Hokies make Payton Wilson's top group

Hillsborough (N.C.) Orange County 2018 linebacker Payton Wilson has picked up a number of bigtime offers in recent weeks. Alabama, Florida State, Michigan State, and Wisconsin are among the latest in joining the offer list. Now, he knows the group from which he'll eventually make his decision.

Virginia Tech is still in contention, along with Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, and North Carolina.

Although he's just a three-star and the No. 21 linebacker nationally (and the No. 16 senior in the state of North Carolina), it's worth noting that the two schools that have played for each of the past two national championships are on the list, along with the program that won immediately prior to their two-game series. The 6-4, 220-pound Wilson is clearly a prospect on the rise.

Virginia Tech has the benefit of already hosting Wilson on-campus, as he visited in January for the Hokies' first junior day of the 2018 recruiting cycle.

Wilson plans to take his time with a further narrowing of his list - and an eventual decision. VT is in good standing with a number of other linebackers, including fellow Tar Heel State native Dax Hollifield and in-stater Keshon Artis. With a large group of LB signees in 2017, the Hokies can be selective in 2018, and the options available make it clear that they'll land a couple good ones, regardless of which prospects that ultimately end up being.