Photo Credit: Harley Taylor
Check out the latest Virginia Tech football recruiting notes including updates on a couple top targets here.
4* S Terrion Arnold
Four-star S Terrion Arnold told us that Virginia Tech is in contact with Arnold "every now and then." However, Arnold also told us that he's told VT that he's "not the kid whose phone you have to blow up."
Recruiting assistant Lino Lupinetti has been leading the charge so far for the Hokies wht the Floridian safety telling us that he has a "pretty good" relationship with Lupinetti. Lupinetti has proven to be valuable in opening doors into recruitments that the Hokies wouldn't normally have too much of a chance in and this may be the latest example of that.
With five defensive backs on board, Tech seems likely to only add one more though there doesn't seem to be a particular focus on safety or cornerback but rather taking the best DB possible. That is likely in part due to the versatility of 3* in-state commit Shawn Asbury II who could end up at cornerback, nickelbac, or safety for VT.
Now there's no doubt that the Hokies face a very uphill battle especially with Florida State being among the top contenders for the Tallahassee, Florida resident. However, Lupinetti is giving the Hokies a shot, even if it is a small one.
3* DE Cole Nelson
Three-star Georgian Cole Nelson has been one of Virginia Tech's top defensive end targets for months with the Hokies being considered the frontrunner for a while. The good news for the Hokies is that Nelson may be close to wrapping up.
We are continuing to hear that a commitment from Nelson is imminent with Virginia Tech being our current prediction for where the Alpharetta, GA DE would lane based on our intel. Predictions from 247 Sports and Rivals also are in agreeance with what we've been hearing on Nelson.
Landing Nelson would be another big addition for the Hokies and the duo of Bill Teerlinck and Darryl Tapp in beating out several Power 5 schools like Indiana and Mississippi State for a top target of theirs. Landing Nelson likely would give Tech room to add one more defensive end with Kelvin Gilliam and Robert Jackson being among the top targets that Tech is looking to add to a DE class that currently includes Mattheus Carroll.
Keep an eye on Nelson as the Hokies are in great shape to land one of their top defensive end targets.
JUCO OL Ta'Chawn Brooks
Virginia Tech seems poised to try to land at least one JUCO or transfer offensive lineman this cycle with Independence CC's Ta'Chawn Brooks being among those targets.
Brooks told us that the Hokies have continued to have some contact after Tech showed lots of interest during the 2020 cycle when he was still in high school in South Carolina. The Hokies aren't alone as Murray State has already offered Brooks post-high school while he is also receiving interest from Florida State, home state South Carolina, Kentucky, and Eastern Michigan.
There's no doubt that Brooks is an intriguing JUCO prospect with tremendous size at 6'5'' and 330 pounds according to 247 Sports, the type of size that makes him a fit at tackle and guard. Given Tech's need to land offensive tackles this cycle along with how Vance Vice likes bringing in versatile linemen, Brooks definitely feels like a player worth monitoring.
Of course, this will be a challenging cycle to evaluate the development of JUCO offensive linemen and may require lots of patience especially for someone like Brooks entering his first season at the JUCO ranks given how the JUCO season has already been delayed to the spring. That has Brooks planning on being a summer enrollee though he is still open to enrolling in January if the right time extends an offer before the end of 2020.
Brooks will be among the top JUCO targets to watch for Virginia Tech as the Hokies look beyond the high school ranks to find talent.
