The New Class: Thomas Jarrett Hopple
We're catching up with members of Virginia Tech's 2016 football signing class to get to know them better and shed even more insight on where they see themselves with the Hokies. This is No. 9 in our series.
Recruited by: Vance Vice
Has your size changed at all?
I'm about 6'6" and 280.
What does your workout routine entail?
Pretty much the workout Tech sent me, the weight room and workout wise. Then, just some extra running.
When do you plan on reporting to Virginia Tech?
Sometime in June, just to get moved in, get used to the area before school starts. I think school starts on July 5.
What do you plan on working or improving on through this summer?
I wanna work on my speed, definitely and staying low. I'm gonna try to condition a little more, too.
How would you describe your playing style?
A tough offensive lineman that gets the job done athletically and physically.
What are some of your goals for your first season at Virginia Tech?
Do the best I can and get some playing time.
What player or team are you most looking forward to going up against?
I'm not sure. I'll play any team. I wanna go against the best and win.
What's your favorite food?
Steak. Medium rare most of the time. It depends on where I go. Some restaurants will cook medium rare really rare and some restaurants will cook it more medium. It's hard to find that perfect steak. You need a little bit of the juices.
What is your favorite movie?
That's hard, but I think 'Top Gun.'
What is your favorite TV show?
'Dukes of Hazard.' That's a good show. I like it.
What's the one song you're getting amped up to before a game?
Really, just any Metallica song. I've always liked 'em. I probably have 10 CDs.
What would be three words to describe you?
Big, smart and country.
If you could date any celebrity, who would it be?
I guess I'd go with Kate Upton.
If you could go toe to toe in the ring with anybody, who would it be?
Hmm, can I pass on that? I don't even know. Maybe my brother.
What's been your most memorable experience playing football?
Like a game or a season? It'd probably be the Hickory game my senior season becasue we set records for the most points scored and had the best record since 2002. We broke 60 points. That was a good game. I don't think I played the whole second half.
What's the one thing you learned from your recruitment that you would pass on as advice to a future recruit?
Take as many visits as you can, just so you see where you feel at home the most. You can have offers from every D-I school in the country. But if you go to a place like Oregon, just for the uniforms and you don't feel at home there, then you're gonna hate it, in my opinion.
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