Virginia Tech kicked off February with some good news as the Hokies made the top 7 on the 1st for four-star WR Alex Taylor out of Greensboro, NC.
Final seven🙏🏾 #AGTG@RecruitGrimsley @e43fitness @RivalsFriedman @AdamJNeuman @BrianDohn247 @RyanSnyderOn3 @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/GYdPdUKUQq
— Alex Taylor (@thealextaylor3) February 1, 2023
Tech was joined by Clemson, Tennessee, Penn State, NC State, North Carolina, and Cincinnati in his top 7 with the Volunteers and Bearcats not previously being in his top 10. Auburn, Wake Forest, Missouri, West Virginia, and East Carolina were among the top 10 schools to miss his top 7 while Louisville, Duke, and UCF are other notable offers not to make the cut.
Taylor had this to say about why the Hokies made his top 7.
"They made my top 7 because I love the coaching staff, they let me know their rebuilding, but now they're getting the recruits with an experienced coaching staff," Taylor said.
As you might expect, WRs coach Fontel Mines is continuing to lead the Hokies' pursuit of Taylor with the two building a strong relationship. That relationship has continued to grow as Taylor shared with us.
"Me and coach Mines have a great relationship. I sat down with him, and my family learned a lot about him on my visit and since then, we always catch up and talk. He’s a great person!" Taylor said.
Another Tech staffer playing a large role in his recruitment, Director of Player Personnel Lino Lupinetti. While it's unknown how the likely Taylor vs Lupinetti Madden NFL matchups have gone (assuming they've happened which given that it's Lino, seems likely), there's no doubt that the Greensboro has built a great relationship with one of Tech's primary recruiting staffers.
"My relationship with Lino is great. He's one of the best recruiters in the nation in my opinion, and a great guy, always fun to be around," Taylor said.
Tech's heavy recruitment of Taylor as a priority WR target shouldn't come as a surprise after he had a strong junior season with over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns as he told us.
So what has enabled him to become a playmaker at WR and where does he have room to grow? Here's what he had to say about the strengths and weaknesses of his game.
"Strengths are 50/50 catches, breaking tackles, blocking, and creating separation. I would say my weakness is that breakaway speed 20-30 yards downfield," Taylor said.
So what are his offseason goals to continue to improve as a big time high school WR.
"Some of my goals are to get my speed even faster and showcase that this year, learn more about the game such as defenses and how to do things against that defense, and improve my hands even more," Taylor said.
Virginia Tech remains right at the forefront of the recruitment of four-star WR Alex Taylor who stars in the Greensboro area where Tech has had plenty of recruiting success in the past.
