Virginia Tech Tight End Recruiting Breakdown for 2018 and 2019

Editor

July 13, 2017, 03:00 AM

Virginia Tech has commitments at all positions on offense and defense except for one in the Class of 2018, tight end. However, Virginia Tech has also been right in the hunt for their top tight end targets throughout the cycle with VT still in great shape. Meanwhile, VT's 2019 tight end is just starting to form with one of VT's tight end targets having a brother who starts for the Hokies.

2 Big Targets Still Remain in 2018

Virginia Tech's top 2 tight end targets are still on the board in four-star TE Kyle Pitts and three-star TE James Mitchell with neither seeming too close to a decision at this point. The recruitment of Kyle Pitts has taken some interesting twists and turns recently as the four-star TE seemed close to a commitment to Florida earlier this month after a great visit to Gainesville late in the spring launched the Gators into the driver's seat. However, that has changed now as Pitts has slowed things down, releasing a top 4 that included Virginia Tech, Georgia, and Maryland in addition to Florida while also planning to take visits to Blacksburg and Athens. Until Pitts touches down at either campus, Florida is still the favorite but both Virginia Tech and Georgia now have great opportunities to make a big move while Maryland can't be ruled out either but it's hard seeing the Terps as a serious player currently. VT will likely look to get Pitts on for their BBQ event though simply getting him on campus will be a great opportunity for the Hokies to make a big move. One thing that definitely helps the Hokies is how VT is set at QB this cycle with Quincy Patterson pushing hard to get the talented Pennsylvania TE with Florida and Georgia both still having uncertainty there as they pursue Justin Fields. VT also has a significant connection to Pitts' school as VT commit Nasir Peoples is a teammate of Pitts, something that can only be beneficial for the Hokies and give them a unique advantage over the Gators and Bulldogs. At this point, it seems unlikely that Pitts will make a decision before the start of the season with his whole top 4 being likely to receive official visits this fall though VT has a couple of unique advantages that can only be beneficial. James Mitchell is the other top TE target for the Hokies with Virginia Tech being seen as the favorite in part because VT has the in-state advantage along with Mitchell also being a Southwest Virginia recruit that VT has been on for a long time. Virginia Tech's coaching staff as a whole has built a great relationship with Mitchell, helping VT's chances to get the best SWVA recruit in years even more. Clemson and Tennessee are two other major contenders here as the Vols also aren't far from Mitchell and have him high on their board while Clemson has tons of momentum on the recruiting trail because of their national title. Duke is a sleeper to keep an eye on as the Blue Devils have put plenty of attention on the talented tight end, and have gained a fair amount of interest from him as well. Mitchell has been quiet recently, but Virginia Tech continues to be the favorite though for now, it wouldn't be surprising to see his recruitment go on into the fall unless something significant happens in the coming weeks especially with Mitchell being very quiet over the past several weeks.

VT Just Getting Started at TE in 2019

Virginia Tech has only sent out a few offers at tight end in the 2019 class, but those offers provide plenty of intrigue for who the Hokies have their eyes on at tight end in 2019. It starts with Nick Gallo, the brother of Virginia Tech's starting center Eric Gallo. Nick Gallo earned a Hokies' offer at a camp last month with VT immediately becoming the favorite especially with the Hokies having a history of brothers playing at VT. While that history was built under Frank Beamer, Justin Fuente has continued to maintain that finding ways to make sure brothers are included in this program as shown by how Trey Edmunds was invited to participate in VT's Pro Day after transferring to Maryland while both of his younger brothers have become defensive stars for the Hokies. The Hokies have the early advantage of being the only power 5 school to have offered Gallo, making VT the early favorite for him over his other offers from Temple, Connecticut, and Morgan State. Penn State could be a threat for the Pennsylvania TE if they choose to offer with the Nittany Lions definitely keeping an eye on the in-state TE with Gallo also having camped out for PSU. Larry Hodges was Virginia Tech's first TE offer in the Class of 2019 and the Tampa native has a solid offer list that also includes Miami, Louisville, Kentucky, Indiana, and USF. The Hokies are seen as a major contender early on for Hodges though Miami definitely will be a tough challenge here with Miami having been fantastic on the trail under Mark Richt and having the in-state advantage while Louisville is a sleeper to keep an eye with the Cardinals having some success going into Florida and getting a few guys over the past several years. While Miami is likely the favorite on paper for Hodges, VT does have a prediction in its favor for Hodges in the 247 Sports Crystal Ball. However, Hodges's recruitment is just getting started and making a prediction for a guy that doesn't have some sort of unique connection to VT seems like a major stretch and something to not overhype at this point. Virginia Tech is the only offer for Cormontae Hamilton out of Memphis powerhouse Whitehaven. With the Hokies being the only offer, VT is definitely the early favorite but it seems certain that Hamilton's offer list will grow in the coming months especially with a major power 5 school like VT having offered him. However, VT has a big advantage here with Justin Fuente and his staff having lots of connection to Memphis from Fuente's time as the head coach of the Tigers along with much of that staff coming with Fuente to Blacksburg including TEs coach James Shibest. The Hokies have a lot of work left at tight end in the 2018 class with battles for both James Mitchell and Kyle Pitts while their 2019 TE board is just starting to form and gives VT the chance to add another brother of a current VT player in Nick Gallo.