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Virginia Tech Among The Current Top 6 For Three-Star CB Donte Burton

Donte Burton 1
The Virginia Tech Hokies are looking to bring in a large group of defensive backs with 2 likely safeties already committed in Chamarri Conner and Nasir Peoples. However, VT is likely to look to add another 4-5 defensive backs to this class including at least 3 cornerbacks with the Hokies being in good shape for multiple of their top cornerbacks targets including three-star Georgian Donte Burton. Donte Burton told us that six are currently leading for him including Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Pittsburgh, and Vanderbilt. This is a slight change from about a month ago when four were at the top for Burton including VT and Oklahoma State with it appearing that both Oregon and West Virginia have faded in his recruitment. Burton is definitely a well-regarded cornerback talent with a strong list of offers that includes Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Louisville, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Colorado, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, NC State, Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas State, and numerous other power 5 schools. Burton is also ranked as a top 85 Georgia recruit by 247 Sports, the 247 Sports Composite, and Rivals with 247 Sports having him as the 42nd best cornerback and the 247 Sports Composite having him 76th among cornerbacks. Burton told us that the Hokies are staying in fairly regular contact with as Burton told us he hears from the Hokies a "couple of times a week." Virginia Tech, and CBs coach Brian Mitchell especially, has appeared to build a strong relationship with Burton as Mitchell was mentioned among the coaches he has the best relationship with along with a pair of Notre Dame assistants and assistants from Missouri, UNC, and Stanford who has not offered Burton at this point. Burton told us that Notre Dame and Missouri are among those recruiting him the hardest currently alongside NC State and UNC where he was previously committed though it is definitely clear that Burton is near the top of the board for the Hokies at the cornerback spot with Brian Mitchell making Burton a priority in his recruiting even more than area recruiter Zohn Burden. Burton only took one visit to Virginia Tech and said that he will probably visit Virginia Tech and Notre Dame first this summer. The Fighting Irish have definitely intensified their pursuit of Burton recently, making themselves a threat to Virginia Tech though the Hokies continue to remain the favorites as the one school Burton visited this spring while also having a visit scheduled already for this summer. Both Notre Dame and Missouri seem to be gaining traction in their pursuits of Burton, but the Hokies continue to be the favorites while Oklahoma State also still seems like a player in Burton's recruitment as the only other school alongside VT to have stayed in his top group from a month ago. The Fighting Irish in particular are interesting as there is no doubt that there is plenty of appeal that Notre Dame brings as one of college football's biggest brands. However, Brian Kelly is on the hot seat entering this season and with Virginia Tech coming off their best season since 2011, Notre Dame definitely has some unique challenges that likely give VT an advantage along with the great defensive coaching staff stability VT has seen with not only Bud Foster entering his 31st season on VT's staff but Foster also not being known for firing and hiring position coaches. Notre Dame and Missouri are emerging as contenders for three-star CB Donte Burton but the Hokies continue to be the frontrunners for one of their top CB targets from a state that VT has made a priority under Justin Fuente.

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