A close in-state race went the way of Virginia Tech this afternoon, when the Liberty (Bealeton, VA) standout defensive lineman Wyatt Teller verbally committed to the Hokies over UVa.

Teller was thought to be a strong UVa lean for most of this year, but in recent days/weeks he shifted to the childhood favorite Hokies.  Clemson, Maryland, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon and South Carolina were among the other offers considered by Teller, who is rated a 4-star recruit by TechSideline.com, ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com.

“He’s a good player. He’s a good football player, a good kid, a good student,” former Liberty head coach Tommy Buzzo said of Teller in an interview with TSL in August 2011.  Buzzo is now serving as co-defensive coordinator at Central Connecticut. “He has as good a motor as anybody we’ve had.”

Teller, who now measures in at 6’5″, 272 pounds, has started on the varsity level since his sophomore season.  He was honorable mention all-state and first-team all-region at defensive end his sophomore season.  Teller played offensive tackle and defensive end his junior season, earning VHSCA Group AA second-team all-state honors (defense), Region II Player of the Year (defense) and Evergreen District Defensive Player of the Year.  Virginia Tech likes him initially on defense, as either an end or tackle.

Virginia Tech now has 16 verbal commitments in its 2013 class.  Three players — Teller, Warhill (Williamsburg, VA) offensive tackle Parker Osterloh and Statesville (N.C.) quarterback Carlis Parker – plan to graduate early from high school and enroll at Tech in January of 2013.

TechSideline.com will have much more on Teller’s decision later this evening, so stay tuned.

UPDATE:  Teller tells TSL that, while he does have the paperwork to enroll early if he wanted to, he will stay at Liberty for his entire senior year and enroll at Tech in the summer of 2013.