Early Signing Day is just about here for Virginia Tech with Brent Pry looking to add a few more in-state commits and hold on to a pair of Tech's top commits. So with that said, here's a look at the biggest storylines for the Hokies ahead of Early Signing Day 2021.
Will Virginia Tech Hold Onto Alex Orji?
After the surprising flip of Ramon Brown to Maryland, the attention of many Hokie fans turns to borderline four-star QB Alex Orji who took an official visit to Michigan this past weekend as the battle between the Hokies and Wolverines became reality.
Orji was one of the standout commits of Tech's push into Texas that has been a mixed bag in terms of Lonestar State recruiting while appearing to damage some important relationships in VA. While Texas likely won't be recruited much going forward, Orji is the type of big time QB and athlete talent that the Hokies are putting loads of effort in to trying to keep.
However, we're hearing that the momentum is going against the Hokies at this point with Michigan likely being the surging team though that seems more uncertain at this point. Of course, there's no doubt that Tech will fight to the end and may have an inside lane that could give them a realistic shot to hold on with defensive coordinator Chris Marve who recruited Orji's brothers to Vanderbilt.
Tech does have a QB commit in under-the-radar Devin Farrell who is a great athlete and proven winner at Georgia powerhouse Milton HS, but holding onto Orji would be a major plus for the class and a big victory for Pry especially with Michigan's big push.
Can The Hokies Complete Flips of 2 UVA Commits?
Brent Pry has made the Commonwealth of Virginia the top priority on the recruiting trail since his arrival with a big in-state push for multiple talented recruits. Now, Pry is hoping to land at least a pair of standouts who are either currently committed to UVA or were committed to UVA.
The biggest name is high three-star OT Brody Meadows who went from overlooked by the previous regime to priority for Pry and company. Tech hosted Meadows over the weekend on an official visit and all the momentum is in the Hokies' favor at the moment. Meadows still is publicly committed to UVA at the moment, but all signs are pointing towards a flip to the Hokies tomorrow morning.
The other big name is three-star DE Keyshawn Burgos who had a strong senior season and was one of the first priority 2022 targets for Brent Pry. This recruitment appears to be all Virginia Tech as Burgos recently decommitted from Virginia with the Hokies looking like the destination for him this Early Signing Day.
If Tech can complete the flips of Meadows and Burgos, it would give the Hokies 11 in-state signees which would be the most VA signees for Tech since the 2014 class, and more than any class signed by Justin Fuente. That would be a strong statement that Virginia Tech is going to get back to truly prioritizing the Commonwealth first on the recruiting trail.
Any Surprises?
Signing Day can always bring some surprises and there are definitely some other names who remain guys to watch whether they sign on Wednesday or not.
Three-star LB Tyler Banks was a big time priority for the previous staff and that has continued on with Brent Pry and his assistants. Ole Miss looks like the frontrunner for Banks who will announce tomorrow with it seeming likely that he'll sign with the Rebels tomorrow. Tech's best hope at this point would be to try to get him to delay his signing to February giving Pry a chance to host him on a visit though those odds seem unlikely.
Standout Richmond grad transfer DT Kobie Turner recently took a visit to Virginia Tech and while he has been quiet since then, Tech is clearly involved having extended an offer to him after that visit. There's no doubt that Turner would be a great addition and fit right in Jordan Williams' spot alongside the younger trio of Norell Pollard, Mario Kendricks, and Josh Fuga.
Turner is also a VA native and given that the Hokies are the lone in-state P5 offer among his four P5 offers, Tech may have some great advantages that could allow them to land him sooner than expected. However, that's pure speculation for the time being.
Outside of that, Brody Meadows' teammate Xayvion Bradshaw is a rising name on the recruiting front with plenty of talk that the Hokies have also increased their involvement with him. While there's no sign that Bradshaw is making a decision tomorrow, it seems likely that he'll be a top priority all the way to February with Tech's push for the Graham HS duo of Meadows and Bradshaw a major embodiment of Brent Pry's embrace of Virginia that Justin Fuente failed to do.
So will we see any surprises tomorrow? Hokie fans will rightly be hoping that it's better than the surprising flip of Ramon Brown from Tech to Maryland on Early Signing Day eve.