Virginia Tech signed 19 new players to letters of intent on signing day, joining cornerback Adeboye Aromire, who enrolled at Tech in January bringing the total to 20 recruits in the 2011 class. Tech signed eight players from the state of Virginia, and only two of them are ranked in the top 10 in the state. On signing day Lafonte Thourogood decided to sign with Vanderbilt which was a shock to me. He gave his verbal to the Hokies back in November. Thourogood was ranked 10th in the state. Tech did have a very impressive out of state class signing players from seven different states and two from the District of Columbia.
The in state class is led by four star recruits Corey Marshall (#5) and Ronny VanDyke (#9). Marshall is a 6’1 255lb defensive end out of Dinwiddie. Many in that area said he was the most dominate defensive player in that region which included the number one player in the state Curtis Grant. Marshall chose Tech over offers from Virginia, Michigan and Tennessee. VanDyke is a 6’3 193lb safety from Lorton. He will most likely man the rover position at the next level. Ronny had offers from UVA, West Virginia, Pitt, among others. He sat out the entire 2009 season with a shoulder injury.
Other in-state signees included linebacker Michael Cole (#15), running back Michael Holmes (#20). Cole is 6’2 200lbs and will either play whip or safety for the Hokies. He has great instincts and is going to be a solid football player. He reminds me of a bigger Cody Grimm. Michael Holmes is a tough runner and is a load to bring down. He is already 6’0 200lbs and scored 41 touchdowns his senior year in Harrisonburg.
The out of state class is headlined by four star recruits cornerback Kyshoen Jarrett and defensive tackle Kris Harley. Jarrett is 5’10 175lb shutdown corner who is not afraid to lay the wood. He can also contribute as a kick returner. Jarrett originally gave his verbal to Pitt, but after the coaching change he reopened his recruitment and Torian Gray snatched him up. Jarrett also had scholarship offers from Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin. He is the #5 player in the state of Pennsylvania per Rivals. 6’1 275lbs Harley chose the Hokies over his other finalist, Oklahoma. He hails from Warren Central in Indianapolis which is the same school Darren Evans attended. We are starting to develop a bit of a pipeline from Warren Central. Don’t be surprised if we sign one or two players from there next year. There are two D-1 prospects that graduate next year and Harley is already working on getting them to Blacksburg.
Other out of state players include CB James Farrow the #2 player in the state of Minnesota who chose Tech over Miami, Minnesota, Arkansas, Illinois and West Virginia. CB Adeboye Aromire who already enrolled at Tech. He considered offers from UNC, Illinois, West Virginia and MD. He is the #3 prospect in Washington, DC. The trio of Jarrett, Farrow and Aromire are the future at cornerback for the Hokies. Add Kyle Fuller from last year’s class and Tech should be set for the next four years at that position.
6’2 175lb WR Robert Lockhart a Florida prospect who chose the Hokies over Nebraska and Kansas State. This was a big get for Tech. He is a four star prospect according to ESPN. This guy is a bit raw but is extremely talented.
Tech’s pipeline continues from Atlantic High in Delray Beach, Florida with Tech signing defensive end Wedley Estime and defensive tackle Luther Maddy. They become the fifth and sixth players from Atlantic High to sign with Tech in the past decade. Estime was originally headed for Minnesota, but had a change of heart two days before signing day.
Here is a look at the entire 2011 recruiting class:
- Dewayne Alford 6’3 220lb ***DE Suffolk, VA
- Adeboye Aromire 6’0 192lb ***CB Washington D.C
- Kevin Asante 6’0 175lb **WR Charlotte, NC
- Michael Cole 6’2 200lb ***DB Roanoke, VA
- Wedley Estime 6’4 215lb ***DE Delray Beach, FL
- James Farrow 6’0 178lb ***ATH Minnetonka, MN
- Jake Goins 6’5 288lb ***OL Midlothian, VA
- Chris Hall 6’4 231lb ***ATH Dinwiddie, VA
- Kris Harley 6’1 275lb ****DT Indianapolis, IN
- Michael Holmes 6’0 200lb ***RB Harrisonburg, VA
- Kyshoen Jarrett 5’10 175lb ****CB East Stroudsburg, PA
- Demitri Knowles 6’1 175lb ***WR Lynchburg, VA
- Robert Lockhart 6’1 175lb ***WR Boca Raton, FL
- Luther Maddy 6’2 275lb **DT Delray Beach, FL
- Ryan Malleck 6’5 230lb ***TE Point Pleasant, NJ
- Corey Marshall 6’1 255lb ****DE Dinwiddie, VA
- Darrius Redman 6’4 241lb **TE Washington D.C
- Christian Reeves 6’3 214lb ***TE McDonough, GA
- Matt Roth 6’4 225lb ***DE Point Verde, FL
- Justin Taylor 6’3 225lb ***DE Hargrave Military Academy
- Ronny VanDyke 6’3 193lb ****DB Lorton, VA
