Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Notes 8/8/20

Photo Credit: Jake Roth

Check out the latest Virginia Tech football recruiting notes as a top target is set to make his decision while a major flip candidate is in Blacksburg and another target is down to 7 schools.

4* LB Jordan Poole

Four-star LB Jordan Poole has been close to a decision for a while but now, Poole is finally ready to make a commitment.

Poole released a top 3 of Virginia Tech, N.C. State, and South Carolina earlier this summer, but it's pretty clear that Poole will likely end up choosing either the Hokies or the Wolfpack. However, there is plenty up in the air about which way Poole may end up going even hours before his decision.

Landing Poole would be huge for the Hokies and huge for their 2021 linebacker board with Poole having been a top target throughout 2020 before the recruiting rankings boosted him significantly. Putting him with another top VT target that's on board in Will Johnson plus a pair of talented in-state linebackers in Isi Etute and Keli Lawson would be a strong linebacker class.

Tech is likely done at linebacker this cycle with Poole being such a high-end player that they would clearly take regardless of current numbers. If the Hokies miss out on Poole, don't expect them to seek to land another linebacker.

Update: Jordan Poole committed to N.C. State today (8/8/20).

3* OT Austin Barber

A source has told us that three-star offensive tackle and Minnesota commit Austin Barber is visiting Virginia Tech this weekend. Additionally, that source has told us that Tech is pushing hard to try to flip him with no other schools really having traction in trying to flip the talented Jacksonville, FL offensive tackle.

Numbers are getting tight for the Hokies as they likely have room to take two offensive tackles with the Hokies in great shape for Texan Canon Boone and also leading for Marylander Christopher Adams. Both of those realities make it clear that Tech is quite high on the 6'7'' Barber who definitely has the frame and size any coach wants in an offensive tackle.

Trying to flip a commit is always tough, but this unique cycle is going to likely see lots of unexpected flips and make it tough for a school like Minnesota to hold on to a Jacksonville kid, especially with Tech having multiple Jacksonville stars on their roster.

Keep an eye on Barber as the Hokies continue to make a big push to try to flip him even as numbers are getting tighter and tighter.

Update: Source told me that Barber and company are pushing back their visits a couple weeks with Virginia Tech telling them that the Hokies may be able to host him on a more traditional-like unofficial visit in early September.

3* CB Maxwell Hairston

Three-star CB Maxwell Hairston revealed his top 7 earlier this week with Virginia Tech unsurprisingly making the cut after recently offering him.

The Hokies were joined in Hairston's top 7 by Kentucky, Minnesota, Purdue, Washington State, Rutgers, and Kansas. Hairston also set his decision date for Monday, August 17th, just nine days from today.

Hairston credited "the relationship I built with the coaching staff" as why the Hokies made the top 7 with those relationships also proving valuable for the other six schools.

Tech is likely to only take one more defensive back with four-star CB Markevious Brown among the top DB targets left for the Hokies. Tech definitely is a contender, but for a player like Hairston who has just blown up recently, schools closer to home like Kentucky and Purdue may have a significant advantage in their pursuits of the West Bloomfield, Michigan prospect.

Tech remains in the hunt for Hairston, but it may be an uphill battle going against more regional programs especially in a cycle where the ability to see other schools is extremely limited.