Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Notes 5/1/18

Editor

May 02, 2018, 03:00 AM

With spring football wrapped up, the Virginia Tech coaching staff's primary focus is on the recruiting trail with the spring evaluation period well underway. The Hokies are hoping to gain a big commitment tonight from four-star OT Quinn Carroll while they've also made the cut for three-star LB Drake Thomas and four-star WR TJ Sheffield. With that said, here are some Virginia Tech football recruiting notes.

Four-Star OT Quinn Carroll Announces Tonight

Virginia Tech is hoping for some great news tonight as four-star OT Quinn Carroll is set to announce his decision late this evening. The Minnesota OT took an official visit to Blacksburg for the Hokies' Spring Game alongside VT's other top offensive target Devyn Ford. https://twitter.com/kare11/status/990040035146772480 Notre Dame is considered the heavy favorite according to the 247 Sports Crystal Ball, but the Hokies have given themselves a shot after hosting Carroll on an official visit. In addition, the Hokies have a deep family connection with his brother Collin Carroll being a four-year long snapper for VT from 2008 to 2011. VT wasn't seen as a major factor early on despite the connection but after making his top 6, the Hokies have slowly risen into being arguably the biggest challenger to Notre Dame for Carroll. Penn State also is a sleeper in his recruitment that has hosted Carroll on an official visit and will be hoping for a surprise while Minnesota will be hoping they can land their best in-state recruit. Heading into tonight, Notre Dame is the heavy favorite, but Virginia Tech has given themselves a shot at Carroll.

Update: Quinn Carroll commits to Notre Dame over Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Virginia Tech Makes The Top 8 for Drake Thomas

Drake Thomas is one of Virginia Tech's top linebacker targets and within the past few days, he released his top 8. https://twitter.com/DrakeT32/status/991104793883107329 The Hokies made the top 8 for Thomas alongside NC State, Alabama, Clemson, West Virginia, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Charlotte. The NC native was teammates with Virginia Tech freshman Joe Kane this past year, giving the Hokies a personal connection that should benefit them in his recruitment. Many consider NC State the favorite with his 247 Sports Crystal Ball being largely in the Wolfpack's favor. The Hokies have been a contender in his recruitment, but definitely have a lot of work to do while Tennessee recently received a visit from Thomas and appear to be rising in his recruitment. Alabama and Clemson may not currently have Thomas as a take but if that changes, that would likely be a major challenge for any of the schools that made the cut. Thomas doesn't appear too close to a decision and appears likely to take official visits in the fall. In any case, the Hokies do need to try to get Thomas back on campus soon to become a bigger factor in his recruitment.

Virginia Tech Makes the Top 8 for TJ Sheffield

Drake Thomas wasn't the only talented recruit that Virginia Tech made a top 8 for as four-star WR TJ Sheffield also released his top 8. https://twitter.com/the_tj2/status/990942640983216130 Along with Virginia Tech; Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Louisville, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Purdue made the top 8 for the former Tennessee commit. Sheffield isn't a name that we've heard a lot, but the Hokies are clearly showing lots of interest in Sheffield whom the Hokies do have a slight advantage with in terms of being one of the closest schools to him. Numbers are tight for the Hokies, and VT also currently stands well for four-star WR Tayvion Robinson and three-star WR Jacoby Pinckney so it's hard to tell how serious of a contender VT is. For the Hokies to be considered a top contender, VT will have to get Sheffield on campus for a visit sometime this summer. The fact that Arkansas and Louisville both made the cut for Sheffield after offering him in April is a great sign for their hopes in his recruitment. Meanwhile, numbers at places like Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame, and even VT may limit those schools' involvement though all four should be considered sleepers who could become more involved if they aren't already.