VT Announces Early Enrollees
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There will be no more wondering about five commitments for Virginia Tech in the 2016 recruiting class.
The Hokies announced they have received grant-in-aid signatures from five recruits: IMG Academy (Fla.) four-star cornerback Khalil Ladler, Mt. Tabor (NC) three-star wide receiver Divine Deablo, Saline (Mich.) three-star quarterback Joshua Jackson, Hanahan (SC) three-star wide receiver Samuel Denmark, Forest Park (Va.) three-star wide receiver Eric Kumah and Southwest-Onslow (NC) three-star defensive end Jimmie Taylor. All six will graduate from their high schools this month and enroll at Virginia Tech next month. They'll also be allowed to participate in spring practice.
The only signature that seemed unsure on the list came from Denmark. Currently in Spartanburg, SC preparing for the Shrine Bowl of The Carolinas all-star game, Denmark committed to the Hokies on Feb. 22. But he received an offer just under two weeks ago from new South Carolina coach Will Muschamp.
Denmark officially visited the Gamecocks this past weekend, before travelling to the Shrine Bowl. He told Rivals.com analyst Woody Wommack Sunday that he enjoyed his South Carolina visit and would decide after the game Saturday. Denmark, though, didn't need to wait that long.
"Virginia Tech's doing good and I'm still solid with them," he said Sunday. "I feel comfortable with their coaching staff and everything.
"I got to speak to Coach (Justin Fuente and Coach (Holmon) Wiggins, the wide receivers coach as well. We get along fine. He's replacing Coach Beamer, but I feel like they're gonna do a pretty good job at their positions."
Deablo and Kumah announced they had signed this past weekend. Ladler told HokieHaven.com Nov. 29, the day that Fuente was hired, that he had no plans to stray from his commitment and planned to sign. Taylor said the same thing in a Dec. 9 interview.
Jackson committed in June to the Hokies. He told Rivals.com analyst Josh Helmholdt Nov. 29 that he liked the hire of Fuente, but wanted to wait to meet him before deciding. That meeting went well and Jackson decided to stay put.
Jackson's father, Fred Jackson, coached at Michigan with departing Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler.
"I know he is an offensive-minded coach, at least that is what I read," the younger Jackson told Helmholdt. "He coach Andy Dalton and he has a good offense (at Memphis) and their quarterback was doing pretty good, so it looks like he will be a good fit."
The Hokies currently have 16 members of their 2016 class. Trinity Valley CC (TX) quarterback Jérod Evans signed his letter of intent with Virginia Tech yesterday. He's ranked by JCGridiron.com, Rivals.com's site covering junior college football, as the No. 1 dual-threat junior college quarterback in the class.