Last week, Woodbridge (VA) defensive end Da’Shawn Hand revealed that he has narrowed his list of schools to 10. Three ACC schools (Florida State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech), three SEC schools (Alabama, LSU, South Carolina), two Big 10 programs (Michigan, Ohio State), one Big 12 school (Oklahoma), and Notre Dame make up the 6’5″, 245-pound junior’s final group.
Hand, who has visited Virginia Tech several times, has made no secret of the strong relationship he has formed with Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster. He does not plan to announce a college choice for quite some time, though, as he has indicated to TSL in the past that he wants to take his official visits.
Hand is a 5-star recruit and considered one of the top overall prospects in the nation in his class.
good news is he wants to major in Engineering!
Stay home, young man. VT will be playing in the SEC before you graduate. Maybe?
Do prospects see a down year as opportunity or handicap? Maybe it depends on the side of the ball? – any thoughts..
From what I’ve seen and heard, a single down season usually doesn’t have much of an impact one way or the other. To kids that are 17 and 18 years old now, for as long as they can remember VT has been a Top 10-level program. It’ll take more than one disappointing 6-6 season to change that perception.
I’d be far more concerned with the perception of the ACC, both from a stability and competitiveness standpoint, relative to the SEC or the Big 10.
I’d also be concerned regarding the impact any coming coaching changes might have. While we all know that coaching changes are needed on the offensive side of the ball, having a coach who’s been recruiting a kid for a long time tell that kid that he won’t be there at VT to coach him probably doesn’t work in our favor.
I would believe it could have both. Those concerned with just winning games it may detract however as Hokiestud mentioned, I don’t think one down year turns a kid off. They may see a potential to help the team though as well and get more playing time earlier.
Hopefully the relationship with Foster pans out. Those are some big time schools we are competing with for him. VT’s defense has always been pretty good and sometimes tops in the nation. I don’t know of any defensive coaches that need to go so I don’t think a coaching change would be an issue for the defensive side of the ball. The HC isn’t going to change and the DC isn’t going to change, most likely d staff won’t change either.
My biggest concern would be trying to win him over despite all he glitz and glamour of playing in the SEC with Alabama or LSU. South Carolina, he may as well stay in state and go to VT.
from what people say, potential playing time is one of the more significant variables.
any of you guys that think VT is ever going to be in the SEC..you are in lala land