Rising Tides

0:57 Whether you like it or don't like it, learn to love it because it is the best thing. And welcome back to the Boundary Corner Podcast along with my partner, Brian Siegel. And tonight, our special guest, Colby Crawford, Form 247. I am Curtis Wilson, and we are brought to you by Moments on the Mori. Looking for a weekend getaway? Moments on the Mori might be exactly what you're looking for. Owned by Proud Hokey, located just outside Lexington, VA, the place gives you fishing, kayaking, or just relaxing in or by the river Outback. So take a look at the link in our comments section. If you're looking for something this spring or summer or maybe even next fall trying to make a game, visit that website there the Airbnb and also at Instagram on Instagram at Moments on the Maori.

2:04 Colby Crawford has returned to the Boundary Corn podcast. Colby, how are you doing this evening, my man? Doing well gentlemen you know shoot might have some later spring break plans going down in the Moore river thinking about that intro video was awesome. So appreciate you guys having me back on. I always feel bad. I always get the invite so cordially and I feel like every time you guys invite me, I'm in a time vortex. I'm in Florida, I'm in North Carolina, I'm in Charleston chasing some waves or something. But we got it in. So looking forward to talk some football here. Hey, man, every time we we hit you up your own spring breaks, that's that's a good thing for you because you get to step away, you get to recharge the battery a little bit, do a little something different. So glad you got to do that.

2:45 Glad you're on with us tonight. It's going to be a lot of fun. Always, always love chopping it up with you, especially when it comes to recruiting, transfer portal, all that. Man. You do such a good job in that space, so we really appreciate you coming on. Yeah, for sure all. Right. Well, before we get into football, let's let's, let's, let's give the old salute the old rest in peace. Men's basketball season came to an end last night. For those who are saying they're probably going to be in the NIT, no, I'm sorry. I cannot get excited about going to the NIT, not this year. But Kobe, I know you were mentioning before, as busy as you were, kudos to Kobe Crawford, busy man with all the football stuff, makes it to six games this year, which is impressive.

3:38 Again, we know how much you're working with the football stuff to make six games this year. That's pretty impressive. But what's your take just from what you saw with basketball this year? And we know it's not your the most, it's not your full name, but we know you got an opinion. Yeah, I think it was around six. I'm in that neighborhood. But yeah, I I think any way you slice it, you cut it. Stakeholders, fans, players, staff, anyone involved. I think we tell you it was a disappointment of a season, right? When you saw what you brought in, how the roster was formed ahead of the year. It was kind of like, OK, now we're never a type moment, right? You, you obviously get Neocliss of Dallas who rated the five star.

4:19 And you know, that experiment kind of goes the way it does, right? And you bring in the transfers. Monty Hansberry, he plays out of his mind. Honorable mention gets dinged up at the end of the year. Jalen Bedford, you kind of build the roster and then you really just miss out. And so many Heartbreakers, right? It's almost feels like they've become accustomed to it. You look at, I know it's been harped on so much, but Stanford up 13, what with like 2 minutes left, SMU buzzer beater, Wake Forest, the first time you're down. Was it Toby at the time, not Tyler Johnson to lose on a last second three pointer? There was just opportunities. I mean, even UVAUVA, they were down I think 16 at the half and they battled back to lose by 4. They had opportunities right there at the end.

5:01 It's it was just a season of we said it before we went live living and dying by every shot and they they just died too many times and like who knows where it comes from. It sounds like Mike Young's going to be back roster construction. I'm not exactly sure, but definitely a very disappointing season on paper as to what was projected going into the year for Virginia Tech. Yeah, when you look at the roster top to bottom, it's probably one of the more just talented roster, definitely probably the the the best roster Mike Young's had in a few years for certain. And it just felt like whether it was under underachieving, not closing out games, there was like something different. Obviously injuries played a factor in there with, you know, you haven't, you know, three key key pieces missing significant time or playing through injuries. And it was just one of those years where it it felt like you saw glimpses of what they could be at times, but they weren't able to do it consistently enough. And they dropped way too many games in close fashion that on paper they should have won, and in some cases won handily. Yeah. 100% I mean, that was the Stanford and that was the weight games.

6:14 Like to me that was like the beginning of the end because you you come in and have such a great, great 10 and two. The only two losses were right after Toby messed up his ankle down in the Bahamas. They lose to a a whole BCU team. You leads to an NCAA tournament team in Saint Mary's, right? And they they gathered it back where when they beat UVA on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, excuse me, I was like, wow, this team's like they're they're doing what they normally don't do. Like normally when they have this happen, it just it just just. Tumbles out of control, yeah. Exactly bad. They they fight UVA and it's like this is great because Toby's going to be back soon, yet Tyler gets hurt.

6:57 That stinks, but it's like it's like they understand how to face adversity. And then those three games where you're looking and said we're better than them. We are better than Wake Forest, we're better than SMU, we're better than standard. And again, what you said, Colby, it's the heartbreaker, 1/2 court buzzer beater, A3 pointer with two seconds left and then a three pointer also very late against Wake. And you're like, there shouldn't be a three-point game. This game should be over. You're more talented than them. I digress when it comes to that sort of stuff. But basketball season's over like and you have Kobe. You said it to every what everything we're hearing is Mike's back next year, better or worse. I don't know how that's going to turn out, but you know. It's going to be hard to build a roster with what is effectively a lame duck coach.

7:46 So unless we get a situation where we get some sort of coaching waiting type announcement in, you know, the next month or two where they can kind of build off of that. I'm very concerned about getting the players in here because if if you're looking at building a roster with a lame duck coach, you're talking about constructing it with a bunch of guys that are only there for a year. May or may not. You know, their focus may not be on winning the ACC, on making it to the turn with their focus may just be on getting getting enough time out there to take that next step. Right.

8:28 So I don't know if you're going to necessarily be able to build a team with that, with that mindset that can do the things you want to do from the, you know, end goal, which is to go out there and try to try to win the ACC and and make it to the tournament. It's going to be a very difficult, difficult path for for that team in that situation. Like I said, unless you get a a coach in waiting type situation in the next couple of months. We'll see, we'll see. That's all we can do is see and wait. And in a way hope, because you do hope the coaching waiting happens because like you said, Brian, that at least gives the stability of what's going to go on forward if Mike Young chooses to potentially retire maybe in the next year or two.

9:15 All right, so Colby, we brought you in. We've got to talk football. We've got to talk recruiting from all angles, both Portal and obviously the class of 2027, which is just getting kicked off. So I'll start out here. You guys, you Evan matey, you guys were the absolutely lifeblood of Portal information. Those updates, your tweets, the the tracker. The tracker is the greatest thing you'll have. Like I just go to you or one of y'all's page. Let me see who we offered. Does it make sense? You guys crushed it in all facets. So a tip of the cap to the entire 247 and you especially.

9:56 But I'm going to preface this by some of the questions we're going to ask about the portal. Some's going to be spin State Pacific's fun are going to be not because we took so many Penn State guys, but let's let's let's take Penn State transfers out of it. You know, you got to get your list to me. Like, let me throw that behind me because there's a bunch of them here. Taking them out of the equation, which of the players who landed at Virginia Tech, non Penn State to me had the to you had the most interesting journey as you started looking at their back story and where they were coming from and maybe where they were out of high school? Yeah, that's a great question. First off, thank you guys. I appreciate it. The transfer portal is pretty crazy those first couple days.

10:38 I mean, even years passed every time that cycle opens. Thankfully this year wasn't like during the semester and like final season because you're getting like maybe 4 hours of sleep, you know, your phones buzzing, like I'm scared to show any loved ones my screen time during that. So it is definitely, I mean, it's a well, yeah, look, it's a it's a great time, but it's also very wild ride. You're hanging on. So it was crazy. Now going back to your question though, there's a couple different guys like one that I think of that I think not from Penn State, but it's going to be an impact guy and has a little bit of a crazy journey. Keshawn Brown coming from Duke had a very good season there. Duke obviously the ACC champion and he was the one where he camped at Virginia Tech.

11:20 You know, it's from Kernsville, North Carolina, I believe. E Forsyth High School, I think might be talking out of turn there, but he camped at Virginia Tech when he was coming out and Fontel Mines, I believe it was that first year with Brent pride when mines was on staff and mines didn't offer him that wide receiver coming out of the camp right now. He goes on to Duke the in state school and does what he does all ACC caliber player and then coming out of the portal. That's kind of how mines entry point is like, look, man, I'm sorry, it was a mis eval. I should have offered you. So I think that's one that's interesting. Not from Penn State and I think you know, he's going to factor pretty early right there in the slot position. You've seen what he's been able to do in the conference already. Another one I think is Justin Terry, who's also someone I think he'd contribute pretty early, Ohio State transfer offensive tackle. And his relationship goes back with Matt Moore. Matt Moore's been at Virginia Tech now for a couple years and Justin Terry was recruited to West Virginia under Matt Moore. Now, when Moore jumped and you saw guys like Cal Tuner, Lucas Austin and Tomas Remack follow, I guess Terry, you know, decided to go to Ohio State, follow Tyler Bowen over there, go play for Ryan Day and then, you know, found his way back to Virginia Tech this last cycle.

12:29 So I think that is definitely one to watch. I think those are two names to watch. Trying to think about some other names. Cortez Harris, he visited Virginia Tech in the past, edge rusher from Penn State. Another one I think is the edge position continues to flush out, but he went to Penn State. So I know we weren't talking Penn State guys. Justin Bell, I believe, had a relationship with Matt Moore but chose Michigan State over West Virginia. I believe that was one of his final groups, the Michigan State transfer offensive tackle. And I'm trying to think about who else has a connection. I think those are some of the, yeah. Go ahead, go ahead, go. Ahead, No, I I think that was kind of it.

13:10 And then Eric Mensa, the last one I'll say is the one who was obviously committed to Virginia Tech out of high school, right. And then in terms of Ohio State and then found this way back. So just broad stroke, like you said, interesting stories. I would say those guys Mensa was committed to Tech and then when oh, sorry, the the statue of Virginia Tech and Ohio State at the time. And even still, you know, it's they're still kind of on two different playing fields on James Franklin has raised the floor there. But you know, flipping to Ohio State. I would say those were the most interesting storylines from the transfers. Yeah. I know when we were doing a lot of the kind of the breakdown of the, the guys that that were targets, you know, Terry was the guy that we were really excited about you not only because you know, the tackle room needed to be rebuilt from the ground up.

13:55 You know, we saw the the lack of depth last year be a big issue, especially as injury stacked up as the season went along. Rebuilding that tackle room certainly seemed like a priority for Matt Moore and for for Coach Franklin. So excited to see him in the building. And I know that's one that dragged on. I'm trying to think I know we'll get into it, but I remember when Ethan Grunkmeyer hadn't officially signed and people were losing. Their minds. In their minds, they were losing their minds. There was a there. Was a weak period there where it was like everyone was on edge because it was. It was right it. Came out national like the national guy said. Grung is expected to to sign with the Hokies and then radio silence. 8.

14:35 Or 9 days, something like that. You know, it's been long enough. I'll tell you the the story on why the Grunk News originally broke, right was it was because for Beulah's agent had talked to reporters, right and said Gronk is going to Virginia Tech, right, Because for Beulah was out of the running there. Now this was before anything was signed, but it was well known right behind the scenes. So that's why the initial leak came out. So I mean at that point, that's why you make that reporting right. So now it's been enough, it's been a couple months now to say that, but throughout the process, people are like, is this school getting involved or that there there really was none of that back channeling going on. He was dealing with a a new agent as well in the process. He was working through, I guess NFL contracts or something and then red lighting some items. But there there was no wavering.

15:19 And and that's how the initial news broke the week before. It was right after, I think it was midnight and it was after the Steelers Ravens game, and that was after the Anthony Midget news is broke. So that that game hinged on if Anthony Midget was going to make the Blacksburg in time. Man, it was just so hectic with people losing their mind. I think it's this feeling right here from one of our costume listeners, Jim. Yeah. We aren't used to having nice things happen. It's true. Like we're going to get the rug pulled out from us. It does feel like when when things start to go a little S, we definitely are used to, you know. Being it going really S being. On the wrong end of that. So I think, you know, the the pessimism certainly started to kick in pretty quick there.

16:03 I just remember not not to cut you off, but to stay on that. I remember I got back from my trip. I I went out West like halfway through it to go snowboarding and I came back and I still see all this discourse and I remember I put in a crystal ball lock of 10 for Grunk Meyer and somehow that got people more up in arms like, oh, and it's not happening now. I was like here, Let let me like settle some concerns. I just. Remember, yeah, you thought you were doing the the Lord's work there. You're getting piled on. That's what we call, but I'm going to calm the waters. Instead, it's like you throw a giant boulder and it's like Jeezy, well. Let's. Let's let's do this because of the collective, at least this podcast, myself, Brian Talley, Shelton, we all thank Ethan Grotmeyer. Without a doubt the most important transfer, whether Penn State or outside Penn State.

16:54 But I think I know you're going to answer this because you kind of you gave it away when you were talking a little bit earlier, but which other Penn State transfer do you believe is the key to this portal class? Yeah, I know we were talking Luke Reynolds. I mean Luke Reynolds, the one that jumps off the page, right? Just without thinking. 5 star guy out of high school has all the tools. Now, maybe he didn't put it together in full force at Penn State, but this is someone like this Thai house guy, right? And in early stuff and, and you know, their individual workouts as they've been able to do throwing now, granted with no pads on, no offensive install, you've heard really great things like, you know, Route 3, like a wide receiver wait is up there to block in line, like all the things you want to hear.

17:36 And, and you saw some of that production at Penn State. I think that's a guy that you, you know what Ty Howe's going to want to do. You're going to see some 12 personnel and this is an offense and you know, you hear 12 personnel and you think, oh, stagnant, Look at what the Rams do, you know, like they run a lot of 12 personnel. It's a pretty explosive offense. They're they're still going to want to push the ball down the field, But I mean, it's going to be very tight and heavy. I think that's why retaining Benji Gosnell and also having Luke Reynolds is such an asset because they're both great pass catchers, right? They bring an element of surprise and that's what the tight end can do. You put in a linebacker on that guy, right? Like you, you want your tight end to be a better athlete than that linebacker creates a mismatch or or put a nickel on put whoever like both those guys create matchup problems. And and that's what Ty Howe continually says, right, like any good OC is, is not the shaping and curating their offense to the talent they have.

18:23 And when you have that type of talent in the tight end room and not to not mention Jerickies Harrison, who had a really great year last year and they were very high on that was a big retention get some SEC schools knocking very aggressively at them that I don't think even a lot of people gave, you know, like thought to. So that tight end room is in the best shape it's been in. I mean, definitely in the front pride tenure and probably even stemming back a decade probably. Like I don't I don't even know like it's in a really, really good spot at other Penn State transfers. Like I said, I don't want to who could make an impact immediately. You have Gronk, you have Luke Reynolds, Keon Wiley at linebacker.

19:05 I think that's going to be another one who's going to factor in that starting rotation. I know over on Vt scoop.com, it's like you think out loud because, you know, you hear some NFL feedback of Cable Spencer wanting to keep him inside, right? But he was sort of that natural star in front prize defense. And he's come on like there's no way he's not going to be one of the starting 3 linebackers. And I think Noah Chambers probably has an inside track at Mike just based on personnel and what he was able to show. Wiley is probably a little bit more ready inside than to go play outside. So if you want your best 3 backers, I think it's Keon Wiley, Noah Chambers and Caleb Spencer. But it's just, what does that rotation look like? So I think Wiley's going to play a ton of snaps. It's just where does it fit? And then the other one, Kenny Wilsley junior, they're a nickel.

19:50 How does that factor? And I think it's going to be hard to keep Jamar Deloach off the field at nickel, some of those other young guys. But I think you're still going to see him take on quite a heavy snap share. But I would definitely say Ethan Gruckmeyer, like we said across the board, touches the ball every play. You don't have to look far in college football right now to know. Like, Indiana's a really great team. You go bring in a difference maker at quarterback. Look what happened. I mean, there's, there's so many examples of that, that quarterback just across football at every level can really be a difference maker. But I think Luke Reynolds and Keon Wiley are the two biggest names from Penn State to watch for the 2026 season. Yeah, yeah. I love that you said Luke, and and I love that what you were talking about there with the route tree in the passing game, because if there's one thing that we collectively talk about and feel like we didn't see enough is using that tight end to attack the seam of the defense.

20:41 You, you know, getting them involved vertically in the passing game. And I feel like, you know, some of that was if you're going to do that, you've got to have an accurate quarterback because that's a difficult throw to make. So that's number one, right. Yep, you know, you feel probably a little bit better about taking those kind of shots with someone as accurate. That's showing the accuracy that that Gronk has to this point. But but getting a guy and now, you know, we we've seen Benji be able to do it in a limited capacity. Getting him matched up with Benji now, I think that's going to, you know, pay some pretty big dividends in the offense, being able to attack vertically up the seam with the new offense. And obviously I still think it's going to be a run first offense. I I think you're still, yeah, everything's going to go through the running back, But I think being able to attack at every level of the defense with the passing game is going to be a big asset.

21:32 Let's flip it over. So we we talked about the Penn State guys coming in. Which of those non Penn State guys do you feel is going to be the most important heading into 2026? Yeah, that's a really great question. My head goes a couple different places. We talked about Justin Terry a little bit at the top. What is that offensive tackle rotation look like? Logan Howlands going to miss a spring down with shoulder collarbone type deal or labrum. So that that's going to be something you know, because I think that would be a name to watch, right, because like people had him penciled in Justin Terry. Does he have heard really great things about him early? You know, Johnny Garrett, how does that tackle rotation? Because the offensive line, it starts with those five guys up front. Every, everyone's going to say that you can have the most accurate quarterback, but it starts with those five guys up front in what you want to do.

22:21 So I think that's big. Another name I go to the edge rusher position because when you look at Virginia Tech a year ago, the offensive line couldn't protect and pass pro and they really didn't get a consistent effective pressure coming off the edge on defense. And you lost a guy like Antoine Powder Island who had what, 15 sacks to his name? And you just really didn't replace that. And, you know, it allowed defense. It just put so much pressure on the secondary and linebackers to make extra plays when the quarterback could just sit back there. So Ajabian Hilson, Sam Okolola, the late transfer from Colorado, Like, dude, are those two guys are starting edges come VMI? I'm not sure, but I wouldn't rule it out. You know, like I've heard good things from Jason Abbey returning.

23:02 But I think those two guys along the defensive line now you feel good on the inside. A lodge fall, Kamari Copeland, Emmy Law stepping up. Like you've got more experience there, but you kind of need a difference maker at pass rusher. So I think getting those guys in the building and as well with backfilling Aderika on the interior, Cortez Harris, Malachi Williams, like that's a premier position. And you just brought in all those guys from Penn State to play edge as well. Got Dwight Victoria in here. Shout out try to tell them about the offensive line and, and yeah, and like we, I know we're talking about portal specifically, but then they went and recruited what, 7 in high school? Like that's the way it needed to be done because they brought in 5 / 2 cycles with Ron Crook and it's just not an effective way to build out your board long term because for for better or for worse, some guys aren't going to pan out, some guys are going to transfer.

23:52 You just have to over recruit there. So I think those are some names that I would definitely want. So it was hilarious. It was 7 freshmen, 4 portal, 11 offensive lineman in effectively the first class of 27. Like it was basically roughly 1/4. Of and guess what Curtis, I don't I don't know your plans for April 18th or whatever, but when you watch that game, they're trying to get it to a point where you can have two teams now because. And. For the longest time, right, Like you just it's hard to hold even an effective practice, right? Like you can't even give your guys good looks in practice, right, if you just don't have the numbers. And that's the biggest thing. It's like he said, how are you getting better if you're putting these guys on like you just didn't have the numbers there. And like you've heard of that different ranks in this day and age with how talent is getting spread out with, I mean, even with the rosters here in the one O 5 you've heard like you can't run effective practice if you don't like. So that's why you have to get those guys in the building and build it up, especially from the high school ranks, I think. But to do what they did in the portal. Michael Troutman, I know you've got a pretty good center in Kyle Altuner.

24:59 I think people are really high on him. I think, I mean, personally, like I think he's a really nice player there. But Michael Troutman have heard nice things about him at center. They've they've just completely overhauled the room and I think you'll see dividends in practice and getting those good looks that you want. Yeah, getting the good looks, being able to do like for Brett Prize defense this year, it's being able, I want to be able to do what I want to do. And I want it to be against competition that might actually slow us down. Yeah, that is always a plus. Can I ask a quick question about let's go back to Javion Hilson. You mentioned the war. Yeah, Cali's not here. So I get to get on Cali's soapbox. So Javion Hilson coming out of high school only one year ago was a borderline 5 star.

25:44 When he goes into the portal, he doesn't get much playing time at Missouri. It's expected. They're an SEC school. They are a pretty good school. Last year, I think at the end they wavered whatever. But how does the how does that go into the transfer ranking? Because I think when when we all heard his name, it was like, OK, he's a 97, he's a borderline 5 star. He's coming here. And then it's like he's a mid three star. I don't quite get that. Like, if he had played significant reps, absolutely. And he didn't look good. Yeah, he's got to go to him. He's not that. This is a guy who was a true freshman, right? Yeah, He was a true freshman last year. Right. But what what goes into the the transfer rankings just so we can make Tally who's hopefully safe in Alabama and all the bad activity down there a little bit happier?

26:34 Yeah, hopefully. First off, first and foremost, prayers to Tally and everyone affected by any of the Tornadoes going through. It seems like the whole Midwest right now, but no, yeah, for Jamie Hilson, you look at him for the 24/7 sports ranking was a top 80 prospect. I believe he had a 95 grade on him coming out of high school at height, weight, speed measure rules. When you look at him, it's like, Yep, that's a guy, right? Like, I mean, you, you cut on the tape as well. And you see that now the transfer ranking process, right? Like you're you're ranking 3035 hundred guys in a two week span, right. So I'm not on the scouting team person. I know Cooper Patagna and his boys, you know, I commend them. I forgot I text him. I mean, I've texted him between now and then, but I remember when it was all said and done, I was like, wow, man, I hope you're all right because everyone's busy in it.

27:20 But I mean, trying to watch, evaluate and get grades out and all these players as they're committing, it's, it's, it's a very busy time now. Like I said, things flip through the cracks. I think they've finished with the 87 transfer rating on 24/7. I'm not sure what other services had, but yeah, that's maybe one that probably left a little bit to be desired because he just didn't play much right. Like he was behind, I believe Damon Wilson, who is, you know, kind of a really good player down there, sat behind some some pretty good talents on that drink wits his team defense. So yeah, I I know if Tally was here, I'd probably just have to throw in the hat and say I'm not on the scouting team, but we'll see how it plays out. We'll see if he's vindicated in that ranking or not. I think he's going to outplay his ranking at Virginia Tech by the time it's all said and done.

28:07 Yeah, I mean that that's good to hear. I mean, you know, when you see a guy that was ranked at high coming out of high school, you know, still very young, a lot of eligibility left. So, yeah, hoping that he's going to come in, take the steps that he needs to. Definitely he's going to get an opportunity which is, you know, early on something he didn't really get as much of at Missouri. So we certainly have a, a, a hole to fill there for him to, to slide in and and and get a lot of opportunities pretty quick. Yeah. I mean, 63241 like that. That's yeah. That's that's exactly what you want. That's exactly what you want. Let let me ask this before we kind of pivot to, to something else. Yeah, You know, you've got this, you got this transfer portal tracker, you're kind of following all these guys. You got all these conversations going on. Was there a commit that kind of snuck up on you that you hadn't heard any rumblings or any of that? And all of a sudden, you know, you, you see things start to come out that, oh, this guy's coming to come to Virginia Tech. I would say the biggest surprise of the cycle, without really thinking too hard about it was Logan Howland. That was one that was super out of left field. Really not much like worrying or or whatever signs talking to different people.

29:22 Logan Howland was one that was kind of way out of left field. I think I was really maybe the only one that kind of caught us by surprise. And you know, he's a guy, you know, obviously dealing with the injury, but you know, you bring that guy in to be a tackle, right? And probably be in that starting 5 somewhere Now. We'll we'll see when he's able to get back to football activities. But I think that was the biggest one. That was no real heads up or you weren't really tracking and it was just like, oh, wow, there he is. He signed like he's not committed, like, oh, he's time. So that was a real stealth visitor. All the other ones, I mean, you had pretty good beats on and you saw that in the crystal balls and some different notes or even if you weren't putting in crystal balls, like, hey, keep an eye here.

30:02 I'm trying to think about any that were really off the wall. I think all the other ones were pretty wrapped up. A lot of the Penn State guys, you know, there were, there was, there was writing on the wall, but. Ali's phone's working. Yeah. That's good. That's good. We we know that he's safe right now. Pause. But I think Jacquizz White, you know, that was one that was visiting, But you know, it looked like Tennessee might have had the inside track. But I think really, Logan Howland was the only big surprise. OK, I I like that. I mean, you know, when we looked at the offensive line like it, it, it had to be done like there.

30:43 Was. Oh yeah. There, there was nothing that, you know, there, there wasn't enough bodies that you could bring in and, and be like, Oh, that's too many. Like I, I, I wanted another guard. I mean, I, I, I know I talked on here and I was like, I, I would have loved to see one more guard come in with, you know, some, you know, some playing time at another stop just to feel a little bit better about it. But you know, you got, you know, a center now coming in, you got a, you know, a handful of tackles coming in. I think that was probably tackle was the room that we had to address absolutely there. Was and they did that question there. I think I think guards interesting like Brody Meadows, Lathe Ganda, Montavius Cunningham, those got right. But like you need those guys to stay healthy because it's going to be one way or another.

31:24 I don't see a way where not all three of those guys play a significant number of snaps. Now I'm not sure if they stay healthy for 12 or 13 games, great, but. And they got the problem with all three of them. Exactly like Bernie, Bernie still like just getting back it sounds like, you know, like was out since last campus just getting back ready to roll here before spring. Montavious was obviously dinged up. I've heard really great things about him. And then Leith, you know, Leith had the the deal two years ago with the slain. Like, you know, so it's just been that revolving door and then that guard like, I guess you'd kick out some of those other guys. But I see what you're saying there. I think a lot of these guys that were listed as tackles in this high school class will eventually end up moving inside.

32:05 Yeah, I I can see at least at least one of those guys for sure moving inside and it it's nice to you know, with the portal ads, even with Howlin, you know, probably missing most are all the spring. It's it's nice to have guys that you feel like they're not necessarily plug and play, but they should slot in kind of ahead of at least everybody not named Johnny Garrett probably at the tackle position with, with with what we brought in in the portal. Yeah, I fully agree. And I mean, no one's guaranteed anything. And I feel like that is being relayed very clearly. Like no one, no one is guaranteed anything at like, Logan Howland, Justin Terry, at least I know Logan's dinged up, but Justin Terry, like, I think that's definitely a name to watch here as we get closer to fall camp. Like if he can put it all together, like that's someone you know, I think he's the real deal. Let me ask you this.

32:59 Where you going to? Say, Curtis, were you going to take that one? Yeah, I was going to take this next. One. OK, Yeah, got it. Yeah. It's just you're looking at the, you know, the balance of the remaining eligibility with this portal class. I thought that was an interesting approach that James Franklin took. You got, you know, a couple older guys, but yeah, most of the guys with at least two years of eligibility left. When we look at that, it's interesting to see are some of the guys with that a lot of eligibility left? Are those guys that you think you're going to play kind of significant roles at the gate or that more of a looking towards 2027 and, and, and kind of looking past, not necessarily looking past this year, but but looking beyond just this year in terms of the roster construction. Yeah, that's a really great question. I got asked this on my show, a couple. It was last Monday, I think it was episode 70 of Colby's Corner, and it was a great question. It was like how James Franklin kind of attacked his portal. Like, I think this is by far going to be his biggest portal class at Virginia Tech ever.

34:00 And like when you look at what he did at Penn State, I don't think he ever took more than 7 over the last three years when it's really been this transfer portal era. And all those guys mostly that he took at Penn State were contributors at their school, like even either at a lower level or even at a Power 4 level. But guys, you know, you kind of knew what their what their standing was, right? Like not a flyer, a guy with three years left, more of just a plug and play. And obviously the scenario is different here at Virginia Tech. You're building out an entire roster and you need to backfill. You can't just bring in 31 year guys. You're going to be back in that boat next year, right? So I think it's definitely a little bit different. I wouldn't say that's the strategy moving forward. Now, for example, Matthew Henderson in that tight end room, they completely rebuilt that tight end room to a degree that Virginia Tech hasn't been in.

34:45 But you've got Jaricus, Benji and Luke already ahead of him. But that's going to be a really quality player soon, right? So you you had to bring in that quality depth. Like I think of Justin Bell. I think they like him at tackle and you had to rebuild that offensive line room. Is he expected to play 600 snaps this year? No, I don't think anywhere close to that. But you know, they like his profile to bring him in with four years left. Javion Hilson, I think it's a little bit different. That's the guy with four years who I think you could see play in factory in immediately. So it varies a little bit, but I would definitely say a lot of it is projecting forward. Now that's not to say that they're punting on this year. They still build out this roster very effectively with weapons and along the lines to go and compete immediately in the ACC. But look, I mean, if you're the CEO of a company and you're a shareholder, you don't want to know that you're putting all your chips in for Q4 like this year, right? Like like, OK, this year and then you know what, whatever happens the next the next cycle, like. All right, yeah.

35:46 But it's really funny, though. Again, like we are looking at it and we say, man, we we we have all these kind of younger guys, multiple years of eligibility. And then he's got to just start thinking. But there's Queshawn Brown. He's got two years left. You know how Long's got Two years. These are guys who have played significant snaps in the D1 level in high level games. And it's like, wait a second. Well, if he slips in here and he does this and he does this and this guy, whoa, wait a second. What Brian said earlier, the issues where we had last year were slowly filling in. Like, you know, we're not worried about the interior defensive line that that was fine last year. Elijah Fall comes back, Kamari Copeland back, you know, and that's where it's like, you don't want to get all your bags in one basket.

36:29 But to James Franklin credit, he's put enough in of experience, guys, for this year in the right spots where we're getting a little bit of hope. Like it's a little bit of hope to say, you know what, if certain things click, the spots where we struggled with last year are filled, Yeah, Quarterback upgrade, slot receiver, better tie it in. You're bringing back running backs. We had really good season. So cornerback. Room, but then two again. What you just said, Polby, we couldn't put 30 players out there. God, we'll rebuild them again. It's like, well, we could be good in 26, but wait a second, we could still be good in 27. And then you keep looking. It's like there's not like the right now, there's not where you feel like there's a fall off.

37:12 It's like he's truly trying to build it out for a long term run. Yeah, and this almost sounds bad to say, but it's almost like a formula for successful programs, right? Like. You recruit. You recruit like 20-5 really good guys in that top 25, top 20 ish high school rank and look, those guys are going to transfer out right? But if you stack those classes year after year and you continue to hit your spots in the portal and you get a quarterback you can get behind, like the secret formula, Yeah, you bring in really great coaching like Indiana and a high swing quarterback and you can win. But like these programs that are relatively at the top, good coaching, which Franklin has proven to do was what, a game away from the national championship a year ago. And, you know, bringing in talent and evaluation, which he's obviously shown in his time at Penn State and, and, and two weeks at Virginia Tech was able to get their highest class in 15 years at least.

38:09 So like I said, it almost sounds like asinine for me to say, oh, well, that's but yeah, it's really how you kind of need to build it. And I I think they've laid a really good foundation. They've built out a really nice staff on the back end that Virginia Tech, at least I know Penn State certainly has had. Virginia Tech has not had in that recruiting arm and especially even on the field coaches with their recruiting acumen, I think they've done an incredible job. And I mean, I don't see it slowing down anytime soon like I would. This 27 class is certainly, I'm going to be 1 to watch. And I think, you know, they, they've still got a lot of work to do. You're drinking from a fire hose. The transportal is nice because you have all these connections from Penn State. That 26 class is nice because you have all those Penn State commits, right? So it's kind of easy. But now, hey, look, it's fully Virginia Tech now, and you're still getting your bearing in the state.

38:55 You know, you can come down from Penn State, and Virginia's a nicety, but now it's a necessity, right? And. I, and I think too, I was just going to just throw this in real quick. I think too, one of the things that Franklin has shown a really high acumen at in his time at Penn State in this transfer portal era is he retains a lot of his players in in those transfer portal cycles. So, you know, when we talk about the guys coming in, I don't anticipate at least at this stage that, you know, after 2026 that these guys that we brought in with, you know, 2-3 years of eligibility are going to be looking for another stop. So you're really just talking about next year's transfer portal.

39:40 To your point, Colby, looking at, you know, a much smaller transfer portal class because you're really only kind of filling in those holes versus having to fully rebuild a roster and kind of compensate for the fact that the 24 and 25 classes probably weren't where you wanted talent level, especially at offensive line. Without a doubt. I mean that that's, that is the point, right? Like I think you'll see. I think hopefully with some of the stuff they're trying to implement, you'll see more of this like. A premium on retention, which is already right. It's not always who you bring in, it's who you keep, right? And I think you're going to see more of that. And if that's where, you know, really talent evaluation is going to become paramount, and that's really going to evaluate the best schools who, you know, thrive in this environment. Appreciate that.

40:27 All right, before we, we're going to talk a little 2027 as we get near the end here, but there is one situation if you feel comfortable talking about it and everything that went down, the Kamarian Morgan situation, what went down? Was there ever a point that he could have still been a Hokie? Was there anything that could have kept him here Because he looked like again, he was 64250 look like a stud edge guy coming out of Baylor. But what hey, do you feel like, can you talk about it? Do you feel comfortable that we're far enough off of it now? Yeah, I mean, like I'll definitely talk about, I just don't think like of all the stories of like the Grummeyer one, like I touched on earlier, like there's some juicy stuff that happened certainly.

41:09 And like I'll, I'll we'll have to come back on and when I brain dump it all. But this one, I really just don't think it was as exciting or there was that much to it as people thought. Right. So the news comes out that Kim Morgan, he's already in Blackbird greatly. He's already there, but he can't enroll because his grades aren't there. And, and I know he went back and, you know, amended it and got his grade change from Baylor. Why is he still not signed at, at these other institutions? Like it was really just an issue of those grades and the way he built out his schedule. Now coming from Baylor, it's a little bit tougher, but just really like, you still have to be able to get into the school. And it was right after the news drop that Virginia Tech was not going to get him through admissions issue with the admissions process that a Big 10 school tried to trip him immediately.

41:57 It was one look at the transcripts and they were like, Yep, no shot here. So now I think a lot of people were like, OK, why? How did this go this far? How did this not get checked before? But I honestly, like, I know it was like, James Franklin must be so frustrated with Burris. I think it was an understanding on all fronts. I mean, like genuinely like that. That's where a lot of the frustration is because you've seen it in your past with Ramon Brown. I'm trying to think about Hellcat. I remember, I can't even think of his name from down in Roanoke. I know that was another one. But you know, there, there have been multiple instances where Virginia Tech can't get a guy admitted and you see what he goes on to do at different institutions. But this was one where he still is not signed. Very highly rated prospect, right? Did not see much on field production there at Baylor and then just did not have the the transcripts, transcripts or grades to get in.

42:50 So really, I'm trying to there's not much more beyond it than that. It was just they couldn't get him into school and even other schools that tried to to pounce on it, once they saw that issue and they saw the transcript, they were like, yeah, yeah, we have no shot here either. So, yeah, yeah. I know West Virginia was making a pretty big run even, you know, later into February and still, you know, we haven't seen any, anything official on that yet. And you know what? I hope like situations like this shine the light on for all the kids who are going in and, and I'm not sure if it was grades or maybe classes, right, But if you are going to vision one, like any of these kids, wherever you're going, you need to have that stuff in order You, you honestly do. And that tells me, I'll say this, if I'm a if I'm a parent and I'm about to send my kid to Baylor, I'm going to be thinking twice, like, OK, OK, you know what? We just saw what happened to Cam Morgan. He came down here.

43:45 He didn't get much PT, but he got his look, his body. He was a very high valuable commodity and the classes you made him take basically screwed him out of going anywhere else. Yeah, well, I mean, it's also a lot harder going from institution to institution, right? Like privately public school, like if you're going into Notre Dame or Stanford, if you're going to now, it definitely did him no favors right there. And especially the class had to let it built out, it sounds like. So there's a ton of factors, but I will say, like I said, I mean, they're the athletes are finally being compensated like they should, right? And we'll see what guardrails or whatever comes about it. But I think we can all agree that the product on the field is heavily influenced by them. Great. Still, until you CBA, whatever happens, I don't even know if that's going to come to to be.

44:30 You're still students. And in this day and age, there are more people and more opportunities pretty much widespread across the border to online classes, tutors. I mean, it is almost, it is the easiest generation possible. I feel very confident saying to maintain grades and just kind of keep that. I know it's student athlete, but let's just say keep that on the side and and keep football as the priority. So that's definitely something that coaches watch, right? Like knowing, understanding and talking to different coaches about. So it's a shame it all played out that obviously he wasn't Blacksburg and that, you know, it, it developed so far. But something that really both parties I don't think should be up in arms about. Yeah.

45:16 Just just one of those things that it didn't shake out the way anyone wanted. But but yeah, there, there wasn't necessarily ill will or anything like that from a process standpoint. It's just one of those things. Yeah. All right. Let's flip it. Let's talk a little 2027. Brian, go let you go with this one. You'll let me ride with this one. Let you. Jump on this. All right? All right. So we're going to talk. We're going to talk Virginia now. We're going to stay. We'll start with the state of Virginia. We got a lot of Virginia that's important. Who are some of the early favorites in the state that the Hokies have been targeting? I know you know, James Franklin kind of had to hit the ground running with with this class on top of closing out 26 and everything with the portal, but who are those guys to watch in the state that are high on the Hokie board? Yeah, I just said it on my show about an hour prior to this, and I wouldn't be shocked within the next week if I toss in a crystal ball.

46:14 I feel really good about where Virginia Tech sits with number six player in the state, offensive tackle, Junior Sanders from Woodbury Forest, top offensive tackle in the state. Woodbury Forest is a program that Virginia Tech has made strides in in recent years. You look at Sheldon Robinson, they've done an incredible job with Junior Sanders for years now, but especially with, you know, James Franklin, he came to that Miami game. You look at Buddy Wagdome, Hudson's LPWO very close with him. Take there from Woodbury Forders. I think they sit in a really nice spot. He visited last week prior to Virginia Tech spring break. I wouldn't say anything jaw-dropping coming out of that visit. I just think they sit in a great spot and I think they positioned themselves super well.

46:56 I don't see anyone else really making themselves get in the mix. He's he's on that first OB weekend. I really like where Virginia Tech sits could see a crystal ball. So that's one which is obviously another a nice four-star tackle. You you you love that someone I've been pounding the table for to be, you know, rated properly can ask Sullivan from the Saint James Academy up there in Springfield, VA. You got Overton coaching him up there. I think that's one where there's a ton of really big suitors. I think he is very underrated talent. Even still with a rankings bump in the state of Virginia, I think that's going to be a little bit of uphill battle. Chris Whitehead, the number one player in the state of Virginia Tech, was not a serious contender and Virginia Tech has definitely entered that mix. I would not be shocked to see them make a massive run at him to try and make a big statement in James Franklin's first cycle saying, hey, this is the type level we're on. I would definitely not rule that one out. Elijah Hutchinson, guy from down the road from Roanoke, originally reclassed, move down to Georgia, go to Raven Gap Prep School, and then come back up to North Cross and Roanoke. Like I said, you know, Clemson, Ohio State, a ton of big suitors there, but they're going to try and get him on campus a ton. Virginia Tech's going to be in the mix. Noah Glover I think we'll give Virginia Tech a good look. If I would were to put in the a prediction right now, I think Georgia's probably got the inside track there. They've done a really great job.

48:23 Carter Jones, Clemson, Clemson, Clemson, but Virginia Tech's made a big push. But I would say as of right now, I still feel like Clemson has the inside track there. They've been doing so well for I feel like a year and a half now. James Franklin has completely changed the calculus on all of these, though, and I don't want that to be out ruled. Like what I said with Chris Whitehead should not go like under the radar. Like like James Franklin has completely changed the view. Like if I like if you got quotes or interviews from these guys, it's like, yeah, Virginia Tech state school, but it no, it's completely changed the outlook of it. I think Carter Jones will give them a fair look. He's the one who's going to want to commit early here in April. But I still like Clemson. I think Virginia Tech could be a close second there.

49:03 And in the portal age, you never know, but I I like Clemson. We talked about junior Sanders, DeMarcus Brown. I think Virginia Tech's going to make a push to try and flip from Roanoke from Virginia. He's from Roanoke, committed to Virginia currently. I talked with him recently. Has no visits on the books. Virginia tried Virginia Tech tried to get him on campus there for a junior day, didn't get it. Ivy and Lewis has one to watch. I, I, I don't know. I thought I had a decent read on it. I thought Virginia Tech, South Carolina were sort of those two schools. We'll see now, you know, if Alabama offers, maybe that changes things. Ohio State, if he's a take there, I think at the end of the day is the one that if it stretches out and comes down the line, Virginia Tech, it's in a good spot, but I don't know, I know he's visiting Alabama. If they offer and it's a committable offer, I could see that changing a little bit.

49:52 But I mean, it's someone that Fontelle Mines has known since he was in 8th grade, been in a great spot that one of that top OV weekend. So I know we're just going down the line, but Kamari Hudson, he was just at Clemson as well for the elite retreat, I believe is what they call it. He was going to be up in Blacksburg for junior day but wasn't able to make it was when all that snow was going on. So like a four and a half hour tripled. And in the books also, I think an underrated guy there. I think he could be close to the top five in the state. Actually just talked with him. Hang on, let's see. This is live television, UVA, Syracuse, Clemson, Tennessee, NC State, Virginia Tech, all kind of in the mix, but that's why he's really fleshing out a lot of the stops in these visits here. Virginia Tech fits well, but you know, you've got real competition there.

50:41 So that's where these visits do kind of differentiate. You know, people want to talk about this NIL drive everything. Like nobody can kind of be the decider. You're really close on a lot of these schools as you come down the stretch. And it's just my new things. Are you close to a Chipotle? Are you close to like it's different for everyone what you're looking for, right? But so that was his list. I'm just going through some of the top guys. Sam Faneuil, tight end out of Benedictine. I know Ty Howe was in the in the CM, but his visit schedule is not sure. I think Virginia Tech can make a push there. They're also in it for tight end Jordan Karoff from Ohio, I believe, Rycove, offensive lineman Ethan Lawson. I don't expect Virginia Tech to be in the mix long term. I think West Virginia might have the inside track there.

51:23 Brody McNeil committed to Ohio State, I don't see them flipping there. Matt Williams, corner from Norfolk, VA, I've seen him play a ton of times at UA Baltimore scrimmages at Morey football games. A dynamic athlete. He was playing quarterback for them. He's doing everything. Haven't heard much with Virginia Tech and Virginia Tech's had a really hard time breaking into Maury even with all their success. So one to track here, Zavon, Ziggy Miller from Huguenot. I think Virginia Tech's it's well there and then we'll just close it out with a couple names to watch. I think Derek Fisher, cousin of Michael Vick. I know we had Dwight Vick in the chat at Bethel High School. Really just elite athlete, probably projects as a safety committed to Virginia. I think Virginia Tech's going to make a big run there.

52:05 They like him. And then as well with Lonnie Andrews, cousin Jamar Deloach committed to Virginia, you know, three-year starter at Oscar Smith High School. Now, I wouldn't be shocked to see Virginia Tech make a pretty big push. They tried to get him up for a junior day, still pushing. I talked with him not long ago. I know he's going back to Virginia, I believe March, late March and no other trips on the books yet. But I know Virginia Tech's pushing for it. So that's, I know I just said a lot. I just pulled up the list and kind of went down through the state, but I would say that's most of the state. Probably heat check. OK. He almost answered that the the question we had after this one nailed it. Like, who are we trying to flip? And as I'm looking, it's like that's the Eva guy.

52:47 There's another Eva guy like we're just basically trying to flip some of those guys. But we'll, we'll ask that in a second. But let me ask this because I think you mentioned it. Chris Whitehead, you'll see Bird down not not far from me and Brian in 20-30 minutes down South out of Richmond. You said that's the target because you said the way I heard it is that's the most important guy in this class because if you get Chris Bird, number one player in the state, top 10 positionally Top 40 nationally. Yeah, stuck. What, what has to happen is there, does there have to be breaks?

53:29 Is what has to happen to Landon, you think? Well, I mean, it's perception, right? Like I think that's the biggest thing. Like you can have rankings, your own eval of them or whatever, but you see that number one next to his name and like better or for worse in this day and age that that goes a long way socially, just just in general, you know, like it just does matter. It just really does. And like, I think that's why it's such a big deal. It's because they want to cement and stamp, Hey, this is Virginia Tech. We're not coming into our backyard anymore. I know Virginia Tech hasn't been accustomed to getting that number one guy in the class for cycles and cycles, but this is the way it is around here. What does it take? It takes an IL, right like that. That's obviously a really big factor in these recruitments.

54:09 It takes staying consistent. You get them on that first official visit weekend, which is a really big sign already in the open periods, connecting with them, getting them up for a spring visit. You know, Richmond, shoot, I've been making the trip Richmond to Blacksburg here a lot recently. It's not that bad. You can get them on for spring practice, get them up for the spring game, you know, just working those details out. So I think it's that. And then obviously in this day and age, nil, right? They position themselves super big. And I think, you know, showing your vision. I said James Franklin changed the calculus like these. You can do everything right. But if they don't believe in your vision, then they believe Brent Pryor's a lame duck. And they they kind of see their writing on the wall. Yeah, that's a really tough hill to come down from.

54:49 But James Franklin, they can see what he's building, the changes in merriment, what what he's sort of pitching. I think that's the biggest thing with him. And I I honestly wouldn't rule it out. Like, I'm not coming on here blowing smoke like Noah Glover. I don't see Virginia Tech getting in the mix with Canas Sullivan. I I could see it. I think he's going to have some really big suitors. Carter Jones. I don't know if Virginia Tech's going to do it, but I think Chris Whitehead is 1 where they're they're certainly in the mix. And only not only for the fact of that number one ranking, Nexter's name, they believe in the eval. Like, yeah, OK, 6324 like, yeah, that's a pretty good prospect, right? Like, but someone, especially with that ranking, with that stature, that standing, it's like it's kind of just putting the whole state and and you know, the whole Mid-Atlantic, the whole ACC, the whole whatever coastline on notice, like, all right, you're not going to come into our backyard anymore.

55:40 This is what is to be expected with this staff. Let's talk about that a little bit more because you know, you, you get a guy like Whitehead say say that that comes to fruition. What are the tailwinds attached to that from a just a 26 class and potentially even looking forward to 27? I know someone like a like a Carter. 2728 Brown, 26, has already signed. Yeah, sorry, 2728. My bet. What? What does that look like? I know somebody like a Carter Jones who's committing in the next month and 1/2 or so, you know, that may not play a factor in his recruiting, but would something like that have tailwinds for the 27 class and how would how would that play for 28 as well? Without a doubt, that's what I'm saying.

56:20 Like it, it's so massive, not only for 27 because you get that guy he rallies in, but I'm just talking about 28 projecting for the guy in middle school right now who's in Virginia or whatever. Like it's, it's great because it's my business, right? Like the, the, the graphic culture where you're on Instagram or Twitter and you see this big #1 Virginia going to Virginia Tech. But that's what it is. It's perception. It matters because that for a lot of people, that's their first touch point with Virginia Tech or, or that program. Like, oh, wow, I didn't know that. Like when you see Jared Curtis go to Vanderbilt or shoot, what was the other one? Deshawn Henderson to Houston or there's another one where is AI mean? Even Fernando Mendoza to Indiana or something like that, that stature where it's like that guy's going to this program that hasn't, you know, kind of recruited at that clip.

57:05 Now you see USC, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia getting those guys like, OK, But when you start to see continued success on the trail, it's like, wow, we can stay close to home. We can represent our state at a program that's invested at in US at a younger age as opposed to out of state schools. Just naturally, like if Virginia Tech is not on guys in the state of Virginia before every other school, then that's on them, right? Like you, you can't let those guys go walking. So I think that's why it's so big. And yeah, 20 eights, 20 nines, 30s, seeing that, parlaying that down the road, it's super big and and especially in the 27 class, I wouldn't say he's like the most vocal guy, but if you get that, it's like, OK, like we're doing this now. It's not a two year, three-year rebuild. Like they're they're really getting after it right now. Let's let's go hop on the bandwagon. Love that Curtis, what you got.

57:55 Well, I'll ask this because you mentioned them all. If you had one guy to currently say that was committed and I'm going to go UVA because the ones you mentioned are committed, who flips? Who's the do you think your quickest flip is there? So I listed DeMarcus Brown, Derek Fisher and Lonnie Andrews. Correct. Yeah, we listened those 3. See, I, I think Derek, I don't know, man, I would between, I would say Derek Fisher. I don't know about Lonnie Andrews, though, because that quarterback board's going to have to shape out. But I mean, like to go play with your cousin, right? You know, like, and then if you're Derek Fisher, right, like, you know who your, your cousin is in Virginia Tech, like both those guys, I feel like there's a familial draw there, right? Like, and I, I for Lonnie, I think a lot about Jamari Deloach.

58:44 Like he was committed to sensing like that was so weird. I remember this is such a weird anecdote. Side note, but I was in Disney World for my sister's birthday and I'm on the phone with Evan G Watkins, like about to put in a crystal ball for Jamario to Virginia Tech. And it was just so weird the way that whole thing went where Michigan was on and then it died down. It was going to be Virginia Tech fully and then Cincinnati. And he commits to Cincinnati and it never felt right, like even me like covering his recruitment, going to state track meets and everything was just like Cincinnati, what happened? And then there was a really big flip like I remember like still, it was be one of my favorite signing day memories ever. Like breaking the news of his flip right there, right. Like talk like that was insane. One of my honestly probably my favorite signing day moment of my life. So like so far just breaking that because, you know, that was a recruitment I feel like I was closest with in that 25 class and it never felt right.

59:32 And it came all the way full circle. And, you know, I just feel like, I just feel like I'm maybe this is just me feeling remnants of that with Lonnie Andrews. But yeah, you know what? I was going to say Derek Fisher, but give me Lonnie Andrews. I think that's one. I think that's one to watch there at the quarterback position. Awesome. All right. So I'll, I'll, I'll switch gears a little bit with the offers that are being reported right now, kind of where things are standing, which areas outside of Virginia have been the kind of heaviest focus for James Franklin for this 27 cycle? I would say it's pretty spread out, but you know, like his connections up in the northern Mid-Atlantic region, Pennsylvania, Philly area, a lot of prep schools in their jersey into Ohio.

1:00:21 But then you've got guys on the staff like Coach Chaos who's down in Texas sending out a ton of offers, Midget Anthony Midget's down in Florida sending out offers. You got Norville McKenzie in South Carolina. But I would say a lot of it is focused in that DMV into Pennsylvania area just because those are the high schools and the coaches and the relationships they've been naturally closest with for the last decade, right? So I would say outside of Virginia, it would be mostly in that Northern DMV into Pennsylvania and then extending outside of that Ohio and then parts of the Southeast Florida, South Carolina, Georgia with Norville McKenzie kind of driving that train. And obviously, shoot, I can't even leave out North Carolina. I would really just kind of say almost up and down the East Coast from Pennsylvania down and into really Ohio and parts of Texas.

1:01:08 Outside of that, you won't see much except for quarterbacks, but I feel like they've made that their territory, right? Like they'll go Pennsylvania. How in that DC region, you've obviously got the state of Virginia, North Carolina, you've got guys South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and yeah, I mean, but shoot, they've been in offering guys in Alabama, I would say mostly North Carolina and then up through Pennsylvania. And some of those guys it'll be interesting like because they're they're always changing the areas and regions. Like I know right now I think Anthony Midget has Florida. I think how is the DMV? O'Brien has North Carolina, I think Norville has South Carolina and Georgia. I don't know where Spencer is. Maybe part of Virginia and Texas still.

1:01:51 So it's changing, but yeah, I mean, it's definitely wider than just a six hour radius that Virginia Tech's been accustomed to, yeah. Brian, you had something like Brian, literally Brian wrote this like an hour before you jumped on. But Brian? Yeah, I was just going to like, you know, you talked about the six hour radius. One of the things Coach Franklin said when he got on board is that, you know, if you're going to compete for College Football Playoff, you can't just recruit in the six hour radius. You got to look, you know, you got to be able to recruit nationally if you're going to be relevant. Yeah. You know, you mentioned Texas is, is there other other areas that you know, just from a national perspective where you're seeing kind of maybe even just one offs of, of guys getting offered kind of outside of that traditional footprint that Virginia has been looking at, you know, kind of up and down the East Coast? Yeah, I would say 1 offs.

1:02:45 It's not like state of Washington or Oregon, right? It was Alabama in the parts of Alabama, Louisiana. I mean, those states are so hard to crack into when you know the state schools and how those guys get their talent, right? Like was saving Alabama even Gene Chisek at Alabama, even shoot who? Gosh, Gus Malzahn, how can I not think of his name like those guys? Like I feel like when you would go during those 10 years at Auburn and Alabama, it was the state of Alabama rankings Alabama, Alabama, Alabama, Auburn, AL Alabama lake and Louisiana the same you had the tigers logo LSULSULSU pretty much for all of them. You know, like I feel like those states are kind of the the marquee of like keeping in state talent home and now they're very talent rich states.

1:03:28 But I would say a couple of offers shout out, shout out there Missouri, nothing too crazy. Some in California, just because if you want those big national recruits, you got a lot of big schools out there. Mattered to some big schools. A lot of. Quarterbacks, some offers out in Utah. What'd you say? A lot. Of quarterbacks out. There in California, Yeah. I was about to say that's the other thing is like, but like, yeah, naturally you're going to go find some. Like look at Troy Hume, you know, like I'm saying, I think about Brady Edmonds. I think Virginia Tech was in there for a little bit. I think he's committed to Ohio State. And I know I think Penn State was in on him as well. But yeah, I mean, you're definitely going to go out there for quarterbacks for sure. But even other positions, I wouldn't be shocked to see them do that in the future. Has there been any of these like Texas, California guys that you're hearing like what they're hearing from Virginia Tech, like what they're seeing with the vision of the program yet? Yeah, there's one.

1:04:24 There's one from Texas. Not going to be able to find his name right now. He's a Edge prospect that I'm watching. I feel so bad. I'm going to mess up his name. I can remember his high school, but I can't remember his name. But yeah, I would say, I would say you're seeing some success there, that there's definitely at least one guy from Texas. That's on my mind. Hold on, hold on, I got the list up here. First of all, I don't remember any of the last 10 years lists of offers being this big. Maybe I just didn't look at the right time. Shot out of color. I mean, and even just talking to different people, like there was one year I think at Penn State, he offered like 300 wide receivers or something. It's like or something crazy.

1:05:07 So it's insanely hard to track. And even for them right now, like, I don't want it to be undersold. Like they don't have now in years, years moving forward, they certainly will as they build up this infrastructure, right? And they have a better footing of what they want. But they don't have this really clear board. Like like we were talking about Chris Whitehead. They're not going to tell him no, right? Like they're going to take it. That's a guy they're going to take. But some of these other guys, it's like we don't, we don't know yet. Like we're still building out our board. We're still familiarizing with your coaches like a junior Sanders, they're taking him right? Elijah Hutchinson, like those top of the board guys, OK, take, take whenever. But some of these other guys are having for obese. It's like like that's why the dead period was so big. And even in like still now like it's like, what what's the quarterback room going to look like?

1:05:49 What's our third wide receiver? What's our second tight end? What's our 4th offensive lineman? You know, like we feel good about these guys. But beyond that, we're still trying to flesh out our board. Got it. Well, it's really funny because I thought when I went to Edge here, it would be like one guy. No, they have three offers, a guy from Denton Dyer, a guy from We Get Down Here to the other ones, Si Falls and Cedar Hill. Yeah, that's where, say, the two names hang on, it's. Jeron Allen, The Second James Harris. It's James Harris that's the one, and he goes to SI. Si Falls Ski Falls. That's the one, Yeah.

1:06:29 OK, James, I was just wanting to keep an eye on. I'm not saying anything crazy, but that that was the one that comes to mind. That no. Well, yeah. I understand what you're saying, but what you're hearing is someone from there with the James Franklin pitch and with the vision like. Like he might get up, you know, like that's kind of rare to have a guy from Texas, right? Like it's not, it's not a trip from even Greensboro, NC, or even Columbus, OH. Like that's, that's a real trip, you know? That is a real trip, Brian. Anything else? We want to close Colby out here with men because dude, we've been sitting here an hour. It's been a blast here.

1:07:10 In your takes, by the way, the best thing you do, Colby, is like the Deloach story. Colby, anytime you're with us, if you want to go off on a Side Story, that's what we're all about here. It depends. Because it makes it real, man. It makes it because we're just having a conversation about something we all three love. Dude, I was just thinking about it like if there's I just feel like there's so much that you're acquainted or like adjacent to and you like I, I feel like I don't keep enough notes because if someone brings it up, it like sparks your memory, but it's like until you think about that Deloach thing or whatever. Like even the I remember the the one that got blew up a little bit was the pro day one, right? Like when they were doing the heating, like, or that was something I never even thought to talk about until, you know, the heating came in and then there was a big crash out on the pro day where the scout kind of got in Brett Pryor's face and was like, you need to have heating in here. Brett thought it was like a joke. And then there was that whole kerfuffle. But yeah, there there's just so I mean, even in the couple years I've been around it there, there's always something, there's always a story.

1:08:10 But yeah, we'll, we'll see. Maybe that Lonnie Andrews thing plays out just like that. But yeah, the man, the Jamari Deloach, I think he's going to be a special player. I think you're going to see a lot of him this year. Those three guys, I've I've said it since they got there knowledge Harold, he might be moving back to safety, which I've kind of said since he got there. JoJo KREM, who sounds like he was a little banged up. I think we'll be fine for spring and Jamar Deloach probably at nickel. Like I know you like Isaiah Brown, Murray, Tyson Flower, like awesome guys. Go check out on my YouTube channel got great interviews with him there. Like really awesome guys. I appreciate them. But I think those young three guys from last year, it's going to be tough to keep those guys off the field. Pushing, pushing. We've been we've been banging the the knowledge Harold Drum here and obviously Deloach, I mean, just incredible athlete.

1:08:56 So I'm excited to see what he can do kind of getting into the mix there at Nichols. So. And what and what you want is the young guys pushing, the veterans, the guys that you've seen like an IBM, like a flowers, you know, we know, you know they can play solid. Do you want football? You want the young guys pushing because if they're pushing, basically they're saying I'm coming to take your job, you better give it 110 all the time or we'll take your job, so. You know what, we're raising the talent level and you're you're adding depth in there. So it's like, either way, it's a win. 100, that's what we set off the top. Like, you got to have talent at all those levels to make everyone better at practice, and they've done that, So, yeah. 100% Colby anything where tell people where they can follow you.

1:09:43 Anything going on 247 right now that people might be interested in? Yeah, man, it's going to be busy this coming week. I appreciate you guys had me on here for spring break because next week we're going to be after it. We'll see what spring ball looks like, but you can follow me on X at Colby under score Crawford. Check out the YouTube channel. Let's just type in Colby. Crawford should have promo code code Colby for BT scoop in the next week. So don't tell the bosses. Maybe don't get the VIP yet until next Tuesday. Might have a sweet deal for you. But yeah, over there it'll be. I mean, I feel like we've already had a ton of different team scoop, but team scoop, when the trench portal gets rocking, there's no better place to be. High school recruiting is going to be crazy coming up. So yeah, no better place to be than over there. All right, we'll check him out.

1:10:28 Colby rear, appreciate you joining us tonight. That does wrap up this episode of the Boundary Corner podcast brought to you by Moments on the Mori in Lexington along with our special guest, Colby Crawford from 247. I'm Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian Siegler. Jonathan Tally, we hope, is saved. Shelton Moss is at some baseball field. That's all I know. Check out. Boundary corner. I'll pinch it. There you go, there you go, come down and pinch it. Check out boundarycornerbt.com to listen to all of our episodes. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Subscribe for our YouTube channel. For those who are wondering, Twitter, we should have a bunch of people come on.

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1:11:51 Check him out. He is going to be cranking up for the spring lots of dates so check out the live upcoming performances. He's all around the greater Roanoke Valley area. We appreciate y'all for listening and as always, let's go. Oh, keys. The.