Virginia Tech's Top Three Remaining 2018 Offensive Recruiting Targets

Editor

August 22, 2017, 03:00 AM

Virginia Tech already has a large recruiting class with 19 commits plus 2017 signee Christian Darrisaw currently taking a semester at Fork Union. With the Hokies having such a large class already, numbers are very tight but the Hokies are still looking to add a few more pieces. With that said, here's a look at Virginia Tech's top 3 remaining offensive targets.

3. 3* RB Cole Beck

Coming in at number 3 on this is Blacksburg star Cole Beck. The Bruins' playmaker received an offer early in August after camping with and visiting Virginia Tech several times over the past year. Beck's offer was a little bit of a surprise as it seemed unlikely he would received an offer especially when VT gained a commitment from three-star RB Caleb Steward and chose not to offer Beck after a camp earlier this summer. Before VT's offer, Beck released a top 5 of Louisville, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia, and East Carolina with Pitt being seen as the favorite and ECU as a sleeper that shouldn't be counted out. Now, the Hokies are the favorites to get the local star though it definitely isn't a guarantee especially with the Hokies waiting longer to offer Beck. However, Virginia Tech has a few advantages including being his hometown school where he can be a dual-sport star in football and in track where Beck has been one of the nation's top sprinters and Virginia Tech won both the men's and women's ACC Outdoor Track and Field titles this past spring. Beck has the speed to not only be one of the ACC's best sprinters immediately, but also to be dangerous in Justin Fuente's offense and as a return man. There are some who are concerned that Beck would be about as good of a fit in this offense as Travon McMillian with Beck currently being seen as a below-average pass catcher. However, Justin Fuente isn't afraid to use 4-receiver sets that leave opponents with defensive boxes of five or six players that a speedy tailback like Beck can take advantage of. Pittsburgh, UNC, and ECU all appear to still be serious threats for Beck but right now, it's hard not seeing the Hokies getting Blacksburg's biggest high school star in a long time. [amazon_link asins='B0198KBYBQ,B01FZT3MQO,B01M9DXGCZ,B00V89S59K,B00181W3CI,B002NLS2NG' template='ProductCarousel' store='techlunchpail-20' marketplace='US' link_id='ff3ffc23-877b-11e7-9023-4fbc3c00ce5e']

2. 4* OT Rasheed Walker

Rasheed Walker barely missed being number 1 on this list with the main reason for this being the fact that the Hokies have a commitment from Jordan McFadden along with Christian Darrisaw coming this spring at offensive tackle while the Hokies still don't have a commit at tight end. However, there may not be a more talented target left on the Hokies' board on offense than Walker. Walker has the physical tools to be a very good offensive tackle who could push for a role in the Hokies' two-deep as a true freshman at 6'6'' and 300 pounds. Walker is also ranked nationally as a top 15 offensive tackle and top 160 recruit by ESPN, Rivals, 247 Sports, and the 247 Sports Composite with Rivals being particularly high on him, ranking Walker 49th nationally and seventh among offensive tackles. The Hokies have had some success getting to talent out of Maryland recently including Nathan Proctor in the 2017 class plus three recruits that are a part of the 2018 class in DeJuan Ellis, Jermaine Waller, and 2017 signee Christian Darrisaw. Now whether these connections help the Hokies that much with Walker remain to be seen, but Virginia Tech has made Maryland a fairly high priority and definitely has traction with the talented offensive tackle. For the Hokies to have a shot with Walker, they will need to get the big man on campus for an official visit and likely will target having him here for the Hokies' huge ACC Championship rematch with Clemson. Currently, Penn State and Maryland are seen as the favorite with the Nittany Lions having a slight edge, but the Hokies are lurking and with Penn State having 23 commits, numbers are getting tight up in Happy Valley. Virginia Tech may not be the favorites for Walker, but the Hokies definitely are in the hunt for their top offensive line target.

1. 3* TE James Mitchell

James Mitchell is the best recruit to come out of Southwest Virginia in years and is the top target on this list not only because he is a talented but also because he is the Hokies' only TE target after Kyle Pitts committed to Florida earlier this summer. While Pitts was higher rated nationally than Mitchell, VT had both of them about just as high on their board and have since focused in on Mitchell looking to keep him in-state and out of SEC country. Mitchell has an impressive offer list that includes schools like VT, Clemson, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, West Virginia, Louisville, Miami, Ole Miss, Duke, and more but cut his list down to 5 earlier this summer and included Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Duke, South Carolina, and Georgia. The Hokies have made it clear that Mitchell is a top priority on their board making sure that he received his official offer as soon as possible on August 1st before any other program while other schools like Tennessee and Georgia were a little slower to send out their official offers. While it's clear that he's high on most of these schools' lists, the Hokies have made keeping Mitchell in Southwest Virginia a high priority. Mitchell has the type of size you want in an athletic tight end that can be stretched outside to be used as a receiver at 6'5'', similar to what Bucky Hodges did last season and something that should help the Hokies with the versatile tight end who 247 Sports still ranks as a wide receiver. VT also has the in-state advantage here with Mitchell along with the Hokies putting a high importance on trying to keep the top Southwest Virginia guys in SWVA, especially with VT having missed on some talented SWVA guys like Tennessee OT Chance Hall. Currently, Virginia Tech is the favorite for Mitchell with Tennessee and Duke appearing to be the top challengers. If Virginia Tech is unable to get Mitchell, it would be a very disappointing recruiting loss and with numbers being tight, it may lead the Hokies to not sign a tight end this class, something that wouldn't be ideal. [amazon_link asins='B06XGMDK1M,B000FO0QCI,B0015PDE98,B000VJRTD6,B00IU0XZVS,B00J2ZZ17G' template='ProductCarousel' store='techlunchpail-20' marketplace='US' link_id='34fab7d7-877c-11e7-a5c5-c1f9f6b42eb4']