from power conference schools including the Hokies, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Illinois, NC State, Missouri, Duke, Rutgers, Kansas, Purdue, and undefeated Group of 5 program Western Michigan. DeBose is ranked as the 23rd best recruit in North Carolina by Rivals while the 247 Sports Composite ranks him 31st in the Tar Heel state and 247 Sports ranks him 28th. DeBose is also ranked as the 44th best weakside DE by the 247 Sports Composite, 41st best by 247 Sports, and 39th best by Rivals. DeBose told us that Missouri has stood out to them and that he was "impressed" when he took an official visit to Columbia just a few weeks ago. DeBose also told us that he will have his official visit schedule for January locked in at the end of next week with the Virginia Tech offer likely affecting his decision-making on where to take his official visits. DeBose told us that he "knew they(Virginia Tech) were going to offer sooner or later" with the Hokies likely keeping an eye on DeBose since he camped over the summer in Blacksburg. The three-star DE plans on announcing his commitment on February 3rd which likely will come at a point when the Hokies may have a lot of clarity on where their defensive end class is going this cycle. DeBose also told us that Missouri, Pittsburgh, Illinois, Rutgers, Western Michigan, Tennessee, Appalachian State, and Virginia Tech are in contact him with the most with the Hokies recently turning up the heat on their recruitment of him and Tennessee being the only school on that list not to have offered him though it seems like the Volunteers may do so soon. Keep an eye on Zion DeBose as a rising name who the Hokies are definitely a contender for. Update: Zion DeBose wasn't the only 2017 defensive end to receive an offer from the Hokies. https://twitter.com/Koby_DE/status/812430551072337920 Defensive end Koby Cumberlander from Roswell High School in Roswell, Georgia received an offer from the Hokies as well today. Cumberlander has a Virginia Tech connection as his teammate is VT three-star athlete commit Malik Willis. Michigan State, Iowa State, Kansas State, and UCF are among the notable programs that have offered Cumberlander before the Hokies offered him today. Cumberlander is rated as a three-star recruit and the 99th best 2017 recruit in the state of Georgia by Rivals while 247 Sports and the 247 Sports Composite have him as a two-star with the 247 Sports Composite ranking him 234th in the Peachtree State and 247 Sports ranking him 238th. Cumberlander seems to be a higher priority for Michigan State and Iowa State with Cumberlander telling us that he plans to take an official to Michigan State on January 13th and one to Iowa State on the last weekend of January. The Hokies could definitely be a sleeper especially if a couple top targets start to fall away with January setting up to a hectic month for the Hokies with putting together what they intend to be a large DE class this cycle.

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