Lose: Nathaniel Adibi, Cols Colas

2004 Roster: Seniors Jim Davis and Bob Ruff; Junior Darryl Tapp; Sophomore Noland Burchette; Red-shirt freshman Chris Ellis.

Needs: The Hokies will likely add at least two defensive ends to the mix for 2004. Look for them to sign 2, maybe 3 defensive ends.

DE Commitments - 1

William Wall 6-3, 243, 4.6 HD Woodson (Washington, DC)
Wall was the first player to commit to Virginia Tech on the defensive side of the ball. He possesses the quickness, size, and athleticism similar to great defensive ends of the past.

DE Top Targets

Brandon Daniel 6-4, 275, 4.75 Ely (Pompano Beach, FL)
Schools: VT (OFFER, OV on 09/26/03), K-State (OFFER, OV on 12/19/03), Miami, FL (No Offer), FLA (OFFER), Oklahoma (OFFER), NCSU (OFFER), PITT (OFFER)

Daniel will visit Virginia Tech on the weekend of September 26^th. The Hokies received an official visit last year from Ely running back Tyrone Moss, who eventually signed with Miami (FL). Tech is recruiting Daniel as a "defensive lineman" according to Ely Head Coach Steve Davis. He could play either tackle or end. VT OFFER

Olu Hall 6-4, 220, 4.7 Robinson (Fairfax, VA)
Schools: VT (OFFER), UVA (OFFER), PSU (OFFER), SYR (OFFER), BC (OFFER), CLEM (OFFER), WAKE (OFFER)

Hall does not have a favorite among the schools that have offered, but UVA and VT were his top two in my last update. I believe it will come down to the two in-state schools.

Brandon Holland 6-4, 280, 4.8 Northside (Roanoke, VA)
Schools: VT (OFFER) leads CLEM (OFFER), MD (OFFER), WV (OFFER)

Holland plays defensive end and tight end for Northside, though he could move to defensive tackle or even somewhere along the offensive line in college. Virginia Tech is the clear leader here.

Mike Mangold 6-3, 240, 4.65 Merritt Island (Merritt Island, FL)
Schools: Miami, FL (OFFER), VT (OFFER), PITT (OFFER), TN (OFFER)

The nephew of Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver committed early to Pittsburgh, but has since opened up his recruitment. Miami is the team to beat, but it appears Mangold will take his official visits.

Clint Sintim 6-3, 247, 4.8 Gar-Field (Woodbridge, VA)
Schools: UVA (OFFER), VT (OFFER), OSU (No Offer), TN (OFFER), MD (OFFER), SYR (OFFER), UNC (OFFER)

Another in-state battle shaping up here. Virginia Tech was Sintim�s childhood favorite, but Virginia jumped on him early and he really likes the Cavaliers. He claimed no leaders in his last article. Tech is recruiting him as an end, but if he gets bigger he could move to tackle.

Willie Young 6-4, 205, 4.6 Palm Beach Gardens (Palm Beach, FL)
Schools: FL (OFFER), AUB (OFFER), Miami, FL (No Offer), NCSU (OFFER), NEB (OFFER), OKL (OFFER), GA (OFFER), OSU (OFFER)

Young plays for the same high school as current Hokie freshman linebacker Mike Brown. Young will be a tough get, especially from the Florida powers. He is being recruited by many, many top Division I-A programs.

Lose: None

2004 Roster: Seniors Kevin Lewis, Isaac Montgomery, and Jason Lallis; Juniors Tim Sandidge and Jonathan Lewis; Red-Shirt Freshmen Barry Booker, Kory Robertson, and Carlton Powell.

Look for the Hokies to try and land a top defensive tackle prospect in this year�s class, taking one or two in total. Because of last year�s recruits, they will be able to hold out for a top target such as Marque Hall.

DT Commitments

None

DT Top Targets

Brandon Fanney 6-5, 261 Morristown (Morristown-Hamblen West)
Schools: BAMA (OFFER), UVA (OFFER), VT (OFFER), NCSU (OFFER)

Fanney may head to the SEC, with Alabama targeting him very seriously. Virginia Tech and Virginia are in there as well.

Marque Hall 6-5, 305 Forest Hills (Marshville, NC)
Schools: UNC (OFFER), NCSU (OFFER), UVA (OFFER), VT (OFFER), TN (OFFER)

VT is in Marque�s top five per his latest update. He is also considering UNC, NC State, UVA, and Tennessee. He has not set any official visits. The mammoth Hall would be an awesome defensive tackle or could play offense as well.

Carl Howard 6-6, 290 Matawan (Matawan, NJ)
Schools: VT (OFFER), NCSU (OFFER), MD (OFFER), RUT (OFFER), IOWA (OFFER), BC (OFFER), SYR (OFFER)

Howard listed Tech as one of three schools he would like to visit in his latest article. Maryland and NC State were the others. Says he "wants to play in the ACC." Possesses great size and speed � Coach Martucci of Matawan says he runs like a "gazelle."

Brandon Setzer 6-4, 280 Hargrave Military Academy
Schools: VT (OFFER), UNC (OFFER), NCSU (OFFER)

Very impressive player according to the Hargrave coaches. Received offers from UNC and NCSU before heading to Hargrave to prep. Could play on either side of the ball.

Lose: Vegas Robinson

2004 Roster: Seniors Mikal Baaqee, Brandon Manning, and Chad Cooper; Juniors Jordan Trott, Blake Warren, and James Anderson; Sophomore Aaron Rouse; Red-shirt freshmen Mike Brown, Xavier Adibi, and Vince Hall, and true freshman Brett Warren.

Virginia Tech�s linebacker haul last year was one of the better ones in the country, as Adibi and Hall were two of the top five players in the state, and Brown�s stock soared towards the end of the recruiting process. Like with the defensive tackles, the Hokies will be able to wait on the better prospects until the end because of last year�s class, and they are in with some good ones.

LB Commitments

None

LB Top Targets

Andrew Bowman 6-1, 230, 4.6 Hermitage (Richmond, VA)
Schools: PUR (OFFER), TN (OFFER), UNC (OFFER), UVA (OFFER), VT (OFFER, OV 1^st or 2^nd Week in December)

Bowman attends the same high school as current Hokie frosh tight end Duane Brown and current UVA frosh receiver Fontel Mines. He set his visit to Tech for "the first or second week in December." Bowman is playing everything close to the vest. Tennessee could be a big factor here, as Bowman has indicated he wants to visit the Vols along with VT, Purdue, and UVA. He has offers from those schools and four others including UNC.

Hugh D�Imperio 6-5, 230, 4.6 Washington Township (Sewell, NJ)
Schools: MSU (OFFER, OV 12/13/03), BC (OFFER), RUT (OFFER), TN (No Offer), UNC (OFFER), VT (OFFER)

Big linebacker in the mold of Jake Houseright, but bigger. D�Imperio does a good job anticipating a runner�s moves, and is a sure tackler. He could also play tight end, where he is a crushing blocker. Tech has been at or near the top of his list throughout the recruiting process.

Jerod Mayo 6-2, 210, 4.68 Kecoughtan (Hampton, VA)
UVA (OFFER), VT (OFFER) lead NCSU (OFFER), PUR (OFFER), TN (OFFER)

Mayo seems to like UVA, VT, and Tennessee an awful lot, with Tennessee being third. He likes UVA�s 3-4 defense and new strength coach Evan Marcus, so UVA may have an edge right now.

Maurice Reevey 6-4, 225, 4.6 Fork Union Military Academy
Schools: TN (OFFER), UNC (OFFER), UVA (No Offer), VT (OFFER), WVU (OFFER)

Reevey is an intriguing prospect. As a senior at Highland Springs, he did not even start because Coach [Scott] Burton couldn�t get him on the team until the night before the season started. Reevey possesses outstanding athleticism and potential. He just needs to learn the game. Coach Shuman calls Maurice "another Darryl Blackstock."

Antonio Reynolds 6-4, 245, 4.65 Hargrave Military Academy
Schools: Miami, FL, NEB, OSU, TN, VT (OFFER)

Reynolds signed with the Miami Hurricanes out of high school, but could not start classes because of an academic snafu.

Brian Toal 6-2, 227, 4.5 Don Bosco Prep (Wykoff, NJ)
Schools: BC (OFFER), MIA (OFFER), ND (OFFER), PSU (OFFER), TN (OFFER), VT (OFFER)

Indications are that Toal will take an official visit to Virginia Tech. He recently narrowed his list to the six listed above. Brian's father lettered at VT, but that is not thought to be a big factor in his recruitment.

Lose: Garnell Wilds, possibly DeAngelo Hall

2004 Roster: Seniors Vincent Fuller and Eric Green; Sophomore Brian McPherson; Red-shirt freshmen Mike Hinton and Roland Minor.

Sources say the staff is very high on both Hinton and Minor, which would give the staff good depth behind Fuller and Green. DJ Parker is attending Hargrave and will join Tech in the fall of 2004. They have secured a commitment from a very good prospect in Theodore Miller, and will try to sign at least one more.

CB Commitments - 1

Theodore Miller 6-2, 170, 4.5 HD Woodson (Washington, DC)

CB Top Targets

Rod Council 5-11, 175, 4.5 West Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)
Schools: ND (OFFER, OV 09/19/03) leads over MICH (OFFER, OV), UVA (OFFER, OV 10/18/03), VT (OFFER, OV)

Rod really liked what he heard from Coach Willingham on his Notre Dame visit. That may be tough to overcome, as it sounded like he was close to committing on the trip. He will visit his other three favorites, however, so there is still a chance for the Wolverines, Cavs, and Hokies.

DaJuan Morgan 6-2, 185, 4.4 Suncoast (Riviera Beach, FL)
Schools: FL (OFFER) leads FSU (No offer), NCSU (OFFER, OV 12/06/03), OSU (OFFER), OKL (OFFER), TN (OFFER), VT (OFFER, OV 11/01/03)

Says schools are looking at him as a "Chris Gamble type of player. They would just put me out there and let me make plays." Morgan suffered a dislocated right hip in a car accident before the start of the season, but his rehab is ahead of schedule and he expects to easily return to full strength by the end of the year.

Damian Sims 5-10, 180, 4.5 John I Leonard (Greenacres, FL)
Schools: ECU (OFFER), Iowa St (OFFER), KSU (OFFER), PITT (OFFER), VT (OFFER)

Damian transferred to John I Leonard before the start of the season. Plays tailback and cornerback for head coach Terry Gough.

Meko Watson 5-10, 185, 4.5 Hargrave Military Academy
Schools: TN (OFFER), VT (OFFER)

Watson can play either safety or cornerback. He says it�s between V-Tech and Tennessee for his services.

Lose: Michael Crawford � Rover

2004 Roster: Free Safety � Senior Mike Daniels; Junior Jimmy Williams; Red-shirt freshman Corey Gordon.
Rover � Senior James Griffin; Sophomore Cary Wade.

Tech needs to add at least one top prospect at rover, and Lake Taylor�s Purnell Sturdivant would be a perfect fit. Sturdivant plays linebacker in high school, but has the speed (4.4) to play rover. The Hokies will likely sign at least one rover and one free safety prospect.

Safety/Rover Commitments

None

Safety/Rover Top Targets

Harold Dalton 6-1, 185, 4.5 Woodrow Wilson (Camden, NJ)
Schools: IOWA (OFFER), PUR (OFFER), RUT (OFFER), TN (OFFER), UNC (OFFER), VT (OFFER)

Kent Hicks 6-3, 210, 4.4 Culpeper (Culpeper, VA)
Schools: BC (OFFER), MD (OFFER), TN (OFFER), UVA (OFFER), VT (OFFER)

UVA is back under consideration with Hicks, however they still appear to have some ground to make up. When I asked Kent if UVA is back, he said "Yeah�sort of. I�m considering them again." Virginia Tech will get an official visit as will Maryland, Tennessee, and BC. It remains to be seen if UVA will or not.

Purnell Sturdivant 5-11, 225, 4.4 Lake Taylor (Norfolk, VA)
Schools: VT (OFFER) leads CLEM (OFFER), MD (OFFER), NCSU (No offer), SYR (OFFER)

Initially Purnell had stated he wanted to go out-of-state. Virginia Tech has been recruiting him hard and recently became the leader for his services.

Brandon Flowers 6-1, 195, Hargrave Military Academy
Schools: VT (OFFER), unsure of other schools at this point.

Flowers could be a cornerback, also.

ATH Commitments - 1

Sam Wheeler 6-4, 235, 4.7 Blacksburg (Blacksburg, VA)

ATH Top Targets

Jared Fagan 5-11, 165, 4.4 Westlake (Waldorf, MD)
Schools: VT (OFFER) leads BC (OFFER), CONN (OFFER), VAND (OFFER)

Fagan could be a dangerous receiver for whichever team he signs with. He�s a good cornerback too. He really likes VT and could commit on his visit, whenever he takes it.

TechSideline Pass Home