Among the talented recruits on campus last weekend for Virginia Tech was 2024 DB Zahir Rainer out of Richmond's Trinity Episcopal. Rainer has already emerged as a big time 2024 recruit in Virginia with the Hokies impressing him on his visit last weekend.
"It was great!!! Coach (Brent) Pry, Cheetah (Derek Jones) and Coach (Pierson) Prioleau made it an awesome experience," Rainer said.
His visit included seeing the Hokies practice, meeting with position coaches, and sitting in on a live meeting among other things. VT head coach Brent Pry was one of the coaches Rainer spent the most time with which went well as he told us.
"Coach Pry brings so much energy all the time. The conversation with Coach Pry was great!!! He told me about the defense which seems to switch between a 4-2-5 defense to a standard 4-3 defense. He told me to come back as soon as possible!!!" Rainer said.
He also spent plenty of time with the Hokies' two defensive backs coaches having this to say about his time and conversations with CBs coach Derek Jones.
"It was great!!! Coach Jones brings back that old D-block mentality back to Tech and it gets me excited for what’s happening in Blacksburg!!!" Rainer said.
He also had this to say about his time and conversations with safeties coach Pierson Prioleau.
"Coach Prioleau is a coach with so much wisdom from his time in the NFL. He is someone I know will develop me to the next level," Rainer said.
Rainer was also impressed with the style of defense that Pry and his staff led by defensive coordinator Chris Marve are implementing when asked what stood out to him during his visit.
"The physical nature of Coach Marve's defense. It speaks to me as a player and gets me excited to want to be a HOKIE!!" Rainer said.
Making a strong, early impression on Rainer is definitely valuable as he has built up a strong offer list that includes Virginia Tech, Penn State, Arkansas, Duke, Minnesota, East Carolina, Marshall, Ball State, and Grambling. That shouldn't come as a surprise after he had 38 tackles including 7 for loss plus 3 interceptions, 9 pass breakups, and 2 touchdowns in only seven games while also earning All-State First Team DB honors and helping lead his team to a state title.
So how did this visit impact his recruitment and where Virginia Tech stands in it?
"This definitely made Tech one of my top schools and I can’t wait to keep coming back and seeing what Tech has to offer. I love it there!!!" Rainer said.
2024 recruiting may just be getting started but for those who like to get a head start, Zahir Rainer is going to be a name to know and watch for Virginia Tech fans.
