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NJHokie74

Joined: 08/23/2007 Posts: 403
Likes: 1163


Recruiting and the Hoos


Many of you will remember the gnashing of teeth back in 2014 when UVa got a number of top players in the state: 5-stars Quin Blanding and Andrew Brown plus two top 4-stars in Kamara and Moss (neither of these later two did much; neither lasted 4 years). Even though our 2014 class was rated slightly higher, the Hoos getting those 4 (rated 2, 3, 6 and 8 in the state) plus other top players leaving the state (#1 Da'Shawn Hand to Bama, #4 Jalyn Holmes to Ohio State, #5 Derrick Nnadi to FSU) raised a big concern about competing with the Hoos in recruiting.

Let's look at what has happened since. In 2015 there were 11 players who opted for VT despite having an offer fro UVa. Only one, Jahvonni Simmons (who never panned out) chose UVa despite an offer from VT. In 2016 we won the battle 6-0 and in 2017 we won the battle 5-1 with the lone exception being Germane Crowell, Jr., whose father and uncle were UVa stars.

Looking at the projected two-deep lineups on Ourlads, 7 of the guys who picked VT are projected as starters with 6 more listed as second-string. This does not include Jalen Holston who should contribute at RB, Tyjuan Garbutt and Jimmie Taylor. These numbers would be higher but we lost Settle and Tremaine Edmunds early; UVa didn't offer Terrell). Back in Hooville, Simmons is gone and Crowell doesn't show on the 2-deep.

Was this a three year anomaly? Nope. We won the 2018 recruiting battle 13-1 (yes 13!) with the lone exception being Joseph White a safety from Landstown HS. So far for the 2019 class we hold a 7-0 edge. In total, since the 2014 class, we have an overall edge of 42-3. If that isn't recruiting dominance against your rival, I don't know what is.

Another good sign is the success rate of the players who chose VT. Only 5 out of 35 (excludes 2019 class) are no longer here (Austin Clark, Jahque Alleyne, Harry Lewis, TJ Hopple and Cam Goode). That is a much higher than average retention rate.


Posted: 08/23/2018 at 4:41PM



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