Your boys Curtis and Brian sit down with VTScoop's Evan Watkins to discuss changeover on the Hokies recruiting staff, the 2021 Hokies recruiting class, how COVID has changed recruiting, and what to anticipate from the Hokies 2022 class.
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Welcome back to the boundary
Corner podcast with my partner
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Brian C glow.
I am Curtis Wilson run We've
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been talking for quite a few
months about recruiting, and we
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have a treat for Eyre.
Listeners tonight, ladies and
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gentlemen, we have Evan Watkins
joining us from 24/7 Sports VT.
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Scoop PT scoop.com currently
offering first month for one
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dollar and thirty percent off
after that.
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So, a great deal for a great
site.
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And then, how are you this
evening?
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I can't complain.
I can't complain at all.
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How you all doing?
Doing good, doing good.
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Nice to have you on.
Thanks for joining us.
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Been a good day for you so far.
Yeah, yeah.
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You know, got to, you know, get
up early break a break likely
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commitment coming, have it
knocked out within, you know,
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lunchtime and then roll right
into run into some some time
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with the family.
So yeah, it's been a really good
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day so far.
Awesome, man, awesome.
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Awesome to hear that man.
And guys we're going to cover
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plus or topics with Evans today
including the commitment a
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little earlier.
Today, we're going to hit that a
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little later but Brian I want to
start out Evan with this you
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know, big news of this week.
Was hokey director of
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recruiting, John Etsy stepped
aside, you know, while he was in
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Blacksburg, he took the
recruiting staff from very
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small, especially by power 5
standards, and now it's kind of
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grown significantly.
And, you know, it's getting
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bigger, we're seeing people
getting added, you know, even
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during the time of code.
That's so Evan sort of having
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the connection to the program
knowing the people, what's going
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to be sort of the biggest Maybe
the toughest part for the next
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guy to fill what John did and
what?
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John brought to the table.
Yeah, you know, John was a guy,
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you know, he actually started
when he was a college student.
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He actually started working
avetis Coop before he was
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recruiting director at Virginia
Tech.
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So, you know, we've known him
for a long time.
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He was actually ivt scoop
before, I was really that
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involved with it, you know.
And And he took that the
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opportunity for being a student
at Virginia Tech to, you know,
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graduating from Virginia Tech
getting to work in their
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recruiting department.
You know, he's one of those
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guys, you know, they have plenty
of them up there right now, but
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it's one thing to sell a
university.
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It's another thing to sell your
University, he's all about
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Virginia Tech.
Always has been always will be
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and I think that really helped
him, you know, To the day.
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He cared about what was on the
shirt.
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He cared about the university
that he was at, you know, he
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still does.
He obviously, he got a business
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opportunity outside of college
football that he really couldn't
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turn down.
You know, we had heard for
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probably four or five years that
other schools were interested in
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poaching him.
He had opportunities doing some
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other things that's the other
places and just never really
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wanted to leave.
But this one was too good of an
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opportunity to turn down.
You know, never want to fault
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somebody for trying to better
them and their family situation.
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So, you know, I hope everything
works out for him, you know,
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he's a guy that has really
helped Virginia Tech.
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He would wake up in the morning
and try to figure out what,
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what's the best way to make,
Virginia Tech, football better
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and reach the Pinnacle for.
You know, what they were trying
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to do.
You know and what he was able to
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accomplish.
Obviously he did build out that
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help build out that recruiting
department a little bit you
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know.
And I think that's going to
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continue to build out.
I think, you know, when Justin
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Fuente spoke a few weeks ago
after signing day and said, he
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really could see the future of
college football.
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Branching off into two, separate
recruiting departments, a High
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School prep, Juco Department,
And a transfer portal
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Department.
I think he was foreshadowing.
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What he's expecting Virginia
Tech to do?
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I think we're going to start to
see some of that come to
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fruition.
Now, obviously, it's not the
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easiest of times to hire people,
right now, you know, you got an
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athletic department, that's told
everybody, to take a ten
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percent, pay cut, you have
budget cuts, and and some
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deficits all over the place due
to covid.
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We don't know what's going to
happen with covid.
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We don't know.
You know, is this Going to
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continue with the 20, the 20 21
season be impacted.
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What's the financial impact of
it?
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You have to add in as well.
You know, the, the carry-on of
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the scholarships for another
year.
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I mean that's a big undertaking,
that's a lot of financial
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burden.
So, you know, I think, I think
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the plan I think Justin Fuente
was foreshadowing, the plane.
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I think.
John Yeti helped lay out the
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blueprint for that.
Will we see that overnight know?
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No, you know, everybody talks
about that.
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There's a, you know, there's
some funding that's becoming
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available there some donors that
have stepped up to the call.
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You have a big giving day drive.
That's going to kick off here in
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the in the near future for for
the University.
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And for athletics, but money,
money is not where it needs to
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be.
It wasn't before covid, it
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probably will take years to
recover from covid, so it's
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going to be a slower process.
But I do fully believe from all
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the contacts, I've talked to,
from everything I've seen with
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my own eyes up and up in
Blacksburg.
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I do think the Justin Fuente
wants to build out that
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recruiting department.
I think that's part of his goal,
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is to take a lot of the stress
in the, the, the the finding of
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the players of the recruits and
the initial contact and and, you
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know, the mundane parts of Of
the recruiting process and have
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those jobs staffed by a staff of
qualified individuals that can
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do all of that, they can filter
out the Huddle film.
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They can, you know, they can
coordinate early, you know,
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early development of the
relationship.
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They can reach out to the kids
on social media.
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They can gather phone phone
numbers, they can gather
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coaching contacts.
And take some of that off of
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what we, you know, what a lot of
Virginia Tech fans or us in the
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industry would say Falls right
now, on the coaching staff,
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there is a, you know, there's a
decent group of recruiting staff
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up there in Blacksburg right
now.
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I don't want to say that there's
not but when you compare, you
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know, five to six guys with
Clemson, having 20-plus with
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North Carolina, having 20 plus
with Alabama, having ungodly
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amount of people that filter out
recruiting information before he
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even touches the coaches desks.
Absolutely, you can see that it
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is clearly not an even playing
field and that's the biggest
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change that I think Justin
Fuente and Virginia Tech need to
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make dump money into the
recruiting department to take
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the stress off the coaches, let
you know, let some qualified
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smart individuals that
Understand the recruiting
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process and understand the
evaluation process get in there
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and be the filtration system and
I think that's only going to
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help grow Virginia Tech
football, they're recruiting
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there on the field and off the
field results and that would be
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my first step and I think we
are.
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I like I said, I think we're at
the the little bit of the
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precipice of seeing that I think
is going to happen but covid and
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some other things I have thrown
a wrench in Side of Justin
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Fuente.
And with Babcock's hands have
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kind of slowed things down just
a bit.
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Sure.
And I like how you itemize kind
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of what those aspects of the
recruiting roles could because I
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feel like a lot of people don't
necessarily understand the those
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nuances in those small little
things that taking that off the
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plate of someone else and giving
that to a qualified person that
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knows what they're doing that.
That's what they do every day
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when they come into work.
How much that could better, the
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situation we have in how that's
pretty much the standard across
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most of these power 5 opponents
that were playing.
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So yeah, I like that you were
able to hit on that because that
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I think is kind of a big piece
of the puzzle that I don't think
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a lot of people talk about
enough.
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Yeah.
And you know, when you look at
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recruiting, it's not a
nine-to-five job.
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You know, even even college,
football coaching has an
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offseason.
There's an off chance. .
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There's a time when you can take
a little bit of a break from the
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day to day, you can't do that
with recruiting with recruiting,
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it is 365 days a year.
It is 24 hours a day.
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You have kids that, you know,
when you are recruiting a guy
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like DJ Harvey now here your
cross the country.
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So now your time, different time
zones when you're recruiting
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guys, like Robert Wooten like
Alec Bryant.
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Now you're different time zones
again.
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In Texas and you have to balance
all of that.
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When you now there are, you
know, obviously there are time
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periods where you cannot talk
directly with recruits or you
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can't talk to them face-to-face
and things like that and and
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that's a bit of a break, but you
still are talking with their
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coaches.
You're still talking with their
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trainers, you're still, you
know, gathering information on
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recruits and then you have to
add in, you know, it's say that
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you are, let's say you're going
to sign. 25 players in a year,
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you know, if you're not
Stanford, if you're not Clemson
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and maybe some of these other
very selective schools, we're
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going to say that you're going
to throw out 230 offers.
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Now this 230 offers you can say
probably 50 of those to 75 of
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those they're completely out of
reach for you.
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These are guys that have no
interest in Virginia Tech, these
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are guys that can't academically
go there.
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These are guys.
Guys that are blue chip players
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that you know is an uphill
battle so you can toss those out
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but you're still looking, you
know, 100 and 150 180 guys that
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you are recruiting for just that
year.
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Then you multiply that by 4,
that's how many kids you have to
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build relationships with on an
average.
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That's how many coaches.
That's how many parents, you
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know, people talk about.
About recruiting and, you know,
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you have to do to be a great
recruiter.
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You know, you have to be like a
used car salesman and you have
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to be this, you, you really have
to be a tireless worker, who
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loves communication?
That's really what it comes down
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to.
If you can, if you're okay in
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that setting, if you're okay,
you know, we talked about this
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before, some people bring it up
is you know, trying to pick up a
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girl at a bar.
I don't necessarily agree with
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that analogy because if You want
to go and pick up a girl at a
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bar that's that, you know,
that's that's your initial
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conversation.
That's who we're talking about
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an engagement.
You want to talk to this person,
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you want to get them to be
engaged with you.
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You want to get them on campus
and marry you and live with you
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for four to five years.
And then you have to do that.
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For 25 other kids 24, other
kids, you have to get them to do
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is make the same deal with you
every year.
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Like it's one of those things
people put be recruiting black
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and white.
When really Rowdy is is probably
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the most fluid thing in the
world, add on top of it.
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You're dealing with 16 to 19
year old children.
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They?
Change their mind over, what to
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eat, they change their mind,
over what to wear to change
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their mind over.
You know what they want to do
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after school, talking to them
about where you want to spend
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four years.
Five years is not the easiest
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thing in the world and then you
have to add in the, you know,
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they might even commit to you
and that's great.
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Now you have to keep them
committed, you know, until until
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they sign that National Letter
written and even then like we've
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seen in the past, you know, like
Zach Evans you signed a national
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letter of intent and then you
back out of it.
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Yeah, so really, I mean,
Recruiting a marathon and
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everybody wants it to be a
Sprint.
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I wanted to be a Sprint.
It would make my job easier but
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it's in there it is.
You have to cultivate these
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relationships for years.
And then, you know, you get them
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00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:28,300
on campus, you got to keep them
happy because if not, they'll
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00:14:28,300 --> 00:14:31,500
hit the transfer portal, they
might even badmouth you on the
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00:14:31,500 --> 00:14:34,000
way out.
And then you lose any shot at
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00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,500
kids that there Friends with any
kids that are at their High
228
00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:39,300
School, you make their High
School coaches.
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00:14:39,300 --> 00:14:42,700
Mad.
I mean, you know, we had, we had
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this long discussion on BT
scoop, you know, a couple for
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00:14:46,100 --> 00:14:50,100
the past couple of weeks with
Darryl Tapp leaving, Virginia
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00:14:50,100 --> 00:14:54,500
Tech to go to the NFL.
I don't blame him at all, he's
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00:14:54,500 --> 00:15:01,000
got the absolute 100% best
personality for recruiting, but
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00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:06,200
who wants that job?
I mean, who Who wants their
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00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:14,000
livelihood to depend on the the
decision-making of 16 and 19
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00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:18,800
year old kids that you know, how
met you make, or you may pour
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00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,900
years and years into them.
And then somebody else comes
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along with a better pitch at our
school, better academics are
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00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:30,100
better off the field life and
and can steal them from you at
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the last minute.
I mean, just think rationally
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about it is a tough Tough
profession, you know, and it's
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it's not for everyone, I'll tell
you that.
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00:15:40,900 --> 00:15:44,900
But it's a, you know, going back
to what, what to do Virginia
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00:15:44,900 --> 00:15:48,700
Tech if you take You know, all
those relationships you have to
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00:15:48,700 --> 00:15:51,600
cultivate and you say, hey we're
going to throw that on these 10
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00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:55,100
assistant coaches and Justin
Fuente don't have time.
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00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:59,600
Now, college coach has time,
that's why we have seen support
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staffs grow year in and year out
the growing exponentially, every
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00:16:04,300 --> 00:16:08,400
school, you know, even your
schools like Old Dominion, have
250
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them even your FCS schools.
James Madison is building out
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recruiting departments.
Everyone needs recruiting
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00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,600
departments, Virginia Tech has A
recruiting department.
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00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:19,700
Now, they need to Beef It Up,
they need to pour some money
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00:16:19,700 --> 00:16:22,700
into it.
Take a lot of this pressure off
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00:16:22,700 --> 00:16:27,000
of the ten assistance, and
Justin Fuente and you know, hit
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00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,800
the ground, you know, hit the
pavement hard, hit the pavement
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00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,600
fast and see, you know, kind of
see what shakes out when you
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00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,900
cast that really wide net.
Then you filter it out to your
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00:16:38,100 --> 00:16:42,100
core board of recruits you want
and let the coaches go out and
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00:16:42,100 --> 00:16:45,100
try to Feast.
Yeah, I'm glad you brought up
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00:16:45,100 --> 00:16:47,800
tap because I mean that That's
what we had talked about the
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00:16:47,808 --> 00:16:49,600
same thing and really kind of
reiterated.
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00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,800
What you said is that, you know,
it's a guy going to a similar
264
00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,400
type role with an NFL
organization wants to win a
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00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,500
title, and he doesn't have to
recruit.
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00:16:58,500 --> 00:17:01,600
I mean, that's a, that's a big
part of what he's been doing
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00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,800
day-to-day in the last, you
know, year plus that now he's
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00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,700
not even, it's not even on his
plate anymore.
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00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:10,500
So and let me go ahead and
piggyback off that.
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00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:15,000
So, you know, with, with Darryl
Tapp leaving, we got JC price.
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00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:20,800
Now coming in, And on top of
replacing as the code defensive
272
00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,099
line coach.
He's also taking on the the
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00:17:23,099 --> 00:17:28,300
defensive recruiting coordinator
position with Adam Lichtenberg
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00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,700
taking over that as a, on the
offensive side, getting a
275
00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:34,100
promotion there.
What do you think are some
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00:17:34,100 --> 00:17:38,000
advantages on the recruiting
trail with this type of role for
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00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,400
these two, coaches relative to
what the Hokies are, trying to
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00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:43,900
do with building that recruiting
department up as well?
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00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,900
So typically, you know, pre
covid, you would have your
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00:17:48,900 --> 00:17:51,500
recruiting coordinators, you're
on the field.
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00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:54,700
Coaches with one or two would be
designated as a recruiting
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00:17:54,700 --> 00:17:58,400
coordinator and that helps them
on the road.
283
00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,500
You know, it doesn't necessarily
help them when they're back in
284
00:18:01,500 --> 00:18:04,900
the offices, in the War Room,
building up the board and, and
285
00:18:04,900 --> 00:18:08,100
doing all of that, that helps
them on the road, you know,
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00:18:08,108 --> 00:18:12,000
coordinating a lot of the stuff.
But, you know, when you talk
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00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,200
about like a recruiting
director, recruiting
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00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:17,800
coordinator, Essentially right
now, under covid rules, they're
289
00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:20,500
kind of the same thing because
support staff is allowed to
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00:18:20,500 --> 00:18:24,400
contact recruits, you know, over
the phone on social media,
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00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:28,300
things like that, and coaches
aren't allowed to go out on the
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00:18:28,300 --> 00:18:30,700
road.
So there's not really that big
293
00:18:30,700 --> 00:18:34,700
of a difference.
And to me, not really nothing.
294
00:18:34,700 --> 00:18:37,900
Really is going to change.
You know, Adam Lichtenberg
295
00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:43,200
behind the scenes has been a
phenomenal higher in my opinion,
296
00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,200
when it comes to recruiting.
He's a guy that's got a lot of
297
00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,800
contacts and he's a guy that is
a tireless worker.
298
00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:54,600
I mean, he's whenever I talk to,
you know, some contacts of mine
299
00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,200
or I talk to High School coaches
or even talk to, you know, some
300
00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,500
of the contacts I have it jute,
the Juco level.
301
00:19:00,300 --> 00:19:03,300
They all talk about how
Lichtenberg is a guy, he may not
302
00:19:03,300 --> 00:19:07,400
win every recruit, but he is not
going to be outworked.
303
00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,700
So and I want to, I want to make
sure that people understand that
304
00:19:11,700 --> 00:19:14,600
that's not me saying he's gonna
go out and land every person on
305
00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,500
his board.
Yeah, that's me saying he is
306
00:19:17,500 --> 00:19:20,800
going to work as hard as humanly
possible to give her Gina Tech.
307
00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:22,900
The best chance to land that
person.
308
00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:25,500
Now, there might be somebody out
there that can offer more.
309
00:19:25,500 --> 00:19:28,900
There might be schools that can
offer National Championship, you
310
00:19:28,900 --> 00:19:33,000
know, possibilities road to the
NFL things like that, that
311
00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,400
Virginia Tech doesn't, you know,
may not be able to offer it that
312
00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:39,900
position but He's a tireless
tireless worker.
313
00:19:39,900 --> 00:19:44,700
So we do when you're back in
Blacksburg and they're back in
314
00:19:44,700 --> 00:19:47,900
the war room and they're going
over the board, nothing really
315
00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:50,200
changes for Adam.
Lichtenberg this is the role he
316
00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:52,700
already had.
He was already doing it, he just
317
00:19:52,700 --> 00:19:57,900
didn't have the title of it.
The title was kind of a pat on
318
00:19:57,900 --> 00:19:59,900
the back.
Thanks for all the recruiting
319
00:19:59,900 --> 00:20:01,900
help that you do.
Thanks for everything that
320
00:20:01,900 --> 00:20:05,400
you've done for just under
Justin Fuente Resume Builder.
321
00:20:05,500 --> 00:20:10,100
Here's your title JC Price, kind
of the same thing, you know,
322
00:20:10,100 --> 00:20:14,600
I've met JC price a few times
when he would come to Virginia
323
00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:18,200
Tech for after summer camps,
when Martin, you know, when they
324
00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,300
were always invite Marshall to
come in and evaluate some kids
325
00:20:21,300 --> 00:20:22,700
as well?
He was always there.
326
00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:28,400
Really, really energetic guy.
My big question when they were
327
00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,800
replacing tap was I think JC
price of great fit.
328
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:36,800
I think he's, I think he's 100%
the the right guy to step into
329
00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,600
that role.
It would he want to split
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00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:41,500
duties.
I thought of that was going to
331
00:20:41,500 --> 00:20:45,400
be a hang up, you know, not,
everyone wants to share duties.
332
00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:49,400
When you get that job, you know,
at the school you went to and
333
00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:53,700
you want to kind of be the guy,
you know, you want to be the guy
334
00:20:53,700 --> 00:20:56,600
you don't want.
They want to to split that role
335
00:20:56,600 --> 00:21:00,100
amongst somebody else.
So I think this was a great way
336
00:21:00,100 --> 00:21:02,700
for Virginia Tech to entice him
and say, Hey, you might be the
337
00:21:02,700 --> 00:21:06,500
assistant d-line coach, but we
want you to oversee all of our
338
00:21:06,500 --> 00:21:12,000
defensive Ting you know
unofficially what I had heard
339
00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:16,200
was this was kind of what Justin
Hamilton was doing you know I
340
00:21:16,208 --> 00:21:19,600
don't even have the title of it
but Justin Hamilton had a major
341
00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:23,400
say in all of the defensive
recruiting make sense of the D
342
00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,800
coordinator should sign off.
What this does is take a little
343
00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:30,800
bit off of his plate and allow
him to spend a little bit more
344
00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,400
time on focusing on being the
defensive coordinator.
345
00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:40,600
So you know, when it comes to
You know, you know, breaking it
346
00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,400
down to like the brass tacks of
it.
347
00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,500
Is there going to be a major
return on investment by
348
00:21:46,500 --> 00:21:48,400
labeling?
These two guys recruiting
349
00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,600
coordinators offensive and
defensive, not that we will see
350
00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:57,900
immediately what I do think it
does is furthers that Foundation
351
00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:01,300
that I talked about earlier
that, you know, I think, let's
352
00:22:01,300 --> 00:22:04,000
say that the recruiting
department does start to split a
353
00:22:04,008 --> 00:22:09,800
little bit into Juco, high
school and And transfer portal,
354
00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,500
and all of that.
Now, you can take that
355
00:22:12,500 --> 00:22:17,600
information and you can filter
that into to record recruiting
356
00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,100
coordinators.
Who can then look at it.
357
00:22:20,100 --> 00:22:21,300
Yes.
No.
358
00:22:21,700 --> 00:22:25,000
And then you know, kind of send
out the hounds to do the
359
00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,900
recruiting and oversee it.
And then when you think, you
360
00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:33,300
know, you go in that war room
and you say, hey, we need, you
361
00:22:33,300 --> 00:22:36,800
know, X number of wide receivers
X numbers are running back
362
00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,100
things like that, you know, Now,
we'll have a little bit more
363
00:22:40,100 --> 00:22:44,100
buy-in with the ten assistance.
Now, obviously the recruiting
364
00:22:44,100 --> 00:22:46,600
stock will heavily be involved
there, as well.
365
00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,600
No, but I think we're just
looking at the foundation, and
366
00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:53,900
I've mentioned this before.
I tell people all the time,
367
00:22:53,900 --> 00:22:58,500
don't get bogged down with
titles in college football,
368
00:22:59,300 --> 00:23:03,800
because most of the time they're
meaningless, and I don't want
369
00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:07,000
that to like, to not to belittle
in either coaches, or taking
370
00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,700
anything away from sure.
But associate head coach
371
00:23:10,700 --> 00:23:13,700
assistant head coach.
I mean, you have a head coach.
372
00:23:13,700 --> 00:23:15,700
If he goes down, you have your
number two.
373
00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,800
Okay, you don't need, we don't
need three guys.
374
00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:22,900
With this name, we don't need
All of these different, you
375
00:23:22,900 --> 00:23:27,200
know, ins and outs and nuances
of these names that may or may
376
00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:31,700
not coordinate with what you
actually do as your job, which
377
00:23:31,700 --> 00:23:34,600
can then only make it murkier
when you go to hire.
378
00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:38,600
Somebody, you know, you go out
to hire a Director of
379
00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,600
recruiting, you know, to replace
John yet.
380
00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:47,300
See would, but we, you look at
the, the actual job duties of
381
00:23:47,500 --> 00:23:49,200
maybe, what might Mark diet
horn?
382
00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,600
Does that might be more in line
with the director of recruiting,
383
00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,400
where, then you might be looking
at a director of player
384
00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,400
Personnel the higher but then
you have to do another title
385
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:01,900
switch, it just gets kind of
convoluted and it gets kind of
386
00:24:02,500 --> 00:24:05,300
confusing.
So I never try to get bogged
387
00:24:05,300 --> 00:24:08,400
down into the titles because I
think a lot Of those are just
388
00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:13,300
resume builders and, you know,
reasons to give people
389
00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:16,700
additional income, you know, to
give them an additional raise,
390
00:24:16,700 --> 00:24:20,000
or a benefit.
So I'm trying not to get bogged
391
00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,000
down on that stuff.
But I do think what we are
392
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,600
seeing right now is the early
Foundation.
393
00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,900
It might take years, honestly,
with covid and everything and
394
00:24:28,900 --> 00:24:31,200
financial issues.
But I think we're seeing the
395
00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,700
foundation being laid for
Virginia Tech, splitting out
396
00:24:33,700 --> 00:24:36,100
there, recruiting duties, and I
don't think it can hurt.
397
00:24:36,100 --> 00:24:38,900
I think it can only help here.
You okay?
398
00:24:38,900 --> 00:24:40,800
So what you're saying,
essentially is that we got the
399
00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:44,200
roles the roles there, but the
structure behind the scenes
400
00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,200
matter, a whole lot, more than
the titles that are being thrown
401
00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:50,100
at these coaches at this point.
Absolutely.
402
00:24:50,100 --> 00:24:53,300
I, you know, when you, when you
get down into the titles it's
403
00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:55,400
every school calls, them
different things.
404
00:24:55,500 --> 00:24:59,700
All the job duties are different
regardless of what the title is,
405
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,500
you know, when it comes down to
support staff and it comes down
406
00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:06,300
to recruiting staff, you know.
They only is, you know, there's
407
00:25:06,300 --> 00:25:13,900
a very Defined structure for
that organization or that that
408
00:25:14,100 --> 00:25:18,500
Branch, if you will of the, the
football staff at any school,
409
00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,500
you know, they all do about the
same thing, titles are all
410
00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:23,700
different, you know.
But when you when you think
411
00:25:23,700 --> 00:25:27,300
about, you know what their
actual job duties are day to
412
00:25:27,300 --> 00:25:32,100
day, I try not to get bogged
down in the in the in the zeros
413
00:25:32,100 --> 00:25:36,100
and ones of the job title Morris
what they're going to bring to
414
00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:38,200
the table and what they do for
The university.
415
00:25:39,300 --> 00:25:43,500
Well, Evan, you know, John's
gone, where do you see them
416
00:25:43,500 --> 00:25:45,000
going?
What kind of skill sets?
417
00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:48,200
Are they going to bring in to
take essentially his role or
418
00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:50,500
favorite eyelet director of
player Personnel?
419
00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,000
I mean, are they going to bring
in someone off one of these
420
00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,900
larger staffs for an upgrade, or
they all look for more
421
00:25:55,900 --> 00:26:00,500
established individual?
You know, I'm not sure which
422
00:26:00,500 --> 00:26:01,700
direction they're going to go
in.
423
00:26:01,700 --> 00:26:05,900
Yet, I dunno where I've heard
that they've been doing several
424
00:26:05,900 --> 00:26:07,500
interview.
Several rounds of interviews
425
00:26:07,500 --> 00:26:09,800
with some different, for some
different positions in the
426
00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,000
recruiting staff, because it's
not just his position that's
427
00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,600
open.
There are some others as well.
428
00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:19,300
So, you know, when you look at
what Virginia Tech has brought
429
00:26:19,300 --> 00:26:22,200
in on their off-the-field roles,
you know, for their support
430
00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:25,200
staff.
They brought in, you know drawn
431
00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:30,600
gouveia Winslow, you bring in
Cory Fuller you know you're
432
00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:34,600
already have po Pearson pray luo
off the off the field as well,
433
00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:38,300
it seems to me but when you
brought in they brought in you
434
00:26:38,300 --> 00:26:40,800
know, Mark that horn, obviously
he went to Virginia Tech as
435
00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:45,400
well.
You have a lot of Virginia Tech
436
00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:47,900
alumni there and I think like I
mentioned earlier, it's a
437
00:26:47,908 --> 00:26:51,100
difference in selling a
university and selling your
438
00:26:51,100 --> 00:26:53,300
University.
I think they have to look for
439
00:26:53,300 --> 00:26:55,100
somebody.
It has ties to Virginia Tech.
440
00:26:55,100 --> 00:26:57,600
Now that could be somebody at
another school.
441
00:26:57,900 --> 00:27:01,400
Obviously it could be somebody
that you know, maybe comes up
442
00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,000
through the grad assistant
program, that's been at Virginia
443
00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,900
Tech a few years and they want
to promote.
444
00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,000
But, you know, I think it's
going to be somebody.
445
00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:13,400
I think it needs to be people
with ties to Blacksburg and to
446
00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,500
Virginia Tech.
You know, I think I think that
447
00:27:16,500 --> 00:27:22,500
there is something special about
Blacksburg, but I think that
448
00:27:22,500 --> 00:27:29,700
there's something That makes it.
So there's some skewed,
449
00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:32,800
something skewed about it for
some people, some people don't
450
00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:36,900
like it, some people love it and
I think if you can have somebody
451
00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:41,300
that has lived it and somebody
that has you know been immersed
452
00:27:41,300 --> 00:27:44,600
in it from a student aspect, you
know.
453
00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,000
Maybe maybe even not even a
student aspect.
454
00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,200
But growing up, you know, going
into Lane stadium and going to
455
00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:53,800
the games and things like that.
I think that you can sell it a
456
00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:57,300
little bit better.
And I think if you're Virginia,
457
00:27:57,500 --> 00:28:00,800
I think that's where you kind of
hone in on, you know, you, you
458
00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:05,100
have the history of Brothers,
you have, you know, a solid
459
00:28:05,100 --> 00:28:07,700
history of Walk-Ons.
You have this family
460
00:28:07,700 --> 00:28:12,700
environment, you've built this
brand on from, you know, from
461
00:28:12,700 --> 00:28:16,100
Frank, Beamer and carried on to
Justin Fuente.
462
00:28:16,100 --> 00:28:18,200
And I think you have to fully
lean in on that.
463
00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:22,200
You know, if you bring in
somebody off the streets, you
464
00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:24,300
know, they might have a lot of
really good ideas.
465
00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:26,800
You know, you might bring in
somebody from Alabama and
466
00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,800
they've got They've got great
ideas on how to do this, but
467
00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:34,400
financially may not be possible
or within the constraints of
468
00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,800
Blacksburg, it may not be
possible, or within the ad
469
00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:39,600
structure, it may not be
possible.
470
00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:46,000
So I think finding somebody that
understands, you know, Southwest
471
00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,800
Virginia understands the state
of Virginia, the importance of
472
00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:52,400
recruiting, the state has
connections, you know,
473
00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:55,500
throughout the state, not just
the hot beds but be able to
474
00:28:55,500 --> 00:28:58,400
cultivate relationships
throughout the You know, that's
475
00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:00,400
where I'm looking.
I'm looking for somebody that
476
00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:05,600
can that can sell Virginia Tech
for what it is and has those
477
00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:08,800
connections to try and help keep
people from the state of
478
00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:12,500
Virginia, from keep them from
leaving and you know, convince
479
00:29:12,500 --> 00:29:17,000
them to look at look at what's
going on in Blacksburg, okay?
480
00:29:17,100 --> 00:29:19,800
It's like selling a product that
you use versus selling a product
481
00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:21,300
that you're just getting paid to
sell.
482
00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:25,300
Absolutely.
I mean, it's everybody always
483
00:29:25,300 --> 00:29:28,600
says, you know, when you walk
into a high school School, it
484
00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:31,700
matters.
What's on your shirt, but it
485
00:29:31,700 --> 00:29:34,600
really matters if you believe
what's on your shirt, you know,
486
00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:38,500
that's the big thing.
If you can believe in it, you
487
00:29:38,500 --> 00:29:41,900
know, you can you can sell it
really, really well.
488
00:29:41,900 --> 00:29:44,400
You know, that's not to say,
there's not really good, you
489
00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:49,200
know, car salesman could go from
4 to Toyota and sell just as
490
00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:51,200
well because he's selling a good
product.
491
00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,700
You know, however way you look
you look at it but you know, if
492
00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:59,400
you are a person that has You
know, grown up in it, been
493
00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:04,000
immersed in it and fully believe
in it, you know, and believe in
494
00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,400
what it can be.
I think that you can only help
495
00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:08,600
yourself.
I don't think you can hurt
496
00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:10,000
yourself at all in that
situation.
497
00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:13,600
So, you know, I think, I think
Virginia Tech would be smart to
498
00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:19,300
try and find some more alumni or
former players to come into that
499
00:30:19,300 --> 00:30:23,800
recruiting staff role and try to
try to not only build their
500
00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:26,400
career towards towards working
in the college football or
501
00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:29,200
working in the profession.
All ranks but also cultivate
502
00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:31,700
relationships in the state and
show that it is a family.
503
00:30:31,700 --> 00:30:35,000
And, you know, everybody's
welcome back and you know why
504
00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:39,400
you should join the Brotherhood.
Awesome, I like that.
505
00:30:39,700 --> 00:30:41,100
So let's let's go ahead and
pivot here.
506
00:30:41,100 --> 00:30:44,000
We're going to talk talk covid a
little bit because I know that's
507
00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:50,100
created a lot of unique
challenges for recruiting so you
508
00:30:50,100 --> 00:30:52,900
know we know the Dead period and
the high schools, you know, for
509
00:30:52,900 --> 00:30:55,400
a long time or even letting
folks come on campus and things
510
00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:58,500
like that.
And I know came down today that
511
00:30:58,500 --> 00:31:01,800
we're talking even more about
potentially extending the Dead
512
00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:05,300
period, even further.
But I just want to get your
513
00:31:05,300 --> 00:31:07,600
perspective on what some of the
other challenges that covid
514
00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:09,300
presented on the recruiting side
of things.
515
00:31:10,700 --> 00:31:13,600
Yeah, you know, and here I can
throw a couple numbers out at
516
00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:16,800
you is 24/7 Sports ran out
really good article on this
517
00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:21,600
recently that FBS college
football teams signed more than
518
00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:25,500
400 fewer recruits to
Scholarships in 2021 than they
519
00:31:25,500 --> 00:31:32,800
did for 2020 and 2019, holy cow.
So that that is clearly
520
00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:37,600
eye-opening.
I would say now 2022, might be
521
00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:41,500
worse and that's You know,
that's where things can start to
522
00:31:41,500 --> 00:31:44,800
get a little scary, but we'll
start, we'll start with 2021.
523
00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:49,000
So when you're in 2021, when
you're, you know, when you're
524
00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:56,600
trying to to recruit 21 and
covid hits, you are, if you are
525
00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:01,600
not one of the top will estimate
will round to 400.
526
00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:04,300
If you are not one of the top
400 players in this in the
527
00:32:04,300 --> 00:32:09,800
country, your rankings may not
matter, kind of at all, to be
528
00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:14,000
honest, because the big ranking
periods for you outside.
529
00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:17,200
That top 400 would be junior
film.
530
00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:22,800
Eval spring workouts, summer
camps senior season.
531
00:32:24,300 --> 00:32:27,800
Now, you can players in the
state of Virginia, they had to,
532
00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:29,900
they had, they had their junior
season.
533
00:32:31,100 --> 00:32:34,700
And no Spring football, no
spring workouts, at all, you
534
00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:39,800
have no summer camps at all.
You have no senior season.
535
00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:44,900
Before signing day three out of
the four ranking opportunities.
536
00:32:44,900 --> 00:32:51,000
You had are gone.
Now, that also means three out
537
00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:53,700
of the four, major scholarship
opportunities.
538
00:32:53,700 --> 00:33:02,000
You had are now gone as well.
So you you not only you not only
539
00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:06,500
could be somebody that all
through the cracks, you are also
540
00:33:06,500 --> 00:33:11,800
somebody that even if a school
takes a chance on you, That
541
00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:17,000
school is taking a major Risk by
offering you a scholarship.
542
00:33:17,300 --> 00:33:20,500
If you haven't played football
in a year, they haven't seen
543
00:33:20,500 --> 00:33:25,400
you, they haven't see you on
campus to see, are you really 64
544
00:33:25,500 --> 00:33:29,400
or are you 61?
Are you really 220 pounds?
545
00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:33,700
Are you really 180 pounds?
You know, they can't get you out
546
00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:36,300
of Camp to say.
You were say you ran a 44 and we
547
00:33:36,300 --> 00:33:40,900
clocked you out of 49.
So, you're taking a major Risk
548
00:33:41,100 --> 00:33:46,100
by offering those scholarships.
Now, on top of that, what you
549
00:33:46,100 --> 00:33:49,800
have to balance out and a lot of
college coaches did balance this
550
00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:55,200
out.
Is, do we take that risk on a
551
00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:58,500
borderline recruit?
We're not talking the five-star,
552
00:33:58,500 --> 00:34:01,400
we're talking the mid
three-star, guy that may or may
553
00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:05,600
not pan out, or do we hit the
transfer portal because of the
554
00:34:05,608 --> 00:34:10,500
transfer portal has you know?
A lot of talent in it of guys
555
00:34:10,500 --> 00:34:15,900
who have verified Heights and
weights have verified game game
556
00:34:15,900 --> 00:34:18,900
film for most of them, or at
least college, practice film,
557
00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:23,100
and these are guys that won't
tie up a scholarship for five
558
00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:25,500
years.
If they don't pan out, these are
559
00:34:25,500 --> 00:34:28,699
guys that you could tie the
scholarship for 1 to 3 years.
560
00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:33,800
And then when all of this maybe
starts to normalize, then you go
561
00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:36,600
back and you recruit back, fill
that position, you back recruit
562
00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:41,300
that number. so you know when
you when you look at it through
563
00:34:41,300 --> 00:34:46,000
out that way, if you are not a
top of the board guy for most
564
00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:51,199
schools, You run the risk, ran
the risk of not having an
565
00:34:51,199 --> 00:34:53,400
opportunity to play at the level
you wanted to play at.
566
00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:56,900
You may have to drop down a
level, or you maybe didn't get a
567
00:34:56,908 --> 00:34:59,400
chance to to sign with anybody
yet.
568
00:34:59,500 --> 00:35:04,700
Because even when you think of
dropping down a level, some of
569
00:35:04,700 --> 00:35:08,900
those schools, you know, Texas
state is a great example, I know
570
00:35:08,900 --> 00:35:12,200
they're not Regional test but
they're a great example that
571
00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:16,200
they looked at this year and
said you know they kind of just
572
00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:20,200
said screw it You know, zebra,
we can we took another week,
573
00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:24,900
Roots 0, they took 0 high school
kids and only recruited the
574
00:35:24,900 --> 00:35:27,900
transfer portal.
But you know what that does also
575
00:35:27,900 --> 00:35:30,100
for them?
That that some people may not
576
00:35:30,100 --> 00:35:32,200
even think of when they hear
that, think that's ridiculous.
577
00:35:33,100 --> 00:35:37,500
But what they did is they just
postponed a year because you
578
00:35:37,500 --> 00:35:40,700
know what we're looking at now,
you know, looking at that with
579
00:35:40,700 --> 00:35:46,000
2021 covid aside, you know,
let's say covid ends today and
580
00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:50,300
life goes by back normal and the
Dead period ends and everything.
581
00:35:50,300 --> 00:35:56,200
Cool, everything's good.
The NCAA extended scholarship
582
00:35:56,200 --> 00:36:00,200
limits for the 2021 season for
players to hold over you know
583
00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:02,800
seniors get a chance to play
again down to freshman getting
584
00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:05,500
their freshman year back.
Okay, that's great.
585
00:36:06,100 --> 00:36:09,900
So we extend that out, you know,
theoretically you could have 25
586
00:36:09,900 --> 00:36:11,800
senior scholarship seniors.
Most people.
587
00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:14,700
Don't you, theoretically could.
Yeah.
588
00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:19,300
What that gives, you 110
scholarships theoretically for
589
00:36:19,300 --> 00:36:25,200
24 this year.
But after this year, you have to
590
00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:27,400
be at 85 scholarship starting
next year.
591
00:36:28,500 --> 00:36:32,400
How do you get there?
You know, I talked to, I talked
592
00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:36,300
to one of our, I talk to one of
our guys in the industry today.
593
00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:40,100
You know, one of our national
guys were 24/7 Sports and he I
594
00:36:40,100 --> 00:36:41,800
told him I said, you know, I
think it's crazy.
595
00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:45,800
The NCAA needs to do something,
you know, in my opinion they
596
00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:51,900
need to extend it not as far,
but extended a little bit and I
597
00:36:51,900 --> 00:36:54,100
was like, Virginia Tech for
example, you know, I ran an
598
00:36:54,100 --> 00:36:58,200
article two weeks ago, Virginia
Tech has roughly eight
599
00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:01,100
scholarships open right now for
2022.
600
00:37:01,100 --> 00:37:05,200
Now, that will obviously expand.
We all know that, that eight is
601
00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:09,700
going to grow 1517, maybe even
up to 20 with attrition and
602
00:37:09,700 --> 00:37:11,200
transfer portal and things like
that.
603
00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:18,600
But just Today about 8 and he
said, there are teams out there
604
00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:22,500
right now that are - there are
teams out there right now that
605
00:37:22,500 --> 00:37:27,400
have to lose players on
Scholarship today to sign anyone
606
00:37:27,500 --> 00:37:31,600
in 2022.
So you know, when we look at
607
00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:36,100
this and we say, oh they signed
400 less people this year in
608
00:37:36,100 --> 00:37:40,100
2021 due to covid and that's
terrible.
609
00:37:41,300 --> 00:37:46,800
I could see it exponentially
larger in 2022 because College
610
00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:48,900
college programs don't have the
space.
611
00:37:49,500 --> 00:37:52,600
Yeah, so what one of two things
will have to happen.
612
00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:56,700
You are going to have to see
massive attrition and nobody
613
00:37:56,700 --> 00:38:00,100
likes to talk about attrition
attrition isn't always bad
614
00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:03,100
players entering.
The portal is not always bad.
615
00:38:03,100 --> 00:38:07,400
I think, you know, Virginia Tech
fans in particular especially
616
00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:09,400
what has happened over the last
few years and some of the guys
617
00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:13,800
leaving think people leaving the
transport transfer portal is a
618
00:38:13,808 --> 00:38:17,600
major problem, but you have to
look at it, multiple ways, some
619
00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:21,100
people leave the transfer portal
because they're unhappy some
620
00:38:21,100 --> 00:38:23,400
people leave the transfer portal
because they want more playing
621
00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:26,300
time or better opportunity, some
people leave the transfer
622
00:38:26,300 --> 00:38:28,900
portal, early Levi, the transfer
portal.
623
00:38:30,300 --> 00:38:33,800
I was just simply because of
academics or an off the field
624
00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:36,100
issue.
Some people will leave to be
625
00:38:36,100 --> 00:38:39,700
closer to home some people.
Decide, nobody really wants to
626
00:38:39,700 --> 00:38:45,000
talk about are asked to leave
the that people act like that,
627
00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:48,100
don't happen, that happens.
People are asked to leave your
628
00:38:48,100 --> 00:38:50,200
scholarship, may not be
retained.
629
00:38:50,200 --> 00:38:53,900
If it is retained, you may not
see the field, you may not play.
630
00:38:54,100 --> 00:38:57,200
It may be worth it for you to
find an opportunity elsewhere
631
00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:01,100
and you know, a lot of That that
happens everywhere.
632
00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:05,000
Now you're going to add it on
top of that, moving forward, the
633
00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:07,900
scholarship number crunch that
every school is dealing with.
634
00:39:09,300 --> 00:39:10,900
We have to free up space
somehow.
635
00:39:11,300 --> 00:39:14,400
Yeah.
You're gonna deal with the money
636
00:39:14,500 --> 00:39:18,600
of it, you know.
I heard you know every what does
637
00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:21,500
it every 10?
Scholarships, every 10
638
00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:23,500
scholarships is roughly a
million dollars.
639
00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:27,400
So, you know, if you're carrying
over a lot of scholarships here
640
00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:32,100
carrying over a lot of money.
So some schools are saying, hey,
641
00:39:32,100 --> 00:39:35,700
we know the NCAA said you can
carry over and go over 85 this
642
00:39:35,700 --> 00:39:38,000
year, but we can't afford it, so
we're not doing it.
643
00:39:38,500 --> 00:39:41,300
So, you know, some of those
players may have to find other
644
00:39:41,300 --> 00:39:46,500
homes and then we're going to
add the the Colossal mess that I
645
00:39:46,500 --> 00:39:49,500
foresee coming of players
entering the transfer portal
646
00:39:49,500 --> 00:39:54,000
because we were a 2021 signee.
We never saw the coaches.
647
00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:58,500
Two-Face, we never step foot on
campus, before we signed and we
648
00:39:58,500 --> 00:40:01,000
hate it here.
We're in a bad situation.
649
00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:05,100
We're going to see that become
very apparent and I think it'll
650
00:40:05,100 --> 00:40:09,100
be very apparent very quickly.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a
651
00:40:09,107 --> 00:40:11,300
lot of freshmen, all over the
country, start to enter the
652
00:40:11,300 --> 00:40:14,000
portal after getting on campus
and being there for a few
653
00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:16,400
months.
And realizing, you know, maybe
654
00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:21,400
what I was sold in recruiting,
isn't reality, you know?
655
00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:25,900
Maybe, you know, I thought I was
coming into Into this, you know,
656
00:40:25,900 --> 00:40:29,400
great opportunity.
You know I thought maybe I was
657
00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:32,300
going to be a guy that had a
shot at early playing time to
658
00:40:32,300 --> 00:40:34,300
find out that I'm fourth team on
the depth chart.
659
00:40:34,300 --> 00:40:40,400
When I get here, maybe I'm a guy
who never realized how small
660
00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:44,600
this campus is, or how big this
campus is, or how far away from
661
00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:47,400
home.
It is, you know, what do I do?
662
00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:50,500
They, you know, and I have to
live on campus for a year and
663
00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:53,200
they tell me, I can't have a car
and how do I, you know, how do I
664
00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:54,000
do?
It's typical.
665
00:40:54,500 --> 00:40:58,800
College, you know, things and
you have to learn and adjust
666
00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:03,300
when you get there and I think
we're going to see that fairly
667
00:41:03,300 --> 00:41:10,200
quickly because unjustly the
NCAA kind of force, the hand of
668
00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:14,800
recruits to sign sight.
Unseen for the majority of them
669
00:41:15,100 --> 00:41:17,900
and I think a lot of colleges
took advantage of that and said
670
00:41:17,900 --> 00:41:20,300
hey if you don't sign with us or
you don't commit to us now
671
00:41:20,600 --> 00:41:23,600
you're not going to have a spot
you know, nobody else other
672
00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:25,600
schools.
May not take you locking your
673
00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:29,900
spot now and they may not be in
love with the choice that they
674
00:41:29,900 --> 00:41:34,500
made.
So you know, all in all 2021 was
675
00:41:34,500 --> 00:41:40,100
not beneficial for either the
college staff for the recruits.
676
00:41:40,100 --> 00:41:43,900
There was, there's a lot of risk
on both sides and unfortunately
677
00:41:43,900 --> 00:41:47,000
in 2022.
I think that we are going to see
678
00:41:47,900 --> 00:41:50,500
just more of the same and I
think we're going to see more
679
00:41:50,500 --> 00:41:54,000
players left out that either
have to go drop down a level.
680
00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:57,900
Maybe have to go prep school or
Juco, or maybe you're out of
681
00:41:57,908 --> 00:42:00,300
football together because the
scholarship numbers are not
682
00:42:00,300 --> 00:42:01,800
going to be available
Nationwide.
683
00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:05,400
We are combining the scholarship
numbers being low with no Junior
684
00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:09,300
tape and potentially limited.
Even senior tape depending on
685
00:42:09,300 --> 00:42:13,000
how the next few months start to
shake out, you know, ahead of
686
00:42:13,300 --> 00:42:17,700
signing day later this year.
So it's definitely going to be a
687
00:42:17,700 --> 00:42:21,700
big big problem.
I feel like it's definitely hurt
688
00:42:21,700 --> 00:42:25,100
the, those high school recruits
the the Especially those ones
689
00:42:25,100 --> 00:42:28,300
that need that they aren't in
that top 400 like you were
690
00:42:28,308 --> 00:42:29,900
talking about a need that Junior
tape.
691
00:42:29,900 --> 00:42:32,700
Need those camps need that
senior tape.
692
00:42:33,500 --> 00:42:36,800
Absolutely.
If you, you know, looking at
693
00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:39,000
like some of the guys that
Virginia Tech has signed.
694
00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:43,500
Obviously you have in the past,
you guys like, you know, got
695
00:42:43,500 --> 00:42:45,400
like a candle Fuller.
He was obviously one of those
696
00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:48,000
top 100 guys.
He would be fine in this
697
00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:50,700
situation, but look at guys like
Reggie.
698
00:42:50,700 --> 00:42:53,800
Floyd Greg Stroman.
Both of those guys were great
699
00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:55,800
play.
Lady Camp to get their offers at
700
00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:58,500
Virginia Tech.
You know, you see a lot of
701
00:42:59,100 --> 00:43:02,500
Christian dare, so he had to
Camp, he wouldn't have been
702
00:43:02,500 --> 00:43:06,100
okay, in this situation, you
know, he was a lower ranked guy.
703
00:43:06,300 --> 00:43:08,900
Silas, Dane the another one
wouldn't have been okay in this
704
00:43:08,900 --> 00:43:12,200
situation.
So you have to look at it and
705
00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:17,300
think, you know, while while you
want to sign the majority of
706
00:43:17,300 --> 00:43:22,600
your class to be highly ranked
guys, and that top 400 you also
707
00:43:23,100 --> 00:43:25,600
want to have me.
Able to develop some of these
708
00:43:25,600 --> 00:43:29,100
players and mind some of these
players and find them at a camp
709
00:43:29,100 --> 00:43:32,900
setting or in a, in a spring
work out where you can go walk
710
00:43:32,900 --> 00:43:36,800
through their their weight room
and see, you know, how strong
711
00:43:36,800 --> 00:43:38,800
are they, what are they doing?
When they don't think you're
712
00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:42,300
looking, how do they interact
with their teammates?
713
00:43:42,500 --> 00:43:44,900
What, you know, you can go into
the high school and talk with
714
00:43:44,900 --> 00:43:47,600
their guidance, counselor's, you
can go talk with their teachers.
715
00:43:48,100 --> 00:43:52,400
We don't have any of that right
now, I mean, and going back to
716
00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:53,900
kind of what we mentioned
earlier with.
717
00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:57,900
With Darryl Tapp kind of crazy
to think that Darryl Tapp was a
718
00:43:57,900 --> 00:44:00,500
good recruiter at Virginia Tech
and never one step foot off
719
00:44:00,500 --> 00:44:05,300
campus.
I mean he wasn't able to, he
720
00:44:05,300 --> 00:44:07,400
couldn't go into high school,
she couldn't go into homes, he
721
00:44:07,400 --> 00:44:10,000
couldn't do any of that.
I think they only had two
722
00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:13,800
official visit weekends and then
maybe, you know, they had the
723
00:44:13,800 --> 00:44:17,900
Midnight Madness and maybe a
couple other Junior days on
724
00:44:17,900 --> 00:44:20,400
campus.
But other than that, that's the
725
00:44:20,400 --> 00:44:23,900
staffs haven't seen recruits in
almost a year.
726
00:44:24,200 --> 00:44:27,700
You know, they haven't seen
anybody in person in almost a
727
00:44:27,700 --> 00:44:31,800
year and if this thing keeps
continuing out, you know, it's
728
00:44:31,800 --> 00:44:36,800
so much risk that I can see a
lot of college coaches saying,
729
00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:40,400
we need to, we need to over sign
in the portal and under sign in
730
00:44:40,400 --> 00:44:43,100
high school and we'll figure
this out and get back to
731
00:44:43,100 --> 00:44:45,900
recruiting high school.
Once all of the numbers in the
732
00:44:45,900 --> 00:44:47,800
money, shake out here in the
next few years.
733
00:44:48,700 --> 00:44:52,100
Yeah, let me ask you this.
Evan, just strictly from The
734
00:44:52,100 --> 00:44:55,100
Hokey perspective, do you think?
Covid type recruiting was
735
00:44:55,100 --> 00:44:59,600
positive and negative compared
to other P5 schools based on
736
00:44:59,600 --> 00:45:00,700
mean.
On a lot of that information
737
00:45:00,700 --> 00:45:03,000
that you've been giving us in
the last few minutes here.
738
00:45:04,600 --> 00:45:08,600
You know, I think, I think there
are pros and cons, and that's
739
00:45:08,600 --> 00:45:11,900
for every school, but I think
for Virginia Tech in particular,
740
00:45:12,300 --> 00:45:17,500
I think the Hokies do a very
good job of early evaluations.
741
00:45:18,300 --> 00:45:22,000
So, you know, that and and what
what I mean by that is I think
742
00:45:22,000 --> 00:45:26,400
that they have a way of
evaluating kids in ninth and
743
00:45:26,400 --> 00:45:29,200
tenth grade, and realizing these
guys are going to be good.
744
00:45:29,200 --> 00:45:34,300
Football players.
Now they might They might be
745
00:45:34,300 --> 00:45:37,300
100% right you know and think
hey this guy's going to be a
746
00:45:37,300 --> 00:45:39,800
good football player and every
other school in the country
747
00:45:39,800 --> 00:45:42,900
thinks the exact same thing and
then that player becomes a good.
748
00:45:42,900 --> 00:45:46,400
You know, for five star kid goes
to Ohio, State goes to Alabama
749
00:45:46,400 --> 00:45:49,300
whatever.
But you know I think they are
750
00:45:49,300 --> 00:45:52,900
really really good at that.
I think Frank Beamer staff was
751
00:45:52,900 --> 00:45:55,000
really good at it.
I think Justin Fuente staff is
752
00:45:55,000 --> 00:45:59,100
really good at it you know
evaluating kids early getting
753
00:45:59,100 --> 00:46:02,600
those relationships early and
just cultivating those.
754
00:46:02,600 --> 00:46:06,200
And you look at the Eyes that
they signed, you know, in this,
755
00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:07,900
especially in the state of
Virginia.
756
00:46:08,300 --> 00:46:14,300
A lot of them already had ties
to the school via, you know,
757
00:46:14,300 --> 00:46:18,300
maybe a brother friends that
went there or being able to work
758
00:46:18,300 --> 00:46:21,500
out at camps and kids, that
Virginia Tech had seen in
759
00:46:21,500 --> 00:46:23,800
person.
Now maybe they haven't seen them
760
00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:27,300
in person this year as a senior
but they saw him in person at
761
00:46:27,300 --> 00:46:30,800
some point in time during their
career, they know and know the
762
00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:32,600
coaches.
Well they trust the coaches.
763
00:46:32,600 --> 00:46:34,900
Well, the coaches In the
trainers in the state.
764
00:46:35,200 --> 00:46:39,000
And I think that they, you know,
I think that this may have
765
00:46:39,000 --> 00:46:43,000
forced their hand a little bit.
I do think that last year the
766
00:46:43,008 --> 00:46:45,600
20/20 year was an anomaly with
in-state recruiting.
767
00:46:45,600 --> 00:46:50,700
But I think that this forced
Justin Fuente and his staff to
768
00:46:50,700 --> 00:46:55,200
really sit down and say, Hey,
you know, we can, we can exhaust
769
00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:58,800
these resources in other states,
but we need to exhaust our
770
00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:02,900
resources in Virginia because
we've seen these kids and some
771
00:47:02,900 --> 00:47:05,600
other schools.
Haven't we know what these kids
772
00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:12,300
can be other schools may not and
and you really need to build
773
00:47:12,300 --> 00:47:16,400
that in-state recruiting.
So I think they took advantage
774
00:47:16,400 --> 00:47:19,200
of no fall football forever.
You know, for the state of
775
00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:22,200
Virginia, I think they took
advantage of covid and got some
776
00:47:22,200 --> 00:47:25,200
of these kids in state, to lock
in a commitment, really early
777
00:47:25,200 --> 00:47:28,600
and stay committed.
Now on the other, you know, on
778
00:47:28,600 --> 00:47:31,700
the downside of that well I'll
say one other one other positive
779
00:47:31,700 --> 00:47:34,100
is if they got these kids on
campus This regardless of where
780
00:47:34,100 --> 00:47:36,300
they came from.
If you were on, if you visited
781
00:47:36,300 --> 00:47:39,100
Virginia Tech before and then
covid hits and you don't get a
782
00:47:39,107 --> 00:47:42,700
chance to visit Clemson, you
don't get a chance to visit Ohio
783
00:47:42,700 --> 00:47:48,300
state Alabama, you can maybe be
able to ride off of you.
784
00:47:48,300 --> 00:47:51,000
Saw us in person.
You know what, we have you
785
00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:54,500
walked our campus, you know come
come.
786
00:47:54,500 --> 00:47:58,700
Come be a hokie as opposed to
what you've seen virtually
787
00:47:58,700 --> 00:48:03,300
elsewhere, you know another
thing that I think Virginia Tech
788
00:48:03,500 --> 00:48:07,900
Every school did I think we'll
see moving forward is this fully
789
00:48:08,000 --> 00:48:14,100
forced adaptation of Technology.
You know virtual visits are
790
00:48:14,100 --> 00:48:18,200
massive now you know and I think
they only make sense you know
791
00:48:18,200 --> 00:48:23,500
you know how many times we have
you know written stories about
792
00:48:23,500 --> 00:48:27,200
players that are planning to
visit for a junior day or are
793
00:48:27,200 --> 00:48:31,600
planning to visit for a summer
visit or a fall game and their
794
00:48:31,600 --> 00:48:34,400
ride falls through.
Thing happens in the last
795
00:48:34,400 --> 00:48:35,900
minute, and they can't make it
to campus.
796
00:48:36,400 --> 00:48:39,000
Those excuses.
Can start getting smaller and
797
00:48:39,000 --> 00:48:42,100
smaller now because you can say,
hey, you didn't get to make it
798
00:48:42,100 --> 00:48:44,700
up on Saturday.
Here's a virtual visit.
799
00:48:44,700 --> 00:48:46,700
We're going to do one on one for
you and your family.
800
00:48:46,700 --> 00:48:48,000
You never even have to leave
your house.
801
00:48:48,000 --> 00:48:50,800
Just give me an hour of your
time, it's going to open that
802
00:48:50,800 --> 00:48:54,300
door up to some more, some more
things and showing off some more
803
00:48:55,000 --> 00:48:58,900
aspects and you can control it a
little bit more that way as
804
00:48:58,900 --> 00:49:01,600
well.
You know, if you know somebody
805
00:49:01,600 --> 00:49:05,300
is really Did in the engineering
department.
806
00:49:05,300 --> 00:49:08,700
You can you can walk over and
show them the ins and outs of
807
00:49:08,700 --> 00:49:12,500
everything while they're sitting
in their living room and you can
808
00:49:12,500 --> 00:49:16,000
control, you know, hey, after
that hears, you know, Main
809
00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:18,700
Street because we know you're
interested in all the places to
810
00:49:18,700 --> 00:49:22,900
eat, and here's, you know,
walking back into the facilities
811
00:49:22,900 --> 00:49:26,100
and show them, you know, the new
upgrades that have been made and
812
00:49:26,100 --> 00:49:27,700
the construction that's going
on.
813
00:49:27,800 --> 00:49:31,100
You can control that a little
bit more when you get, you know,
814
00:49:31,100 --> 00:49:33,200
when you get a kid on campus,
they come in, they take their
815
00:49:33,200 --> 00:49:35,000
time.
Tour they leave, they can kind
816
00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:37,500
of do what they want, see what
they want, and all of that, if
817
00:49:37,500 --> 00:49:40,800
it's virtual you basically have
the full control of the
818
00:49:40,800 --> 00:49:44,100
narrative there and I think, you
know, every school is adapting
819
00:49:44,100 --> 00:49:45,600
to that.
Well, I think Virginia Tech did
820
00:49:45,600 --> 00:49:49,600
adapt to the virtual environment
well over the last year.
821
00:49:49,600 --> 00:49:53,900
Now, obviously, the cons are,
you can't get kids on campus for
822
00:49:54,000 --> 00:49:56,400
for, for Virginia Tech.
On the brink Beamers.
823
00:49:56,400 --> 00:49:59,600
Big thing was always get them on
campus and you give yourself a
824
00:49:59,600 --> 00:50:02,000
shot.
And I think that's still true.
825
00:50:02,000 --> 00:50:03,300
I think.
Like I said earlier, I think
826
00:50:03,400 --> 00:50:05,600
That there's something about
Blacksburg and there's something
827
00:50:05,600 --> 00:50:07,900
about Virginia Tech.
I've been to a lot of campuses
828
00:50:08,400 --> 00:50:12,000
covering football games and I
think Virginia Tech ranks up
829
00:50:12,000 --> 00:50:13,900
there with some of the nicest
I've been to.
830
00:50:14,600 --> 00:50:17,200
And I think if you can get there
and you can, you can see
831
00:50:17,200 --> 00:50:19,800
everything.
You know, I do think that it's
832
00:50:19,800 --> 00:50:22,900
one of those schools that kind
of sticks out in your mind and
833
00:50:22,900 --> 00:50:27,500
kids will remember it.
So, I think that hurts obviously
834
00:50:27,500 --> 00:50:32,900
not being able to get gets get
recruits into Lane Stadium.
835
00:50:33,400 --> 00:50:37,200
Walk through the tunnel here.
Enter Sandman, you know, feel
836
00:50:37,200 --> 00:50:39,900
the stadium Shake.
I think that hurts Virginia Tech
837
00:50:39,900 --> 00:50:44,500
a little bit and, you know,
obviously not being able to have
838
00:50:44,500 --> 00:50:48,700
your coach's face to face with
anybody, you know, we've we've
839
00:50:48,700 --> 00:50:51,800
talked about it, you know, guys
like Justin Hamilton, they're
840
00:50:51,800 --> 00:50:54,800
there.
He's got a really, you know,
841
00:50:55,500 --> 00:50:59,300
positive personality.
You know, Ryan Smith has the
842
00:50:59,300 --> 00:51:03,200
same atom, Lichtenberg just, you
know, cutting that same mold.
843
00:51:03,700 --> 00:51:07,700
And these guys are doing all
they can over the phone, you
844
00:51:07,700 --> 00:51:11,500
know, and over Skype and over
FaceTime but you know as well as
845
00:51:11,500 --> 00:51:13,800
I do it's not the same you know
if you're not sitting
846
00:51:13,800 --> 00:51:16,600
face-to-face with somebody, it's
not the same.
847
00:51:17,200 --> 00:51:19,400
So I think these are guys that
you want to get out and give
848
00:51:19,400 --> 00:51:22,400
them on the road and get them in
front of in front of recruits as
849
00:51:22,408 --> 00:51:24,900
soon as possible.
So I think that did hurt.
850
00:51:24,900 --> 00:51:28,700
Now, you know, I think the
playing field was was fairly
851
00:51:28,700 --> 00:51:32,500
even for everyone, you know,
regardless some people got a
852
00:51:32,500 --> 00:51:35,000
little bit of spring, A
football, some people didn't
853
00:51:35,200 --> 00:51:38,200
some got some high school, got
to play in the fall, some states
854
00:51:38,200 --> 00:51:41,100
played in the fall, some people
didn't coaches weren't allowed
855
00:51:41,100 --> 00:51:44,400
to get on the out on the road.
So that was kind of a difference
856
00:51:44,400 --> 00:51:49,300
and, you know, you don't have
some senior football film to
857
00:51:49,300 --> 00:51:52,300
review before signing day.
So, you know, that's obviously a
858
00:51:52,300 --> 00:51:56,900
con but in the whole scheme of
things, I think this through a
859
00:51:56,900 --> 00:51:58,900
wrench at every school in the
country.
860
00:51:58,900 --> 00:52:01,600
I think Virginia Tech adapted.
Well, I think they shifted their
861
00:52:01,600 --> 00:52:05,300
focus well to the Virginia guys.
They thought they could get to
862
00:52:05,300 --> 00:52:09,600
help build a foundation in the
state and then utilize their
863
00:52:09,600 --> 00:52:12,600
contacts outside of the state to
sign some good football players.
864
00:52:12,600 --> 00:52:16,100
And like I mentioned earlier if
you're outside that top 400,
865
00:52:16,100 --> 00:52:18,700
guys, going into the state of
we're going into your senior
866
00:52:18,700 --> 00:52:22,700
year with, as many kids didn't
get to play their senior senior
867
00:52:22,700 --> 00:52:26,600
year with zero summer camps.
I take a lot of that.
868
00:52:26,600 --> 00:52:28,600
Throw it out the window.
You know, if you're a five-star
869
00:52:28,600 --> 00:52:33,200
five-star, we all can see it.
But if you're right, if you're a
870
00:52:33,300 --> 00:52:36,200
Amid 3 star and a high
three-star.
871
00:52:36,700 --> 00:52:39,200
What's the difference?
If you're a low forestall, if
872
00:52:39,200 --> 00:52:43,300
you know you're a an 87 and a
90, you know, the difference
873
00:52:43,300 --> 00:52:47,300
between a 3 star 4 star, there's
really not that much difference.
874
00:52:47,300 --> 00:52:50,800
When you think when you add in
the fact that there was no camps
875
00:52:50,800 --> 00:52:54,400
no spring workouts, and possibly
know fall.
876
00:52:54,600 --> 00:52:58,200
So, you know, I think Virginia
Tech signed some good football
877
00:52:58,200 --> 00:53:01,100
players in this class.
The rankings won't necessarily
878
00:53:01,100 --> 00:53:03,200
reflect it as well as I think it
should.
879
00:53:04,000 --> 00:53:08,500
But I do think they did well
adapting in this environment
880
00:53:08,500 --> 00:53:11,300
that was almost unable to be
planned for.
881
00:53:12,500 --> 00:53:14,800
Let's let's go ahead and pick
you back straight off of that
882
00:53:14,800 --> 00:53:17,000
because I feel like, you know,
you hit hard on like, you know,
883
00:53:17,000 --> 00:53:21,200
not having the lot of senior
tape for these guys not having
884
00:53:21,200 --> 00:53:25,400
really any of the Camp's.
What guys, in this class, do you
885
00:53:25,400 --> 00:53:28,400
think had the biggest potential
for that kind of offseason
886
00:53:28,400 --> 00:53:32,200
bumper that senior season bump?
If we were operating business as
887
00:53:32,200 --> 00:53:36,300
usual?
You know, I think in in state
888
00:53:36,300 --> 00:53:39,800
you know, I look at a guy like
like a Jalen strowman I think
889
00:53:39,800 --> 00:53:43,100
Jalen's strohman a very good
football player and I think he
890
00:53:43,600 --> 00:53:47,700
was really coming into his own
as a junior, obviously he has
891
00:53:47,700 --> 00:53:50,600
some advantages being Greg's
little brother and and some of
892
00:53:50,600 --> 00:53:53,500
the guys he works out with and
trains with he's got really good
893
00:53:53,500 --> 00:53:56,600
size range and speed.
I think he probably would have
894
00:53:56,600 --> 00:53:58,600
been in line for one Jalen
Jones.
895
00:53:58,600 --> 00:54:03,400
Another thousand yard receiver
in at a Richmond now, Didn't
896
00:54:03,400 --> 00:54:06,100
play the best competition in the
world.
897
00:54:06,900 --> 00:54:09,200
But if you can put together
back-to-back thousand yard
898
00:54:09,200 --> 00:54:10,900
receiving years, that's hard to
deny.
899
00:54:11,300 --> 00:54:15,100
You know, guys like that.
I think Kelly Lawson probably
900
00:54:15,100 --> 00:54:17,400
had the most upside.
Yeah.
901
00:54:17,400 --> 00:54:23,500
If Kelly Lawson could camp and
had a senior year before signing
902
00:54:23,500 --> 00:54:26,700
day, I would not be shocked if
he was a four-star by some
903
00:54:26,700 --> 00:54:29,100
rankings.
I mean you look at what he's
904
00:54:29,100 --> 00:54:30,800
done.
You look at his first, you look
905
00:54:30,800 --> 00:54:34,600
at his body and you think like,
You know, he can play anything.
906
00:54:34,900 --> 00:54:36,300
Is he?
The next Tremaine?
907
00:54:36,500 --> 00:54:38,400
Is he the next?
Amari bar know, you know, we
908
00:54:38,400 --> 00:54:42,500
don't really know right now, but
you look at what he does in his
909
00:54:42,500 --> 00:54:45,900
workouts you look at and you
don't think he was clocked.
910
00:54:46,600 --> 00:54:50,600
Was he clocked at 20?
Please o'clock at 26 on one of
911
00:54:50,600 --> 00:54:54,700
the, one of his training videos?
It was it was Unreal, how fast
912
00:54:54,700 --> 00:54:57,100
he was moving on.
One of the, the treadmills that
913
00:54:57,100 --> 00:55:00,400
clocks.
It was it was it was it almost
914
00:55:00,400 --> 00:55:02,800
the equivalent of a Caleb
Farley.
915
00:55:03,000 --> 00:55:05,200
Wow.
And this guy's got a much
916
00:55:05,400 --> 00:55:10,200
different type of body so you
know, I think he's a guy that
917
00:55:10,200 --> 00:55:13,900
would have probably gone up a
little bit in the rankings.
918
00:55:13,900 --> 00:55:16,800
You know, guy like DJ Harvey, I
think DJ Harvey probably would
919
00:55:16,800 --> 00:55:19,000
have played his way up, if
California was playing football
920
00:55:19,000 --> 00:55:24,100
in the in the fall, you know.
I think You know, one guy I
921
00:55:24,100 --> 00:55:28,100
think that was held down and I
don't really know why because he
922
00:55:28,100 --> 00:55:30,700
was super productive, but I
think Kenji.
923
00:55:30,700 --> 00:55:35,800
Christian is somebody that also
was kind of a victim of rankings
924
00:55:35,800 --> 00:55:39,100
where I feel like he's probably
a four star talent.
925
00:55:39,100 --> 00:55:40,900
I think he's a really good
running back.
926
00:55:40,900 --> 00:55:45,000
I think he maybe was overlooked
a little bit because you're
927
00:55:45,000 --> 00:55:47,700
coming from the state of Alabama
and you don't have an Auburn
928
00:55:47,700 --> 00:55:52,700
offer and you don't have an
Alabama offer LSU LSU.
929
00:55:52,900 --> 00:55:56,300
Maybe within hours of offering
and before their restrictions
930
00:55:56,300 --> 00:55:59,800
hit, you know, this is a guy
that he's got, he's an SEC
931
00:55:59,800 --> 00:56:04,200
player and you know, he luckily
for Virginia Tech.
932
00:56:04,200 --> 00:56:08,600
He didn't get, you know, those
three SEC offers that would have
933
00:56:08,600 --> 00:56:12,000
been a game-changer for moment.
And now he's, he's headed to
934
00:56:12,008 --> 00:56:14,400
Blacksburg.
I think he's a guy that a lot of
935
00:56:14,408 --> 00:56:18,800
people kind of Overlook, you
know, I think Christian Moss is
936
00:56:18,800 --> 00:56:22,000
an interesting one, you know,
everybody talked about Trey
937
00:56:22,000 --> 00:56:24,500
career, Portray Curry was
committed, Virginia Tech for a
938
00:56:24,500 --> 00:56:27,900
little while for Star Trek,
hurry actually transferred to
939
00:56:27,908 --> 00:56:30,700
North Cobb for his senior year,
they played together him and
940
00:56:30,700 --> 00:56:32,700
Christian Moss.
Christian Moscow better wide
941
00:56:32,700 --> 00:56:36,500
receiver.
Christian Moss was was the top
942
00:56:36,500 --> 00:56:40,500
guy at North Cobb and he's a,
he's a mid three-star guy, he's
943
00:56:40,500 --> 00:56:44,400
got great size, he's got really
good range and he's just a guy
944
00:56:44,400 --> 00:56:45,800
that fell through the covid
cracks.
945
00:56:45,800 --> 00:56:49,100
So, you know, I think when you
look at it and you go through
946
00:56:49,100 --> 00:56:53,200
each of these players, you know,
every year I try to look at At
947
00:56:53,200 --> 00:56:56,600
the commits, and I think who is,
who's a reach?
948
00:56:56,900 --> 00:56:59,600
Who's a guy that I can look at
right now and say, I don't think
949
00:56:59,600 --> 00:57:01,000
they're going to play in,
Virginia Tech.
950
00:57:01,500 --> 00:57:04,800
And when you look down their
list right now, there's not a
951
00:57:04,800 --> 00:57:07,500
lot of those guys.
There are some guys who say
952
00:57:07,900 --> 00:57:11,700
there's some guys, you say might
take it might take a year or two
953
00:57:11,700 --> 00:57:14,900
maybe three, maybe they won't
play until their upperclassmen,
954
00:57:15,300 --> 00:57:18,400
but there's not a whole lot.
You look at and you say, I don't
955
00:57:18,400 --> 00:57:20,400
see it, I don't know what
they're seeing in the sky, I
956
00:57:20,408 --> 00:57:23,100
don't see it at all.
So, you know, I think when you
957
00:57:23,100 --> 00:57:25,400
look at it that way, I think the
Hokies, you know, I think they
958
00:57:25,400 --> 00:57:28,900
did they did as well as I think
that they probably could under
959
00:57:28,900 --> 00:57:33,500
the circumstances of everything
going around them covid and
960
00:57:33,500 --> 00:57:35,200
potentially the hot seat of
Justin Fuente.
961
00:57:36,800 --> 00:57:39,300
Yeah.
I mean you mentioned it right
962
00:57:39,300 --> 00:57:42,300
there and something me and Brian
had said probably back in the
963
00:57:42,300 --> 00:57:45,600
fall was there were certain guys
that were not going to get the
964
00:57:45,600 --> 00:57:48,800
bump because they weren't going
to get any extra exposure and it
965
00:57:48,800 --> 00:57:51,300
sucked.
But I got to be a realist as a
966
00:57:51,300 --> 00:57:53,200
hokie fan here.
We did get some really good
967
00:57:53,200 --> 00:57:56,600
players but we had some misses
who do you think we're that?
968
00:57:56,600 --> 00:58:00,800
Like, one or two biggest mrs.
Not only from, a recruiting
969
00:58:00,800 --> 00:58:03,500
perspective in state or out of
state, but just in general, if
970
00:58:03,500 --> 00:58:05,600
they had gotten this guy, it
would have been kind of that
971
00:58:05,600 --> 00:58:07,800
Crown Jewel.
In the class.
972
00:58:09,100 --> 00:58:10,700
I mean, it has to be Demetrius
Davis.
973
00:58:10,900 --> 00:58:14,300
I mean their hands down.
There's there's, you know,
974
00:58:14,300 --> 00:58:19,100
nothing else.
He was the guy and it's sad.
975
00:58:19,100 --> 00:58:23,000
I mean he was he was locked in
right.
976
00:58:23,000 --> 00:58:28,600
Like he he was dead set on
Virginia Tech and then when
977
00:58:28,600 --> 00:58:33,600
covid happened and and, you
know, Auburn used it as an
978
00:58:33,600 --> 00:58:37,700
opportunity to get in there and
and End up flipping them.
979
00:58:37,700 --> 00:58:42,700
I mean, it was You could feel,
you know, covering Virginia
980
00:58:42,700 --> 00:58:45,400
Tech's class, you could feel
everything shift that day.
981
00:58:46,400 --> 00:58:49,800
You know, everyone started to be
a little iffy and their
982
00:58:49,800 --> 00:58:52,600
commitments and you could see
that things were changing.
983
00:58:53,500 --> 00:58:56,100
Now, I think, I think Virginia
Tech did a good job going out
984
00:58:56,100 --> 00:58:59,400
and securing a quarterback very
quickly after and trying to
985
00:58:59,400 --> 00:59:06,600
rebuild the class, but had they
had, they signed Davis, you
986
00:59:06,600 --> 00:59:09,100
know, I think he would have been
the quarterback of the future.
987
00:59:09,800 --> 00:59:14,300
And I think that he would have
brought a lot of his friends
988
00:59:14,400 --> 00:59:16,800
from Texas with him.
And and you know, there's
989
00:59:16,800 --> 00:59:20,000
there's a lot to be said when
you sign a highly ranked
990
00:59:20,000 --> 00:59:23,000
quarterback or we have a highly
ranked quarterback committed, it
991
00:59:23,000 --> 00:59:26,700
opens eyes to players across the
country that may want to play.
992
00:59:27,400 --> 00:59:29,400
That want me want to play for
you because they want to play
993
00:59:29,400 --> 00:59:32,400
with that guy.
So you know, he has to be the
994
00:59:32,400 --> 00:59:36,400
biggest Miss of the year for for
Virginia Tech, when they lost
995
00:59:36,400 --> 00:59:40,600
him to Auburn.
Yeah, that one definitely was
996
00:59:41,000 --> 00:59:44,100
was a big hit.
It felt like the wind was out of
997
00:59:44,100 --> 00:59:47,600
the sails a little bit therefore
for the cycle I think Doug he's
998
00:59:47,600 --> 00:59:50,800
in a pretty decent job of
recovering but losing that
999
00:59:50,800 --> 00:59:56,200
high-profile player you didn't
get that forward momentum for
1000
00:59:56,200 --> 00:59:58,400
the rest of the cycle that you
probably would have gotten if
1001
00:59:58,400 --> 01:00:01,400
he'd a stayed in the boat.
I want to ask you this though,
1002
01:00:02,700 --> 01:00:05,500
of the guys in the 21 cycle you
know you hit on it just a little
1003
01:00:05,500 --> 01:00:07,800
bit earlier but I just want to
get a little bit more more
1004
01:00:07,800 --> 01:00:11,900
in-depth here.
Any immediate impact guys, in
1005
01:00:11,900 --> 01:00:15,900
this 21 class, or most these
guys going to need a year or two
1006
01:00:15,900 --> 01:00:18,000
to kind of marinate before
they're ready to make a big
1007
01:00:18,000 --> 01:00:20,400
impact.
Yeah, I think there's a few that
1008
01:00:20,400 --> 01:00:22,500
can play Early.
Obviously, I mentioned DJ Harvey
1009
01:00:22,500 --> 01:00:24,100
earlier.
I think he's probably an easy
1010
01:00:24,100 --> 01:00:28,700
one to look at and say he can
probably work his way into the
1011
01:00:28,707 --> 01:00:32,500
rotation somewhere, you know.
Will he be a starting Corner?
1012
01:00:32,500 --> 01:00:35,600
Probably not, but could he be a
second team Corner?
1013
01:00:35,800 --> 01:00:38,700
Could it be a punt, returner guy
like that, you know?
1014
01:00:38,800 --> 01:00:42,900
I think that he has an
opportunity to get on the field
1015
01:00:42,900 --> 01:00:47,800
next year, you know, one that I
look at that maybe was a little
1016
01:00:47,800 --> 01:00:51,100
overlooked in the recruiting
process Dwayne Lofton.
1017
01:00:51,600 --> 01:00:56,100
I'm a big fan of Dwayne Lofton
and I think he is what Virginia
1018
01:00:56,100 --> 01:01:00,300
Tech couldn't use right away in
the slot especially if they want
1019
01:01:00,300 --> 01:01:03,000
to continue to be on Robinson
playing outside.
1020
01:01:03,800 --> 01:01:06,600
You know Raheem Blackshear can
play in the slot as well but I
1021
01:01:06,607 --> 01:01:08,700
think Duane lofton's one of
those.
1022
01:01:08,800 --> 01:01:12,900
Guys from down in Texas that has
just has big play potential
1023
01:01:12,900 --> 01:01:15,000
written all over him.
I think he's a really, really
1024
01:01:15,700 --> 01:01:17,200
talented football player.
I tell you.
1025
01:01:17,200 --> 01:01:21,000
I've heard a lot of positives
about you say it suit out of
1026
01:01:21,000 --> 01:01:23,700
Virginia Beach, you know
obviously I think he I think
1027
01:01:23,700 --> 01:01:27,200
he's probably a year way, you
got to put on some weight to it
1028
01:01:27,600 --> 01:01:31,200
to play, linebacker the P5
level, but tireless, worker,
1029
01:01:31,200 --> 01:01:35,500
Great Frame, High football IQ.
I think he's a guy that can
1030
01:01:35,500 --> 01:01:38,700
definitely play fairly early in
his career.
1031
01:01:39,600 --> 01:01:44,100
You know, and I really, I'm a
big fan of the of the DN stat
1032
01:01:44,200 --> 01:01:47,100
that Virginia Tech signed, I
think Matthias, Carolyn Cole
1033
01:01:47,100 --> 01:01:50,200
Nelson, are going to be big time
players for the Hokies in the
1034
01:01:50,207 --> 01:01:52,000
future?
I'm not sure.
1035
01:01:52,300 --> 01:01:56,400
They'll get a whole lot of reps,
your one, you know.
1036
01:01:56,400 --> 01:01:59,900
I think that they could be in
that maybe a similar situation
1037
01:01:59,900 --> 01:02:01,800
like a Robert Wooten.
They get some reps here and
1038
01:02:01,800 --> 01:02:05,100
there but maybe not a whole lot
of them.
1039
01:02:05,700 --> 01:02:08,100
Maybe they stay under that
four-game rule for the Redshirt
1040
01:02:08,100 --> 01:02:10,200
year.
But I do think that in the
1041
01:02:10,200 --> 01:02:12,700
future, I think those are two
big time players that Virginia
1042
01:02:12,700 --> 01:02:18,200
Tech guide on the d-line.
And since we're talking about
1043
01:02:18,200 --> 01:02:21,000
some of the guys that are coming
in, let's give it a little bit
1044
01:02:21,000 --> 01:02:24,000
to 22 here gained a commitment
with Devin.
1045
01:02:24,000 --> 01:02:27,500
Pharaoh today, out of Atlanta,
what type of player we getting
1046
01:02:27,500 --> 01:02:28,900
with them?
I know it's still kind of early
1047
01:02:28,900 --> 01:02:32,100
in this one kind of came a
little bit under the radar.
1048
01:02:32,100 --> 01:02:37,500
In terms of the, the
announcement You know he's he's
1049
01:02:37,500 --> 01:02:41,700
a little bit playstyle like a
Demetrius Davis.
1050
01:02:41,700 --> 01:02:44,900
He's not the biggest guy in the
world between six foot.
1051
01:02:44,900 --> 01:02:47,700
Six one, but he's really, really
slippery.
1052
01:02:47,800 --> 01:02:50,600
He's got a good, good arm.
I won't say he's got a great
1053
01:02:50,600 --> 01:02:52,900
arm, he's got a good arm, you
can make most of the throws.
1054
01:02:53,300 --> 01:02:57,100
You know, one thing I really
like about him is when he when
1055
01:02:57,100 --> 01:03:01,600
something breaks down when he
has to run, he keeps his eyes
1056
01:03:01,600 --> 01:03:04,700
up, he looks down the field for
a played down field.
1057
01:03:04,700 --> 01:03:09,100
First As he's as he's running
now, he'll talk, it'll go, I
1058
01:03:09,107 --> 01:03:12,700
mean, he's a guy, that's got
some some some shiftiness and
1059
01:03:12,700 --> 01:03:15,900
he's got some speed, but he
wants to make it a play with his
1060
01:03:15,900 --> 01:03:18,500
arm.
And I think that's really, I
1061
01:03:18,500 --> 01:03:20,400
think that's a really positive
trait for him.
1062
01:03:20,700 --> 01:03:23,600
He's also a dual sport guy, he's
got baski got to basketball
1063
01:03:23,600 --> 01:03:28,200
scholarships and he is the
starting point guard on the
1064
01:03:28,200 --> 01:03:31,400
number one team in the state,
you know, on the basketball team
1065
01:03:31,600 --> 01:03:35,100
I think they were number ten
nationally last year, and he was
1066
01:03:35,200 --> 01:03:38,100
A starting point guard.
So he's really, really versatile
1067
01:03:38,300 --> 01:03:40,200
and he's just a really good
athlete.
1068
01:03:40,200 --> 01:03:42,800
You know, I talked to you, I
talked with his coaching staff
1069
01:03:43,100 --> 01:03:46,700
throughout the morning this
morning and they, the the
1070
01:03:47,700 --> 01:03:50,800
biggest takeaways that I got
from them is he's kind of a film
1071
01:03:50,800 --> 01:03:53,300
junkie.
He's a guy that wants to get
1072
01:03:53,300 --> 01:03:56,800
better and wants to improve and
he's not, you know, he's not one
1073
01:03:56,800 --> 01:03:58,800
of those guys that that's going
to say, hey, I'm not going to
1074
01:03:58,808 --> 01:04:01,800
stay late break down this film,
or I'm not going to go get those
1075
01:04:01,800 --> 01:04:04,000
extra reps.
He's a guy that's going to be
1076
01:04:04,100 --> 01:04:07,200
first one in the building.
Last one out, last one off the
1077
01:04:07,200 --> 01:04:10,500
field and just a guy that the
team can kind of rally around.
1078
01:04:10,500 --> 01:04:14,600
So I think, I think it was a
really good opening commitment
1079
01:04:14,600 --> 01:04:17,700
for the Hokies doesn't hurt that
Virginia Tech has offered to of
1080
01:04:17,700 --> 01:04:21,200
his offensive linemen as well.
So, you know, maybe maybe they
1081
01:04:21,200 --> 01:04:24,500
can do, I try to do a, maybe
they can try to do a package
1082
01:04:24,500 --> 01:04:28,500
deal there, but, you know, he
plays good good competition down
1083
01:04:28,500 --> 01:04:30,200
there and he's put up some
numbers.
1084
01:04:30,500 --> 01:04:36,700
Yeah, you look at, you know, is
he going to be A six foot four
1085
01:04:37,100 --> 01:04:39,800
240-pound quarterback, probably
not.
1086
01:04:40,200 --> 01:04:45,100
But you know, he doesn't have to
be, if he's, you know, 61 220.
1087
01:04:45,800 --> 01:04:48,600
I think he can be just fine.
You know, I think he can run the
1088
01:04:48,600 --> 01:04:51,500
offense.
Well, he looks like he can run
1089
01:04:51,500 --> 01:04:53,700
the RPO.
Well, he can, he seems like he's
1090
01:04:53,700 --> 01:04:56,700
a quick decision maker, he's
Above All Else, he's just a
1091
01:04:56,700 --> 01:05:00,500
really, really good athlete.
So I think Virginia Tech did
1092
01:05:00,500 --> 01:05:04,200
well here now, you know, can
they keep him if SEC school
1093
01:05:04,200 --> 01:05:05,800
start calling for him?
I don't know.
1094
01:05:05,800 --> 01:05:10,800
But you know, for day one of his
commitment, he's locked in a
1095
01:05:10,808 --> 01:05:14,600
really solid hearing a lot of
good things about him and I
1096
01:05:14,607 --> 01:05:17,200
think he's fired up to be a
hokie and the Virginia Tech
1097
01:05:17,200 --> 01:05:18,800
staff is really excited to
happen.
1098
01:05:19,900 --> 01:05:21,900
It's good to hear also like what
you talked about, he said it was
1099
01:05:21,900 --> 01:05:24,600
all state point guard.
Anytime I think about a point
1100
01:05:24,600 --> 01:05:28,200
guard in basketball, it's an
immediate leader, understanding
1101
01:05:28,200 --> 01:05:30,400
distribution understanding,
getting people in the right
1102
01:05:30,400 --> 01:05:34,600
spots.
So maybe that athlete can go off
1103
01:05:34,600 --> 01:05:37,500
the end, he can strictly be a
quarterback, but Evan also want
1104
01:05:37,500 --> 01:05:41,200
to ask for this cycle.
Give us a couple names.
1105
01:05:41,300 --> 01:05:46,600
It was a couple key targets that
the make this seemingly a
1106
01:05:46,600 --> 01:05:49,700
successful class the Hokies need
to Oh, Land.
1107
01:05:51,000 --> 01:05:53,800
Yeah, you know, I think, I
think, Virginia Tech needs to
1108
01:05:53,800 --> 01:05:56,200
focus completely in the state of
Virginia.
1109
01:05:56,200 --> 01:05:59,500
First, there's a lot of talent
in the state of Virginia right
1110
01:05:59,500 --> 01:06:02,000
now.
You know, you can look at guys,
1111
01:06:02,000 --> 01:06:05,200
like obviously, there's Gunner
Givens at a lord Bata top.
1112
01:06:05,300 --> 01:06:08,000
One of the top tackles in the
country, Virginia.
1113
01:06:08,000 --> 01:06:10,200
Tech is definitely in the mix
for him.
1114
01:06:10,600 --> 01:06:13,900
You know, you got guys, like
George Pettaway Ramon Brown in
1115
01:06:13,900 --> 01:06:17,900
the state of Virginia.
I think those guys are both at
1116
01:06:17,900 --> 01:06:21,500
least speaking with Virginia
Tech and have some Of interest
1117
01:06:21,500 --> 01:06:25,800
in them, you know, you look at
guys like Isaiah Montgomery out
1118
01:06:25,800 --> 01:06:28,800
of adult Landstown.
He's a guy that's a moderately
1119
01:06:28,800 --> 01:06:31,500
ranked guy, but I think he's a
big-time offensive tackle, but,
1120
01:06:32,100 --> 01:06:36,200
you know, really looking at his
is possible projection at the
1121
01:06:36,200 --> 01:06:37,800
next level.
I think he's got a lot of
1122
01:06:37,800 --> 01:06:41,300
talent.
You know, Bryson Jennings dad
1123
01:06:41,300 --> 01:06:44,000
played at Virginia Tech played
with JC price.
1124
01:06:44,000 --> 01:06:46,900
I think you don't want to
overlook that connection, he's a
1125
01:06:46,900 --> 01:06:50,500
four-star guy, out of Clover
Hill, you know, Richard Purnell,
1126
01:06:50,500 --> 01:06:53,200
and Other one of the guys from
Highland Springs, Kyrie moist
1127
01:06:53,200 --> 01:06:54,800
in.
You can get him out of King's
1128
01:06:54,800 --> 01:06:56,600
Fork.
I think Virginia Tech can
1129
01:06:56,600 --> 01:07:00,700
actually do really well in the
state of Virginia next year, you
1130
01:07:00,700 --> 01:07:03,800
know, I think I forgot Sherrod,
Koval and Tyler Banks.
1131
01:07:03,800 --> 01:07:05,400
I like both of them for the
Hokies.
1132
01:07:05,700 --> 01:07:07,900
They both have ties.
Both seem to really like the
1133
01:07:07,900 --> 01:07:11,100
Virginia Tech defense and both
are really, really talented
1134
01:07:11,100 --> 01:07:15,100
football players.
So, you know, I think I think
1135
01:07:15,100 --> 01:07:18,400
Virginia Tech really should take
you.
1136
01:07:18,400 --> 01:07:21,800
No, take the 2021.
That they set in the state of
1137
01:07:21,808 --> 01:07:25,900
Virginia, try to build upon that
and really try to take advantage
1138
01:07:25,900 --> 01:07:30,600
of then up here in talent in
2021 and try to rebuild that
1139
01:07:30,600 --> 01:07:33,100
roster with Virginia, guys.
Virginia Tech has always been at
1140
01:07:33,100 --> 01:07:36,500
their best when the roster is
littered with those guys that
1141
01:07:36,500 --> 01:07:38,700
are homegrown.
So I think they should continue
1142
01:07:38,700 --> 01:07:40,700
to try and mind this in-state
Talent.
1143
01:07:41,400 --> 01:07:44,400
Absolutely, let me ask this.
We discussed it on last week's
1144
01:07:44,400 --> 01:07:48,200
episode.
How big do you think it was
1145
01:07:48,200 --> 01:07:52,700
getting the preferred walk-on?
Offers two guys like Jabari,
1146
01:07:52,700 --> 01:07:56,400
Parker the kid out of Deep Run,
the kid out of Manchester here
1147
01:07:56,400 --> 01:07:58,800
in the RV.
A, how big is that?
1148
01:07:59,200 --> 01:08:02,000
That some of those kids had
legitimate?
1149
01:08:02,000 --> 01:08:06,600
You know, FCS FBS offers and our
staff.
1150
01:08:06,600 --> 01:08:09,400
Convince them to say no walk on
here.
1151
01:08:10,000 --> 01:08:13,600
How big is that it building the
inroads in state?
1152
01:08:14,800 --> 01:08:17,200
You know, I think, first and
foremost, that do a lot of those
1153
01:08:17,200 --> 01:08:20,200
guys are going to be guys that I
can see are in Scholarships in
1154
01:08:20,207 --> 01:08:21,700
the future.
I think those are good football
1155
01:08:21,700 --> 01:08:28,899
players, but additionally, those
guys are guys from within the
1156
01:08:28,899 --> 01:08:33,200
state of Virginia that you need
to have building connections.
1157
01:08:33,200 --> 01:08:35,800
You know, you can get a walk-on
from Highland Springs that
1158
01:08:35,800 --> 01:08:38,600
cannot hurt you.
That can only help you, you
1159
01:08:38,600 --> 01:08:43,100
know, a lot of a lot of
recruiting that's not done by
1160
01:08:43,100 --> 01:08:46,399
the coaching staff is done by
Players is done by the recruits.
1161
01:08:46,500 --> 01:08:50,399
If you can keep some guys happy
and you can you know, you can
1162
01:08:50,600 --> 01:08:54,100
have them recruit their friends
to come join you in Blacksburg,
1163
01:08:54,399 --> 01:08:57,000
you know, that can only help, I
think, Virginia Tech.
1164
01:08:57,300 --> 01:09:01,500
And I could do, I could do hours
on the Virginia Tech and and why
1165
01:09:01,500 --> 01:09:04,000
they need to be sent why they
need to get back into Highland
1166
01:09:04,000 --> 01:09:06,500
Springs VA could do hours on
that.
1167
01:09:06,500 --> 01:09:09,399
But, you know, that's a school.
You have to get in on.
1168
01:09:09,800 --> 01:09:11,200
That's a school that has
everything.
1169
01:09:11,200 --> 01:09:14,500
Going your way to be able to
build a pipeline.
1170
01:09:14,899 --> 01:09:16,500
And then they just aren't doing
it.
1171
01:09:16,500 --> 01:09:19,899
So, you know, being able to get,
you know, guy like Jabari Parker
1172
01:09:19,899 --> 01:09:23,100
can not hurt, can they?
You know, do they want to follow
1173
01:09:23,100 --> 01:09:26,899
that up and and pick up Rashad
Purnell in the next year's
1174
01:09:26,899 --> 01:09:28,600
class?
He's already high on the Hokies.
1175
01:09:28,899 --> 01:09:33,000
Do you take him as a defensive
lineman and continue to build
1176
01:09:33,000 --> 01:09:35,899
that connection?
Obviously, you know, the
1177
01:09:36,399 --> 01:09:39,399
Highland Spring staff has ties
to Virginia Tech through and
1178
01:09:39,399 --> 01:09:41,600
through adding JC price in
there.
1179
01:09:41,600 --> 01:09:45,399
I mean he's got more ties to the
housings for App as well.
1180
01:09:45,399 --> 01:09:48,600
So it has to be replaced.
They have to be able to break
1181
01:09:48,600 --> 01:09:52,399
into that school to continue to
try and be successful.
1182
01:09:52,600 --> 01:09:55,400
I think that's one of the best
schools in the state.
1183
01:09:55,400 --> 01:09:57,500
Might be one of the best talent
producing schools in the
1184
01:09:57,500 --> 01:09:59,900
country, and Virginia Tech are
really at the end of the day,
1185
01:09:59,900 --> 01:10:02,700
they need to get it done at
Highland Springs.
1186
01:10:02,700 --> 01:10:05,900
And I think, you know, Jabari
Parker can be a can be a help in
1187
01:10:05,900 --> 01:10:09,400
a step in the right direction.
They're awesome.
1188
01:10:09,400 --> 01:10:12,100
I like that.
So every we're going to close
1189
01:10:12,100 --> 01:10:14,100
out with kind of a fun question
here for you.
1190
01:10:14,100 --> 01:10:19,100
So A couple weeks ago, we had ta
let us know.
1191
01:10:19,100 --> 01:10:22,000
They're bringing back college
football, makes a new game.
1192
01:10:22,000 --> 01:10:24,000
It's coming out sometime in the
next few years.
1193
01:10:24,700 --> 01:10:28,100
What is one thing that wasn't an
NCAA 14?
1194
01:10:28,100 --> 01:10:33,300
That has to be in the new game?
Ooh, I don't even know.
1195
01:10:33,300 --> 01:10:37,200
It was in NCAA 14 because I
didn't even I didn't have it.
1196
01:10:37,200 --> 01:10:41,400
Then, I know back when I was
like in high school and playing
1197
01:10:41,400 --> 01:10:44,300
it, you would you could have
like your Dynasty mode and you
1198
01:10:44,308 --> 01:10:46,300
could do your recruiting and
things like that.
1199
01:10:46,400 --> 01:10:48,700
I'm going to say, they need to
put the transfer portal in.
1200
01:10:49,300 --> 01:10:51,100
Okay.
You know, you gotta have a way
1201
01:10:51,100 --> 01:10:54,500
to open up some scholarships and
I mean, I might be Cutthroat
1202
01:10:54,500 --> 01:10:55,400
there.
If you're my third string
1203
01:10:55,400 --> 01:10:57,600
punter, you're gone.
I'm trying to find somebody
1204
01:10:57,600 --> 01:11:00,000
else.
So you know, if I can be
1205
01:11:00,000 --> 01:11:02,200
ruthless and be cut.
Good transfer portal.
1206
01:11:02,200 --> 01:11:04,200
I'm all-in.
So yeah that's sort of transfer
1207
01:11:04,200 --> 01:11:07,400
portal in there.
Evan Wolfson option where you
1208
01:11:07,400 --> 01:11:09,700
have three ways to kick a guy
off your team?
1209
01:11:10,100 --> 01:11:12,300
I'm cutting you because you're
not a good player.
1210
01:11:12,300 --> 01:11:16,200
You had a DUI charge or
something like that or if a
1211
01:11:16,200 --> 01:11:21,800
great opinion portal.
Yeah, no, no, no matter, no
1212
01:11:21,800 --> 01:11:23,900
matter what, I want to be able
to, I want to, I want to be
1213
01:11:23,900 --> 01:11:26,500
single point of failure, where I
can go in and say, you know what
1214
01:11:26,500 --> 01:11:27,800
I'm done.
Yeah, I'm done with you.
1215
01:11:27,800 --> 01:11:32,000
You're out Balsam.
That is awesome.
1216
01:11:32,700 --> 01:11:38,400
Well Evan we really appreciate
you joining else here today in
1217
01:11:39,200 --> 01:11:41,900
you know going through all these
things and talking about it.
1218
01:11:41,900 --> 01:11:43,500
You know we follow you on
Twitter.
1219
01:11:45,300 --> 01:11:48,100
Again we really appreciate you
joining us and that's going to
1220
01:11:48,100 --> 01:11:51,800
wrap up this episode of The
Boundary Corner podcast.
1221
01:11:52,100 --> 01:11:54,500
I'm Curtis Wilson.
I'm Brian Sigler.
1222
01:11:55,200 --> 01:11:58,200
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook
and subscribe to the podcast on
1223
01:11:58,200 --> 01:12:00,900
your favorite Source, including
Spotify Amazon in out.
1224
01:12:01,000 --> 01:12:03,500
A podcast is always without our
buddy.
1225
01:12:03,500 --> 01:12:07,900
Jason Long play us out, catch
him on Spotify and apple music.
1226
01:12:08,200 --> 01:12:13,900
We thank you for listening.
And as always, let's go Hokies
00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:51,200
Welcome back to the boundary
Corner podcast with my partner
2
00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:56,800
Brian C glow.
I am Curtis Wilson run We've
3
00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:01,400
been talking for quite a few
months about recruiting, and we
4
00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:07,100
have a treat for Eyre.
Listeners tonight, ladies and
5
00:01:07,100 --> 00:01:12,600
gentlemen, we have Evan Watkins
joining us from 24/7 Sports VT.
6
00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:19,200
Scoop PT scoop.com currently
offering first month for one
7
00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,600
dollar and thirty percent off
after that.
8
00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:23,700
So, a great deal for a great
site.
9
00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:25,100
And then, how are you this
evening?
10
00:01:25,900 --> 00:01:28,000
I can't complain.
I can't complain at all.
11
00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,400
How you all doing?
Doing good, doing good.
12
00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,300
Nice to have you on.
Thanks for joining us.
13
00:01:34,700 --> 00:01:38,200
Been a good day for you so far.
Yeah, yeah.
14
00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:43,400
You know, got to, you know, get
up early break a break likely
15
00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,200
commitment coming, have it
knocked out within, you know,
16
00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:50,900
lunchtime and then roll right
into run into some some time
17
00:01:50,900 --> 00:01:52,800
with the family.
So yeah, it's been a really good
18
00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,200
day so far.
Awesome, man, awesome.
19
00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,300
Awesome to hear that man.
And guys we're going to cover
20
00:01:59,300 --> 00:02:02,300
plus or topics with Evans today
including the commitment a
21
00:02:02,300 --> 00:02:04,000
little earlier.
Today, we're going to hit that a
22
00:02:04,008 --> 00:02:07,700
little later but Brian I want to
start out Evan with this you
23
00:02:07,700 --> 00:02:11,800
know, big news of this week.
Was hokey director of
24
00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,700
recruiting, John Etsy stepped
aside, you know, while he was in
25
00:02:15,700 --> 00:02:20,000
Blacksburg, he took the
recruiting staff from very
26
00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:24,000
small, especially by power 5
standards, and now it's kind of
27
00:02:24,008 --> 00:02:26,000
grown significantly.
And, you know, it's getting
28
00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,400
bigger, we're seeing people
getting added, you know, even
29
00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,800
during the time of code.
That's so Evan sort of having
30
00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,300
the connection to the program
knowing the people, what's going
31
00:02:34,300 --> 00:02:37,800
to be sort of the biggest Maybe
the toughest part for the next
32
00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,600
guy to fill what John did and
what?
33
00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:44,700
John brought to the table.
Yeah, you know, John was a guy,
34
00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,700
you know, he actually started
when he was a college student.
35
00:02:48,700 --> 00:02:52,300
He actually started working
avetis Coop before he was
36
00:02:52,900 --> 00:02:54,900
recruiting director at Virginia
Tech.
37
00:02:54,900 --> 00:02:59,400
So, you know, we've known him
for a long time.
38
00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,200
He was actually ivt scoop
before, I was really that
39
00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:08,900
involved with it, you know.
And And he took that the
40
00:03:08,900 --> 00:03:12,900
opportunity for being a student
at Virginia Tech to, you know,
41
00:03:12,900 --> 00:03:14,800
graduating from Virginia Tech
getting to work in their
42
00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,700
recruiting department.
You know, he's one of those
43
00:03:17,700 --> 00:03:21,900
guys, you know, they have plenty
of them up there right now, but
44
00:03:22,100 --> 00:03:25,900
it's one thing to sell a
university.
45
00:03:25,900 --> 00:03:30,200
It's another thing to sell your
University, he's all about
46
00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,000
Virginia Tech.
Always has been always will be
47
00:03:33,300 --> 00:03:36,700
and I think that really helped
him, you know, To the day.
48
00:03:37,500 --> 00:03:40,300
He cared about what was on the
shirt.
49
00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:45,200
He cared about the university
that he was at, you know, he
50
00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,800
still does.
He obviously, he got a business
51
00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:53,500
opportunity outside of college
football that he really couldn't
52
00:03:53,500 --> 00:03:55,900
turn down.
You know, we had heard for
53
00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:01,400
probably four or five years that
other schools were interested in
54
00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:05,000
poaching him.
He had opportunities doing some
55
00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,200
other things that's the other
places and just never really
56
00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,700
wanted to leave.
But this one was too good of an
57
00:04:10,700 --> 00:04:14,200
opportunity to turn down.
You know, never want to fault
58
00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:17,700
somebody for trying to better
them and their family situation.
59
00:04:17,700 --> 00:04:20,800
So, you know, I hope everything
works out for him, you know,
60
00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:24,200
he's a guy that has really
helped Virginia Tech.
61
00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,900
He would wake up in the morning
and try to figure out what,
62
00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,500
what's the best way to make,
Virginia Tech, football better
63
00:04:29,900 --> 00:04:34,800
and reach the Pinnacle for.
You know, what they were trying
64
00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,200
to do.
You know and what he was able to
65
00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,800
accomplish.
Obviously he did build out that
66
00:04:41,900 --> 00:04:45,800
help build out that recruiting
department a little bit you
67
00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:46,700
know.
And I think that's going to
68
00:04:46,700 --> 00:04:50,700
continue to build out.
I think, you know, when Justin
69
00:04:50,700 --> 00:04:56,400
Fuente spoke a few weeks ago
after signing day and said, he
70
00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,700
really could see the future of
college football.
71
00:04:59,700 --> 00:05:03,700
Branching off into two, separate
recruiting departments, a High
72
00:05:03,700 --> 00:05:07,200
School prep, Juco Department,
And a transfer portal
73
00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,500
Department.
I think he was foreshadowing.
74
00:05:09,500 --> 00:05:11,600
What he's expecting Virginia
Tech to do?
75
00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,500
I think we're going to start to
see some of that come to
76
00:05:14,500 --> 00:05:17,000
fruition.
Now, obviously, it's not the
77
00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,200
easiest of times to hire people,
right now, you know, you got an
78
00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,800
athletic department, that's told
everybody, to take a ten
79
00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:28,400
percent, pay cut, you have
budget cuts, and and some
80
00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,900
deficits all over the place due
to covid.
81
00:05:30,900 --> 00:05:33,700
We don't know what's going to
happen with covid.
82
00:05:33,700 --> 00:05:36,300
We don't know.
You know, is this Going to
83
00:05:36,300 --> 00:05:41,100
continue with the 20, the 20 21
season be impacted.
84
00:05:41,100 --> 00:05:43,400
What's the financial impact of
it?
85
00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,300
You have to add in as well.
You know, the, the carry-on of
86
00:05:47,300 --> 00:05:49,200
the scholarships for another
year.
87
00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,100
I mean that's a big undertaking,
that's a lot of financial
88
00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:57,200
burden.
So, you know, I think, I think
89
00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,900
the plan I think Justin Fuente
was foreshadowing, the plane.
90
00:05:59,900 --> 00:06:02,800
I think.
John Yeti helped lay out the
91
00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,700
blueprint for that.
Will we see that overnight know?
92
00:06:05,900 --> 00:06:08,300
No, you know, everybody talks
about that.
93
00:06:08,300 --> 00:06:11,400
There's a, you know, there's
some funding that's becoming
94
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available there some donors that
have stepped up to the call.
95
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You have a big giving day drive.
That's going to kick off here in
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the in the near future for for
the University.
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And for athletics, but money,
money is not where it needs to
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be.
It wasn't before covid, it
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probably will take years to
recover from covid, so it's
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going to be a slower process.
But I do fully believe from all
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the contacts, I've talked to,
from everything I've seen with
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my own eyes up and up in
Blacksburg.
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I do think the Justin Fuente
wants to build out that
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recruiting department.
I think that's part of his goal,
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is to take a lot of the stress
in the, the, the the finding of
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the players of the recruits and
the initial contact and and, you
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00:07:02,500 --> 00:07:08,400
know, the mundane parts of Of
the recruiting process and have
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those jobs staffed by a staff of
qualified individuals that can
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do all of that, they can filter
out the Huddle film.
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They can, you know, they can
coordinate early, you know,
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early development of the
relationship.
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They can reach out to the kids
on social media.
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They can gather phone phone
numbers, they can gather
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coaching contacts.
And take some of that off of
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00:07:39,500 --> 00:07:43,600
what we, you know, what a lot of
Virginia Tech fans or us in the
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industry would say Falls right
now, on the coaching staff,
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there is a, you know, there's a
decent group of recruiting staff
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up there in Blacksburg right
now.
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00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:57,100
I don't want to say that there's
not but when you compare, you
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know, five to six guys with
Clemson, having 20-plus with
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North Carolina, having 20 plus
with Alabama, having ungodly
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amount of people that filter out
recruiting information before he
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even touches the coaches desks.
Absolutely, you can see that it
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is clearly not an even playing
field and that's the biggest
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00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,200
change that I think Justin
Fuente and Virginia Tech need to
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make dump money into the
recruiting department to take
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the stress off the coaches, let
you know, let some qualified
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smart individuals that
Understand the recruiting
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00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,700
process and understand the
evaluation process get in there
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and be the filtration system and
I think that's only going to
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help grow Virginia Tech
football, they're recruiting
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there on the field and off the
field results and that would be
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my first step and I think we
are.
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I like I said, I think we're at
the the little bit of the
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precipice of seeing that I think
is going to happen but covid and
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00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:06,600
some other things I have thrown
a wrench in Side of Justin
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00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,300
Fuente.
And with Babcock's hands have
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00:09:09,300 --> 00:09:11,300
kind of slowed things down just
a bit.
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00:09:11,700 --> 00:09:14,000
Sure.
And I like how you itemize kind
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00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:19,800
of what those aspects of the
recruiting roles could because I
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00:09:19,808 --> 00:09:25,200
feel like a lot of people don't
necessarily understand the those
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00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:29,100
nuances in those small little
things that taking that off the
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00:09:29,100 --> 00:09:31,800
plate of someone else and giving
that to a qualified person that
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00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,000
knows what they're doing that.
That's what they do every day
145
00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:37,900
when they come into work.
How much that could better, the
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00:09:37,900 --> 00:09:40,400
situation we have in how that's
pretty much the standard across
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00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:44,100
most of these power 5 opponents
that were playing.
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So yeah, I like that you were
able to hit on that because that
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00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:51,400
I think is kind of a big piece
of the puzzle that I don't think
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a lot of people talk about
enough.
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00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:55,000
Yeah.
And you know, when you look at
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recruiting, it's not a
nine-to-five job.
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00:09:58,100 --> 00:10:03,800
You know, even even college,
football coaching has an
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00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:06,200
offseason.
There's an off chance. .
155
00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,900
There's a time when you can take
a little bit of a break from the
156
00:10:09,900 --> 00:10:14,000
day to day, you can't do that
with recruiting with recruiting,
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00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,800
it is 365 days a year.
It is 24 hours a day.
158
00:10:19,300 --> 00:10:24,500
You have kids that, you know,
when you are recruiting a guy
159
00:10:24,500 --> 00:10:28,000
like DJ Harvey now here your
cross the country.
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00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,000
So now your time, different time
zones when you're recruiting
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00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,800
guys, like Robert Wooten like
Alec Bryant.
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00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:35,700
Now you're different time zones
again.
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In Texas and you have to balance
all of that.
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When you now there are, you
know, obviously there are time
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periods where you cannot talk
directly with recruits or you
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00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:49,900
can't talk to them face-to-face
and things like that and and
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that's a bit of a break, but you
still are talking with their
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coaches.
You're still talking with their
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00:10:54,900 --> 00:10:59,400
trainers, you're still, you
know, gathering information on
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00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:03,500
recruits and then you have to
add in, you know, it's say that
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00:11:03,500 --> 00:11:07,900
you are, let's say you're going
to sign. 25 players in a year,
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you know, if you're not
Stanford, if you're not Clemson
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and maybe some of these other
very selective schools, we're
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going to say that you're going
to throw out 230 offers.
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00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:26,600
Now this 230 offers you can say
probably 50 of those to 75 of
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00:11:26,608 --> 00:11:28,900
those they're completely out of
reach for you.
177
00:11:29,100 --> 00:11:32,100
These are guys that have no
interest in Virginia Tech, these
178
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are guys that can't academically
go there.
179
00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:37,200
These are guys.
Guys that are blue chip players
180
00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:41,000
that you know is an uphill
battle so you can toss those out
181
00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:47,900
but you're still looking, you
know, 100 and 150 180 guys that
182
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you are recruiting for just that
year.
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Then you multiply that by 4,
that's how many kids you have to
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build relationships with on an
average.
185
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That's how many coaches.
That's how many parents, you
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know, people talk about.
About recruiting and, you know,
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you have to do to be a great
recruiter.
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You know, you have to be like a
used car salesman and you have
189
00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:15,100
to be this, you, you really have
to be a tireless worker, who
190
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loves communication?
That's really what it comes down
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to.
If you can, if you're okay in
192
00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,100
that setting, if you're okay,
you know, we talked about this
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before, some people bring it up
is you know, trying to pick up a
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girl at a bar.
I don't necessarily agree with
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that analogy because if You want
to go and pick up a girl at a
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bar that's that, you know,
that's that's your initial
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00:12:37,900 --> 00:12:40,900
conversation.
That's who we're talking about
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an engagement.
You want to talk to this person,
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00:12:44,500 --> 00:12:47,200
you want to get them to be
engaged with you.
200
00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:51,100
You want to get them on campus
and marry you and live with you
201
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for four to five years.
And then you have to do that.
202
00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:59,300
For 25 other kids 24, other
kids, you have to get them to do
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00:12:59,300 --> 00:13:02,100
is make the same deal with you
every year.
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00:13:03,300 --> 00:13:06,900
Like it's one of those things
people put be recruiting black
205
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and white.
When really Rowdy is is probably
206
00:13:11,100 --> 00:13:14,400
the most fluid thing in the
world, add on top of it.
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You're dealing with 16 to 19
year old children.
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They?
Change their mind over, what to
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00:13:23,300 --> 00:13:26,700
eat, they change their mind,
over what to wear to change
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00:13:26,700 --> 00:13:29,800
their mind over.
You know what they want to do
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after school, talking to them
about where you want to spend
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four years.
Five years is not the easiest
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thing in the world and then you
have to add in the, you know,
214
00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,200
they might even commit to you
and that's great.
215
00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,500
Now you have to keep them
committed, you know, until until
216
00:13:50,500 --> 00:13:54,200
they sign that National Letter
written and even then like we've
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00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:58,200
seen in the past, you know, like
Zach Evans you signed a national
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00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,200
letter of intent and then you
back out of it.
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00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:08,200
Yeah, so really, I mean,
Recruiting a marathon and
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00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:10,300
everybody wants it to be a
Sprint.
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I wanted to be a Sprint.
It would make my job easier but
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00:14:13,300 --> 00:14:18,800
it's in there it is.
You have to cultivate these
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00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:24,400
relationships for years.
And then, you know, you get them
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00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:28,300
on campus, you got to keep them
happy because if not, they'll
225
00:14:28,300 --> 00:14:31,500
hit the transfer portal, they
might even badmouth you on the
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00:14:31,500 --> 00:14:34,000
way out.
And then you lose any shot at
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00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,500
kids that there Friends with any
kids that are at their High
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00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:39,300
School, you make their High
School coaches.
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00:14:39,300 --> 00:14:42,700
Mad.
I mean, you know, we had, we had
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this long discussion on BT
scoop, you know, a couple for
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00:14:46,100 --> 00:14:50,100
the past couple of weeks with
Darryl Tapp leaving, Virginia
232
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Tech to go to the NFL.
I don't blame him at all, he's
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got the absolute 100% best
personality for recruiting, but
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who wants that job?
I mean, who Who wants their
235
00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:14,000
livelihood to depend on the the
decision-making of 16 and 19
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00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:18,800
year old kids that you know, how
met you make, or you may pour
237
00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,900
years and years into them.
And then somebody else comes
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along with a better pitch at our
school, better academics are
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00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:30,100
better off the field life and
and can steal them from you at
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00:15:30,100 --> 00:15:32,900
the last minute.
I mean, just think rationally
241
00:15:32,900 --> 00:15:38,000
about it is a tough Tough
profession, you know, and it's
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00:15:38,300 --> 00:15:40,900
it's not for everyone, I'll tell
you that.
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But it's a, you know, going back
to what, what to do Virginia
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00:15:44,900 --> 00:15:48,700
Tech if you take You know, all
those relationships you have to
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00:15:48,700 --> 00:15:51,600
cultivate and you say, hey we're
going to throw that on these 10
246
00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:55,100
assistant coaches and Justin
Fuente don't have time.
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00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:59,600
Now, college coach has time,
that's why we have seen support
248
00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:04,300
staffs grow year in and year out
the growing exponentially, every
249
00:16:04,300 --> 00:16:08,400
school, you know, even your
schools like Old Dominion, have
250
00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,900
them even your FCS schools.
James Madison is building out
251
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recruiting departments.
Everyone needs recruiting
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00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,600
departments, Virginia Tech has A
recruiting department.
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00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:19,700
Now, they need to Beef It Up,
they need to pour some money
254
00:16:19,700 --> 00:16:22,700
into it.
Take a lot of this pressure off
255
00:16:22,700 --> 00:16:27,000
of the ten assistance, and
Justin Fuente and you know, hit
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00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,800
the ground, you know, hit the
pavement hard, hit the pavement
257
00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:34,600
fast and see, you know, kind of
see what shakes out when you
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00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,900
cast that really wide net.
Then you filter it out to your
259
00:16:38,100 --> 00:16:42,100
core board of recruits you want
and let the coaches go out and
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00:16:42,100 --> 00:16:45,100
try to Feast.
Yeah, I'm glad you brought up
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00:16:45,100 --> 00:16:47,800
tap because I mean that That's
what we had talked about the
262
00:16:47,808 --> 00:16:49,600
same thing and really kind of
reiterated.
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00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,800
What you said is that, you know,
it's a guy going to a similar
264
00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,400
type role with an NFL
organization wants to win a
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00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,500
title, and he doesn't have to
recruit.
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00:16:58,500 --> 00:17:01,600
I mean, that's a, that's a big
part of what he's been doing
267
00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,800
day-to-day in the last, you
know, year plus that now he's
268
00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,700
not even, it's not even on his
plate anymore.
269
00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:10,500
So and let me go ahead and
piggyback off that.
270
00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:15,000
So, you know, with, with Darryl
Tapp leaving, we got JC price.
271
00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:20,800
Now coming in, And on top of
replacing as the code defensive
272
00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:23,099
line coach.
He's also taking on the the
273
00:17:23,099 --> 00:17:28,300
defensive recruiting coordinator
position with Adam Lichtenberg
274
00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,700
taking over that as a, on the
offensive side, getting a
275
00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:34,100
promotion there.
What do you think are some
276
00:17:34,100 --> 00:17:38,000
advantages on the recruiting
trail with this type of role for
277
00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,400
these two, coaches relative to
what the Hokies are, trying to
278
00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:43,900
do with building that recruiting
department up as well?
279
00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,900
So typically, you know, pre
covid, you would have your
280
00:17:48,900 --> 00:17:51,500
recruiting coordinators, you're
on the field.
281
00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:54,700
Coaches with one or two would be
designated as a recruiting
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00:17:54,700 --> 00:17:58,400
coordinator and that helps them
on the road.
283
00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,500
You know, it doesn't necessarily
help them when they're back in
284
00:18:01,500 --> 00:18:04,900
the offices, in the War Room,
building up the board and, and
285
00:18:04,900 --> 00:18:08,100
doing all of that, that helps
them on the road, you know,
286
00:18:08,108 --> 00:18:12,000
coordinating a lot of the stuff.
But, you know, when you talk
287
00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,200
about like a recruiting
director, recruiting
288
00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:17,800
coordinator, Essentially right
now, under covid rules, they're
289
00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:20,500
kind of the same thing because
support staff is allowed to
290
00:18:20,500 --> 00:18:24,400
contact recruits, you know, over
the phone on social media,
291
00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:28,300
things like that, and coaches
aren't allowed to go out on the
292
00:18:28,300 --> 00:18:30,700
road.
So there's not really that big
293
00:18:30,700 --> 00:18:34,700
of a difference.
And to me, not really nothing.
294
00:18:34,700 --> 00:18:37,900
Really is going to change.
You know, Adam Lichtenberg
295
00:18:37,900 --> 00:18:43,200
behind the scenes has been a
phenomenal higher in my opinion,
296
00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,200
when it comes to recruiting.
He's a guy that's got a lot of
297
00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,800
contacts and he's a guy that is
a tireless worker.
298
00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:54,600
I mean, he's whenever I talk to,
you know, some contacts of mine
299
00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,200
or I talk to High School coaches
or even talk to, you know, some
300
00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,500
of the contacts I have it jute,
the Juco level.
301
00:19:00,300 --> 00:19:03,300
They all talk about how
Lichtenberg is a guy, he may not
302
00:19:03,300 --> 00:19:07,400
win every recruit, but he is not
going to be outworked.
303
00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,700
So and I want to, I want to make
sure that people understand that
304
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that's not me saying he's gonna
go out and land every person on
305
00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,500
his board.
Yeah, that's me saying he is
306
00:19:17,500 --> 00:19:20,800
going to work as hard as humanly
possible to give her Gina Tech.
307
00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:22,900
The best chance to land that
person.
308
00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:25,500
Now, there might be somebody out
there that can offer more.
309
00:19:25,500 --> 00:19:28,900
There might be schools that can
offer National Championship, you
310
00:19:28,900 --> 00:19:33,000
know, possibilities road to the
NFL things like that, that
311
00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,400
Virginia Tech doesn't, you know,
may not be able to offer it that
312
00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:39,900
position but He's a tireless
tireless worker.
313
00:19:39,900 --> 00:19:44,700
So we do when you're back in
Blacksburg and they're back in
314
00:19:44,700 --> 00:19:47,900
the war room and they're going
over the board, nothing really
315
00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:50,200
changes for Adam.
Lichtenberg this is the role he
316
00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:52,700
already had.
He was already doing it, he just
317
00:19:52,700 --> 00:19:57,900
didn't have the title of it.
The title was kind of a pat on
318
00:19:57,900 --> 00:19:59,900
the back.
Thanks for all the recruiting
319
00:19:59,900 --> 00:20:01,900
help that you do.
Thanks for everything that
320
00:20:01,900 --> 00:20:05,400
you've done for just under
Justin Fuente Resume Builder.
321
00:20:05,500 --> 00:20:10,100
Here's your title JC Price, kind
of the same thing, you know,
322
00:20:10,100 --> 00:20:14,600
I've met JC price a few times
when he would come to Virginia
323
00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:18,200
Tech for after summer camps,
when Martin, you know, when they
324
00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,300
were always invite Marshall to
come in and evaluate some kids
325
00:20:21,300 --> 00:20:22,700
as well?
He was always there.
326
00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:28,400
Really, really energetic guy.
My big question when they were
327
00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,800
replacing tap was I think JC
price of great fit.
328
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:36,800
I think he's, I think he's 100%
the the right guy to step into
329
00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,600
that role.
It would he want to split
330
00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:41,500
duties.
I thought of that was going to
331
00:20:41,500 --> 00:20:45,400
be a hang up, you know, not,
everyone wants to share duties.
332
00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:49,400
When you get that job, you know,
at the school you went to and
333
00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:53,700
you want to kind of be the guy,
you know, you want to be the guy
334
00:20:53,700 --> 00:20:56,600
you don't want.
They want to to split that role
335
00:20:56,600 --> 00:21:00,100
amongst somebody else.
So I think this was a great way
336
00:21:00,100 --> 00:21:02,700
for Virginia Tech to entice him
and say, Hey, you might be the
337
00:21:02,700 --> 00:21:06,500
assistant d-line coach, but we
want you to oversee all of our
338
00:21:06,500 --> 00:21:12,000
defensive Ting you know
unofficially what I had heard
339
00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:16,200
was this was kind of what Justin
Hamilton was doing you know I
340
00:21:16,208 --> 00:21:19,600
don't even have the title of it
but Justin Hamilton had a major
341
00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:23,400
say in all of the defensive
recruiting make sense of the D
342
00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,800
coordinator should sign off.
What this does is take a little
343
00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:30,800
bit off of his plate and allow
him to spend a little bit more
344
00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,400
time on focusing on being the
defensive coordinator.
345
00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:40,600
So you know, when it comes to
You know, you know, breaking it
346
00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:42,400
down to like the brass tacks of
it.
347
00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,500
Is there going to be a major
return on investment by
348
00:21:46,500 --> 00:21:48,400
labeling?
These two guys recruiting
349
00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,600
coordinators offensive and
defensive, not that we will see
350
00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:57,900
immediately what I do think it
does is furthers that Foundation
351
00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:01,300
that I talked about earlier
that, you know, I think, let's
352
00:22:01,300 --> 00:22:04,000
say that the recruiting
department does start to split a
353
00:22:04,008 --> 00:22:09,800
little bit into Juco, high
school and And transfer portal,
354
00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,500
and all of that.
Now, you can take that
355
00:22:12,500 --> 00:22:17,600
information and you can filter
that into to record recruiting
356
00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,100
coordinators.
Who can then look at it.
357
00:22:20,100 --> 00:22:21,300
Yes.
No.
358
00:22:21,700 --> 00:22:25,000
And then you know, kind of send
out the hounds to do the
359
00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,900
recruiting and oversee it.
And then when you think, you
360
00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:33,300
know, you go in that war room
and you say, hey, we need, you
361
00:22:33,300 --> 00:22:36,800
know, X number of wide receivers
X numbers are running back
362
00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,100
things like that, you know, Now,
we'll have a little bit more
363
00:22:40,100 --> 00:22:44,100
buy-in with the ten assistance.
Now, obviously the recruiting
364
00:22:44,100 --> 00:22:46,600
stock will heavily be involved
there, as well.
365
00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,600
No, but I think we're just
looking at the foundation, and
366
00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:53,900
I've mentioned this before.
I tell people all the time,
367
00:22:53,900 --> 00:22:58,500
don't get bogged down with
titles in college football,
368
00:22:59,300 --> 00:23:03,800
because most of the time they're
meaningless, and I don't want
369
00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:07,000
that to like, to not to belittle
in either coaches, or taking
370
00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,700
anything away from sure.
But associate head coach
371
00:23:10,700 --> 00:23:13,700
assistant head coach.
I mean, you have a head coach.
372
00:23:13,700 --> 00:23:15,700
If he goes down, you have your
number two.
373
00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:18,800
Okay, you don't need, we don't
need three guys.
374
00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:22,900
With this name, we don't need
All of these different, you
375
00:23:22,900 --> 00:23:27,200
know, ins and outs and nuances
of these names that may or may
376
00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:31,700
not coordinate with what you
actually do as your job, which
377
00:23:31,700 --> 00:23:34,600
can then only make it murkier
when you go to hire.
378
00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:38,600
Somebody, you know, you go out
to hire a Director of
379
00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,600
recruiting, you know, to replace
John yet.
380
00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:47,300
See would, but we, you look at
the, the actual job duties of
381
00:23:47,500 --> 00:23:49,200
maybe, what might Mark diet
horn?
382
00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,600
Does that might be more in line
with the director of recruiting,
383
00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,400
where, then you might be looking
at a director of player
384
00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,400
Personnel the higher but then
you have to do another title
385
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:01,900
switch, it just gets kind of
convoluted and it gets kind of
386
00:24:02,500 --> 00:24:05,300
confusing.
So I never try to get bogged
387
00:24:05,300 --> 00:24:08,400
down into the titles because I
think a lot Of those are just
388
00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:13,300
resume builders and, you know,
reasons to give people
389
00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:16,700
additional income, you know, to
give them an additional raise,
390
00:24:16,700 --> 00:24:20,000
or a benefit.
So I'm trying not to get bogged
391
00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,000
down on that stuff.
But I do think what we are
392
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,600
seeing right now is the early
Foundation.
393
00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:28,900
It might take years, honestly,
with covid and everything and
394
00:24:28,900 --> 00:24:31,200
financial issues.
But I think we're seeing the
395
00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,700
foundation being laid for
Virginia Tech, splitting out
396
00:24:33,700 --> 00:24:36,100
there, recruiting duties, and I
don't think it can hurt.
397
00:24:36,100 --> 00:24:38,900
I think it can only help here.
You okay?
398
00:24:38,900 --> 00:24:40,800
So what you're saying,
essentially is that we got the
399
00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:44,200
roles the roles there, but the
structure behind the scenes
400
00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,200
matter, a whole lot, more than
the titles that are being thrown
401
00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:50,100
at these coaches at this point.
Absolutely.
402
00:24:50,100 --> 00:24:53,300
I, you know, when you, when you
get down into the titles it's
403
00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:55,400
every school calls, them
different things.
404
00:24:55,500 --> 00:24:59,700
All the job duties are different
regardless of what the title is,
405
00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,500
you know, when it comes down to
support staff and it comes down
406
00:25:02,500 --> 00:25:06,300
to recruiting staff, you know.
They only is, you know, there's
407
00:25:06,300 --> 00:25:13,900
a very Defined structure for
that organization or that that
408
00:25:14,100 --> 00:25:18,500
Branch, if you will of the, the
football staff at any school,
409
00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,500
you know, they all do about the
same thing, titles are all
410
00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:23,700
different, you know.
But when you when you think
411
00:25:23,700 --> 00:25:27,300
about, you know what their
actual job duties are day to
412
00:25:27,300 --> 00:25:32,100
day, I try not to get bogged
down in the in the in the zeros
413
00:25:32,100 --> 00:25:36,100
and ones of the job title Morris
what they're going to bring to
414
00:25:36,100 --> 00:25:38,200
the table and what they do for
The university.
415
00:25:39,300 --> 00:25:43,500
Well, Evan, you know, John's
gone, where do you see them
416
00:25:43,500 --> 00:25:45,000
going?
What kind of skill sets?
417
00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:48,200
Are they going to bring in to
take essentially his role or
418
00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:50,500
favorite eyelet director of
player Personnel?
419
00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,000
I mean, are they going to bring
in someone off one of these
420
00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,900
larger staffs for an upgrade, or
they all look for more
421
00:25:55,900 --> 00:26:00,500
established individual?
You know, I'm not sure which
422
00:26:00,500 --> 00:26:01,700
direction they're going to go
in.
423
00:26:01,700 --> 00:26:05,900
Yet, I dunno where I've heard
that they've been doing several
424
00:26:05,900 --> 00:26:07,500
interview.
Several rounds of interviews
425
00:26:07,500 --> 00:26:09,800
with some different, for some
different positions in the
426
00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,000
recruiting staff, because it's
not just his position that's
427
00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,600
open.
There are some others as well.
428
00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:19,300
So, you know, when you look at
what Virginia Tech has brought
429
00:26:19,300 --> 00:26:22,200
in on their off-the-field roles,
you know, for their support
430
00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:25,200
staff.
They brought in, you know drawn
431
00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:30,600
gouveia Winslow, you bring in
Cory Fuller you know you're
432
00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:34,600
already have po Pearson pray luo
off the off the field as well,
433
00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:38,300
it seems to me but when you
brought in they brought in you
434
00:26:38,300 --> 00:26:40,800
know, Mark that horn, obviously
he went to Virginia Tech as
435
00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:45,400
well.
You have a lot of Virginia Tech
436
00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:47,900
alumni there and I think like I
mentioned earlier, it's a
437
00:26:47,908 --> 00:26:51,100
difference in selling a
university and selling your
438
00:26:51,100 --> 00:26:53,300
University.
I think they have to look for
439
00:26:53,300 --> 00:26:55,100
somebody.
It has ties to Virginia Tech.
440
00:26:55,100 --> 00:26:57,600
Now that could be somebody at
another school.
441
00:26:57,900 --> 00:27:01,400
Obviously it could be somebody
that you know, maybe comes up
442
00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:04,000
through the grad assistant
program, that's been at Virginia
443
00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,900
Tech a few years and they want
to promote.
444
00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,000
But, you know, I think it's
going to be somebody.
445
00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:13,400
I think it needs to be people
with ties to Blacksburg and to
446
00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,500
Virginia Tech.
You know, I think I think that
447
00:27:16,500 --> 00:27:22,500
there is something special about
Blacksburg, but I think that
448
00:27:22,500 --> 00:27:29,700
there's something That makes it.
So there's some skewed,
449
00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:32,800
something skewed about it for
some people, some people don't
450
00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:36,900
like it, some people love it and
I think if you can have somebody
451
00:27:36,900 --> 00:27:41,300
that has lived it and somebody
that has you know been immersed
452
00:27:41,300 --> 00:27:44,600
in it from a student aspect, you
know.
453
00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,000
Maybe maybe even not even a
student aspect.
454
00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,200
But growing up, you know, going
into Lane stadium and going to
455
00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:53,800
the games and things like that.
I think that you can sell it a
456
00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:57,300
little bit better.
And I think if you're Virginia,
457
00:27:57,500 --> 00:28:00,800
I think that's where you kind of
hone in on, you know, you, you
458
00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:05,100
have the history of Brothers,
you have, you know, a solid
459
00:28:05,100 --> 00:28:07,700
history of Walk-Ons.
You have this family
460
00:28:07,700 --> 00:28:12,700
environment, you've built this
brand on from, you know, from
461
00:28:12,700 --> 00:28:16,100
Frank, Beamer and carried on to
Justin Fuente.
462
00:28:16,100 --> 00:28:18,200
And I think you have to fully
lean in on that.
463
00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:22,200
You know, if you bring in
somebody off the streets, you
464
00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:24,300
know, they might have a lot of
really good ideas.
465
00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:26,800
You know, you might bring in
somebody from Alabama and
466
00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:30,800
they've got They've got great
ideas on how to do this, but
467
00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:34,400
financially may not be possible
or within the constraints of
468
00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,800
Blacksburg, it may not be
possible, or within the ad
469
00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:39,600
structure, it may not be
possible.
470
00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:46,000
So I think finding somebody that
understands, you know, Southwest
471
00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,800
Virginia understands the state
of Virginia, the importance of
472
00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:52,400
recruiting, the state has
connections, you know,
473
00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:55,500
throughout the state, not just
the hot beds but be able to
474
00:28:55,500 --> 00:28:58,400
cultivate relationships
throughout the You know, that's
475
00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:00,400
where I'm looking.
I'm looking for somebody that
476
00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:05,600
can that can sell Virginia Tech
for what it is and has those
477
00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:08,800
connections to try and help keep
people from the state of
478
00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:12,500
Virginia, from keep them from
leaving and you know, convince
479
00:29:12,500 --> 00:29:17,000
them to look at look at what's
going on in Blacksburg, okay?
480
00:29:17,100 --> 00:29:19,800
It's like selling a product that
you use versus selling a product
481
00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:21,300
that you're just getting paid to
sell.
482
00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:25,300
Absolutely.
I mean, it's everybody always
483
00:29:25,300 --> 00:29:28,600
says, you know, when you walk
into a high school School, it
484
00:29:28,600 --> 00:29:31,700
matters.
What's on your shirt, but it
485
00:29:31,700 --> 00:29:34,600
really matters if you believe
what's on your shirt, you know,
486
00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:38,500
that's the big thing.
If you can believe in it, you
487
00:29:38,500 --> 00:29:41,900
know, you can you can sell it
really, really well.
488
00:29:41,900 --> 00:29:44,400
You know, that's not to say,
there's not really good, you
489
00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:49,200
know, car salesman could go from
4 to Toyota and sell just as
490
00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:51,200
well because he's selling a good
product.
491
00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,700
You know, however way you look
you look at it but you know, if
492
00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:59,400
you are a person that has You
know, grown up in it, been
493
00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:04,000
immersed in it and fully believe
in it, you know, and believe in
494
00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,400
what it can be.
I think that you can only help
495
00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:08,600
yourself.
I don't think you can hurt
496
00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:10,000
yourself at all in that
situation.
497
00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:13,600
So, you know, I think, I think
Virginia Tech would be smart to
498
00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:19,300
try and find some more alumni or
former players to come into that
499
00:30:19,300 --> 00:30:23,800
recruiting staff role and try to
try to not only build their
500
00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:26,400
career towards towards working
in the college football or
501
00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:29,200
working in the profession.
All ranks but also cultivate
502
00:30:29,200 --> 00:30:31,700
relationships in the state and
show that it is a family.
503
00:30:31,700 --> 00:30:35,000
And, you know, everybody's
welcome back and you know why
504
00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:39,400
you should join the Brotherhood.
Awesome, I like that.
505
00:30:39,700 --> 00:30:41,100
So let's let's go ahead and
pivot here.
506
00:30:41,100 --> 00:30:44,000
We're going to talk talk covid a
little bit because I know that's
507
00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:50,100
created a lot of unique
challenges for recruiting so you
508
00:30:50,100 --> 00:30:52,900
know we know the Dead period and
the high schools, you know, for
509
00:30:52,900 --> 00:30:55,400
a long time or even letting
folks come on campus and things
510
00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:58,500
like that.
And I know came down today that
511
00:30:58,500 --> 00:31:01,800
we're talking even more about
potentially extending the Dead
512
00:31:01,800 --> 00:31:05,300
period, even further.
But I just want to get your
513
00:31:05,300 --> 00:31:07,600
perspective on what some of the
other challenges that covid
514
00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:09,300
presented on the recruiting side
of things.
515
00:31:10,700 --> 00:31:13,600
Yeah, you know, and here I can
throw a couple numbers out at
516
00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:16,800
you is 24/7 Sports ran out
really good article on this
517
00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:21,600
recently that FBS college
football teams signed more than
518
00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:25,500
400 fewer recruits to
Scholarships in 2021 than they
519
00:31:25,500 --> 00:31:32,800
did for 2020 and 2019, holy cow.
So that that is clearly
520
00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:37,600
eye-opening.
I would say now 2022, might be
521
00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:41,500
worse and that's You know,
that's where things can start to
522
00:31:41,500 --> 00:31:44,800
get a little scary, but we'll
start, we'll start with 2021.
523
00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:49,000
So when you're in 2021, when
you're, you know, when you're
524
00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:56,600
trying to to recruit 21 and
covid hits, you are, if you are
525
00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:01,600
not one of the top will estimate
will round to 400.
526
00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:04,300
If you are not one of the top
400 players in this in the
527
00:32:04,300 --> 00:32:09,800
country, your rankings may not
matter, kind of at all, to be
528
00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:14,000
honest, because the big ranking
periods for you outside.
529
00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:17,200
That top 400 would be junior
film.
530
00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:22,800
Eval spring workouts, summer
camps senior season.
531
00:32:24,300 --> 00:32:27,800
Now, you can players in the
state of Virginia, they had to,
532
00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:29,900
they had, they had their junior
season.
533
00:32:31,100 --> 00:32:34,700
And no Spring football, no
spring workouts, at all, you
534
00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:39,800
have no summer camps at all.
You have no senior season.
535
00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:44,900
Before signing day three out of
the four ranking opportunities.
536
00:32:44,900 --> 00:32:51,000
You had are gone.
Now, that also means three out
537
00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:53,700
of the four, major scholarship
opportunities.
538
00:32:53,700 --> 00:33:02,000
You had are now gone as well.
So you you not only you not only
539
00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:06,500
could be somebody that all
through the cracks, you are also
540
00:33:06,500 --> 00:33:11,800
somebody that even if a school
takes a chance on you, That
541
00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:17,000
school is taking a major Risk by
offering you a scholarship.
542
00:33:17,300 --> 00:33:20,500
If you haven't played football
in a year, they haven't seen
543
00:33:20,500 --> 00:33:25,400
you, they haven't see you on
campus to see, are you really 64
544
00:33:25,500 --> 00:33:29,400
or are you 61?
Are you really 220 pounds?
545
00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:33,700
Are you really 180 pounds?
You know, they can't get you out
546
00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:36,300
of Camp to say.
You were say you ran a 44 and we
547
00:33:36,300 --> 00:33:40,900
clocked you out of 49.
So, you're taking a major Risk
548
00:33:41,100 --> 00:33:46,100
by offering those scholarships.
Now, on top of that, what you
549
00:33:46,100 --> 00:33:49,800
have to balance out and a lot of
college coaches did balance this
550
00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:55,200
out.
Is, do we take that risk on a
551
00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:58,500
borderline recruit?
We're not talking the five-star,
552
00:33:58,500 --> 00:34:01,400
we're talking the mid
three-star, guy that may or may
553
00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:05,600
not pan out, or do we hit the
transfer portal because of the
554
00:34:05,608 --> 00:34:10,500
transfer portal has you know?
A lot of talent in it of guys
555
00:34:10,500 --> 00:34:15,900
who have verified Heights and
weights have verified game game
556
00:34:15,900 --> 00:34:18,900
film for most of them, or at
least college, practice film,
557
00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:23,100
and these are guys that won't
tie up a scholarship for five
558
00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:25,500
years.
If they don't pan out, these are
559
00:34:25,500 --> 00:34:28,699
guys that you could tie the
scholarship for 1 to 3 years.
560
00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:33,800
And then when all of this maybe
starts to normalize, then you go
561
00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:36,600
back and you recruit back, fill
that position, you back recruit
562
00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:41,300
that number. so you know when
you when you look at it through
563
00:34:41,300 --> 00:34:46,000
out that way, if you are not a
top of the board guy for most
564
00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:51,199
schools, You run the risk, ran
the risk of not having an
565
00:34:51,199 --> 00:34:53,400
opportunity to play at the level
you wanted to play at.
566
00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:56,900
You may have to drop down a
level, or you maybe didn't get a
567
00:34:56,908 --> 00:34:59,400
chance to to sign with anybody
yet.
568
00:34:59,500 --> 00:35:04,700
Because even when you think of
dropping down a level, some of
569
00:35:04,700 --> 00:35:08,900
those schools, you know, Texas
state is a great example, I know
570
00:35:08,900 --> 00:35:12,200
they're not Regional test but
they're a great example that
571
00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:16,200
they looked at this year and
said you know they kind of just
572
00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:20,200
said screw it You know, zebra,
we can we took another week,
573
00:35:20,200 --> 00:35:24,900
Roots 0, they took 0 high school
kids and only recruited the
574
00:35:24,900 --> 00:35:27,900
transfer portal.
But you know what that does also
575
00:35:27,900 --> 00:35:30,100
for them?
That that some people may not
576
00:35:30,100 --> 00:35:32,200
even think of when they hear
that, think that's ridiculous.
577
00:35:33,100 --> 00:35:37,500
But what they did is they just
postponed a year because you
578
00:35:37,500 --> 00:35:40,700
know what we're looking at now,
you know, looking at that with
579
00:35:40,700 --> 00:35:46,000
2021 covid aside, you know,
let's say covid ends today and
580
00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:50,300
life goes by back normal and the
Dead period ends and everything.
581
00:35:50,300 --> 00:35:56,200
Cool, everything's good.
The NCAA extended scholarship
582
00:35:56,200 --> 00:36:00,200
limits for the 2021 season for
players to hold over you know
583
00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:02,800
seniors get a chance to play
again down to freshman getting
584
00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:05,500
their freshman year back.
Okay, that's great.
585
00:36:06,100 --> 00:36:09,900
So we extend that out, you know,
theoretically you could have 25
586
00:36:09,900 --> 00:36:11,800
senior scholarship seniors.
Most people.
587
00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:14,700
Don't you, theoretically could.
Yeah.
588
00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:19,300
What that gives, you 110
scholarships theoretically for
589
00:36:19,300 --> 00:36:25,200
24 this year.
But after this year, you have to
590
00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:27,400
be at 85 scholarship starting
next year.
591
00:36:28,500 --> 00:36:32,400
How do you get there?
You know, I talked to, I talked
592
00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:36,300
to one of our, I talk to one of
our guys in the industry today.
593
00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:40,100
You know, one of our national
guys were 24/7 Sports and he I
594
00:36:40,100 --> 00:36:41,800
told him I said, you know, I
think it's crazy.
595
00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:45,800
The NCAA needs to do something,
you know, in my opinion they
596
00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:51,900
need to extend it not as far,
but extended a little bit and I
597
00:36:51,900 --> 00:36:54,100
was like, Virginia Tech for
example, you know, I ran an
598
00:36:54,100 --> 00:36:58,200
article two weeks ago, Virginia
Tech has roughly eight
599
00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:01,100
scholarships open right now for
2022.
600
00:37:01,100 --> 00:37:05,200
Now, that will obviously expand.
We all know that, that eight is
601
00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:09,700
going to grow 1517, maybe even
up to 20 with attrition and
602
00:37:09,700 --> 00:37:11,200
transfer portal and things like
that.
603
00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:18,600
But just Today about 8 and he
said, there are teams out there
604
00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:22,500
right now that are - there are
teams out there right now that
605
00:37:22,500 --> 00:37:27,400
have to lose players on
Scholarship today to sign anyone
606
00:37:27,500 --> 00:37:31,600
in 2022.
So you know, when we look at
607
00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:36,100
this and we say, oh they signed
400 less people this year in
608
00:37:36,100 --> 00:37:40,100
2021 due to covid and that's
terrible.
609
00:37:41,300 --> 00:37:46,800
I could see it exponentially
larger in 2022 because College
610
00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:48,900
college programs don't have the
space.
611
00:37:49,500 --> 00:37:52,600
Yeah, so what one of two things
will have to happen.
612
00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:56,700
You are going to have to see
massive attrition and nobody
613
00:37:56,700 --> 00:38:00,100
likes to talk about attrition
attrition isn't always bad
614
00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:03,100
players entering.
The portal is not always bad.
615
00:38:03,100 --> 00:38:07,400
I think, you know, Virginia Tech
fans in particular especially
616
00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:09,400
what has happened over the last
few years and some of the guys
617
00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:13,800
leaving think people leaving the
transport transfer portal is a
618
00:38:13,808 --> 00:38:17,600
major problem, but you have to
look at it, multiple ways, some
619
00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:21,100
people leave the transfer portal
because they're unhappy some
620
00:38:21,100 --> 00:38:23,400
people leave the transfer portal
because they want more playing
621
00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:26,300
time or better opportunity, some
people leave the transfer
622
00:38:26,300 --> 00:38:28,900
portal, early Levi, the transfer
portal.
623
00:38:30,300 --> 00:38:33,800
I was just simply because of
academics or an off the field
624
00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:36,100
issue.
Some people will leave to be
625
00:38:36,100 --> 00:38:39,700
closer to home some people.
Decide, nobody really wants to
626
00:38:39,700 --> 00:38:45,000
talk about are asked to leave
the that people act like that,
627
00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:48,100
don't happen, that happens.
People are asked to leave your
628
00:38:48,100 --> 00:38:50,200
scholarship, may not be
retained.
629
00:38:50,200 --> 00:38:53,900
If it is retained, you may not
see the field, you may not play.
630
00:38:54,100 --> 00:38:57,200
It may be worth it for you to
find an opportunity elsewhere
631
00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:01,100
and you know, a lot of That that
happens everywhere.
632
00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:05,000
Now you're going to add it on
top of that, moving forward, the
633
00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:07,900
scholarship number crunch that
every school is dealing with.
634
00:39:09,300 --> 00:39:10,900
We have to free up space
somehow.
635
00:39:11,300 --> 00:39:14,400
Yeah.
You're gonna deal with the money
636
00:39:14,500 --> 00:39:18,600
of it, you know.
I heard you know every what does
637
00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:21,500
it every 10?
Scholarships, every 10
638
00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:23,500
scholarships is roughly a
million dollars.
639
00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:27,400
So, you know, if you're carrying
over a lot of scholarships here
640
00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:32,100
carrying over a lot of money.
So some schools are saying, hey,
641
00:39:32,100 --> 00:39:35,700
we know the NCAA said you can
carry over and go over 85 this
642
00:39:35,700 --> 00:39:38,000
year, but we can't afford it, so
we're not doing it.
643
00:39:38,500 --> 00:39:41,300
So, you know, some of those
players may have to find other
644
00:39:41,300 --> 00:39:46,500
homes and then we're going to
add the the Colossal mess that I
645
00:39:46,500 --> 00:39:49,500
foresee coming of players
entering the transfer portal
646
00:39:49,500 --> 00:39:54,000
because we were a 2021 signee.
We never saw the coaches.
647
00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:58,500
Two-Face, we never step foot on
campus, before we signed and we
648
00:39:58,500 --> 00:40:01,000
hate it here.
We're in a bad situation.
649
00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:05,100
We're going to see that become
very apparent and I think it'll
650
00:40:05,100 --> 00:40:09,100
be very apparent very quickly.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a
651
00:40:09,107 --> 00:40:11,300
lot of freshmen, all over the
country, start to enter the
652
00:40:11,300 --> 00:40:14,000
portal after getting on campus
and being there for a few
653
00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:16,400
months.
And realizing, you know, maybe
654
00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:21,400
what I was sold in recruiting,
isn't reality, you know?
655
00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:25,900
Maybe, you know, I thought I was
coming into Into this, you know,
656
00:40:25,900 --> 00:40:29,400
great opportunity.
You know I thought maybe I was
657
00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:32,300
going to be a guy that had a
shot at early playing time to
658
00:40:32,300 --> 00:40:34,300
find out that I'm fourth team on
the depth chart.
659
00:40:34,300 --> 00:40:40,400
When I get here, maybe I'm a guy
who never realized how small
660
00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:44,600
this campus is, or how big this
campus is, or how far away from
661
00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:47,400
home.
It is, you know, what do I do?
662
00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:50,500
They, you know, and I have to
live on campus for a year and
663
00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:53,200
they tell me, I can't have a car
and how do I, you know, how do I
664
00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:54,000
do?
It's typical.
665
00:40:54,500 --> 00:40:58,800
College, you know, things and
you have to learn and adjust
666
00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:03,300
when you get there and I think
we're going to see that fairly
667
00:41:03,300 --> 00:41:10,200
quickly because unjustly the
NCAA kind of force, the hand of
668
00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:14,800
recruits to sign sight.
Unseen for the majority of them
669
00:41:15,100 --> 00:41:17,900
and I think a lot of colleges
took advantage of that and said
670
00:41:17,900 --> 00:41:20,300
hey if you don't sign with us or
you don't commit to us now
671
00:41:20,600 --> 00:41:23,600
you're not going to have a spot
you know, nobody else other
672
00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:25,600
schools.
May not take you locking your
673
00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:29,900
spot now and they may not be in
love with the choice that they
674
00:41:29,900 --> 00:41:34,500
made.
So you know, all in all 2021 was
675
00:41:34,500 --> 00:41:40,100
not beneficial for either the
college staff for the recruits.
676
00:41:40,100 --> 00:41:43,900
There was, there's a lot of risk
on both sides and unfortunately
677
00:41:43,900 --> 00:41:47,000
in 2022.
I think that we are going to see
678
00:41:47,900 --> 00:41:50,500
just more of the same and I
think we're going to see more
679
00:41:50,500 --> 00:41:54,000
players left out that either
have to go drop down a level.
680
00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:57,900
Maybe have to go prep school or
Juco, or maybe you're out of
681
00:41:57,908 --> 00:42:00,300
football together because the
scholarship numbers are not
682
00:42:00,300 --> 00:42:01,800
going to be available
Nationwide.
683
00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:05,400
We are combining the scholarship
numbers being low with no Junior
684
00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:09,300
tape and potentially limited.
Even senior tape depending on
685
00:42:09,300 --> 00:42:13,000
how the next few months start to
shake out, you know, ahead of
686
00:42:13,300 --> 00:42:17,700
signing day later this year.
So it's definitely going to be a
687
00:42:17,700 --> 00:42:21,700
big big problem.
I feel like it's definitely hurt
688
00:42:21,700 --> 00:42:25,100
the, those high school recruits
the the Especially those ones
689
00:42:25,100 --> 00:42:28,300
that need that they aren't in
that top 400 like you were
690
00:42:28,308 --> 00:42:29,900
talking about a need that Junior
tape.
691
00:42:29,900 --> 00:42:32,700
Need those camps need that
senior tape.
692
00:42:33,500 --> 00:42:36,800
Absolutely.
If you, you know, looking at
693
00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:39,000
like some of the guys that
Virginia Tech has signed.
694
00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:43,500
Obviously you have in the past,
you guys like, you know, got
695
00:42:43,500 --> 00:42:45,400
like a candle Fuller.
He was obviously one of those
696
00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:48,000
top 100 guys.
He would be fine in this
697
00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:50,700
situation, but look at guys like
Reggie.
698
00:42:50,700 --> 00:42:53,800
Floyd Greg Stroman.
Both of those guys were great
699
00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:55,800
play.
Lady Camp to get their offers at
700
00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:58,500
Virginia Tech.
You know, you see a lot of
701
00:42:59,100 --> 00:43:02,500
Christian dare, so he had to
Camp, he wouldn't have been
702
00:43:02,500 --> 00:43:06,100
okay, in this situation, you
know, he was a lower ranked guy.
703
00:43:06,300 --> 00:43:08,900
Silas, Dane the another one
wouldn't have been okay in this
704
00:43:08,900 --> 00:43:12,200
situation.
So you have to look at it and
705
00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:17,300
think, you know, while while you
want to sign the majority of
706
00:43:17,300 --> 00:43:22,600
your class to be highly ranked
guys, and that top 400 you also
707
00:43:23,100 --> 00:43:25,600
want to have me.
Able to develop some of these
708
00:43:25,600 --> 00:43:29,100
players and mind some of these
players and find them at a camp
709
00:43:29,100 --> 00:43:32,900
setting or in a, in a spring
work out where you can go walk
710
00:43:32,900 --> 00:43:36,800
through their their weight room
and see, you know, how strong
711
00:43:36,800 --> 00:43:38,800
are they, what are they doing?
When they don't think you're
712
00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:42,300
looking, how do they interact
with their teammates?
713
00:43:42,500 --> 00:43:44,900
What, you know, you can go into
the high school and talk with
714
00:43:44,900 --> 00:43:47,600
their guidance, counselor's, you
can go talk with their teachers.
715
00:43:48,100 --> 00:43:52,400
We don't have any of that right
now, I mean, and going back to
716
00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:53,900
kind of what we mentioned
earlier with.
717
00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:57,900
With Darryl Tapp kind of crazy
to think that Darryl Tapp was a
718
00:43:57,900 --> 00:44:00,500
good recruiter at Virginia Tech
and never one step foot off
719
00:44:00,500 --> 00:44:05,300
campus.
I mean he wasn't able to, he
720
00:44:05,300 --> 00:44:07,400
couldn't go into high school,
she couldn't go into homes, he
721
00:44:07,400 --> 00:44:10,000
couldn't do any of that.
I think they only had two
722
00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:13,800
official visit weekends and then
maybe, you know, they had the
723
00:44:13,800 --> 00:44:17,900
Midnight Madness and maybe a
couple other Junior days on
724
00:44:17,900 --> 00:44:20,400
campus.
But other than that, that's the
725
00:44:20,400 --> 00:44:23,900
staffs haven't seen recruits in
almost a year.
726
00:44:24,200 --> 00:44:27,700
You know, they haven't seen
anybody in person in almost a
727
00:44:27,700 --> 00:44:31,800
year and if this thing keeps
continuing out, you know, it's
728
00:44:31,800 --> 00:44:36,800
so much risk that I can see a
lot of college coaches saying,
729
00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:40,400
we need to, we need to over sign
in the portal and under sign in
730
00:44:40,400 --> 00:44:43,100
high school and we'll figure
this out and get back to
731
00:44:43,100 --> 00:44:45,900
recruiting high school.
Once all of the numbers in the
732
00:44:45,900 --> 00:44:47,800
money, shake out here in the
next few years.
733
00:44:48,700 --> 00:44:52,100
Yeah, let me ask you this.
Evan, just strictly from The
734
00:44:52,100 --> 00:44:55,100
Hokey perspective, do you think?
Covid type recruiting was
735
00:44:55,100 --> 00:44:59,600
positive and negative compared
to other P5 schools based on
736
00:44:59,600 --> 00:45:00,700
mean.
On a lot of that information
737
00:45:00,700 --> 00:45:03,000
that you've been giving us in
the last few minutes here.
738
00:45:04,600 --> 00:45:08,600
You know, I think, I think there
are pros and cons, and that's
739
00:45:08,600 --> 00:45:11,900
for every school, but I think
for Virginia Tech in particular,
740
00:45:12,300 --> 00:45:17,500
I think the Hokies do a very
good job of early evaluations.
741
00:45:18,300 --> 00:45:22,000
So, you know, that and and what
what I mean by that is I think
742
00:45:22,000 --> 00:45:26,400
that they have a way of
evaluating kids in ninth and
743
00:45:26,400 --> 00:45:29,200
tenth grade, and realizing these
guys are going to be good.
744
00:45:29,200 --> 00:45:34,300
Football players.
Now they might They might be
745
00:45:34,300 --> 00:45:37,300
100% right you know and think
hey this guy's going to be a
746
00:45:37,300 --> 00:45:39,800
good football player and every
other school in the country
747
00:45:39,800 --> 00:45:42,900
thinks the exact same thing and
then that player becomes a good.
748
00:45:42,900 --> 00:45:46,400
You know, for five star kid goes
to Ohio, State goes to Alabama
749
00:45:46,400 --> 00:45:49,300
whatever.
But you know I think they are
750
00:45:49,300 --> 00:45:52,900
really really good at that.
I think Frank Beamer staff was
751
00:45:52,900 --> 00:45:55,000
really good at it.
I think Justin Fuente staff is
752
00:45:55,000 --> 00:45:59,100
really good at it you know
evaluating kids early getting
753
00:45:59,100 --> 00:46:02,600
those relationships early and
just cultivating those.
754
00:46:02,600 --> 00:46:06,200
And you look at the Eyes that
they signed, you know, in this,
755
00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:07,900
especially in the state of
Virginia.
756
00:46:08,300 --> 00:46:14,300
A lot of them already had ties
to the school via, you know,
757
00:46:14,300 --> 00:46:18,300
maybe a brother friends that
went there or being able to work
758
00:46:18,300 --> 00:46:21,500
out at camps and kids, that
Virginia Tech had seen in
759
00:46:21,500 --> 00:46:23,800
person.
Now maybe they haven't seen them
760
00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:27,300
in person this year as a senior
but they saw him in person at
761
00:46:27,300 --> 00:46:30,800
some point in time during their
career, they know and know the
762
00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:32,600
coaches.
Well they trust the coaches.
763
00:46:32,600 --> 00:46:34,900
Well, the coaches In the
trainers in the state.
764
00:46:35,200 --> 00:46:39,000
And I think that they, you know,
I think that this may have
765
00:46:39,000 --> 00:46:43,000
forced their hand a little bit.
I do think that last year the
766
00:46:43,008 --> 00:46:45,600
20/20 year was an anomaly with
in-state recruiting.
767
00:46:45,600 --> 00:46:50,700
But I think that this forced
Justin Fuente and his staff to
768
00:46:50,700 --> 00:46:55,200
really sit down and say, Hey,
you know, we can, we can exhaust
769
00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:58,800
these resources in other states,
but we need to exhaust our
770
00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:02,900
resources in Virginia because
we've seen these kids and some
771
00:47:02,900 --> 00:47:05,600
other schools.
Haven't we know what these kids
772
00:47:05,600 --> 00:47:12,300
can be other schools may not and
and you really need to build
773
00:47:12,300 --> 00:47:16,400
that in-state recruiting.
So I think they took advantage
774
00:47:16,400 --> 00:47:19,200
of no fall football forever.
You know, for the state of
775
00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:22,200
Virginia, I think they took
advantage of covid and got some
776
00:47:22,200 --> 00:47:25,200
of these kids in state, to lock
in a commitment, really early
777
00:47:25,200 --> 00:47:28,600
and stay committed.
Now on the other, you know, on
778
00:47:28,600 --> 00:47:31,700
the downside of that well I'll
say one other one other positive
779
00:47:31,700 --> 00:47:34,100
is if they got these kids on
campus This regardless of where
780
00:47:34,100 --> 00:47:36,300
they came from.
If you were on, if you visited
781
00:47:36,300 --> 00:47:39,100
Virginia Tech before and then
covid hits and you don't get a
782
00:47:39,107 --> 00:47:42,700
chance to visit Clemson, you
don't get a chance to visit Ohio
783
00:47:42,700 --> 00:47:48,300
state Alabama, you can maybe be
able to ride off of you.
784
00:47:48,300 --> 00:47:51,000
Saw us in person.
You know what, we have you
785
00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:54,500
walked our campus, you know come
come.
786
00:47:54,500 --> 00:47:58,700
Come be a hokie as opposed to
what you've seen virtually
787
00:47:58,700 --> 00:48:03,300
elsewhere, you know another
thing that I think Virginia Tech
788
00:48:03,500 --> 00:48:07,900
Every school did I think we'll
see moving forward is this fully
789
00:48:08,000 --> 00:48:14,100
forced adaptation of Technology.
You know virtual visits are
790
00:48:14,100 --> 00:48:18,200
massive now you know and I think
they only make sense you know
791
00:48:18,200 --> 00:48:23,500
you know how many times we have
you know written stories about
792
00:48:23,500 --> 00:48:27,200
players that are planning to
visit for a junior day or are
793
00:48:27,200 --> 00:48:31,600
planning to visit for a summer
visit or a fall game and their
794
00:48:31,600 --> 00:48:34,400
ride falls through.
Thing happens in the last
795
00:48:34,400 --> 00:48:35,900
minute, and they can't make it
to campus.
796
00:48:36,400 --> 00:48:39,000
Those excuses.
Can start getting smaller and
797
00:48:39,000 --> 00:48:42,100
smaller now because you can say,
hey, you didn't get to make it
798
00:48:42,100 --> 00:48:44,700
up on Saturday.
Here's a virtual visit.
799
00:48:44,700 --> 00:48:46,700
We're going to do one on one for
you and your family.
800
00:48:46,700 --> 00:48:48,000
You never even have to leave
your house.
801
00:48:48,000 --> 00:48:50,800
Just give me an hour of your
time, it's going to open that
802
00:48:50,800 --> 00:48:54,300
door up to some more, some more
things and showing off some more
803
00:48:55,000 --> 00:48:58,900
aspects and you can control it a
little bit more that way as
804
00:48:58,900 --> 00:49:01,600
well.
You know, if you know somebody
805
00:49:01,600 --> 00:49:05,300
is really Did in the engineering
department.
806
00:49:05,300 --> 00:49:08,700
You can you can walk over and
show them the ins and outs of
807
00:49:08,700 --> 00:49:12,500
everything while they're sitting
in their living room and you can
808
00:49:12,500 --> 00:49:16,000
control, you know, hey, after
that hears, you know, Main
809
00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:18,700
Street because we know you're
interested in all the places to
810
00:49:18,700 --> 00:49:22,900
eat, and here's, you know,
walking back into the facilities
811
00:49:22,900 --> 00:49:26,100
and show them, you know, the new
upgrades that have been made and
812
00:49:26,100 --> 00:49:27,700
the construction that's going
on.
813
00:49:27,800 --> 00:49:31,100
You can control that a little
bit more when you get, you know,
814
00:49:31,100 --> 00:49:33,200
when you get a kid on campus,
they come in, they take their
815
00:49:33,200 --> 00:49:35,000
time.
Tour they leave, they can kind
816
00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:37,500
of do what they want, see what
they want, and all of that, if
817
00:49:37,500 --> 00:49:40,800
it's virtual you basically have
the full control of the
818
00:49:40,800 --> 00:49:44,100
narrative there and I think, you
know, every school is adapting
819
00:49:44,100 --> 00:49:45,600
to that.
Well, I think Virginia Tech did
820
00:49:45,600 --> 00:49:49,600
adapt to the virtual environment
well over the last year.
821
00:49:49,600 --> 00:49:53,900
Now, obviously, the cons are,
you can't get kids on campus for
822
00:49:54,000 --> 00:49:56,400
for, for Virginia Tech.
On the brink Beamers.
823
00:49:56,400 --> 00:49:59,600
Big thing was always get them on
campus and you give yourself a
824
00:49:59,600 --> 00:50:02,000
shot.
And I think that's still true.
825
00:50:02,000 --> 00:50:03,300
I think.
Like I said earlier, I think
826
00:50:03,400 --> 00:50:05,600
That there's something about
Blacksburg and there's something
827
00:50:05,600 --> 00:50:07,900
about Virginia Tech.
I've been to a lot of campuses
828
00:50:08,400 --> 00:50:12,000
covering football games and I
think Virginia Tech ranks up
829
00:50:12,000 --> 00:50:13,900
there with some of the nicest
I've been to.
830
00:50:14,600 --> 00:50:17,200
And I think if you can get there
and you can, you can see
831
00:50:17,200 --> 00:50:19,800
everything.
You know, I do think that it's
832
00:50:19,800 --> 00:50:22,900
one of those schools that kind
of sticks out in your mind and
833
00:50:22,900 --> 00:50:27,500
kids will remember it.
So, I think that hurts obviously
834
00:50:27,500 --> 00:50:32,900
not being able to get gets get
recruits into Lane Stadium.
835
00:50:33,400 --> 00:50:37,200
Walk through the tunnel here.
Enter Sandman, you know, feel
836
00:50:37,200 --> 00:50:39,900
the stadium Shake.
I think that hurts Virginia Tech
837
00:50:39,900 --> 00:50:44,500
a little bit and, you know,
obviously not being able to have
838
00:50:44,500 --> 00:50:48,700
your coach's face to face with
anybody, you know, we've we've
839
00:50:48,700 --> 00:50:51,800
talked about it, you know, guys
like Justin Hamilton, they're
840
00:50:51,800 --> 00:50:54,800
there.
He's got a really, you know,
841
00:50:55,500 --> 00:50:59,300
positive personality.
You know, Ryan Smith has the
842
00:50:59,300 --> 00:51:03,200
same atom, Lichtenberg just, you
know, cutting that same mold.
843
00:51:03,700 --> 00:51:07,700
And these guys are doing all
they can over the phone, you
844
00:51:07,700 --> 00:51:11,500
know, and over Skype and over
FaceTime but you know as well as
845
00:51:11,500 --> 00:51:13,800
I do it's not the same you know
if you're not sitting
846
00:51:13,800 --> 00:51:16,600
face-to-face with somebody, it's
not the same.
847
00:51:17,200 --> 00:51:19,400
So I think these are guys that
you want to get out and give
848
00:51:19,400 --> 00:51:22,400
them on the road and get them in
front of in front of recruits as
849
00:51:22,408 --> 00:51:24,900
soon as possible.
So I think that did hurt.
850
00:51:24,900 --> 00:51:28,700
Now, you know, I think the
playing field was was fairly
851
00:51:28,700 --> 00:51:32,500
even for everyone, you know,
regardless some people got a
852
00:51:32,500 --> 00:51:35,000
little bit of spring, A
football, some people didn't
853
00:51:35,200 --> 00:51:38,200
some got some high school, got
to play in the fall, some states
854
00:51:38,200 --> 00:51:41,100
played in the fall, some people
didn't coaches weren't allowed
855
00:51:41,100 --> 00:51:44,400
to get on the out on the road.
So that was kind of a difference
856
00:51:44,400 --> 00:51:49,300
and, you know, you don't have
some senior football film to
857
00:51:49,300 --> 00:51:52,300
review before signing day.
So, you know, that's obviously a
858
00:51:52,300 --> 00:51:56,900
con but in the whole scheme of
things, I think this through a
859
00:51:56,900 --> 00:51:58,900
wrench at every school in the
country.
860
00:51:58,900 --> 00:52:01,600
I think Virginia Tech adapted.
Well, I think they shifted their
861
00:52:01,600 --> 00:52:05,300
focus well to the Virginia guys.
They thought they could get to
862
00:52:05,300 --> 00:52:09,600
help build a foundation in the
state and then utilize their
863
00:52:09,600 --> 00:52:12,600
contacts outside of the state to
sign some good football players.
864
00:52:12,600 --> 00:52:16,100
And like I mentioned earlier if
you're outside that top 400,
865
00:52:16,100 --> 00:52:18,700
guys, going into the state of
we're going into your senior
866
00:52:18,700 --> 00:52:22,700
year with, as many kids didn't
get to play their senior senior
867
00:52:22,700 --> 00:52:26,600
year with zero summer camps.
I take a lot of that.
868
00:52:26,600 --> 00:52:28,600
Throw it out the window.
You know, if you're a five-star
869
00:52:28,600 --> 00:52:33,200
five-star, we all can see it.
But if you're right, if you're a
870
00:52:33,300 --> 00:52:36,200
Amid 3 star and a high
three-star.
871
00:52:36,700 --> 00:52:39,200
What's the difference?
If you're a low forestall, if
872
00:52:39,200 --> 00:52:43,300
you know you're a an 87 and a
90, you know, the difference
873
00:52:43,300 --> 00:52:47,300
between a 3 star 4 star, there's
really not that much difference.
874
00:52:47,300 --> 00:52:50,800
When you think when you add in
the fact that there was no camps
875
00:52:50,800 --> 00:52:54,400
no spring workouts, and possibly
know fall.
876
00:52:54,600 --> 00:52:58,200
So, you know, I think Virginia
Tech signed some good football
877
00:52:58,200 --> 00:53:01,100
players in this class.
The rankings won't necessarily
878
00:53:01,100 --> 00:53:03,200
reflect it as well as I think it
should.
879
00:53:04,000 --> 00:53:08,500
But I do think they did well
adapting in this environment
880
00:53:08,500 --> 00:53:11,300
that was almost unable to be
planned for.
881
00:53:12,500 --> 00:53:14,800
Let's let's go ahead and pick
you back straight off of that
882
00:53:14,800 --> 00:53:17,000
because I feel like, you know,
you hit hard on like, you know,
883
00:53:17,000 --> 00:53:21,200
not having the lot of senior
tape for these guys not having
884
00:53:21,200 --> 00:53:25,400
really any of the Camp's.
What guys, in this class, do you
885
00:53:25,400 --> 00:53:28,400
think had the biggest potential
for that kind of offseason
886
00:53:28,400 --> 00:53:32,200
bumper that senior season bump?
If we were operating business as
887
00:53:32,200 --> 00:53:36,300
usual?
You know, I think in in state
888
00:53:36,300 --> 00:53:39,800
you know, I look at a guy like
like a Jalen strowman I think
889
00:53:39,800 --> 00:53:43,100
Jalen's strohman a very good
football player and I think he
890
00:53:43,600 --> 00:53:47,700
was really coming into his own
as a junior, obviously he has
891
00:53:47,700 --> 00:53:50,600
some advantages being Greg's
little brother and and some of
892
00:53:50,600 --> 00:53:53,500
the guys he works out with and
trains with he's got really good
893
00:53:53,500 --> 00:53:56,600
size range and speed.
I think he probably would have
894
00:53:56,600 --> 00:53:58,600
been in line for one Jalen
Jones.
895
00:53:58,600 --> 00:54:03,400
Another thousand yard receiver
in at a Richmond now, Didn't
896
00:54:03,400 --> 00:54:06,100
play the best competition in the
world.
897
00:54:06,900 --> 00:54:09,200
But if you can put together
back-to-back thousand yard
898
00:54:09,200 --> 00:54:10,900
receiving years, that's hard to
deny.
899
00:54:11,300 --> 00:54:15,100
You know, guys like that.
I think Kelly Lawson probably
900
00:54:15,100 --> 00:54:17,400
had the most upside.
Yeah.
901
00:54:17,400 --> 00:54:23,500
If Kelly Lawson could camp and
had a senior year before signing
902
00:54:23,500 --> 00:54:26,700
day, I would not be shocked if
he was a four-star by some
903
00:54:26,700 --> 00:54:29,100
rankings.
I mean you look at what he's
904
00:54:29,100 --> 00:54:30,800
done.
You look at his first, you look
905
00:54:30,800 --> 00:54:34,600
at his body and you think like,
You know, he can play anything.
906
00:54:34,900 --> 00:54:36,300
Is he?
The next Tremaine?
907
00:54:36,500 --> 00:54:38,400
Is he the next?
Amari bar know, you know, we
908
00:54:38,400 --> 00:54:42,500
don't really know right now, but
you look at what he does in his
909
00:54:42,500 --> 00:54:45,900
workouts you look at and you
don't think he was clocked.
910
00:54:46,600 --> 00:54:50,600
Was he clocked at 20?
Please o'clock at 26 on one of
911
00:54:50,600 --> 00:54:54,700
the, one of his training videos?
It was it was Unreal, how fast
912
00:54:54,700 --> 00:54:57,100
he was moving on.
One of the, the treadmills that
913
00:54:57,100 --> 00:55:00,400
clocks.
It was it was it was it almost
914
00:55:00,400 --> 00:55:02,800
the equivalent of a Caleb
Farley.
915
00:55:03,000 --> 00:55:05,200
Wow.
And this guy's got a much
916
00:55:05,400 --> 00:55:10,200
different type of body so you
know, I think he's a guy that
917
00:55:10,200 --> 00:55:13,900
would have probably gone up a
little bit in the rankings.
918
00:55:13,900 --> 00:55:16,800
You know, guy like DJ Harvey, I
think DJ Harvey probably would
919
00:55:16,800 --> 00:55:19,000
have played his way up, if
California was playing football
920
00:55:19,000 --> 00:55:24,100
in the in the fall, you know.
I think You know, one guy I
921
00:55:24,100 --> 00:55:28,100
think that was held down and I
don't really know why because he
922
00:55:28,100 --> 00:55:30,700
was super productive, but I
think Kenji.
923
00:55:30,700 --> 00:55:35,800
Christian is somebody that also
was kind of a victim of rankings
924
00:55:35,800 --> 00:55:39,100
where I feel like he's probably
a four star talent.
925
00:55:39,100 --> 00:55:40,900
I think he's a really good
running back.
926
00:55:40,900 --> 00:55:45,000
I think he maybe was overlooked
a little bit because you're
927
00:55:45,000 --> 00:55:47,700
coming from the state of Alabama
and you don't have an Auburn
928
00:55:47,700 --> 00:55:52,700
offer and you don't have an
Alabama offer LSU LSU.
929
00:55:52,900 --> 00:55:56,300
Maybe within hours of offering
and before their restrictions
930
00:55:56,300 --> 00:55:59,800
hit, you know, this is a guy
that he's got, he's an SEC
931
00:55:59,800 --> 00:56:04,200
player and you know, he luckily
for Virginia Tech.
932
00:56:04,200 --> 00:56:08,600
He didn't get, you know, those
three SEC offers that would have
933
00:56:08,600 --> 00:56:12,000
been a game-changer for moment.
And now he's, he's headed to
934
00:56:12,008 --> 00:56:14,400
Blacksburg.
I think he's a guy that a lot of
935
00:56:14,408 --> 00:56:18,800
people kind of Overlook, you
know, I think Christian Moss is
936
00:56:18,800 --> 00:56:22,000
an interesting one, you know,
everybody talked about Trey
937
00:56:22,000 --> 00:56:24,500
career, Portray Curry was
committed, Virginia Tech for a
938
00:56:24,500 --> 00:56:27,900
little while for Star Trek,
hurry actually transferred to
939
00:56:27,908 --> 00:56:30,700
North Cobb for his senior year,
they played together him and
940
00:56:30,700 --> 00:56:32,700
Christian Moss.
Christian Moscow better wide
941
00:56:32,700 --> 00:56:36,500
receiver.
Christian Moss was was the top
942
00:56:36,500 --> 00:56:40,500
guy at North Cobb and he's a,
he's a mid three-star guy, he's
943
00:56:40,500 --> 00:56:44,400
got great size, he's got really
good range and he's just a guy
944
00:56:44,400 --> 00:56:45,800
that fell through the covid
cracks.
945
00:56:45,800 --> 00:56:49,100
So, you know, I think when you
look at it and you go through
946
00:56:49,100 --> 00:56:53,200
each of these players, you know,
every year I try to look at At
947
00:56:53,200 --> 00:56:56,600
the commits, and I think who is,
who's a reach?
948
00:56:56,900 --> 00:56:59,600
Who's a guy that I can look at
right now and say, I don't think
949
00:56:59,600 --> 00:57:01,000
they're going to play in,
Virginia Tech.
950
00:57:01,500 --> 00:57:04,800
And when you look down their
list right now, there's not a
951
00:57:04,800 --> 00:57:07,500
lot of those guys.
There are some guys who say
952
00:57:07,900 --> 00:57:11,700
there's some guys, you say might
take it might take a year or two
953
00:57:11,700 --> 00:57:14,900
maybe three, maybe they won't
play until their upperclassmen,
954
00:57:15,300 --> 00:57:18,400
but there's not a whole lot.
You look at and you say, I don't
955
00:57:18,400 --> 00:57:20,400
see it, I don't know what
they're seeing in the sky, I
956
00:57:20,408 --> 00:57:23,100
don't see it at all.
So, you know, I think when you
957
00:57:23,100 --> 00:57:25,400
look at it that way, I think the
Hokies, you know, I think they
958
00:57:25,400 --> 00:57:28,900
did they did as well as I think
that they probably could under
959
00:57:28,900 --> 00:57:33,500
the circumstances of everything
going around them covid and
960
00:57:33,500 --> 00:57:35,200
potentially the hot seat of
Justin Fuente.
961
00:57:36,800 --> 00:57:39,300
Yeah.
I mean you mentioned it right
962
00:57:39,300 --> 00:57:42,300
there and something me and Brian
had said probably back in the
963
00:57:42,300 --> 00:57:45,600
fall was there were certain guys
that were not going to get the
964
00:57:45,600 --> 00:57:48,800
bump because they weren't going
to get any extra exposure and it
965
00:57:48,800 --> 00:57:51,300
sucked.
But I got to be a realist as a
966
00:57:51,300 --> 00:57:53,200
hokie fan here.
We did get some really good
967
00:57:53,200 --> 00:57:56,600
players but we had some misses
who do you think we're that?
968
00:57:56,600 --> 00:58:00,800
Like, one or two biggest mrs.
Not only from, a recruiting
969
00:58:00,800 --> 00:58:03,500
perspective in state or out of
state, but just in general, if
970
00:58:03,500 --> 00:58:05,600
they had gotten this guy, it
would have been kind of that
971
00:58:05,600 --> 00:58:07,800
Crown Jewel.
In the class.
972
00:58:09,100 --> 00:58:10,700
I mean, it has to be Demetrius
Davis.
973
00:58:10,900 --> 00:58:14,300
I mean their hands down.
There's there's, you know,
974
00:58:14,300 --> 00:58:19,100
nothing else.
He was the guy and it's sad.
975
00:58:19,100 --> 00:58:23,000
I mean he was he was locked in
right.
976
00:58:23,000 --> 00:58:28,600
Like he he was dead set on
Virginia Tech and then when
977
00:58:28,600 --> 00:58:33,600
covid happened and and, you
know, Auburn used it as an
978
00:58:33,600 --> 00:58:37,700
opportunity to get in there and
and End up flipping them.
979
00:58:37,700 --> 00:58:42,700
I mean, it was You could feel,
you know, covering Virginia
980
00:58:42,700 --> 00:58:45,400
Tech's class, you could feel
everything shift that day.
981
00:58:46,400 --> 00:58:49,800
You know, everyone started to be
a little iffy and their
982
00:58:49,800 --> 00:58:52,600
commitments and you could see
that things were changing.
983
00:58:53,500 --> 00:58:56,100
Now, I think, I think Virginia
Tech did a good job going out
984
00:58:56,100 --> 00:58:59,400
and securing a quarterback very
quickly after and trying to
985
00:58:59,400 --> 00:59:06,600
rebuild the class, but had they
had, they signed Davis, you
986
00:59:06,600 --> 00:59:09,100
know, I think he would have been
the quarterback of the future.
987
00:59:09,800 --> 00:59:14,300
And I think that he would have
brought a lot of his friends
988
00:59:14,400 --> 00:59:16,800
from Texas with him.
And and you know, there's
989
00:59:16,800 --> 00:59:20,000
there's a lot to be said when
you sign a highly ranked
990
00:59:20,000 --> 00:59:23,000
quarterback or we have a highly
ranked quarterback committed, it
991
00:59:23,000 --> 00:59:26,700
opens eyes to players across the
country that may want to play.
992
00:59:27,400 --> 00:59:29,400
That want me want to play for
you because they want to play
993
00:59:29,400 --> 00:59:32,400
with that guy.
So you know, he has to be the
994
00:59:32,400 --> 00:59:36,400
biggest Miss of the year for for
Virginia Tech, when they lost
995
00:59:36,400 --> 00:59:40,600
him to Auburn.
Yeah, that one definitely was
996
00:59:41,000 --> 00:59:44,100
was a big hit.
It felt like the wind was out of
997
00:59:44,100 --> 00:59:47,600
the sails a little bit therefore
for the cycle I think Doug he's
998
00:59:47,600 --> 00:59:50,800
in a pretty decent job of
recovering but losing that
999
00:59:50,800 --> 00:59:56,200
high-profile player you didn't
get that forward momentum for
1000
00:59:56,200 --> 00:59:58,400
the rest of the cycle that you
probably would have gotten if
1001
00:59:58,400 --> 01:00:01,400
he'd a stayed in the boat.
I want to ask you this though,
1002
01:00:02,700 --> 01:00:05,500
of the guys in the 21 cycle you
know you hit on it just a little
1003
01:00:05,500 --> 01:00:07,800
bit earlier but I just want to
get a little bit more more
1004
01:00:07,800 --> 01:00:11,900
in-depth here.
Any immediate impact guys, in
1005
01:00:11,900 --> 01:00:15,900
this 21 class, or most these
guys going to need a year or two
1006
01:00:15,900 --> 01:00:18,000
to kind of marinate before
they're ready to make a big
1007
01:00:18,000 --> 01:00:20,400
impact.
Yeah, I think there's a few that
1008
01:00:20,400 --> 01:00:22,500
can play Early.
Obviously, I mentioned DJ Harvey
1009
01:00:22,500 --> 01:00:24,100
earlier.
I think he's probably an easy
1010
01:00:24,100 --> 01:00:28,700
one to look at and say he can
probably work his way into the
1011
01:00:28,707 --> 01:00:32,500
rotation somewhere, you know.
Will he be a starting Corner?
1012
01:00:32,500 --> 01:00:35,600
Probably not, but could he be a
second team Corner?
1013
01:00:35,800 --> 01:00:38,700
Could it be a punt, returner guy
like that, you know?
1014
01:00:38,800 --> 01:00:42,900
I think that he has an
opportunity to get on the field
1015
01:00:42,900 --> 01:00:47,800
next year, you know, one that I
look at that maybe was a little
1016
01:00:47,800 --> 01:00:51,100
overlooked in the recruiting
process Dwayne Lofton.
1017
01:00:51,600 --> 01:00:56,100
I'm a big fan of Dwayne Lofton
and I think he is what Virginia
1018
01:00:56,100 --> 01:01:00,300
Tech couldn't use right away in
the slot especially if they want
1019
01:01:00,300 --> 01:01:03,000
to continue to be on Robinson
playing outside.
1020
01:01:03,800 --> 01:01:06,600
You know Raheem Blackshear can
play in the slot as well but I
1021
01:01:06,607 --> 01:01:08,700
think Duane lofton's one of
those.
1022
01:01:08,800 --> 01:01:12,900
Guys from down in Texas that has
just has big play potential
1023
01:01:12,900 --> 01:01:15,000
written all over him.
I think he's a really, really
1024
01:01:15,700 --> 01:01:17,200
talented football player.
I tell you.
1025
01:01:17,200 --> 01:01:21,000
I've heard a lot of positives
about you say it suit out of
1026
01:01:21,000 --> 01:01:23,700
Virginia Beach, you know
obviously I think he I think
1027
01:01:23,700 --> 01:01:27,200
he's probably a year way, you
got to put on some weight to it
1028
01:01:27,600 --> 01:01:31,200
to play, linebacker the P5
level, but tireless, worker,
1029
01:01:31,200 --> 01:01:35,500
Great Frame, High football IQ.
I think he's a guy that can
1030
01:01:35,500 --> 01:01:38,700
definitely play fairly early in
his career.
1031
01:01:39,600 --> 01:01:44,100
You know, and I really, I'm a
big fan of the of the DN stat
1032
01:01:44,200 --> 01:01:47,100
that Virginia Tech signed, I
think Matthias, Carolyn Cole
1033
01:01:47,100 --> 01:01:50,200
Nelson, are going to be big time
players for the Hokies in the
1034
01:01:50,207 --> 01:01:52,000
future?
I'm not sure.
1035
01:01:52,300 --> 01:01:56,400
They'll get a whole lot of reps,
your one, you know.
1036
01:01:56,400 --> 01:01:59,900
I think that they could be in
that maybe a similar situation
1037
01:01:59,900 --> 01:02:01,800
like a Robert Wooten.
They get some reps here and
1038
01:02:01,800 --> 01:02:05,100
there but maybe not a whole lot
of them.
1039
01:02:05,700 --> 01:02:08,100
Maybe they stay under that
four-game rule for the Redshirt
1040
01:02:08,100 --> 01:02:10,200
year.
But I do think that in the
1041
01:02:10,200 --> 01:02:12,700
future, I think those are two
big time players that Virginia
1042
01:02:12,700 --> 01:02:18,200
Tech guide on the d-line.
And since we're talking about
1043
01:02:18,200 --> 01:02:21,000
some of the guys that are coming
in, let's give it a little bit
1044
01:02:21,000 --> 01:02:24,000
to 22 here gained a commitment
with Devin.
1045
01:02:24,000 --> 01:02:27,500
Pharaoh today, out of Atlanta,
what type of player we getting
1046
01:02:27,500 --> 01:02:28,900
with them?
I know it's still kind of early
1047
01:02:28,900 --> 01:02:32,100
in this one kind of came a
little bit under the radar.
1048
01:02:32,100 --> 01:02:37,500
In terms of the, the
announcement You know he's he's
1049
01:02:37,500 --> 01:02:41,700
a little bit playstyle like a
Demetrius Davis.
1050
01:02:41,700 --> 01:02:44,900
He's not the biggest guy in the
world between six foot.
1051
01:02:44,900 --> 01:02:47,700
Six one, but he's really, really
slippery.
1052
01:02:47,800 --> 01:02:50,600
He's got a good, good arm.
I won't say he's got a great
1053
01:02:50,600 --> 01:02:52,900
arm, he's got a good arm, you
can make most of the throws.
1054
01:02:53,300 --> 01:02:57,100
You know, one thing I really
like about him is when he when
1055
01:02:57,100 --> 01:03:01,600
something breaks down when he
has to run, he keeps his eyes
1056
01:03:01,600 --> 01:03:04,700
up, he looks down the field for
a played down field.
1057
01:03:04,700 --> 01:03:09,100
First As he's as he's running
now, he'll talk, it'll go, I
1058
01:03:09,107 --> 01:03:12,700
mean, he's a guy, that's got
some some some shiftiness and
1059
01:03:12,700 --> 01:03:15,900
he's got some speed, but he
wants to make it a play with his
1060
01:03:15,900 --> 01:03:18,500
arm.
And I think that's really, I
1061
01:03:18,500 --> 01:03:20,400
think that's a really positive
trait for him.
1062
01:03:20,700 --> 01:03:23,600
He's also a dual sport guy, he's
got baski got to basketball
1063
01:03:23,600 --> 01:03:28,200
scholarships and he is the
starting point guard on the
1064
01:03:28,200 --> 01:03:31,400
number one team in the state,
you know, on the basketball team
1065
01:03:31,600 --> 01:03:35,100
I think they were number ten
nationally last year, and he was
1066
01:03:35,200 --> 01:03:38,100
A starting point guard.
So he's really, really versatile
1067
01:03:38,300 --> 01:03:40,200
and he's just a really good
athlete.
1068
01:03:40,200 --> 01:03:42,800
You know, I talked to you, I
talked with his coaching staff
1069
01:03:43,100 --> 01:03:46,700
throughout the morning this
morning and they, the the
1070
01:03:47,700 --> 01:03:50,800
biggest takeaways that I got
from them is he's kind of a film
1071
01:03:50,800 --> 01:03:53,300
junkie.
He's a guy that wants to get
1072
01:03:53,300 --> 01:03:56,800
better and wants to improve and
he's not, you know, he's not one
1073
01:03:56,800 --> 01:03:58,800
of those guys that that's going
to say, hey, I'm not going to
1074
01:03:58,808 --> 01:04:01,800
stay late break down this film,
or I'm not going to go get those
1075
01:04:01,800 --> 01:04:04,000
extra reps.
He's a guy that's going to be
1076
01:04:04,100 --> 01:04:07,200
first one in the building.
Last one out, last one off the
1077
01:04:07,200 --> 01:04:10,500
field and just a guy that the
team can kind of rally around.
1078
01:04:10,500 --> 01:04:14,600
So I think, I think it was a
really good opening commitment
1079
01:04:14,600 --> 01:04:17,700
for the Hokies doesn't hurt that
Virginia Tech has offered to of
1080
01:04:17,700 --> 01:04:21,200
his offensive linemen as well.
So, you know, maybe maybe they
1081
01:04:21,200 --> 01:04:24,500
can do, I try to do a, maybe
they can try to do a package
1082
01:04:24,500 --> 01:04:28,500
deal there, but, you know, he
plays good good competition down
1083
01:04:28,500 --> 01:04:30,200
there and he's put up some
numbers.
1084
01:04:30,500 --> 01:04:36,700
Yeah, you look at, you know, is
he going to be A six foot four
1085
01:04:37,100 --> 01:04:39,800
240-pound quarterback, probably
not.
1086
01:04:40,200 --> 01:04:45,100
But you know, he doesn't have to
be, if he's, you know, 61 220.
1087
01:04:45,800 --> 01:04:48,600
I think he can be just fine.
You know, I think he can run the
1088
01:04:48,600 --> 01:04:51,500
offense.
Well, he looks like he can run
1089
01:04:51,500 --> 01:04:53,700
the RPO.
Well, he can, he seems like he's
1090
01:04:53,700 --> 01:04:56,700
a quick decision maker, he's
Above All Else, he's just a
1091
01:04:56,700 --> 01:05:00,500
really, really good athlete.
So I think Virginia Tech did
1092
01:05:00,500 --> 01:05:04,200
well here now, you know, can
they keep him if SEC school
1093
01:05:04,200 --> 01:05:05,800
start calling for him?
I don't know.
1094
01:05:05,800 --> 01:05:10,800
But you know, for day one of his
commitment, he's locked in a
1095
01:05:10,808 --> 01:05:14,600
really solid hearing a lot of
good things about him and I
1096
01:05:14,607 --> 01:05:17,200
think he's fired up to be a
hokie and the Virginia Tech
1097
01:05:17,200 --> 01:05:18,800
staff is really excited to
happen.
1098
01:05:19,900 --> 01:05:21,900
It's good to hear also like what
you talked about, he said it was
1099
01:05:21,900 --> 01:05:24,600
all state point guard.
Anytime I think about a point
1100
01:05:24,600 --> 01:05:28,200
guard in basketball, it's an
immediate leader, understanding
1101
01:05:28,200 --> 01:05:30,400
distribution understanding,
getting people in the right
1102
01:05:30,400 --> 01:05:34,600
spots.
So maybe that athlete can go off
1103
01:05:34,600 --> 01:05:37,500
the end, he can strictly be a
quarterback, but Evan also want
1104
01:05:37,500 --> 01:05:41,200
to ask for this cycle.
Give us a couple names.
1105
01:05:41,300 --> 01:05:46,600
It was a couple key targets that
the make this seemingly a
1106
01:05:46,600 --> 01:05:49,700
successful class the Hokies need
to Oh, Land.
1107
01:05:51,000 --> 01:05:53,800
Yeah, you know, I think, I
think, Virginia Tech needs to
1108
01:05:53,800 --> 01:05:56,200
focus completely in the state of
Virginia.
1109
01:05:56,200 --> 01:05:59,500
First, there's a lot of talent
in the state of Virginia right
1110
01:05:59,500 --> 01:06:02,000
now.
You know, you can look at guys,
1111
01:06:02,000 --> 01:06:05,200
like obviously, there's Gunner
Givens at a lord Bata top.
1112
01:06:05,300 --> 01:06:08,000
One of the top tackles in the
country, Virginia.
1113
01:06:08,000 --> 01:06:10,200
Tech is definitely in the mix
for him.
1114
01:06:10,600 --> 01:06:13,900
You know, you got guys, like
George Pettaway Ramon Brown in
1115
01:06:13,900 --> 01:06:17,900
the state of Virginia.
I think those guys are both at
1116
01:06:17,900 --> 01:06:21,500
least speaking with Virginia
Tech and have some Of interest
1117
01:06:21,500 --> 01:06:25,800
in them, you know, you look at
guys like Isaiah Montgomery out
1118
01:06:25,800 --> 01:06:28,800
of adult Landstown.
He's a guy that's a moderately
1119
01:06:28,800 --> 01:06:31,500
ranked guy, but I think he's a
big-time offensive tackle, but,
1120
01:06:32,100 --> 01:06:36,200
you know, really looking at his
is possible projection at the
1121
01:06:36,200 --> 01:06:37,800
next level.
I think he's got a lot of
1122
01:06:37,800 --> 01:06:41,300
talent.
You know, Bryson Jennings dad
1123
01:06:41,300 --> 01:06:44,000
played at Virginia Tech played
with JC price.
1124
01:06:44,000 --> 01:06:46,900
I think you don't want to
overlook that connection, he's a
1125
01:06:46,900 --> 01:06:50,500
four-star guy, out of Clover
Hill, you know, Richard Purnell,
1126
01:06:50,500 --> 01:06:53,200
and Other one of the guys from
Highland Springs, Kyrie moist
1127
01:06:53,200 --> 01:06:54,800
in.
You can get him out of King's
1128
01:06:54,800 --> 01:06:56,600
Fork.
I think Virginia Tech can
1129
01:06:56,600 --> 01:07:00,700
actually do really well in the
state of Virginia next year, you
1130
01:07:00,700 --> 01:07:03,800
know, I think I forgot Sherrod,
Koval and Tyler Banks.
1131
01:07:03,800 --> 01:07:05,400
I like both of them for the
Hokies.
1132
01:07:05,700 --> 01:07:07,900
They both have ties.
Both seem to really like the
1133
01:07:07,900 --> 01:07:11,100
Virginia Tech defense and both
are really, really talented
1134
01:07:11,100 --> 01:07:15,100
football players.
So, you know, I think I think
1135
01:07:15,100 --> 01:07:18,400
Virginia Tech really should take
you.
1136
01:07:18,400 --> 01:07:21,800
No, take the 2021.
That they set in the state of
1137
01:07:21,808 --> 01:07:25,900
Virginia, try to build upon that
and really try to take advantage
1138
01:07:25,900 --> 01:07:30,600
of then up here in talent in
2021 and try to rebuild that
1139
01:07:30,600 --> 01:07:33,100
roster with Virginia, guys.
Virginia Tech has always been at
1140
01:07:33,100 --> 01:07:36,500
their best when the roster is
littered with those guys that
1141
01:07:36,500 --> 01:07:38,700
are homegrown.
So I think they should continue
1142
01:07:38,700 --> 01:07:40,700
to try and mind this in-state
Talent.
1143
01:07:41,400 --> 01:07:44,400
Absolutely, let me ask this.
We discussed it on last week's
1144
01:07:44,400 --> 01:07:48,200
episode.
How big do you think it was
1145
01:07:48,200 --> 01:07:52,700
getting the preferred walk-on?
Offers two guys like Jabari,
1146
01:07:52,700 --> 01:07:56,400
Parker the kid out of Deep Run,
the kid out of Manchester here
1147
01:07:56,400 --> 01:07:58,800
in the RV.
A, how big is that?
1148
01:07:59,200 --> 01:08:02,000
That some of those kids had
legitimate?
1149
01:08:02,000 --> 01:08:06,600
You know, FCS FBS offers and our
staff.
1150
01:08:06,600 --> 01:08:09,400
Convince them to say no walk on
here.
1151
01:08:10,000 --> 01:08:13,600
How big is that it building the
inroads in state?
1152
01:08:14,800 --> 01:08:17,200
You know, I think, first and
foremost, that do a lot of those
1153
01:08:17,200 --> 01:08:20,200
guys are going to be guys that I
can see are in Scholarships in
1154
01:08:20,207 --> 01:08:21,700
the future.
I think those are good football
1155
01:08:21,700 --> 01:08:28,899
players, but additionally, those
guys are guys from within the
1156
01:08:28,899 --> 01:08:33,200
state of Virginia that you need
to have building connections.
1157
01:08:33,200 --> 01:08:35,800
You know, you can get a walk-on
from Highland Springs that
1158
01:08:35,800 --> 01:08:38,600
cannot hurt you.
That can only help you, you
1159
01:08:38,600 --> 01:08:43,100
know, a lot of a lot of
recruiting that's not done by
1160
01:08:43,100 --> 01:08:46,399
the coaching staff is done by
Players is done by the recruits.
1161
01:08:46,500 --> 01:08:50,399
If you can keep some guys happy
and you can you know, you can
1162
01:08:50,600 --> 01:08:54,100
have them recruit their friends
to come join you in Blacksburg,
1163
01:08:54,399 --> 01:08:57,000
you know, that can only help, I
think, Virginia Tech.
1164
01:08:57,300 --> 01:09:01,500
And I could do, I could do hours
on the Virginia Tech and and why
1165
01:09:01,500 --> 01:09:04,000
they need to be sent why they
need to get back into Highland
1166
01:09:04,000 --> 01:09:06,500
Springs VA could do hours on
that.
1167
01:09:06,500 --> 01:09:09,399
But, you know, that's a school.
You have to get in on.
1168
01:09:09,800 --> 01:09:11,200
That's a school that has
everything.
1169
01:09:11,200 --> 01:09:14,500
Going your way to be able to
build a pipeline.
1170
01:09:14,899 --> 01:09:16,500
And then they just aren't doing
it.
1171
01:09:16,500 --> 01:09:19,899
So, you know, being able to get,
you know, guy like Jabari Parker
1172
01:09:19,899 --> 01:09:23,100
can not hurt, can they?
You know, do they want to follow
1173
01:09:23,100 --> 01:09:26,899
that up and and pick up Rashad
Purnell in the next year's
1174
01:09:26,899 --> 01:09:28,600
class?
He's already high on the Hokies.
1175
01:09:28,899 --> 01:09:33,000
Do you take him as a defensive
lineman and continue to build
1176
01:09:33,000 --> 01:09:35,899
that connection?
Obviously, you know, the
1177
01:09:36,399 --> 01:09:39,399
Highland Spring staff has ties
to Virginia Tech through and
1178
01:09:39,399 --> 01:09:41,600
through adding JC price in
there.
1179
01:09:41,600 --> 01:09:45,399
I mean he's got more ties to the
housings for App as well.
1180
01:09:45,399 --> 01:09:48,600
So it has to be replaced.
They have to be able to break
1181
01:09:48,600 --> 01:09:52,399
into that school to continue to
try and be successful.
1182
01:09:52,600 --> 01:09:55,400
I think that's one of the best
schools in the state.
1183
01:09:55,400 --> 01:09:57,500
Might be one of the best talent
producing schools in the
1184
01:09:57,500 --> 01:09:59,900
country, and Virginia Tech are
really at the end of the day,
1185
01:09:59,900 --> 01:10:02,700
they need to get it done at
Highland Springs.
1186
01:10:02,700 --> 01:10:05,900
And I think, you know, Jabari
Parker can be a can be a help in
1187
01:10:05,900 --> 01:10:09,400
a step in the right direction.
They're awesome.
1188
01:10:09,400 --> 01:10:12,100
I like that.
So every we're going to close
1189
01:10:12,100 --> 01:10:14,100
out with kind of a fun question
here for you.
1190
01:10:14,100 --> 01:10:19,100
So A couple weeks ago, we had ta
let us know.
1191
01:10:19,100 --> 01:10:22,000
They're bringing back college
football, makes a new game.
1192
01:10:22,000 --> 01:10:24,000
It's coming out sometime in the
next few years.
1193
01:10:24,700 --> 01:10:28,100
What is one thing that wasn't an
NCAA 14?
1194
01:10:28,100 --> 01:10:33,300
That has to be in the new game?
Ooh, I don't even know.
1195
01:10:33,300 --> 01:10:37,200
It was in NCAA 14 because I
didn't even I didn't have it.
1196
01:10:37,200 --> 01:10:41,400
Then, I know back when I was
like in high school and playing
1197
01:10:41,400 --> 01:10:44,300
it, you would you could have
like your Dynasty mode and you
1198
01:10:44,308 --> 01:10:46,300
could do your recruiting and
things like that.
1199
01:10:46,400 --> 01:10:48,700
I'm going to say, they need to
put the transfer portal in.
1200
01:10:49,300 --> 01:10:51,100
Okay.
You know, you gotta have a way
1201
01:10:51,100 --> 01:10:54,500
to open up some scholarships and
I mean, I might be Cutthroat
1202
01:10:54,500 --> 01:10:55,400
there.
If you're my third string
1203
01:10:55,400 --> 01:10:57,600
punter, you're gone.
I'm trying to find somebody
1204
01:10:57,600 --> 01:11:00,000
else.
So you know, if I can be
1205
01:11:00,000 --> 01:11:02,200
ruthless and be cut.
Good transfer portal.
1206
01:11:02,200 --> 01:11:04,200
I'm all-in.
So yeah that's sort of transfer
1207
01:11:04,200 --> 01:11:07,400
portal in there.
Evan Wolfson option where you
1208
01:11:07,400 --> 01:11:09,700
have three ways to kick a guy
off your team?
1209
01:11:10,100 --> 01:11:12,300
I'm cutting you because you're
not a good player.
1210
01:11:12,300 --> 01:11:16,200
You had a DUI charge or
something like that or if a
1211
01:11:16,200 --> 01:11:21,800
great opinion portal.
Yeah, no, no, no matter, no
1212
01:11:21,800 --> 01:11:23,900
matter what, I want to be able
to, I want to, I want to be
1213
01:11:23,900 --> 01:11:26,500
single point of failure, where I
can go in and say, you know what
1214
01:11:26,500 --> 01:11:27,800
I'm done.
Yeah, I'm done with you.
1215
01:11:27,800 --> 01:11:32,000
You're out Balsam.
That is awesome.
1216
01:11:32,700 --> 01:11:38,400
Well Evan we really appreciate
you joining else here today in
1217
01:11:39,200 --> 01:11:41,900
you know going through all these
things and talking about it.
1218
01:11:41,900 --> 01:11:43,500
You know we follow you on
Twitter.
1219
01:11:45,300 --> 01:11:48,100
Again we really appreciate you
joining us and that's going to
1220
01:11:48,100 --> 01:11:51,800
wrap up this episode of The
Boundary Corner podcast.
1221
01:11:52,100 --> 01:11:54,500
I'm Curtis Wilson.
I'm Brian Sigler.
1222
01:11:55,200 --> 01:11:58,200
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook
and subscribe to the podcast on
1223
01:11:58,200 --> 01:12:00,900
your favorite Source, including
Spotify Amazon in out.
1224
01:12:01,000 --> 01:12:03,500
A podcast is always without our
buddy.
1225
01:12:03,500 --> 01:12:07,900
Jason Long play us out, catch
him on Spotify and apple music.
1226
01:12:08,200 --> 01:12:13,900
We thank you for listening.
And as always, let's go Hokies
VTScoop Recruiting Coverage
Evan Watkins is responsible for all facets of Virginia Tech recruiting coverage and discussion at 247sports.com. He not only writes extensively on Hokies recruiting trends and visit tracking but also is in contact with recruits and insiders to predict possible outcomes of a recruits decision-making process.