The Tech Lunch Pail is excited to announce the launch of the new TLP Insider subscription. Sign up for an account and get the best news, inside scoops, and analysis on the Hokies! Learn more

Virginia Tech Football Recruiting Notes 7/17/20

Skipper 1
Photo Credit: Harley Taylor

Check out the latest Virginia Tech football recruiting notes as one of Virginia's top 2021 recruits sets his decision date plus a 2021 offensive lineman makes plans to visit VT and the Hokies are standing well for a 2022 four-star linebacker.

4* DL Kelvin Gilliam

After trimming down to a top 10 a few weeks ago, Virginia Tech priority target Kelvin Gilliam has set a decision date.

Gilliam will make his commitment on August 22nd with the Hokies among the top contenders in his recruitment. However, it feels like Virginia Tech has some ground to make up with Penn State and Oklahoma considered the favorites at this point, and VT and South Carolina being the top challengers.

Part of the Hokies' push has been built around the defensive changes they've made bringing in new defensive line coaches Darryl Tapp and Bill Teerlinck with Tapp and new defensive coordinator Justin Hamilton. The push led by Hamilton and Tapp has helped the Hokies continue to be contenders, but Gilliam making his decision prior to the current 2020 season start date is less than ideal for the Hokies.

Virginia Tech definitely isn't out of the hunt for Kelvin Gilliam, but the Hokies have some ground to make up on frontrunners like Penn State and Oklahoma.

OL Bryce Goodner

The Hokies haven't offered Athens, Tennessee offensive lineman Bryce Goodner yet, but an offer may not be too far away with both sides showing lots of mutual interest.

Goodner told us that the Hokies are showing "quite a bit" of interest in him. That includes offensive line coach Vance Vice giving him a "FaceTime tour of facilities" and head S&C coach Ben Hilgart giving a presentation on the Hokies' strength & conditioning program.

Goodner's interest in the Hokies is also significant as he told us that he is planning on taking a visit to Virginia Tech "next weekend." For a recruit who hasn't received a VT offer yet to take a visit to Blacksburg during a dead period is a significant statement on how interested Goodner is in the Hokies.

If the Hokies were to offer Goodner, there's no doubt that it would make a big impact on his recruitment with any other school having a hard time beating out the Hokies. We'll have more on Bryce Goodner soon.

2022 4* LB Xavier Simmons

Xavier Simmons looks like he'll be one of Virginia Tech's top linebacker targets in the 2022 class with the Hokies being in the hunt for the four-star Greensboro, NC linebacker early.

Simmons told us that the Hokies are "definitely in the mix" because of the "good academics, tradition, coaching, and VT is not too far from home."

Part of that has been due to the recruiting job done by defensive line coach Darryl Tapp, Simmons' primary recruiter. Simmons hears from Tapp and the Hokies on a weekly basis and had this to say about the Hokie Hall of Famer and former longtime NFL player.

"He’s a great guy and good coach with NFL playing experience. The relationship has been really good so far," Simmons said.

It may be early in his recruitment, but it's clear that the Hokies should be contenders for one of the best 2022 linebackers in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Advertisement
You must login in order to comment on this post.
Loading Indicator