Photo Credit: Harley Taylor
Virginia Tech has some history with finding talented walk-ons who end up becoming major contributors and earning scholarships including Richmond native Sam Rogers, Carolina Panthers kicker Joey Slye, and current assistant Jack Tyler. WR Kaleb Smith and OL Austin Cannon are among the current Hokies to have earned a scholarship after starting their career as a preferred walk-on with Smith choosing Tech over full-ride offers from Wake Forest, Virginia, and others.
Now, Tech is looking to find some more talented walk-ons who can prove to be steals with the Hokies extending a PWO offer to two-star ATH/LB Bo Kite.
Blessed to have received my 22nd offer as a PWO to VA Tech! Go Hokies! @Coach_Smitty @CoachFuente @hornikdeeprunfb pic.twitter.com/M1QP1eo7n0
— Bo Kite (@bo_kite) October 7, 2020
Kite said that it "felt good" to receive a preferred walk-on offer but he also added that he feels he "can be a scholarship player." He added that he received the offer from CBs coach Ryan Smith, who is Tech's primary recruiter for the Richmond area, and that he said his conversation was "good" as a whole.
The Hokies are the first Power 5 program to offer Kite a PWO offer with Virginia also extending one a day after Tech did.
Kite has built up a solid list of scholarship offers that is headlined by Temple, Navy, Army, JMU, Liberty, Ball State, UMASS, Richmond, William & Mary, VMI, and others. He is also ranked as the 79th best 2021 recruit in Virginia and 248th best athlete in the country by 247 Sports.
The Hokies are pursuing the 6'3'', 220-pound Kite as a linebacker which shouldn't come as too much of a surprise as he had 6 sacks among his 8 tackles for loss last season despite only playing defense on third downs. Additionally, Kite had over 2,200 yards of offense and 38 touchdowns for Deep Run HS in Glen Allen, VA.
The good news for Tech is that Kite is giving serious consideration to the PWO offer that was extended to him. Unsurprisingly though, he also says it's hard to turn down a scholarship opportunity to take a chance as a walk-on.
"I mean I think about it but when you have an option to go to school for free and know other coaches believe in you, it’s hard to pick that walk on," Kite said.
One thing that is of benefit for the Hokies' hopes is their in-state status as Kite did tell us that it "definitely helps a lot" and could be crucial if the Hokies are to overcome full ride FBS offers with their PWO, Power 5 offer.
Virginia Tech wants to make Bo Kite a headliner in their preferred walk-on class with Kite open to the possibility of going to Blacksburg with the goal of earning a scholarship post-arrival.
