Photo Credit: Harley Taylor
Ian Mathews entered September with no D1 offers but as this month comes to an end, the 6'5'', 275-pound will leave it with at least 3 Power 5 offers including one from Virginia Tech.
Blessed to receive an ⭕️fficial offer from Virginia Tech🧡 #AGTG @dtapp55 @CoachSparber @HokiesFB @CoachCBlack @C4_Sports_ pic.twitter.com/Y0IG25mSYZ
— Ian🏈🏀 (@Ian24Mathews) September 25, 2020
The Hokies were the second of the three Power 5 offers for Mathews recently along with Duke and Arkansas. Additionally, Mathews told us that he has been receiving interest from Florida and Georgia Tech after a strong start to his season with 21 tackles including 4 for loss in his first three games.
He had this to say about his initial reaction to receiving an offer from defensive line coach Darryl Tapp and grad assistant Zach Sparber.
"I was in shock when they told me. I didn't realize they were for real and actually offered me," Mathews said.
He had this to say about his conversation with Tapp and Sparber was as a whole.
"It was good. They talked to me like they actually wanted me there and wanted me to be a part of their program," Mathews said.
This wasn't a completely out of the blue offer as we previously reported that the Hokies were showing some interest in Mathews back in August.
Unsurprisingly, Ian Mathews says that this VT offer has a big impact on his recruitment and that Tech will benefit from being one of the first to offer him.
"It impacts it a lot. It makes other colleges finally realize me, but it also helps VT because they were one of the first to offer," Mathews said.
That has also left Tech as one of the top schools for Mathews.
"They are one of the top schools because they have really talked to me and have shown that they truly want me there," Mathews said.
Mathews has definitely seen his recruitment take off over the past two weeks and as you would expect, he doesn't plan to make a decision till after his senior season. However, he did say that his decision would "probably" line up with the December signing window though he also doesn't plan to enroll early so he can play his final basketball season.
When Mathews does make his decision, he has a good idea on what the key factors will be.
"If the school truly fits me, if the academics are good, and how the community is," Mathews said.
The Hokies are still looking to add an interior defensive lineman in this class and with his size, Mathews projects as just that with plenty of groom. Additionally, his two-sport background is definitely encouraging in regards to athletic ability.
Ian Mathews is Virginia Tech's first new 2021 offer of the fall as the Hokies look to add at least one defensive lineman who projects as an interior player to their 2021 class.
