4-star recruit released from LOI VT was in his last 4 schools

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Even with a release, wouldn't he have to sit out a year to go to another ACC school?

I think so. The rule:

Section VI-3. Intra-Conference National Letter of Intent Rule.
An individual who signs a valid National Letter of Intent with an ACC institution and
does not satisfy the one-year attendance requirement or the Junior College Graduation
provision of the National Letter of Intent may not represent another ACC institution in
intercollegiate athletics competition until the individual has completed one (1) full
academic years of residence at the latter ACC institution and shall be charged with the
loss of one (1) season of eligibility in all sports. An individual receiving a mutual release
per Item 5 of the National Letter of Intent may not represent another ACC institution in
intercollegiate athletics competition until the individual has completed one full academic
year at the latter ACC institution and shall be charged with the loss of one season of
eligibility in all sports. Waivers of the ACC rule must demonstrate objective evidence
that proves the student-athlete’s extraordinary personal hardship merits a waiver of the
normal application of the policy. These waivers may be considered by the ACC faculty
athletics representatives, acting as a committee of the whole, only after all appeals to the
National Letter of Intent Steering Committee and the National Letter of Intent Appeals
Committee have been processed. (Revised: April 2007)