Photo Credit: Jake Roth
Check out the latest Virginia Tech football recruiting notes as the Hokies show interest in an emerging 2021 defensive tackle and a 2022 target with NFL connections.
DT Ian Mathews
Virginia Tech is still looking to add a couple defensive tackle recruits this cycle with one player that they are starting to show some interest in being Ian Mathews.
Mathews told us that he has been hearing from assistant Jeron Gouveia-Winslow recently with Gouveia-Winslow telling Mathews that the Hokies are looking for at least one more 2021 defensive lineman. He added that he is also receiving interest from Georgia Tech currently with it being possible that more schools may join soon.
That largely comes from the massive potential he shows as a two-sport football and basketball athlete who brings great size to the table at 6'5'' and 275 pounds according to his Twitter profile. He also has shown some productivity as a defensive lineman and tight end at the high school level with 43 tackles including 5 for loss plus 235 receiving yards.
As Tech looks to add a defensive tackle or two this cycle, Ian Mathews is a late-rising player to keep an eye on as a possible target.
2022 QB Owen McCown
Virginia Tech has a few top quarterback targets in the 2022 class with one of the more under-the-radar ones being Owen McCown, the son of long-time NFL quarterback Josh McCown.
Owen McCown told us that Virginia Tech is currently recruiting him the hardest with offensive coordinator/QBs coach Brad Cornelsen leading the charge. McCown added that he has built a "good" relationship with Cornelsen so far.
McCown currently has offers from VT, UNLV, Charlotte, and Lamar while Wake Forest, Northwestern, and East Carolina are also showing interest. Now that may seem to be a concern, but McCown has also been stuck behind one of the highest-ranked QBs in the 2021 class, limiting his playing time and stats as he shared with us.
"Well I played behind Drake Maye, who is a 4-star UNC commit, So I got in some games late and threw for 123 yards total and a touchdown," McCown said.
As mentioned above, Owen McCown is also the son of long-time NFL quarterback Josh McCown which has allowed Owen to experience some very unique things and have a great teacher of the QB position right at home.
"It’s awesome, just getting to witness some cool experiences like in training camps and in games. From a development standpoint, it’s great because he’s the ultimate teacher. Hard to find somebody better," Owen McCown said.
Owen McCown may not be as high-profile as other QB targets for Virginia Tech in the recruiting rankings, but he's definitely a player to watch especially as he gains some starting opportunities.
