The Virginia Tech Hokies have gotten off to a solid start in recruiting the Class of 2016 with 3-star QB Logan Byrd; 3-star DBs Myles Wolfolk, Kareem Felder, and Troy Pride; and 3-star WRs Samuel Denmark and Conner O'Donnell. However, the Hokies had failed to gain a single commit from the state of Virginia.
However, that changed last night.
3-Star athlete Jovonn Quillen of Hampton High School in Hampton, Virginia became the Hokies' seventh commit of the Class of 2016 and the first one from the state of Virginia. Quillen is the cousin of Virginia Tech running back Marshawn Williams and the connection seemed to help the Hokies a lot in getting Quillen.
Most recruiting sites do not have a grade for Quillen though Rivals has him as a three-star athlete that is the 30th best junior in the state of Virginia. Quillen definitely seems like a solid three-star prospect that has a huge ceiling and a somewhat low floor.
Quillen plays quarterback for Hampton High School, but will almost certainly shift to wide receiver, cornerback, or safety at the collegiate level. Quillen is an extremely good athlete, and his quarterback background along with only having two offers will likely have fans comparing his backstory to Kam Chancellor. However, Quillen will have to work very hard if he wants to become a great player like Chancellor.
Quillen seems more likely to be a safety than any other position and has above-average speed for that position. Quillen's experience at quarterback should also help him be very good at reading the eyes of the opposing quarterback. However, it will take some time for Quillen to transition from quarterback to another position which means a redshirt seems likely for him.
Jovonn Quillen became the first player from the Class of 2016 to commit to the Hokies in which Cornell Brown was the primary recruiter. This commitment gives the Hokies some recruiting momentum in the 757, and gives Brown some momentum on the recruiting trail.
Brown is the primary recruiter for multiple top recruits including two players from the 757, 4-star ILB Jaquan Yulee and 4-star athlete Robbie Robinson, and 4-star New Jersey athlete Ahmir Mitchell. Momentum can be big in recruiting and Brown definitely has some momentum even though the Hokies are the only power 5 conference program that have an offer extended to Quillen currently.
Quillen might be able to be someone that could influence other 757 players to commit to Virginia Tech. Casey Vick II is a defensive back for Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia that announced that he was committing to Virginia Tech with Quillen. Vick seems like a walk-on candidate for the Hokies, but the fact that Quillen was able to convince a potential walk-on to commit this early is a sign of his potential recruiting skills.
Jovonn Quillen is definitely a player that will need some time to transition likely to safety, but definitely seems to have the athleticism to be a big-time player.
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