Orientation and OFSN 101: Intro to 2020 Recruiting

0:19 The fields for the dirt, we don't even grow Aspen my more than just cleaning shit off welcome to episode of The Boundary form. My name is Curtis Wilson, along with my co-host. Brian Sigler, hello. Hello for. We kind of dive into everything. We're going to kind of do on this podcast. We want to kind of give a little background of who we are and how this show came about me and Brian grew up together in Halifax County Virginia, which is a little small country County down in the southern part of the state. Middle school, high school. Even college at Longwood together and now we both live in the RV.

1:04 A we're together for a little while two years ago. Long. Yeah craziness. So you know so we've known each other a long time and about two years ago we kind of started knocking around this idea of doing a hokie podcast. But you know, kind of Life happened was both get kids from moving away from our VA for a couple years. Moving back, jobs adult-themed, it sucks. But now well It's actually going to happen. So we're pretty excited to do this and kind of give our view on autokey football, a long as well as the ACC in college football, kind of as a whole.

1:51 I'm going to go ahead and give my background is like as a fan that I am. I consider myself a hooky fan of really 25 years. My first vivid memory of Virginia Tech. Football program is 1995. New Year's Eve, watching the sugar bowl with Jim truck, Metal bikini, oxendine, bronze, still in that punt return. I get chills thinking about it. Antonio banks on defense and I fell in love with it, you know, it was a school up the road from where I grew up and it was Virginia players and, you know, over the course of last 25 years, having friends go there and getting to go to games and slowly in green and watching more and more. It's, it's Lee, the thing I've watch and follow the most of any sport now.

2:44 Brian, you got even a better background than me concerning football, but you got some Phantom 2 and I definitely have some Phantom in me, too. I'll start with the fandom. I was a hockey fan pretty much about the same time Curtis started 95. It really took off with the magical run to the National Championship. That really kind of took things. Next level for me, one of the most Vivid memories I didn't get a chance to go to a game that you but my high school football coach as a end-of-year treat to us. I was playing varsity for the first time that year and heat actually took us to a UVA game.

3:31 Ironically, and they were showing a bunch of The highlights from the tech game and I was kind of trolling some of the UVA fans on the hill there. So that was kind of my yesterday to the Hokie fan love and to the robbery with UVA. So that's kind of where it all started with me. And as far as background of my football life, I played football for from when I was eight till I was 21. And then I did some coaching as well. So little league middle school, high school was captain of the high school team played division three football heading to Sydney offensive, lineman's guards.

4:20 But I did, I did play a little bit of Center there to in a pinch. Then from there, coach the defensive line at Jr. Tucker for a couple of years in Henrico Nieto for and against still back here in the 80 for now. So that's kind of Kind of my background and my history both with the fandom and and football in general. And some of the credentials that I bring to the table. Yeah, I'll go. I'll go from there. Just saying kind of what we, what we want this podcast to be, and what we don't want it to be. The biggest thing don't want it to be really. There's two things you don't want to be, we don't want it to just be a podcast where we cast, everything that the Hokies do is a ray of sunshine, they're going to be things that are not good.

5:05 Good. We don't like that would like to see improvements on that was like to move forward on at the same time. I'm not going to yell fire food. The first time we have a loss in the first time, you know, I recruit flips on it so we miss out on a four or five star, in-state guys. So, I'm not going to be that guy, but I'm also not gonna be the guy that's gonna shine. Sunshine up your ass every time. You know, things are rough as well. So that's kind of what we will be. Don't want But we do want to be is I think, you know, balancing the good in the bad, put it in perspective for the program and kind of relate all that to the landscape of what they see. See what college football is in general right now and just have fun with it.

5:53 Taco keys. Don't include talk some of the, the more important games and just have fun with it. I think we also want to bring our unique points of view to the table. You know, will give you the fan perspective. We're also going to occasionally do a little bit of a dive into action news for some of you football, nerds out there. Well, yeah, and I'm definitely a football nerd. And what you guys are also going to hear is this is me and Brian's conversation almost on a daily basis, you know, phone calls, texts, emails, tweets back and forth. This is who we are. You know, don't ever ever look at our text change.

6:35 Starting On a game day oh my God, be there for 7 hours because it starts early, I'm saying earlier it does early and then I was trying to say Brian why? The Hell, did we just do that on third down? And he gives a reasonable explanation and I have to stop piping for like five minutes but but let's do a quick. Let you go ahead and document and highlight what we're going to be looking at in this Premiere episode. Yeah that would be a good place to start. So first thing we'll focus on is 20/20 roster and recruiting and really recruiting in general looking primarily at the 2020 class, but kind of filling in some of Thus, some of the holes that will will explain what's going on with that 2020 class.

7:22 I'm also going to probably highlight some of those potential instant impact guys that we might be looking at this year, even with a small class and maybe some other freshman to watch that made being impacted the future and since we're on that subject, we will talk about the transfer portal. That's kind of the Bugaboo for everyone right now. Not just let us so we will talk about that. How it's impacting college sports, how it's impacting high school recruits? And also take a look at some of the guys we've actually picked up as as grad transfers and as transfers in general for this year.

8:02 Awesome. Well, let's start with this. The first thing I want to look at today and kind of discuss is the actual class size of the Hope, 2020 class has just everybody finally signed yesterday with capturing dahlen right out of South Carolina, our last pick up, but in terms of class size, this is maybe one of the smallest Hokies classes since I've been a fans and recruiting has been at the Forefront of me following, we Only got 15 commits? Yeah, yeah. It's significant really small. Literally, we are the smallest class tied with Boston College this year. You know, and not the most impressive class, but it wasn't like we were out there.

8:50 Just not giving offers front. I know we discussed. There are some guys, we really-- some high-profile parts we missed on. So I know you've done a little research. Were these guys, you looked at that we really tried to get but essentially we swung admit. I mean the biggest to are going to be Chris, Tyree, Thomas Dale, the 8004 and then you've got your Lambert from the 757. I mean those were the two big targets we were looking at in state. I mean really, there wasn't a lot of big talent and state this year. We look at it, I mean, four and five star town and state. There's only six, guys. So we targeted two of those swirling Mist, it didn't help that Penn State was thin at wide receiver. And they've also had since then even some, some guys that were at that position, hit the portal. So that coupled with, you know, at the time what was our massive depth at wide receiver.

9:49 I can see why He thought that that might be a good way to go and Tyree ended up at Notre Dame. It seemed like that was kind of where he was heading for a good while there. They took the lead early and close the deal for him. So I think that was to that we took a shot at a shot at Tyree. And I don't think that with what happened at Penn State that we were going to do enough to convince Young I mean I mean are you seeing these or I mean just kind of what you're saying. I don't think you're saying this is an indictment on what we did recruiting wise and it's two more of its situation. And you know even with the losses of the waters, we're still people live or C4.

10:35 Yeah, we still don't have. Yeah I think Rudolph is the third or fourth, best wide receiver. The states that we still brought him in. We went out and got you know Tyree Saunders. I like I said I'm going to go over. This a little bit more later when we talk X's and O's, but Tyree Saunders and Alan, right? So I mean, it's not like we didn't do our diligence in that position, it's just circumstantially. We weren't able to get the best gal board in the state and that happens sometimes. Um what I want to look you're just so everybody so poke Nation don't get scared. This is a small class, it's a one-off because what we need to look at is do some history. You know, we take a look at our last three recruiting classes.

11:18 They've been pretty low. Large 20 1923 commitments. 2018, 26 commitments, 2017. Also 26. Commitments, you do the quick math. You know, that's like right at what 75 recruits. So that's a lot of guys already in it. I know some guys have left and whatnot. We were expecting attrition regardless, just based on those three classes. Exactly. For going to make this class by default. Smaller than your average classes. Well yes smaller than your average five and something I want to do we're going to go into 2019 in a few minutes here about actually the productivity of that class.

11:59 But only just, we're just going to take a quick look at the other two classes. I just mentioned 2017, this year, some of the big contributors. There's a guy named handed poker. Yeah, big contributor. You had towel on garbage who is rotating in that end. He's a redshirt sophomore rotating in a defensive end side. Dan Z and Let It Go Smith. Really part of building our offensive line this year along with the absolute stud. Left tackle, Christian era saw, they were all part of that 2017 class along with the man in the middle, Richard Ashby. The guy who was a five-time linebacker of the week for the ACC but doesn't get first team linebacker.

12:42 You explain that one to me Ron when I can't You're talking about really the heart of this team. In general, she had Dax Holly food and starting it back or Trey Turner, the best wide receiver. We have tamari. Connor who literally went out his sophomore year and took the nickel spot away from Khalil ladler an upperclassman who by all means had never had played fad Alan Tisdale rotating in at those linebackers positions with Richard and Dax and then we take a look at, you know, Big Stone Gap, James Mitchell, What A Difference Maker he was this year, man, is a sophomore and then Armani Chapman, you know, we saw him get burned a few times but we felt comfortable with art money coming in there. You know, given Jermaine and caliph. Ali breathers.

13:44 Right. Javon becton. Same way and end rotating in size. Good reps. And then, you know, Luke tenuta holding down the right side in the aforementioned, one of the best cover corner is in the lead. Jermaine Wallace was a sophomore. Yeah. We're Brian just just kind of go through a people are mad about being 85 but then I just need primarily red shirt sophomore. Sophomores and redshirt freshman, has some Thai. Biggest contributors. I mean, I think people are right to be frustrated with a to survive. I don't think they're right to be frustrated, only because we're a style. I mean there are certainly circumstances out there that people can point to be frustrated with but I don't think recruiting in the talent that we have on the roster as one of them. I mean, General youth is contributing to some of that inconsistency that we're seeing.

14:36 I think the inconsistency is what's hurting us most in the game is that we'll go out and we'll have these good runs and then we'll make a couple. Mistakes and those mistakes or sometimes backbreakers. So I think, I mean, as they're going to get older, they're going to be more consistent with their play. They're going to be smarter. They'll be able to play fast while being smart and that's the biggest thing. Is that early in the season? When I was seeing some of those guys that were still young thinking a lot and playing slow after do, they weren't doing that anymore? At least not as much. And I think that that was a big switch support. I don't know what what food said or did.

15:19 His in to help with that. But I think that was the biggest contributing factor there definitely. Definitely something changed inside the program with that. Now, I'm going to go here and now to me, this is as a Ho Chi Minh. This is unacceptable, I class ranking this year, we were 70th, we were literally, I think, viewers, ACC team. Yeah. This is all 24/7. So Cuts who I go to, I respect, what those guys do fall, apart and Simmons. He's a little Lee one of the heads of that really smart guy. So this is where you're getting the rankings info from us, but we were 70. This is not a good look, regardless, you know, but I mean, what do you thing on to me? It's a terrible look.

16:04 It's like, you're one of the worst recruiting class. It's a terrible look. In the biggest thing is that again? We go back to their swings and misses on some of those in state. Guys, if we're, if we're swinging out and getting everything out and getting those two guys, On top of bring it in and out of Brian and a Robert wouldn't you know, you're not talking about the same scenario because you're probably talking about, you know, somewhere around 1011 in the ACC and given the small class size you can explain away some of that. But yeah, I think the biggest thing with this recruiting class is that there are some guys that are going to still show you something from this class. I think the problem is that we didn't get Get on some of those higher name guys we wanted to hit and it really hurt us in the rankings and it really hurt us.

16:55 I think perception wise given some of the other problems we've had both last year, some of this year. And then after school called this after Taylor Just perception-wise, I may be there, when you're already in your feelings a little bit, every everything matters, and this is one of those other things that matter. And we said it before to another thing. Probably for the low-ranking you talk about missing on guys, but when you have a ton of sophomores freshman occupying starting positions, primary contributor positions really tough to go up and walk to a guy and promising things.

17:38 When, you know, he can see the writing on the wall to say, hey man, you know you know I'm an inside linebacker. Oh great. We'd love to have you. You're probably not starting for. Three years just because of how deeply are that position. And and and before we had the departure from painting and Haze, I think you either is say the same thing at wide receiver, which I think is what scared scared Lambert away especially since Penn State was having the opposite problem. Yeah, you know, I haven't got word playing that weren't up stuff and having very, very thin guys behind them so that definitely contributes to him going going up.

18:18 Up to Happy Valley there. So, Exactly, we're gonna move on. Just so you guys know, I don't think this is what we're going to see from this programs. Going forward, 29:20 21, excuse me. He's already looking like, potentially potentially the best recruiting. Potentially the best recruiting class in program history. You know, the Morris Davis out of Texas already committing top quarterback in the country, but I just want everybody calm down. Down and saw 70. Just remember, 2019, we were the 26th strength program recruiting laws in the country. 2018, 2420 1726.

19:01 I know that's probably not where we all want to be. We probably would like to see top ten classes but understand that we weren't in a transition process and I think people are not giving that due diligence of the transition process we were in, we were going from a legend who went out on good terms and we had ahead Coach come in and his people want to. If you want to light up through, that's fine for what he does wrong. The one thing he never did is he never tried to trounce Frank Beamer's, Legacy. He never has if anything, he's added onto it with the 25, the one in some of the other stuff he's done. Even with Bud being there. He respected that and maybe that's why it's taken a few Cycles to get his vision because he did have such respect. And I'm hoping that we start seeing some of that vision and that payoff, especially this season, I feel like with the amount of talent we have in coming back and again as you highlighted, 26, 24 26 rankings from balances from those who have the ability have the experience to really do some big things for us.

20:17 Yes. So I'm hoping that you know, we put all those pieces together this year and and we can turn things around a little bit more. I mean 85 that's what I expected out of the gate after Duke I was expecting worse. After the turn around, I was expecting better. You know, UVA things the bowl games things. I know Booter Dame sting. Yeah it was there and we let them off the hook as As I boy, screams didn't grease. Oh yeah, I think I think the biggest thing is, you know, but let's let's not just build on last year.

20:57 Let's go out and kick some ass and show them what the Hokies are all about. I think that's what we need to do. I'll do it with you. All right, we're gonna move on next sort of the next. You know, this wasn't a big senior class like six guys, graduated and really of the guys leaving senior wise, really Reggie. Floyd was our biggest contributor. I'm going to put this Sean mcleese in there. The Shawn could have came back for one more year eligibility and technically was a senior and I think he's doing the right thing, he needs to take a shot just you know, The way that our system runs, but the one guy that kind of shocked everybody, I'll even was Dalton King.

21:41 Now Brian, I'm going to run through this, each of them and their potential Replacements. What I want you to do is where you feel most comfortable with, you know your football knowledge there and where you don't feel comfortable, you know losing Reggie Floyd's stuff. But Kevin and we saw him play. Sometimes at that at that Rover position and my eyes. The telling me he looks better than Reggie. Love you Reggie but that's just 4 miles was telling me, you know, daltin Keen leave. And we have a couple guys. You have Drake Dallas who have higher rated player coming out during recruiting class against Dalton, you have Gallo had significant playing time last year James Mitchell at that position. Then mcleese leaving you kind of looking at a combo of Keshawn King who pop several times last year. Force and they can transfer from Kansas Herbert. Give me your ranking around where you feel most comfortable, where you're kind of feeling shaky as we move on to next season's.

22:43 All right, so most comfortable, I'm definitely feeling feeling, Devon hunter in there. Instead of Reggie Floyd, I think the biggest thing he's gonna need is those consistent game reps against one's? He'll finally get that. Just this offseason Spring and also with with fall Camp. So I think that's going to be big for him in his development just because the bit the only thing he doesn't have means that all the tools he just doesn't have a ton a ton of game reps or get or at least reps against the ones. So I think I'm getting a lot of that is going to be the determining factor of how well he does this year.

23:24 But potential lies. I mean I think you could definitely definitely be better than what we saw from Reggie last year so we'll see how that goes. I'd say number two I'm real I'm really tall stuff here. I think we're going to be okay at tight end and I'll say the biggest thing is that, you know, we've got Mitchell has kind of a joker, hes on diesel, do it all. He's gonna line up in line, he's in a split out, he can do those things. So even take that the good old Jet Sweep hear from you. So, I mean, there's there's so much that he can do with his talent and his athletic ability that is going. To be hard for anyone and I'm hoping that we'll see Drake, and Nick take up some of the other roles that Cain has some of the, some of the screen game things. A lot of the blocky roles from the HVAC position. Some of the in line blocking.

24:21 If they can fill some of that void, we won't miss his output, will just fix the fact that we had one guy that can do all those things, a jack-of-all-trades? Yeah, I didn't positions. So I think that's that's what we'll end up missing the first, but I think by committee, we can end up getting all that production back. Running back is the biggest question for me. I don't feel bad about it but I'm not sure how to feel about it. I think King with full offseason getting some extra size on them, you know, full offseason. The weight room full of season. Practicing, I think that's going to be big for him and I think you're gonna see a big Improvement in him and if he can Replace most of the cleese's production and then you got Herbert coming in with kind of one, cut bull back, that can get some the open field.

25:15 He's going to using the new some blue, some nice things. And then there's also, you know, we haven't talked about transfers yet, but when we talk about Blackshear coming in, being able to line up at running back into the lineup at at the slot position, being a to do those jet sweeps, get involved in the screen game, get involved in the pot, pass game. I mean there's there's a lot of things that we can do with that. So I'm hoping that between those three guys along with some of the other guys in the depth, like Holston that we're going to be okay. Okay, that that position. But that's the one. That's the biggest question, mark, just because I don't know what Herbert's going to look like in the system. I don't know what black she is going to look like in the system.

25:58 The only person I really seen. It's going to be have significant carries as king, and I'm hoping that an offseason is gonna take what he did is freshman year, really, really blow it up. Nice. You know, earlier we were discussing the 2019 class and only go back to that because I 2019, Is there some guys there that to me? If we don't recruit these guys, I don't think we're in five last year. I honestly don't and I just kind of wrote down the names here and kind of how many games they played. I want everybody to remember every single person on here with the exception of the Sean Crawford and we're true freshman. I'm going to say that again.

26:44 True freshman. They came straight in and started playing the first is being Tyrion lineman Doug Nestor the played 11 games, the only games he missed 4 BC in the bowl, we had the discussion on the bowl game afterwards, basically blind, they said they were done. They were tired. And you know what? The bowl game, we're playing for a national championship. Nope, then put these guys rest the same with Brian Hudson started Center 11 games, kavion Robinson, kind of came in as a true freshman and sort of stool Hezekiah. Grimsley's rolled not only at the Lat. But later on in the season as a punt, returner and but he only play, he only did punt returns for five games, he was averaging 14 yards on Turk and that's all you'll get better.

27:30 You don't talk about this way. That's only gonna get better with rest. Heck, yeah, man Gallo, we saw him in there on special teams and some run blocking place. I think that's going to help you mentioned. It makes going to help with his development. The two big kids from Florida, polity Kendrick, they played all 13 games on the interior. And No. By all means they didn't have a billion package for lost but they look like they can play at this level and I think them against get in. The weight room is your mention to get in the weight room getting technique. Remember, we got a new defensive line coach, two of them to be exact, I think they're going to grow.

28:10 And then crop the Juco transfer who played in 11 games I think for him. Yes, he was a Juco but I think him coming in and me. Italy with those two guys from Florida. I feel more stabilized at the defensive tackle position then I did last year going in. But I mean, let's just think about that. How big a role each of those guys played and they were recruited last year, some of the guys, like Nestor we flipped from Ohio State. He was a top hundred guy. Hudson was another hiring guy, and then we found the Diamonds in the Rough. So at 20 and I think there's some people in that 2019 Class B might have caused some of those transfers. I marry the guy from the r-va of je Tai, o, if I pronounce the name wrong, I apologize.

28:54 I've got was highly rated in the stud he didn't play at all last year. Hey I think primarily converting from quarterback to wide receiver but we didn't see him on the field yet with that electrifying speed that we know is legit. Oh yeah. I mean and I really even if I remember back to fall Camp I mean they knew he was going to Redshirt. Everyone was raving about what he was doing in Fall Camp. So yeah I think you're going to see a lot of lot more from him this year. So I'm really excited to see that knowing that he's going to be in some role, takes a little, The Sting of because the Ping zhi. It got him, the transfer portal there.

29:34 So you like for the big hope, is that yeah, Jaden is. As advertised and we get some big plays out of them this year. Oh yeah, I agree with that. All right, um, next thing we're going to hit up on guys is Brian went through and did a little little digging and a little video reviewing of some players here. So what I'm going to do is I'm going to kind of lay them out who we got, he's going to talk about front of all means, tell them where you're looking at these highlights from, you know, if it's like a 24/7 or arrivals.

30:16 So, so for you guys in the public out there, listen to what bronze talking about. Go see these tapes. So again, helps you correlate to why he's feeling the way he's feeling, right? If you're ready, I'm going to start the top-rated guy in our class. Alec Bryant, we decide defensive in the number 17 weeks. I defensive end in the country out of Shadow Creek, High School in Houston Texas what you see on her face. So Ali Brian I was checking out 24/7 links to The Huddle highlights for this for this man and this young man and the biggest thing I'm seeing this guy has some great get off. This guy gets off the line snaps as good as I've seen he shoots his hands and that's something you don't see from players.

31:04 A lot of players at the high school level is being good with their hands especially at the snap. Does that? Well, the other thing he does. Well, she's great at finding the played with his eyes. So he gets his hands on the phone, the linemen and finds where the ball is going. And is really good at diagnosing that awesome motor. He's always working to the ball. Even when he's being blocked, even when he's fully engaged, biggest thing that's a criticism of him right now would be when he is getting slightly is fully engaged. Sometimes he had trouble shedding the block, but he's always working towards the balls. Me, that's the biggest thing I like about him is that he's always working towards the ball, he's not giving up on the play.

31:48 He's always at the ball at with the tackles made, even if it's down the field. I mean, I can't I can't say enough about this guy. I really like what I'm seeing. I'm taping them. I got you, Brian, do you see day one contributor? You think he's going to have some packaged and I think you better. He's actually one right now that I would say with great certainty is probably not going to read. Sure. I think there's at least going to be a package for him on pass rush Downs or on Downs. Where we're going with a mixed front than we. Normally would getting him in there. Because actually I've seen him lineup as far inside is a three technique on certain places just to Increase the pass rush ability.

32:32 So I'm he's got enough size even as a as a true freshman to go inside and line up on that, so I think you're definitely going to see him do some stuff like that. Working in some packages this year. Hey Brian! Do this for the audience anyway because you're talking three technique, five technique kind of give the number and kind of where they are. So, when you say these things, folks will know exactly where they're talking about. So, you just said, three technique. Where's the 303 technique is lining up outside of the of the Guard, so the outside of the card. So generally you're going to be a five or seven as a defensive end. Sometimes a nine if you're doing no more wide 9 technique 5 is going to be outside.

33:15 Hi of a tackle 7 is going to be outside of the Titan if there is one on that side and then I'm just going to be essentially a man whiter of whatever the inline guy is on that side, depending on what the alignment is. But like I said, this, this guy Casey lined up in a three technique. So he's lined up inside. Two interior lineman versus on the edge of one. So usually you need a little bit more size to do that. But even with with is I think he's 62, 63 64 to 35 to 40 as a as a high school. He's able to get in there and make that work. So that that's something that's impressive. And like I said, that versatility will come in and play for us, I believe.

34:06 All right. Now, Next we've got here. You want to discuss those Tyree Saunders. Tyree wide receiver. 124's is ranked First Coast, High School down in Jacksonville, Florida. So keeping that connection going with our recruiting down there. What you see on, Tyrese take. All right, so Tyree Tyree is really good at beating press at the line of scrimmage. I don't know what that's going to look like when he goes against bigger physical Corners because most high school Corners are Dragon physical especially ones, you're going to see on the highlight tape on Hubble that being said, I didn't see him get jammed. I didn't see him. Get thrown off his route line.

34:49 Now, what he did do a lot of is that he was running A lot of go routes in the highlight tape. So I think he's going to be a deep threat. I don't know what his route tree really looks real look like because he only ran about three routes on the highlight tape. That weren't go routes or skinny post, I think he's gonna be a guy that can take the top off of a defense though. He did show he was a willing blocker. Also I'm running plays more couple strings and he did have a couple screens himself that he took to the house on the highlight tape. So I think he's will be overworking the screen game, but I don't know if he's gonna be that guy that you're sending over the middle. That's going to be able to make a route adjustment in the zone or anything like that.

35:33 I don't know what that looks like yet, but he can definitely take the top off of a defense. All right, one thing I like in, you know, I like hearing these things about Tyree. Another thing Tyree was one of the real vocal guys getting recruited very positive towards Virginia taking, and you need those guys in classes. And also, I see that and I think attitude and I hear you telling me he likes to block, okay, sure from, you know, from coaching and from playing, if there's a wide receiver will in the block to get on the field, a little bit quicker than the guys who don't like that sort of stuff. Lutely. Absolutely right. If you can set them all up in your direction and you like the block, you'll probably get some playing time.

36:14 Even if you're not outrunning everybody out there and he's doing that too awesome. Alright next down to look at his wide receiver. 163 about 24/7 Hakeem Rudolph. Virginia Beach Virginia Green Run, High School, big 64 guy. Would you see on him? All right, three words, Red Zone threat. So we shouldn't worry about hazel, the not even coming in. I don't know if he's gonna have an immediate impact this year but he kissed the potential to just because he high points the ball, well catches the ball with his hands. The other thing I saw in this is important when talking about the Hazelden thing is that he does a good job of throttling and settling in when running through Zone coverage like on Slants digs things like that.

37:02 So yeah I think that's going to be the biggest contribution from for Rudolph. Is those over the middle routes? And also, like I said, Red Zone, threat being able to go to the go to the corner, run the Fades runs back line, all those things are going to be what you see, looking Rudolph do either this year or sometime next year because he's gonna fight for that. Type of role, pretty, pretty immediately. He's going to take some of the things that Hazleton did and some of the things that we saw Phil Patterson view on a, you know, on a breather role when he came in. To relieve some of the other guys. Nice. All right, we got a couple more guys.

37:43 Were going to hit up here before we move on to the discussing a little bit about our transfer portal. Another guy Robert wooden defensive end ranked 27th out of Stanford, high school and Stafford. Texas Tech sweetie. I think it's real. What did you see on gluten here. So the biggest thing with him is that he's got a motor that does not quit. He comes at you relentlessly, not as good. Good. Get off as Brian, not quite as good with his hands right off the bat as Brian. But what, what you do, what he doesn't do? Their he makes up for in motor man.

38:23 He's always working working to get back to the quarterback. Really good. Presence of knowing pocket depth. With so he's not some guy that's going to try to Edge rush you to death and then all of a sudden you know he's out of the play because the tackle random upfield. He understands he understands where the quarterback is when the start working back inside staying his past rush Lane so that I mean that's important stuff too. So we don't end up having guys running 30 or 40 yards for a touchdown from the quarterback position. I don't know when we've seen that before. You be a bowl game, what?

39:05 And like, every time this year, you felt like they were going back, scrambling and yards type of he's discipline at the position. So he's not someone that's gonna allow a lot. Has at least not from, from not on his terms. So that's what I like about him. The best is that, that that pass pass rush Lane discipline. We're going to round out here the defensive players and it's another defensive end, Justin Beetle, Sandy Creek, High School, out of Tyrone. Georgia number 52, ranked defensive end. So kind of seeing folks out here, we a strategy this year, we're loading up on defensive end, you know, three guys in the top 60s, now, it's not terrible.

39:48 What did you see on the biggest height-wise of these guys Betelnut long and he uses that leverage in the past rushing, use that leverage in the Run game. He's another one that uses his hands. Well, that's good because when he gets his hands on someone, that separation is important. Now it's not a lot in the in the Run game with him, being able to get keep that defensive tackle, these offensive tackle away from him so he could easily separate make a play in The Run game. And it's also helpful in, in the past rush when he works at it, when we works the risk, when he's got a pretty good, rip rip move to the inside. When he works that it, it comes to fruition.

40:30 He's got that good leverage. He could stand to stay lower coming out of his coming off, the snap just because of his height that's always going to work against him to some degree. But link is going to be good in some cases because I mean this is We're in a team's running a lot more quick passing game. This guy be I get his hands up. Get ya contact the ball redirect the balls? I mean those are those really big things when you're talking about some of the offenses were playing. Now, do a quick comparison here because you said something about beagles using his arms getting down to the ball. Are you saying as far as it goes because of that length? He's better shedding block.

41:18 Ox, he's not might be good. As overall is Alec Bryant, but as far as shedding blocks, getting down to the ball without being engaged. You can you see that as like, there's one thing he's better. Yeah, I mean, I would say, I would say that that's been some way a little bit more weight on him and that'll even get better because he'll be able to use that power along with that leverage. But yeah, right now, because of the way way he does use his hands and the way he has that, that just a treat, right? Look at with that link. I mean, he's able to separate a little bit better once he once he finds where the balls going in the Run game. Nice. All right. One last player here in this is a really interesting one that when you sent me over you wanted to talk about especially How deep the running back room is.

42:06 But you wanted to do a little break down, a Jalen Hampton at a Georgetown prep up in Rockville. Maryland 69 ranked running back for 24/7. What did you see on his tape? That, you know, we've already got a room full of running backs. What's made him look different to where you feel maybe not this year but Sometime in the near future. He might be one of those go-to guys. I think the biggest thing is kind of his one cut homerun potential. I mean, we got we got some of that we staying but I feel like you've been even even with King. This guy's going to be someone that just with his Breakaway speed but also a little bit more size and power coming in. Could really fill that role for us especially if we're not going to have Herbert for 23 years.

42:56 I think put on that. Harbert. Not a pervert is amazing. Okay, he's the ground. I mean we're not going to have him for the next street. Oh I got what you're saying. What happened in this year but he ain't unless there's some weird rule that's coming out that we can continue to. Hold on. Yes, exactly. Exactly. Yeah. You're saying this might be might have a similar type role that Herbert's going to fill immediately in the long term. And another guy be I would like To probably just pivot a little bit that we kind of got. Leave the process here. That one right the wide receivers. I don't know if you've got that on your list and talk about but I don't.

43:39 But I know, you know, 61 out of, I salute of South Korea, sir, you know, insane stat line this year, eighty seven catches, 1,500 yards, 20, Touchdowns and I was listening to. So in today's press conference a little earlier today and basically it's really late in the process because he was kind of focused on basketball and literally kind of focused on football this year and guess what literally helped lead his team to a State title done in South Carolina which is a very good high school football state. But one of those things coach when they talked about and it's probably why we're not discussing it here is because of now The early signing period guys like him in their senior years.

44:30 Don't get looked at it much so productivity standpoint, you know, if he comes in and has you know, half of what he did in his senior year of high school, just in this career here, that would be a win for us as the Hokies. But what did you see that? Popped maybe even more bright. The biggest thing. I mean, I looked, I looked at the tape there on huddle. This guy's senior tape is Is some of the best I've seen in a bid. So biggest things he's got great vision with the ball in his hands. He has what I call game quickness. So he's not necessarily like Tyree that's going to just blow by you but when he gets the ball he's fast and he can move he's great at making the big play. Once he has the ball, he's got good Vision but he also can breaks some tackles The biggest thing I saw this going to help in this, this is going to increase his day. One potential is that he's successful running. Pretty much the entire route tree. Everything I saw was pretty much everything from the route Tree on his highlight tape.

45:38 Oh, wow. The only thing I would criticize him on based on that, is that he could be a little sharper coming out of his brakes. Sometimes he would round them off. Sometimes you come out of them a little high. But other than that I mean that you use them a lot out of the backfield quick toss has as yet speak. I mean this guy is somebody that I think is potentially come in and make an immediate impact especially with some of the positions that we're going to have have to fill now that we've had since the purchase Awesome. All right well what we're going to be doing next here guys is we're going to actually talk about these departures and a couple of guys we got back. We talked about Herbert a couple times already, but we're going to go a little bit more in depth, all right. So right now, you know, looking at the portal for Virginia Tech. We have a total of 12 guys currently in the portal. And what I'm going to do is just run by name and position and we're going to we got a few things to discuss. Here, back and forth but let's start running back. We got Caleb.

46:45 Stewart is in the portal currently wide receiver, which was once a position of depth not as much anymore with Jacoby Pinckney diwan. Ellis, guys, don't remember, Ellis was in the portal significantly earlier this year. Phil, Patterson has he Grimsley? Damon Hazelton offensive line. We're looking at John Harris, Joe Kane louima Hoda defensive line, Robert portrait of fourth house, gains Nathan Proctor and then the secondary, the nickel we have Khalil ladler now of these guys, we've already got six guys who have committed to other schools. So, you know, they're not coming back heard, you're going to a press conference and it was a big deal about that a lot of it loves it.

47:39 Guys were actually they've been in the portal for a while. So they what they kind of either started the year, the portal or enter the portal during the season after the first four games or so we've had what maybe what 545 in the last month or so since since the bowl game but most of those guys are already in there at the either before the season started or just as as things are wrapping up for that four-game stent to start the year. Yeah, and sort of thing started shaking out when those guys kind of knew you know, you know the depth chart I'm getting further and further down the death of I want to play. I'm going to have to make a move but let's just look real quick where they're going.

48:21 Just so again, landscape, where these guys are going porcher is going over to North Carolina, A&T the Hoda, going up to st. Francis of Pennsylvania. Joe canes heading back to Ilan. John Is going down to Mercer in the two big ones is Ellis is heading up to Maryland essentially where he's from and then Hazleton is going out to Mizzou, right? I'm gonna throw it to you here of all the names, not just the guys who have made the transition to other schools. But of all these names which one sort of kind of caught you off guard. The biggest one that caught me off, guard was Jacobi pygmy entering in the the portal their biggest reason for that is that That, you know, with Hazleton, seemingly moving on to a system where he can get more targets as he tries to make a push for a NFL gig.

49:19 It seemed like that was going to be kind of the same role that, that ping. Me could step into and maybe, you know, take a, take a roll right away this season. The Red Zone thread kind of bigger Target. I thought that might be something that he can do pretty well right out the gate, and with him. Yeah, leaving us now. I think that kind of leaves a little bit of, I wouldn't say a whole but definitely some uncertainty at at filling, some of the stat sheet areas that Damon Hazleton field. So that would be my biggest concern of those guys. Look, most of the other guys were either already supplanted on the depth chart over.

50:00 Far down the depth chart. They were you know, they were death guys. They weren't guys that were given us a lot of game day reps. So the ones that hurt her either, the guys that we expected to give us those Gameday reps this year, or guys that were already doing that, like, like Hazleton that were departing. So, yeah, definitely, definitely pick these. The one picking was a pretty big pickup Flash in last year's recruiting class cycle. He was a number three player in the state of South Carolina for 24/7. Use a four-star guys. So it's one of those things where we saw him, he, redshirted this year, okay, this makes Since when Hazleton when that was announced a few Fridays ago was like, oh man, this is good for Pinckney.

50:44 Pinckney's going to probably get a lot more reps and then he puts his name in, you know we don't know what's going on behind the scenes with all these guys with the discussions. They're having not only with the coaching staff but with their own families in definitely projecting. You know, for NFL guys, if you want to make the NFL, you can have be six foot four, 220 pounds and run a four, seven, four, four six, guess what? The NFL wants. They want to see it you know, game day. Yeah. And if you were buried on depth chart, you're not going to get there. What? I did run I want to, I want to get your take on this as I kind of wrote down the three guys. I think that we're going to miss the most because of kind of what we're doing. I put three is Hezekiah Grimsley Grimsley and ran that slight roll.

51:34 Until Tavian Robinson took it over. He was a all in all good teammate. Guy, you want on your squad but I'm just very worried not having that back up at the slot. Like a z where we know being coming in, he can do it that, that worries me, the other numbers to Israel. Yeah, let me finish and then you tell me what you think. Number two, I hate losing a little meddler. That guy was a rocket nickel, two years ago again, you can see a good team player when when Shh, more iconic took the role from this year. He had a couple games where he had to come in and, you know, help out. I don't see necessarily I see him more of. I feel like you could do several things clearly Nickelback up, but I feel like he could play that Rover in free safety. So again, it hurts the depth on the defensive side of the ball with a proven guy and clearly one is Hazleton, you know, he was the he was, you know, second on the team in yards as far as wide receiver goes.

52:40 The team in touchdowns and him leaving is one of those things where he's coming back. He'll get the, he'll get the looks. And to be honest, you know, I think he had 34 receptions this year so that's not a boatload of receptions. He wasn't getting the touches, he doesn't get the touches on the sweeps. We saw his deficiencies across the middle where, you know, he dropped a few passes, but as a guy coming back, you would think we'll stay here and work on this. Those any disagreement with those top three or you feel the same way or do you are? Yeah, I mean do you think I'll tell you the biggest thing with Hezekiah leaving is going to be that leadership and the wide receiver room not having that we're definitely going to feel some of that.

53:27 I mean, I feel confident that he's still young, but the trades going to pick up a lot of that slack at the same time, you know, it can't be understated. Having having a guy with that much experience in the room. So losing him even if it was just going to be in a in a mostly Reserve role coming into the season is definitely going to hurt some. I'm with you on Hazelton as like I said I'm the biggest thing I see is that when we started the year with Willis at quarterback by default we were going to be slinging the ball. A pretty good amount once that went South and hooker took over hooker did well but hookers not going to be throwing 30 times again. Like we were with Willis.

54:10 So you know, obviously there's fewer targets to go around. You've had some younger guys step up and all of a sudden Hazleton is not getting the touches. He was expecting so that that hurts. I see you. I see why that went down at the same time. You know, having someone that has experience with, with our Personnel would have been big time this year. So I feel like that's definitely going to hurt as well. And, you know, your third one that you mentioned R ladler. I mean, I don't think we win UNC without what he did in that game, especially in the over X. So that means just having that depth, and that ability to have somebody come in knows what he's doing.

54:55 Can play multiple positions, the versatility and the skill. I mean, that's going to be hard to replace even if he's not the guy that's at the top of the depth chart is at his position. Yeah agreed. And you know but maybe there's guys, you know, I think we've got what Jr. Walker cup of these other guys we haven't seen. So for us, it's definitely a worry, but maybe as we get into Spring ball, some of those questions will become unanswered. I know we don't have as much access to a lot of people complain about that, and one of them I'm like, do not have to travel to Blacksburg to see the spring game when other things, as much as we enjoyed going up there. Being here to be able to flip on a television, or pull up a live feed, and just or replay ready.

55:41 Yeah. Are you doing some highlights? So I can see something. Exactly. So, we'll slowly start finding out but you know, as much as we wanted to cry the portal, we're losing players that we lost a couple guys, but we also run. You want to looked up these guys and did some research on them. We actually came to guys who have proven at a division. One football level, they can play, Play. And I'm going to look here because we've mentioned this name. One time already in the podcast. Just tell me what you got on. Khalil, Herbert the running back. Grad transferring from Kansas, we got them for this year. What do you see? So biggest thing I'm seeing this guy's, he's a Bruiser, but he's got an extra gear.

56:24 So that's kind of what you are talking about a between the tackles guy, but a guy that when he gets past that first second level can make things happen, get those extra yards, break those big runs. Um, the biggest thing I've seen deficiency was he needs to work on patients at the point of attack when running from the shotgun sets. Which, of course, you know, that's what we mostly run out of. Sometimes he gets bottled up in his track and doesn't quite get to where he needs to. With the way, the blocking get set up, does a lot better in? I formation and Pistol sets, which we don't necessarily run a ton of obviously But when he's running downhill, his vision is a lot better. So I think that that's going to be interesting to see if he makes any strides in those areas. But I mean, it's a guy where if it's between the tackles, he gets to the next level, he can make some big things happen. I know.

57:23 Everybody's talking about the, the BC game being kind of, the, his highlight reel, where he ripped off. A bunch of big runs against them and had had a really career for, Foreman. So if he can do a lot more that consistently with us, then we're going to have somebody that we can really depend on. All right, let me ask this because you make the point is going from shotgun. Do you think in the offense we run? Do we have the capabilities? I'm not going to say going under Center for a, but I think we've got the table. Billy's, take a pistol tight formation with Hendon and, you know, some of the stuff we do. You can do you see maybe in Spring ball? We're looking at.

58:04 We're seeing we're running a little more pistol or do you think we're going to hate? We're going to make them adjust to what end of those. Well hendon's 16 games he's lost. 83 by less than 10 points combined. Yeah. Be I think at this point is going to be the coaches have is going to see what they have and see if they can do. I mean I don't think they're going to say now we're not doing this because it doesn't fit in our our scheme. I think they will play to some of the strengths of the of the Personnel. I mean, we saw some of that with even the switch from from Willis to went into hooker, came in. I mean, we was a differently called game. So I think you might see some of that get adapted to fit more of Herbert's Herbert style.

58:51 I don't know if you'll see a bunch of bunch of those pistols. That's what you might see a few, a game and you also might see them maybe stagger the depth of the running back even in a shotgun formation so he can kind of see the as his eyes towards the line of scrimmage a little bit more when he takes the handoff versus a more traditional either. Either parallel or you know one yard stack type thing that you would see with a usual shotgun formation. Now as sad as I was to see Hezekiah Grimsley leave you know especially with you know knowing he's that solid debt piece. It wasn't long after he made his departure that we got the commitment from Raheem Blackshear out of Rutgers and then I was like running back. Oh boy the roof will, huh?

59:43 We're up to 1,000 now. Now, saw some tape, read some stats and I know you want even more in-depth. This this guy isn't just a running back. This guy is a Swiss Army knife That's exactly what he is a Swiss army knife. So I watching tape on this guy, the biggest thing, I mean, he kind of reminds me a little bit of Darren Sproles, who little bit of Darren Sproles but maybe even a touch of Percy Harvin and there. No, I'm not saying total ability wise, I'm were saying, skill set, he's got those tools where he can you know, catch swing pass, catcher screen. And he's going to run some, some slant, some Corners, some outs, some digs, I mean he's he can run those routes but he's also going to be the guy that can take the ball out of the backfield from the shotgun, from on a toss, things like that. So he's going to really be a guy. That's got things going to come in and have some instant impact just because of the versatility has and he does have speed. So when he, when he gets gets an opening, he can he can hit the home run.

1:00:54 So I think that's that's the big thing. We'll see from him. He really excels, I'd say even more in the passing game than he does. On the running game with their swings and screens and short passes. Brian. Do you think he has the ability to play the the y? Or you think he strictly a slide? I think he's going to be more of the sludge it's because of the his route tree right now I don't necessarily see him running goes or anything like that. Pose that he's not he's not running a lot of deep routes he's not doing a lot of The Comebacks or anything like that. He's mostly doing Slants things. Over the middle things on the outside occasionally it'll rot corner but mostly he's catching swings and screens.

1:01:38 So I think he's more going to be a guy that does things like that. He'll be at Jet Sweep thread as well. Obviously, we run a lot of jet sweeps. I know that's a running joke, amongst some of the the Twitter Circle there about the Jet Sweep call. But, you know, if we utilize it, he's going to be a big, a big thread in that game. So we're going to see if you do a lot of things but I think mostly from the sliding from the running back position. Well, it's only made fun of when it doesn't work, when we run the Jet Sweep and trade, Turner takes 162 the house. It's like, oh, That's what we need to do every time. But, you know, from obviously being a coaching alignment, perfect execution on jet sweeps, and around, and reverses are highly difficult. Well, I mean, we ran a lot of Jet Sweep into Sydney as well. So I remember blocking those things. I remember that.

1:02:32 If the defense has the right call on, it's going to be a very ugly play. But if they don't have the right call on, we could take it to the house. So that's kind of that's the risk reward with the Jet Sweep. And there you go again, folks while we're gonna give you some more X's and O's from a guy who actually played at a Collegiate level and coached at the high school level, we've discussed. Now the Virginia Tech transfer portal that for this year. You did some research, we like, The only program that has these. No way. We're not the only program, right? These other guys, they're transferring to or we just the lone exception, everybody transfers from Tech nowhere else.

1:03:13 Well, we've got actually a good number just in the ACC alone. If we take a look at it, you're right there with us being Miami with 14, always 14? Yeah. Yeah, fortunately, they exceeded us. Yes. Yes. Oh God. So again, that's that's counting guys. I kind of guys that have put their name of the Portland came back. That's guys that are either still in the portal or of already transferred. Well, how many did they have excuse me? How did they have in the portal that came back? I think they had they had one that came back and then the rest are either still in the portal or have already announced where they're transferring. All right, so what else did we see?

1:03:55 What about some of our other competition? You know, Carolina. So the biggest ones we got Ducat 11f issue at 11:00 ufs, you probably a little different scenario there with coaching change, but Duke sitting there right at 11. I don't hear anyone out there complaining about what David cutcliffe is done. At that program. Granted they don't have a history of winning like we do it virginia.com. At the same time, you know, 11 is still a big number. I don't think that we're seeing we're seeing a correlation between number of people in the transfer portal and Job quality by the coaching staff or by the by the team in general.

1:04:37 NC state has 10 in there. UNC has nine Pitt, Se7en wake 7 Louisville 7 BC 7. This is not necessarily something that we're we're saying is an indication of coaching and more. Just a new normal for the landscape of college football. And a lot of teams are still adjusting to what that means. And some of what we're experiencing is directly tied to the fact that most of our starters are Redshirt sophomores or younger because that's going to mean any guy that's in that same class or younger and even some of the older guys that are in a grad transfer position are probably saying, let me go somewhere where I can get a year or two a playing time in versus sitting behind this young buck.

1:05:28 That's already been been kind of planted in the store. Roll. So, I think that's the biggest thing we're seeing right now. I mean, even outside of the ACC, you know, Tennessee has 10 Arkansas, 13, Michigan, 11, Penn State Penn State had a big number last year as well, Oklahoma's got 12 and Oklahoma was in the playoff this year. Yes. I mean, this is not exactly something that like I said, indicative of where a coaching staff is, how players care about a program. I mean, it's just the new Landscape of what college football is going to be until some of these programs get adjusted to what it means for. Well, I mean, I'm with you on, I think this is the new normal in. Even you talking about adjusting, I even think it's programs adjust, its going to stay The New Normal because in my opinion I don't think it's a certain college football. If anything, the way I see it is this is potentially helping the non blue blood or the non-elite.

1:06:32 Sort of that like 15 to 40 range. Kind of where Tech has been sitting during the latter years of Frank on into the Fuente era. We're not a leak, but this is kind of helping us because we can go out and say, hey, that kids can play, he's four string there, he gets in the portal, let's go recruit ins where the elite teams can continue to restock. Five stars, how four stars? What do you think? Do you see it that way or do you see it differently? It is hurting college football's to hurting the product that's being put on the field by the program's. I think, in the short term we're seeing some ill effects only because people don't know.

1:07:13 What they're expecting and it is brand-new and it's scary and it feels different and it feels like, okay, well, these kids are quitting on a program but it's not that I think we're seeing kids that are saying, okay, some of the things that I had planned on when I came here are quite playing out the way I wanted to. Let me see if there's another program, whether power 5 weather division ones, you know, a lot of these kids are going to, you know? D 1A schools, you know, transferring the schools like JMU transfer into schools, like William and Mary coming out of power, 5 school, when they're leaving. So, I mean, some of these kids would you just want to play that they, they know that their career isn't football, and they just want to get on the field for two or three years and I think that's a good thing for them. And I don't think that's a negative for us. Now, I don't think it's a negative at all for us. I think the big thing is that it's new and it's adjustment and we're trying to figure out how to handle these situations and, you know, how to have honest conversations with the kids about what it means when they put their name in there. And I think we're still figuring that out as evidenced by some of the comments that have been made and some of the on Twitter and some of the comments that were made by Wednesday at the February 5th.

1:08:40 The February February 5th interview. I mean it's it's been a it's been an ongoing process and I'm hoping that people start taking it one, you know. Assessing it one player at a time and not just blanketing. Well, if kids Lee Virginia Tech, it's a bad thing. Agreed and going back to those comments from Fuente on the February 5th. Presser most publicity, we've gotten in quite some time. From the mothership on, get outta that forgot about 30 words. He said that actually would have put it in a better context but you know, they won't click. They won't hit when I, you know, we said it we know the piece us who are fans Read the entire transcript and said, oh, why is this controversial?

1:09:35 This isn't controversial. This is a norm here. So you know, we moved on the media, took it out of proportion, but I'm going to kind of flip and stay on the subject. Although I don't think it's hurting college football. I think it's really going to be hurting High School. Recruiting a ton. Because now not so much. Your higher rank guys, guys, who are getting looks and multiple offers. But more of your guys with one offer just one team likes on because now those guys used to get that offer extended, you know, literally today over the day before Signing Day, that's how we got Luther, Maddie and daddy, Nicholas literally, they were two star, guys, got the offer day before signing day because we had the room still. Those are the guys that I think are going to kind of be in a bad spot because teams are going to be looking to say. Yeah.

1:10:30 We can take a risk with this guy, but that guy over here. Can you give me doubt? And I know he can play. So, I hate it for those guys who don't get on the radar till late because potentially schools are not going to offer them scholarships and they're kind of going to be on the Wayside and have to make a decision whether to go to a lower division or go to Juco. What do you feel about that? Yeah. So we have talked about this I decided that that Tampa Bay Times article about Bob, but yeah, that I mentioned to you, you know, a lot of schools down because of the transfer portal, is the opportunity that it presents for some of the school's.

1:11:10 They're starting to hold back. The scholarship offers and saving, you know, clean to the five scholarships every year for, for transfers, and before it was more one or two, you know, you might have one or two either Juco, guys that get picked up, or, you know, like a graduate transfer. For something like that. But you didn't have, you know, quite this no-holds-barred situation that we're we're having now. And like I said I think that's the biggest thing that we're talking about with this adjustment but I think it's definitely hurting some of those those high school recruits that are on the cusp of getting, you know, a D1 offer on the cusp of getting a power five offer.

1:11:51 I mean those those are the guys that are getting hurt by this because those late in the cycle offerings are now being held back because hey, some some A four-star guy might put their name in the portal either, right before the deadline, or right after the deadline. And I mean, they want to maximize their potential there. So they're holding back those this Collies. Yeah. Agreed gonna move on. Kind of talking about the portal itself, and I decided to do some digging because that 2018 portal was so polarizing to, for jigna Tech. We've never seen an exodus like it. You know, people are the program's falling apart.

1:12:33 We're losing all these guys. What's going on the cultures? Bad, well, I dug a little bit and just kind of wanted to see okay these guys that love Left. Where did they go? What did they do? Not going to hit all of them but going to hit some guys that I feel were the the biggest names and potential impacts on us in the 2019 season and part of the 2018 season 2 so on. Right, I'm going to start with Josh Jackson. Okay, clearly JJ JJ quarterback of the 2017 team. No good solid season for us.

1:13:16 He transferred to Maryland under Mike locksley and I kind of feel for JJ in this case because this is kind of, this is his stat line don't cringe, JJ played in 10 games, his completion percentage was 47%, he had 1274 yards, 12 touchdowns versus six interceptions Maryland's, 3 & 9. Now, Yeah. No, I don't think this is an indictment on Joshua. I think Josh is a good player. I just think Marilyn was a bad team to me. Mike locksley has never proven, he can be a head coach, if you? I think he may have one of the worst winning percentages as a head coach between his time in New Mexico, the instrument Maryland and last season but I kind of set here and just wanted to get your perspective because you're Josh broke his leg at the end.

1:14:14 What do you think happens if Josh Jackson stays healthy? In 2018? Number retrospect, the retrospect so healthy JJ for the whole year so about where, whether what our record would have been that year, or yeah, where do you think he would have been? What are you telling me? We were six and seven. Are we better than that? Or we the same or we, you know, where do you think we are? If I think what JJ gave us the you know we didn't get once Ryan Willis came in there. Is that he gave us a steady hand at the position. He gave us better decision-making and crunch time. He gave us a little bit more of a running thread.

1:14:55 Once he got down hill, he wasn't quite as much of a Speedster, but if he got out on the edge, getting the open, he could, he could make some things happen with his legs. I think we're, at least two moons better. Probably if he's healthy all year. Maybe three. But The same time, you know, it's a hindsight situations, very hard hypothetical to really put your finger on but I think we're two to three wins better. If we had JJ that whole season, just because of the decision-making standpoint in some of those, those November and late, October ACC matchups where we struggled. Yeah, we're sometimes I look at the Notre Dame game and a couple of Willis's turnovers. I don't Josh was much more, much more. Or conservatives much more protect the ball. If I protect the ball they don't have the opportunity to do anything we're in the Notre Dame game, couple of those turnovers really switched that game and don't like that game. Sort of spiraled to the pit and the Georgia Tech and the BC games afterwards.

1:16:03 Right? Around that time. So yeah, I'm with you on that. We'll look at a few more guys here, Brian, and just kind of give you my thoughts on them. Eric cool. Transfer to ODU the wide receiver. He waiting for game. So he redshirted this year, I'm not sure if that was injuries. I didn't go that deep, but when I see Gothic 4 games clearly he's taking the red shirt. So 18 perceptions 192 yards. No touchdowns I think his story is incomplete still. He's got one more year to see what he can do. Now, I will say this one thing I'll say about are Kuma people tried to get on social media and say he was the cause he was the guy, very cool. It play through a broken hand and Marshall. He did all that game.

1:16:51 No, yeah, anyone that just doesn't it's not aware of what was going on in the program and what was going on with him personally. So, that's been my take on are Akuma. I mean, I think he did. What was best for him, given the circumstances and given the amount of young talent that was coming up behind him? I think he did the best for him. Don't, I don't think, at any point, I questioned his toughness or his willingness to go out there and compete for a woman. Now another big name that left that last year was Sean Savoy wide receiver. He went to Maryland. Josh Jackson switch to defensive back, part of way through the year last year. And as of late November, he was not on that team. And back in the portal, my heart always breaks for Shan Shan with your personal tragedy that he did share, you know, kind of with the public.

1:17:43 Exxon through social media and when he transferred up there, to be closer to homes from the DC area, it makes sense. It's like, yes, you go handle that business. You're still as he won school and I'm hoping that giving him some stability and hopefully, where he lands next, generally help him because that freshman year with him, the promise he showed in that slot role, how hard he played, and the one lasting memory for me. Remember that VC game? Yeah, he killed them single-handedly. They did not know how to stop him. He had like nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. They were just like what do we do? And he's out there. Just stroking them so I if so Sean, Savoy hope he lands somewhere.

1:18:25 Hope, you know, the personal life is getting better because that that was a good kid and I think circumstances he had to leave. I don't think he didn't, we did. I just think he knew what he was what was going on in in real life and he made that decision. Let me ask you. This was the most controversial transfer of last year. Controversial controversial. We do material and he'll, oh, without a doubt, any player that walks across the stage at graduation and throws up the youth. So controversial, oh my God, good player to coming out of, you know, high school, high rated.

1:19:09 Some people felt like he was the best technique defensive in because that was like the Josh sweat class and stuff now for us, nobody knows what went on that locker room at ODU but the players and the coach, Just ask. We don't know maybe one day, it'll come down, I'm gonna guess not, I feel like both, you know, the staff, the players and Trayvon close that book. And if you went down to Miami, boo, but he had a solid season. 27, tackles nine and a half times. The last four and a half sacks. Had a solid game. You know. I think he had four tackles a tackle for loss in a sack. We played on, we beat him.

1:19:49 Yeah. But you know, That's the one no one's ever gonna know. That's the one where we could sit here and, like, write a story in everyone, whatever way you go, you could believe it. Absolutely. I'll say this about it. I mean, obviously the exit wasn't graceful at all. But as far as his presence on Twitter, his back and forth and some former players, it seems like nothing but love and you know, you even called him giving giving the Hokie some props after we had our turnaround after Oh, Duke there. So you know, I don't think there's necessarily love lost with with the fans or with the with the players. I'm I think it's more of, it was just something happened in the locker room and like I said, I don't know if we'll ever get the full story on it, but, you know, it seems like other than than throwing up the you at graduation. There's there's nothing but love, coming back to Virginia Tech even though he's a, he's a hurricane now. So All right, I got three more guys. I want to hit and then we'll move on. Remember cam, good situation in the summer, only? Yeah, about that.

1:21:06 Oh my God, releasing the scholarship. Like, at the end of July in 2018 and then he comes in comments. The despite the split was it? Mutual you're like, oh crap, what the heck? No one knows again. Same like Trayvon, some people. It was probably he was promised playing time and he came out of camp out of shape. We don't know, he set out, he went to UCF, he played six games last year. Seven tackles as a redshirt freshman and it is looking like he is going to be a part of their too deep for us. It really hurt 2018 because I think we all looked at his size and thought he's gonna be on the 2D for the defensive tackle. It's not useful to be Ricky and Jared up front. He's going to be in there, helping in that year. It clearly showed though that we missed missing and letting him go.

1:21:59 We cannot stop the run. Couldn't stop the run. He had players constantly injured at the position we were putting in guys that had never seen rep and guys that in some cases probably wouldn't have seen reps other than garbage time. So I mean that's that's what that's what we're end up working with their. I mean, he was definitely somebody that I thought was at least gonna see some rotational Duty, you know year one probably not going to Redshirt going to be a guy that's gonna gonna be in there in a run stopping Roll, Just because of his size and you know, whatever happened, definitely put us in a bind at that position, especially for 2018.

1:22:40 But even to a small degree in 2019 because Some of the changes that we made to the recruiting cycle was meant to plug up the big depth issue. We had that position and part of that was due to two cam changing course there. It. Yeah, and it stunk because I mean you think, I don't think we take the two guys out of the Mississippi. Juco, if cams, there may be one, not both. Although, you know, Crawford came in immediately showed he was an impact guy. So, you know, some things work out and clearly those other two kids from Florida, they're they're doing it as well.

1:23:21 So yeah, I'm going to say this name and then just kind of laugh and move on Bryce. Watch cornerback who went to you and See who's from New Jersey. Who in his, if you remember that with the Tweet, Brian, it was. Yeah, I need to transfer to be closer to home and think. Oh, great. Cool Rutgers or maybe even pin. Stay maybe Marilyn. I'm goin to Carolina. What? Wait, folks? Hold on. But that's anything. Any comments on that gentleman. I mean, are we talking is this the max round Factor? Like what is, is that the only thing that was at play there? For a blonde. Maybe wants to put on a good face before he drops the hammer. Yes.

1:24:06 Yeah. Who knows? And, but I think for us, we might have we got lucky on that because I think having Jermaine Waller and you know, Caleb, they're clearly out. There's clearly a class in themselves, so maybe him leaving open the doors for both those guys and boom. Last guy want to touch because I can remember this guy play. Enrico kerenyi. I feel like this was just an attrition loss were so deep at linebacker. You know that first year he played you saw the flashes but you had back to you had Richard Tisdale was in there. Keyshawn artist whose redshirting he leave him in there rotating.

1:24:59 Yeah, and I'm started. I'm also wondering besides the depth chart. He's from Jacksonville. He went to UCF not that far of a drive, maybe one of those things. Well, I'm not going to see as much playing time here if I'm not going to see a bunch of playing time, I'd rather be playing somewhere close to home and that's going to be those guys. So that's sort of the guys. I see that week, the way I opinion goes I look at all of them you know. No one went out there and you know, shattered records or played To a All-American level, we don't get me wrong. Losing Trayvon, he'll a defensive in was hurting losing Josh, I think hurts because having continually quarterback would have been better. But overall I think the guys that love for whatever reason as much as people were screaming, everything's on fire. We're going to be terrible.

1:25:50 I think a lot of people were wrong. Yeah. I mean, I think we're probably going to see some similar tight situations with the guys that are in the portal. Now, both the Ones that have left in the, those that are still looking for landing spots. I mean, you know, there's probably going to be one or two of those guys that end up being difference makers on another team but most of them are probably either going to go to, you know, a smaller school or non power 5 school so they can get some playing time and contribute their, you know, I don't think you're going to see a ton of these guys transfer power, 5 and end up being difference makers, I think Hazleton probably, maybe the exception to that, maybe Jacoby Pinckney. But other than that, I mean I think it's going to be similar to the things that we've seen with with the last couple here is that we're will see guys that that hit the portal, that go somewhere.

1:26:47 That's a good fit for them. Where they think they can get more playing time or have more visibility or do these just closer to home and works for them. Curtis, I did want to bring up something with you though. I know the big buzz on Twitter right now is the sons of Saturday podcast with John yet, see ya. Shout Out, Billy Ray, Pat, Finn and Grace, and that was awesome. For a lot of the naysayers on Twitter. I think let's see set a lot of things that maybe people are willing to hear from the head guy but it kind of opened some eyes up to what happened with this you know, 20 20 recruiting class I just think it's insane. I mean run.

1:27:38 You work at a major university here in the state. I work for a you know, fools Forbes, 100 company and when you're talking about what the thing with just canner. Yeah, like a descent job, someone with that level of influence on the recruiting cycle. Being the only guy that knows the Trade Secrets, what was it? He's the only guy with the notes because I might not know what all the Trade Secrets. I mean in the position I do but, you know, we're kind of required to document things. Yeah, in my industry, its compliance stuff, but we got a document because who knows when you know my kids sick and I got to be out two days if I don't have my files, documented people are like what's going on? And in this case saying he's the only one that had the notes. You're kind of wondering why didn't anybody within? Hey John.

1:28:32 Let's I think, let's see what he would have been like, what 1920 at the time. Think it's best to rain. She's working in there. So my didn't just say, hey, you know, you think we should have these notes to so you can start teaching us. And I can't imagine the scenario where there's one knowledge holder and there's, there's no one that can step in and do at least 80% of the job. If that one person departs or something else happens, you know, whatever it may be. Be there should at least be somebody in that organization within that use of the team that at least those how to do 70 days percent of what what Chuck was doing on a day-to-day basis or at least have the notes to try to learn on the Fly. So yeah, that was pretty well to see that, another thing, but I know you kind of looked into it.

1:29:27 I mean, we're 16 years behind on, the recruiting department, in reality compared to the Top Notch, punitive compared to your Elite programs. And now everybody is behind like programs like UVA. And I mean, yeah, not only. Did they get the money consistently? I know we're behind in that aspect and people are, you know, kind of asking know what can we do to get there? Well, money's going to be a big thing. I do truly even more believe once that came out. I think that was the play with the Baler. So and I mean because if he's able to go there and say this is what they're offering recruiting life.

1:30:07 Can we get three quarters that? Yeah because you know, Well, there's either to you got it coming from the head coach that? Hey, this is what is going on in another program, not just, you know, as John was saying at the at the recruitment team Retreat. You know, documenting, the number of people that are there from each school. That's, that's, you know, that tells you a story, but that doesn't tell you the whole story. But, you know, you go and get a bona fide offer from another power 5 program. And they're telling you, this is the recruiting resources, you're going to have that says Something he does but that interview is definitely insightful here with John and the sons of Saturday it was really again eye-opening and I think if you in some people can say well he was just he was an interview. He was saying what people wanted to hear the me. You listen to John's voice in the way it cracked a couple times about things.

1:31:06 He's an alumni there, my death was an alumni from Tech. I don't think these guys are going to sugarcoat anything because the goal they even said it in Johnson and on that podcast and it's the truth. Can, this guy help us beat Clemson because for the ACC that's the hurdle. Yeah. Got to be Clemson before you can think of anything else and I know a lot of people that will just win the coastal again and then we'll be okay. Well, that's one small incremental step in clearly, if you saw twenty, you know, 2016. We were there. Yeah I think I think we have a coaching staff you can.

1:31:46 This line them with their personalities? I know bud was part of that coaching staff back then. I think we got a coaching staff and to me we've seen it. The beginning of year, bigger games bowl games. These guys know how to gain plan better and I love frank Beamer. But how many times did we see that first game of the year? So many things go right? Boise State, I just the bad snaps. Terrible play, calls that hurt me and then I go look at like the West Virginia year. Yeah, it was like light years, the bowl games. I mean, I know we've lost two bowl games in a row or three in a row and that sucks. But if you take a look at the game plans, think about the Oklahoma State game.

1:32:32 They weren't going to get that ball peoples and Josh Jackson don't don't muddle that fumble will mesh that fumble up. They get in, we win that game against Marshall. Why are not Marshall? Excuse me, Cincinnati, we're at the goal line. Why are we Understanding the game plans worked against one of the better path or group of five schools and then same with this year, the game plans were in place. So, I mean, I think the coaching staff and the stuff we have there, I think I think we've got the right coaches. I think we need better recruiters. I think that's going to stress. I think maybe in a future episodes. We talked about some of those new guys.

1:33:13 Yeah, I think the big thing that we're seeing is I think we're starting to Maybe put some things in perspective. I mean, the goal of everyone is to get get back into an ACC Championship and get to a national title. To put Virginia Tech on the map and put the trophy in the case if that's not what you're about. Then you're probably at the wrong place. At the same time, you got to put those wants and those desires into perspective of the reality of the landscape of college football. And a big thing of that is money and I I don't think that we're ever going to be Alabama or Texas or Ohio State in that department or Clemson or Florida, but I don't think we need to be at that level, but I think we need to at least be at the top 40 level in those departments if we're if we're going to truly compete for a national title National Championship. I just think it's You know, at some point, if you've got more resources, if you have more boots on the ground, we got more people making calls, you got more people doing things recruits notice, and they're in the start trending, those directions.

1:34:32 And until we catch up a little bit, I mean, we've been putting putting out 20/20 side. We've been pulling in top 30 classes with top 80, recruiting department. So that's good. Lisha. It's a good turnover. Yeah, so imagine if we, if we put, you know, increase that by 30% or 40% of that department, let's see if we can get, you know, consistently in the top 20. So you know, I don't, I don't think that's, you know, I think more if it's not a weed in here, a lot of good information from John, it was eye-opening information from John things that explain some of what we've been seeing. So it All positive, but it was all hey, we're working on it, we're moving in the right direction. Help us out.

1:35:25 Agreed right now as we close The Showdown today, I'm going to make a quick hit here you guys. Listen to the intro and the outro music that is by one of our lifelong friends, Brian. Once again, I went to elementary school with Jason. You Middle High School College. Yep, thanks, Jason long. He actually lives in the New River Valley. The cuts were using this week is off as Exit Wounds album from And 15. Check him out on Spotify, iTunes. You've been gracious. Enough to let us use this music without charging us gracias. Jason, who listen to the podcast and one last piece?

1:36:10 Brian. There's somebody that all of Hokie Nation should be thanking because the bad luck that we got seven days ago. Who do we want to thank at the end of this broadcast? Well I want to give a big Big and huge shout out to Mel Tucker because Mel Tucker told a little okey-doke out there in Colorado and now after Baylor don't look so bad, not at all, not at all. So hokey fans, we hope you enjoyed this first episode, my name is Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian Sigler. Let's go.

1:36:54 Okay. Giving Longhorn.

1:37:45 Wow. Wow.