Collegiate Times

By Mike Platania, sports staff writer

Thomas Smith

With two of Tech’s all time receiving leaders in Danny Coale and Jarrett Boykin leaving, next year Logan Thomas will have a plethora of new wide receivers to target, as well as a few player whose position is still to be determined. Here are the Hokies’ new receiving and athletic recruits:

Joel Caleb, WR

Jerome Wright, ATH

Wright hails from Highland Springs, Va. and clocks in at 6’2 225 pounds. He saw a lot of action in high school as a tailback, but was used frequently as a pass catcher out of the backfield. He also saw time as a linebacker due to his speed that is unusual for his size. It’ll be interesting to watch how his versatility and athleticism translate onto the field. He’ll likely test the waters on both sides of the ball before solidifying his position.

Brenden Motley, ATH

Another athlete in this year’s recruiting class for the Hokies is a Christiansburg native. Motley has good size at 6’3 and 200 pounds, and he played quarterback in high school, but also played plenty of free safety. His height and speed make him seem like a lock to be a free safety, especially since Thomas has solidified himself as the undisputed starter under center. Motley chose Tech over ACC rivals Virginia and Georgia Tech and will be an interesting story going into training camp to see if his defensive instincts will land him on the other side of the ball.

Mark Irick, WR

At 6’3 and 185, Irick is a speedy deep threat who is a big play waiting to happen. Coming from St. Matthews, South Carolina, Irick is a three-star recruit who has exceptional hands and strength. If he can improve his route-running, Irick could be a difference maker immediately at Tech thanks to his ability to elevate and out-jump defensive backs, especially in the red zone.

Thomas Smith, WR

Smith is yet another Virginia native, coming from Williamsburg, Va. Smith is a big, physical receiver at 6’3, 225 pounds and will likely grayshirt. Rumors are that he will attend Fork Union Military Academy to improve his academics and athleticism. He’s shown good speed for his size with a 4.53 40-yard dash time, and the time spent Fork Union should help his maturity and understanding of the game.

Joshua Stanford, WR

Coming from Lithonia, Ga. is another speedy wide receiver for the Hokies. Stanford stands at 6’2, 175 pounds and runs a quick 40-yard dash at 4.4 seconds. Stanford had staggering numbers his senior year, catching 56 passes for over 1,100 yards. Stanford combines the rare ability of making plays from being elusive and agile, but he can also go over the middle and take big hits. On top of all of that, he’s also a prolific kick returner.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

By Alex Koma, sports staff writer

Jarontay Jones

Ken Ekanem: 6’3, 226 pounds

Woody Baron: 6’3, 252 pounds

Baron is a strongside defensive end hailing from Brentwood, Tennessee. He’s been earning accolades at the Brentwood Academy since he put up an impressive 17 sacks in his junior season. He’s since been named the 19th best player on Rivals’ 2011 Tennessee postseason rankings, and was invited to participate in the Tennessee East vs. West All-Star game. The team should have decent depth at defensive end, and Baron will probably have the opportunity to sit for a while and fill out his frame before he sees any serious action.

Seth Dooley: 6’5, 230 pounds

Dooley is a weakside defensive end from Salem, Va. He attended Glenvar High School, but he’s had his mind on the Hokies for some time now. He committed to Tech after receiving an offer while attending a camp in Blacksburg, and Rivals rates him as the 28th best end in the state. Dooley has very good height for his position, but he needs time to build strength. His max bench currently stands at 365, and he’ll have to continue to add bulk to crack the starting lineup anytime soon.

Jarontay Jones: 6’2, 240 pounds

Jones is a weakside defensive end from Stone Mountain, Ga., and is the top-rated defensive end recruit for the Hokies. He attended Stephenson High School, and amassed 90 tackles and 16 sacks in his junior year there. He’s ranked as the 23rd best player at his position in the nation by Rivals, and runs a 4.62 40-yard dash. He’s a little undersized, but his speed should help him compensate at the next level. He has the most developed technique of any defensive end in Tech’s recruiting class, and could compete for rotation time relatively quickly.

Alston Smith: 6’3, 272 pounds

Smith is a defensive tackle from Virginia Beach and attended Cox High School. Although he didn’t receive much attention early in his career, he’s since gained notoriety and was named to Rivals’ list of players to watch in Virginia for 2011. He has since been ranked as the 24th best tackle in the state, and should have some time to develop, as he steps into another position with a fair amount of young talent.

Nigel Williams: 6’3, 260 pounds

Williams comes from Richmond, Va., where he attended Benedictine High School. He put up eight sacks in back to back seasons in his sophomore and junior seasons, and runs a surprisingly quick 4.63 40-yard dash. He has soared up rankings lists recently, as Rivals rates him 15th at tackle in the state and 49th at the position nationally. He turned down offers from schools like UVa and NC State to come to Tech, and he should be a real asset as he fights for playing time right away.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

By Zack Conway, sports staff writer

Donovan Riley

The Virginia Tech Hokies introduce their new recruiting class with some great defensive backs. All of these young men are great athletes and talented in their own way. Donaldven Manning is the only four-star recruit out of this group, but the other four are not far behind in skill and talent. Look out for these five football players to make a special impact on the Hokie defense under Bud Foster in their next step to becoming professional athletes.

Desmond Frye

Frye is a 6’1 170-pound defensive back that has experience at both cornerback and wide receiver. Frye has great size and hands for a defensive back and this enables him to make big plays on defense. He is a versatile player who can also play the wide receiver position. Frye does not have the world-class speed that you would look for in a defensive back, but with his athletic ability and pure ball skills he looks to have an impact in Bud Foster’s defense. Frye will likely be redshirted this upcoming fall because of the depth that is already at both the defensive back and wide receiver position.

Der’Woun Greene

Greene is a 5’10 175-pound defender that has experience at both cornerback and safety. Greene has great athletic ability and this allows him to play at either the safety or cornerback position. His versatility will make him more valuable to the Hokies’ defense. Bud Foster loves players that can play multiple positions, and Greene looks to be a perfect fit for this defense. Greene will probably end up playing at the safety position because of his pure athletic ability and his natural experience at that position. Greene will probably not see much playing time in the fall, but with his size and ability he should see the field in the next couple years.

Donaldven Manning

Manning is 5’9 165-pound cornerback that has committed to continue playing football here at Virginia Tech. Manning is one of Tech’s only four start recruits from this class. He looks to continue his success here in Blacksburg under Bud Foster. Manning hopes to follow the footsteps of great cornerbacks like Brandon Flowers, Deangelo Hall and Jayron Hosely here at Virginia Tech. Manning may be lacking in size and top-end speed, but his raw ability to play the corner position is amazing to watch. Bud Foster will love to have a player like this on his defense; he will coach him up and we should definitely see an impact in the secondary in the future.

Donovan Riley

Riley is a 6’0 190-pound defensive back that has committed to Virginia Tech where he looks to continue his high school success into college. Coming to Tech, Riley will probably play the safety position because of his combination of size and speed. He is a very versatile player that can play either the safety or corner position; he is just an all-around good defender. Riley is a hard-hitting player that loves to make big plays on the defensive side of the ball to send messages to the opposing team.  He may lack a little in the height and length department, but with his talent and ability, he should translate well in the Bud Fosters defense. Look for Riley to be redshirted this upcoming fall, but after that watch out for this guy on the football field.

Davion Tookes

Tookes is 5’10 170-pound cornerback that has committed to Virginia Tech. Coming out of high school Tookes has been very underrated, he has solid measurables such as speed and size but his instincts are what make him special. His ball skills and pure awareness on the field are outstanding; he can flat out make plays on the defensive side of the ball. With the help of Bud Foster and more experience Tookes can be that next great corner to come out of Virginia Tech. When he plays, he reminds you a lot of Jayron Hosely, they are about the same size and both play with great football instincts. Don’t expect Tookes to get a lot of playing time his freshman year, but over the next couple years I won’t be surprised if he makes a splash onto the national scene.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

By Brooks Tiffany, sports staff writer

Dahman McKinnon

Virginia Tech fell short on linebacker recruiting last year and as a result, a talent gap was created at the position. With a lack of upcoming talent to develop behind the likes of Tariq Edwards, Bruce Taylor and Jack Tyler, the Virginia Tech coaching staff had its linebacker recruiting work cut out for it this year. However, it looks as if Tech has more than made up for the loss, thanks to the recruiting efforts of Bud Foster, Charley Wiles, Bryan Stinespring and Shane Beamer, whose combined efforts have landed an outstanding class of linebackers that promise to champion the Hokie defense for seasons to come. Here’s a look at the top five prospects:

Deon Clarke; 6-2/205lbs; Chesterfield, Va

As part of a fantastic season, Deon Clarke led Lloyd C Bird High to the playoffs and had offers from Miami, Virginia, Tennessee, and many other schools. According to Rivals.com, he was the No. 13 outside linebacker in the nation and the No. 6 overall prospect in the state of Virginia. He is considered a “lunch-pail” player that will fit right into Bud Foster’s defense, with his work-ethic, athleticism and tackling ability. With some added weight, this guy could become a gap-crushing bruiser. Clarke will most likely redshirt until he can cross the 230 mark in weight, a necessity on the lunch-pail line-backing corps.

Trey Edmunds; 6-2/205; Ringgold, Va

This Parade All-American and son of Ferrell Edmunds (two time Miami Dolphin Pro-Bowler), is considered by many to be a physical freak as a two-way player who can also do work at running back. Edmunds received offers from Texas Tech, UNC, Tennessee among others with Rivals.com ranking him as the No. 16 OLB in the nation and the No. 9 overall prospect in VA. At this, he will best fit into the Mike position at Tech. His raw physical talent means that he could possibly see playing time right away if Tech had to call on him, but he will most likely redshirt due to the current group of linebackers already employed. With some development and some added weight, Edmunds has the potential to be a three year starter at Tech.

Dahman McKinnon; 6-2/200; Hope Mills, Nc

This recruit was ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 57 OLB in the nation and the No. 24 prospect in Nc. He garnered interest from Tennessee, NC State, UNC, and Wake Forest as he tallied 144 tackles and five sacks his junior year. McKinnon has solid fundamentals but, much like the rest of the 2012 class, will need to bulk up before he sees playing time. With his speed, some strength training and development, McKinnon will look to step into a Whip linebacker position at Tech in a year or two.

Devin Vandyke; 6-1/203; Lorton, Va

The younger brother of Ronny Vandyke, a redshirt-FR for Tech, Devin Vandyke is the No. 41 OLB in the nation according to Rivals.com and the No. 11 overall prospect in VA. He was awarded Washington Post All-Metro honors during his senior season when he led the South County High Stallions to the Division 5 state championship. He received offers from Boston College, Kentucky, Maryland, and Vanderbilt among others. Vandyke will fit right in on the Virginia Tech defense with his hard-nosed, scrappy style of play, and with a bit of developments and some bulking up, he could soon become one of the mainstays of the defense.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

By David Cooper, sports staff writer

Augie Conte

After only one offensive line commitment last year, the coaching staff made it a priority to add some depth to the position.

The Hokies received commitments from offensive linemen Augie Conte, Adam Taraschke and Jack Willenbrock today. Only Augie Conte is rated higher than a 2-star and none of them were highly-touted prospects, but the coaching staff has proved in the past that player rating systems mean nothing — especially when it comes to offensive line recruits.

Jack Willenbrock was the first to commit of the three. Willenbrock stands 6’4 and weighs 260 pounds. While Willenbrock’s physical attributes are nothing special, he is very athletic and quick for an offensive lineman. He plays hard and with a toughness that the Virginia Tech staff seems to like. Willenbrock played most of his high school career as a guard and is expected to play that same role at Tech. Willenbrock will not see any playing time in the near future as he will need a few years to build strength.

Adam Taraschke is 6’6 and weighs pounds. Like Willenbrock, Taraschke was not heavily recruited by other schools, but he has the potential to be a key contributor on the offensive line. Taraschke will need time to gain the weight needed for him to go up against a collegiate defensive lineman, but he has all of the capabilities needed for the position. Taraschke is praised for having a great initial surge off the snap and solid technique. Expect to see Taraschke getting some playing time in his redshirt sophomore year.

Augie Conte is Tech’s highest rated offensive line prospect for this class and is rated as the 54th best offensive lineman in the country. Never having played football until his freshman year in high school, Conte seemingly came out of nowhere to become a D-1 football prospect. He stands 6’6’ and weights 270 lbs. Conte was named VIS first-team all-state for offensive line and defensive line. He is definitely the best athlete out of the other two offensive line prospects, but like the others, will need time to bulk up so he can go against an ACC defensive line. All in all this offensive line recruiting class will bring much needed depth to a position that was looking pretty thin.

Maybe one of the best stories of the recruiting season was the commitment of tight end Dakota Jackson. Jackson goes to high school at Northside in Roanoke, Va. It is always a good story to have a player grow up around a big time college football program and actually get the chance to live the dream of playing for them. Jackson is 6’4 and weighs 250 pounds. Jackson played iron man football as he lined up at both linebacker and tight end at Northside. Scouts say he has excellent hands and the rare ability to block defensive ends, something many tight ends struggle with. Although Jackson is not going to blow you away with his speed, he makes up for it with his route running abilities. Unfortunately, Virginia Tech’s 2011 recruiting class encompassed three tight ends so it may not be until Dakota’s redshirt junior year for him to get some playing time. I wouldn’t be surprised if Jackson was Virginia Tech’s starting tight end before the end of his collegiate career.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

By Eric Avissar, sports staff writer

J.C. Coleman

Michael Holmes recovering from knee surgery for most of the offseason, there will be a stable of freshmen coming to Blacksburg that will get a chance to make an immediate impact. The most prized recruit of this class is J.C. Coleman, who is ranked as the third-best all-purpose running back in the nation according to Rivals.com.

Having graduated Virginia high school powerhouse Oscar Smith in December, Coleman has already enrolled at Tech, and has drawn comparisons to Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice with his 5-7, 170 pound frame. Coleman possesses devastating open field speed as well as vision carrying the ball, and could become an invaluable asset on third downs with his terrific pass-catching ability.

Along with Coleman, the Hokies will have another back known for his speed with Chris Mangus. Standing at 6-0, 180 pounds, Mangus hails from Raleigh, North Carolina, but eventually narrowed down his college choice to the two Virginia ACC schools. Mangus is a three star recruit ranked 30th nationally by Rivals.

The last running back to commit to 2012 class is Drew Harris.  Hailing from Exton, Pennsylvania, Harris is a 6-1 210-pound back who runs with great power and vision. Ranked as the 22nd best running back nationally by Rivals, Harris ran for 28 touchdowns as a junior, and was recruited primarily by running backs coach Shane Beamer.  With two running backs known for their speed, and Harris considered a bruising power back, the Hokies should generate a dynamic rushing attack with a stellar trio of running backs committed.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

By Matt Jones, sports editor

Korren Kirven

Moments ago, the Virginia Tech Hokies watched Brookville High School defensive lineman Korren Kirven choose the University of Alabama.

He made the announcement around 8:10 by pulling an Alabama hat out of a bag.

Kirven, the No. 7 player in the state of Virginia and a top 250 recruit by Rivals.com, made his decision between the Crimson Tide, Virginia Tech and Tennesseee.

At 6’4 272 pounds, Kirven hails from the same high school that has produced current Hokies Logan Thomas and Zack McCray.

According to Rivals.com, Bryan Stinespring was the lead recruiter for Kirven. It was rumored yesterday that Kirven may have been leaning toward Alabama.

Stay tuned on Twitter (@MattJonesCT) and here on the blog for continued coverage of National Signing Day.

Photo courtesy Rivals.com

By Matt Jones, sports editor

Four star cornerback Donaldven Manning

The 2012 football recruiting class saw it’s first members hit campus today, as Donaldven Manning (pronounced Donovan), JC Coleman and Dewayne Alford all begin their Virginia Tech careers.

Rivals.com ranks Coleman, a state champion at Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Va., the No. 4 all-purpose back in the nation. He rushed for 1,488 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior. At 5-foot-7, 169 pounds, Coleman isn’t a typical Hokies running back, but he figures to challenge for playing time in the fall.

Alford, a member of the 2011 recruiting class, deferred his enrollment to this semester. He projects as a defensive end, but still needs to add weight to see significant playing time down the line.

Manning, possibly the most sought-after recruit the Hokies landed in the class of 2012, is a 4-star cornerback from Miami, FL. With other offers from Alabama, LSU, Florida State and others, Manning will join secondary coach Torian Gray’s unit that has consistently risen to the occasion.

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