Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Notes 7/1/20

Photo Credit: Harley Taylor

Check out the latest Virginia Tech football recruiting notes as the Hokies make the cut for four-star DL Kelvin Gilliam plus updates on a pair of other top targets.

4* DL Kelvin Gilliam

Four-star DL Kelvin Gilliam released his top 10 with Virginia Tech making the cut as he previously told us would be the case.

Gilliam had an interesting quote given to 247 Sports' Brian Dohn about why the Hokies made his top 10.

“The home school. I’ve been (in contact) with Virginia Tech since my freshman year. I have a great relationship with the new staff. They are bringing in change. They are bringing in energy, and I love it," Gilliam said.

The appeal of the new staff, and especially Bill Teerlinck and Darryl Tapp and their NFL reputations, is a big reason why Virginia Tech has been able to remain a major player in Gilliam's recruitment. A strong football season for the Hokies, especially on the defensive line, would likely be a major boost as a proof of concept about what Teerlinck and Tapp are doing, if football is played during the fall this upcoming academic year.

Penn State has been considered the favorite by most, but the Hokies should definitely be considered as a major contender. However, Gilliam is the type of star in-state player that the Hokies need to get back to landing again as Justin Fuente and his staff did early in his tenure with guys like Devon Hunter and more.

Landing Gilliam would send a statement for Virginia Tech about a needed in-state recruiting resurgence, but the Hokies have a lot of work to do to make that a reality.

3* DT Earl Miller

Three-star DT Earl Miller had an interesting tweet earlier today and confirmed to us that July 12th will indeed be his commitment date.

Virginia Tech is a great position as Miller's recruitment enters the final stage with the three-star Florida DT telling us that the Hokies are currently "at the top" of his recruitment. This comes as the Hokies have made Miller one of their top defensive tackle targets.

Miller also is from Delray Beach, Florida; an area that has produced a pair of talented Virginia Tech defensive linemen before: Luther Maddy and Dadi Nicolas. Those regional connections could also be a boost to Tech's appeal down the stretch of his recruitment.

Tech does look like the frontrunner for Miller at this point with Boston College being Tech's biggest challenger. Pittsburgh could also be a threat if they choose to offer, but the fact that he has set a decision date would appear to suggest that Miller is close to set and that a Pitt offer likely wouldn't make a big impact on his final decision.

3* WR Ahmari Huggins-Bruce

Three-star WR Ahmari Huggins-Bruce is set to make his decision tomorrow with two schools looking like the clear frontrunners to land his commitment: Virginia Tech and Louisville.

The 247 Sports' Crystal Ball is currently in the favor of Louisville, but what I'm hearing points towards Virginia Tech as my slight pick at the moment. However, there appears to just be a lot of uncertainty around where Huggins-Bruce will decide at this point, more than you usually see roughly 24 hours out from a commitment.

One thing that could benefit the Hokies is the fact that AHB was a priority for a while with Tech even being his first offer back in 2018.

The team that lands Huggins-Bruce will be landing a dynamic slot receiver who has plenty of big play ability who has had almost 2,000 receiving yards and over 100 receptions over the past 2 seasons. AHB would also provide a great boost to Tech's current WR class as a slot playmaker to join dynamic Richmond WR Jaylen Jones.