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Virginia Tech Wide Receiver Recruiting Breakdown For 2018 and 2019

Tre Turner 2
Our position-by-position breakdown of Virginia Tech recruiting for the 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes continues today with a look at wide receiver recruiting which has gone quite well for the Hokies in 2018 with commitments from four-star WRs Tre Turner and Darryle Simmons while also being in great shape for some top 2019 receivers.

VT Building Elite WR Class in 2018

Virginia Tech has a very good wide receiver class for 2018 headlined by four-star recruits Tre Turner and Darryle Simmons while also having a commitment from high three-star athlete Armani Chatman who could play wide receiver if things don't work out for him as a defensive back. Whether Chatman ends up at WR or DB, this is an elite wide receiver class for the Hokies that could still get even better with VT pushing hard for four-star WR Daniel George. Tre Turner was a home run get for the Hokies that helped give Virginia Tech their big summer momentum that has led them to growing their class to 19 commits. Turner is a special talent with an incredible combination of speed, size, agility, and athleticism along with being a great playmaker that will definitely come to Blacksburg and make an immediate impact even if it isn't as a starter. Turner had plenty of interest from all across the country, but North Carolina and Florida State proved to be the Hokies' biggest challengers. However, Virginia Tech did an excellent job pursuing Turner and brought the talented Greensboro receiver on board, becoming the first of three Greensboro-area recruits to commit to the Hokies this cycle. Turner wasn't the only major pickup for the Hokies as four-star receiver Darryle Simmons was the first domino in what has been an incredible summer for Virginia Tech on the recruiting trail, gaining a commitment from him on Mother Day's, less than two weeks before the Hokies gained commits from Turner and three-star DB Braxton Clark. Simmons profiles as an outside receiver that has solid speed with very good size and a good vertical along with being a fairly refined wide receiver that should help him compete for playing time as a freshman. Simmons has the skills to be a very good receiver for the Hokies over the course of his career while also having a low bust potential. Simmons was also highly-recruited by plenty of major programs with Penn State, North Carolina, and Wisconsin being among the top contenders for him but Virginia Tech quietly made a big move for Simmons and gained his commitment on Mother's Day. The pickup of Simmons was also quite impressive especially with VT going up into Pennsylvania to get a guy that Penn State was quite interested in addition to a few other prominent Big 10 schools like Wisconsin. However, Virginia Tech might not be done just yet at wide receiver even with the possibility that Armani Chatman could end up at WR in the long run as VT is in hot pursuit of four-star WR Daniel George. George has been a major wide receiver target for the Hokies for months and while numbers have gotten tight in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech is still making a big push for George. Penn State is currently seen as the favorite with the Maryland WR set to visit the Nittany Lions this weekend but if the Hokies can get him on campus soon, especially if it's for their big BBQ event on the 22nd, VT could make a big move that could give the Hokies a great chance to beat out Penn State for the talented wideout. Bryce Thompson decommitted from the Hokies last month and it appears likely that he will end up at South Carolina. Dillon Spalding recently released a top 5 that included the Hokies and while VT seemed like a major player early on, it's hard to see that now especially with numbers getting quite tight in Blacksburg with VT already having 19 commits and planning to take a smaller WR class this cycle after a couple of larger WR classes in 2016 and 2017.

2019 could be even better

Virginia Tech has put together a very good wide receiver class in 2018, but the Hokies have the potential to put together an even better WR class in 2019 with plenty of big time targets headlined by one of the best 2019 receivers in America, four-star Jacoby Pinckney. Over the past few months, Pinckney has been consistent that the Hokies are one of his top schools with Virginia Tech making a huge push and having the South Carolina receiver as one of their top targets for the 2019 class. Virginia Tech also has a great connection to Pinckney as he is teammates with 2018 VT commit Jordan McFadden, a connection that can only be helpful for VT. North Carolina is also going to be a serious challenger for the Hokies as Pinckney has shown plenty of interest in the Tar Heels who have also made him a high priority while Georgia is a team to watch with Pinckney having plenty of interest in the Bulldogs but UGA not recruiting him as hard as the Hokies or Tar Heels so far. Virginia Tech has plenty of interest in a pair of Maryland wide recievers in DeMarcco Hellams and Isaiah Hazel, both of whom are four-star receivers. Hellams has a very strong offer list that includes schools like Clemson, Penn State, Michigan, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Louisville, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and more in addition to the Hokies. Penn State and Maryland appear to be major players here with both having predictions in their favor in 247 Sports Crystal Ball with VT being an underdog here right now. Isaiah Hazel doesn't have as good of an offer list as Hellams but he is rated higher than Hellams by 247 Sports with Virginia Tech being in good position for him early as a team that has consistently been mentioned as one of his top schools. Maryland also is in great shape early on as this is currently setting up to be a battle between the Terps and Hokies though Clemson is showing interest and if they offer, they'll immediately become a major player for Hazel. Dean Engram could be a top slot receiver target for the Hokies as the 5'10'' receiver is the latest VT target from D.C. with a solid offer list that includes Penn State, Wisconsin, and Pittsburgh in addition to VT. Georgia has also been a big priority for VT on the recruiting trail previously and looks to continue to be that with VT being one of four offers including the only power 5 offer for 6'3'' Atlanta WR Myles Farmer. Jahad Carter is another name to watch as the Henrico, VA receiver was offered by the Hokies at their Richmond satellite camp. Carter only has two offers so far from VT and Temple, but that appears likely grow in the coming months especially as he begins to receive more attention. The good news for VT is with the Hokies being the first power 5 school to offer him along with being the in-state power, VT definitely appears to be the on-paper favorite for Carter early on. Virginia Tech is putting together a really good wide receiver class for 2018, but 2019 has the potential to be even better with the Hokies looking good for a few major targets early on.

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