Our Virginia Tech football recruiting breakdown continues at tight end where the Hokies seem likely to take 1 at most after a large class last cycle. Let's jump into more on tight end with the rest of our stories so far linked below.
Does VT Take a Tight End in the 2023 Class?
That's the big question at tight end is whether the Hokies will end up taking a tight end this recruiting cycle or not. This comes after the Hokies signed three in the 2022 class including four-star recruits Daequan Wright and Benji Gosnell plus three-star Harrison Saint Germain.
Unlike last cycle when Tech landed a pair of in-state TEs, the VA talent at tight end for the 2023 class isn't as strong or at least not as strong in the eyes of the VT coaching staff with only one potential in-state TE having an offer in four-star ATH Mathias Barnwell who is committed to Penn State.
One potential in-state TE target to watch in the 2023 cycle is three-star Julien Randolph out of Ashburn, VA who has visited Virginia Tech previously. Randolph was also committed to Vanderbilt at one point, but reopened his recruitment not long after and now has plans to take an official visit to North Carolina while Miami hosted him on a visit last month per On3.
ATH Ja'Ricous Hairston out of Bassett, VA has camped for the Hokies and visited prior to that as well. He also has intriguing size at 6'4'' and 230 pounds that would be fitting for a potential tight end prospect along with the defensive line. Tech also had Fredericksburg, VA TE Luke Chilton camp recently who could be a potential late offer given his size and upside due to his 6'7'' size.
In terms of offers, Tech's TE board is pretty open with most of their offered TEs either committed elsewhere or the Hokies not having too much traction. One name to potentially watch is three-star George Burhenn out of Indiana who Tech offered just a couple weeks ago, though the Hokies appear to be behind the eight ball as he has officials set for Purdue this weekend, Iowa State next weekend, and Iowa the weekend after that per 247 Sports.
Three-star Vance Bolyard out of Greensboro, NC didn't include Virginia Tech in his top 6, but then took a visit to Blacksburg for the Spring Game less than two weeks after releasing that list per On3. Michigan State also didn't make that cut at the time, but he has plans to take an official visit to the Spartans this weekend.
Three-star ATH Kevin O'Conner out of Maryland projects at multiple positions including LB, DE, and TE. Virginia Tech, Duke, and Maryland are battling for O'Conner currently who visited Tech over the weekend for his second VT visit along with Duke and has an official scheduled for Maryland this upcoming weekend. While getting him for an unofficial is good, Tech definitely could use an official especially with the in-state Terps getting him on campus for an official.
Another name to watch for a potential offer either soon or sometime down the road is three-star Will Dixon out of New Jersey who camped for the Hokies this weekend after earning his first Power 5 offer at a West Virginia camp prior.
The tight end board continues to be very open with the Hokies unlikely to take more than one this cycle and potentially poised not to take any given where things stand and the youth at TE thanks to the 2022 class.
2024 Remains Open
The 2024 class is likely to be one where the Hokies will take 1-2 tight ends with some early targets emerging.
The Commonwealth has another intriguing TE prospect in the 2024 class in three-star Luca Puccinelli who visited Virginia Tech for the Spring Game and also has plans to visit again this upcoming weekend. Tech has gained some early traction with Puccinelli and you could maybe argue that the Hokies are a small early favorite to land the 6'6'' Richmond area standout.
Three-star Gavin Grover out of Lewis Center, OH was a recent offer for the Hokies with a tweet response to a "Madden challenge" tweet from recruiting assistant Lino Lupinetti recently suggesting that Grover may be visiting Virginia Tech on the fourth weekend of this month.
Tech has extended an offer to Charlotte area four-star recruit Jack Larsen who has loads of major offers with Tech not looking like a top contender at the moment. The Hokies hae also extended a few other Midwest tight end offers though those may be tougher pulls than the other closer by ones.
Additionally, the tight end board seems bound to grow not only with this summer's camps, but also the continual evaluation that always comes throughout the fall.
