Virginia Tech has steamrolled through the past seven days, picking up five commitments with one more likely on the way today. Five players (including two on the defensive side of the ball) verbally committed to Tech during that span. West Charlotte (NC) cornerback Rod Council will announce on Friday between Virginia Tech and UVA, with Tech being the likely choice.

In addition to gaining significant commitments, Virginia Tech made great impressions on linebacker Andrew Bowman, fullback Michael Green, and defensive end Olu Hall during last weekend�s official visit. All three players will make other official visits, however were impressed during their time in Blacksburg.

In terms of positions, Virginia Tech looks to be in great shape to land at least one more defensive end, one defensive tackle, several linebacker prospects, and one safety. They are looking good for athlete Damian Sims as well, who may end up on offense in college.

The top remaining VT defensive targets � with written offers � look like this�

• Defensive Ends: Brandon Daniel (possible DT), Olu Hall, Clint Sintim
• Defensive Tackles: Emmanuel Dunbar, Brandon Fanney, Marque Hall, Carl Howard, Brandon Setzer
• Linebackers: Andrew Bowman, Hugh D�Imperio, John Dunlap, Jerod Mayo, Maurice Reevey, Antonio Reynolds, Brian Toal
• Cornerbacks: Rod Council
• Safety/Rover: Jamar Adams (soft Michigan commit), Purnell Sturdivant
• Athletes: Jared Fagan, Damian Sims

Official visits set for defensive prospects looks like this�

• December 5^th: CB Rod Council, DB Brandon Flowers, CB DJ Parker, LB Antonio Reynolds, DL Brandon Setzer
• December 12^th: LB Andrew Bowman, LB John Dunlap (per Rivals), DT Carl Howard, DE Mike Mangold (per Rivals)
• January 9^th: S/RB Purnell Sturdivant
• January 23^rd: DT Emmanuel Dunbar, LB Jerod Mayo
• January 31^st: LB Hugh D�Imperio, LB Maurice Reevey, DT Marque Hall, DT Brandon Fanney

Mike Mangold 6-3, 240, 4.65 Merritt Island (Merritt Island, FL)

The Skinny: Mangold is a big commitment for the Hokies. He is not only athletic, but very energetic and plays with a non-stop motor.

William Wall 6-3, 243, 4.6 HD Woodson (Washington, DC)

The Skinny: 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. Wall showed his athleticism this year by lining up at wide receiver on many occasions.

Off the field, he scored over 1,000 on his SAT�s and should qualify academically. He needs to raise his core GPA before he is qualified.

Brandon Holland 6-5, 265, 4.8 Northside (Roanoke, VA)

The Skinny: Holland plays defensive end and tight end for Northside. Though he was recruited as a defensive end by Virginia Tech, it would be no surprise at all to seem him end up somewhere along the offensive line�Brandon has very long arms and can carry much more weight on his frame.

Olu Hall 6-4, 220, 4.7 Robinson (Fairfax, VA)
Schools: UVA (OFFER), VT (OFFER, OV) lead OSU (OFFER, OV), SYR (OFFER), TN (OFFER), BC (OFFER), CLEM (OFFER), WAKE (OFFER), PUR (OFFER)

The Skinny: Virginia Tech had the first shot at Olu, and they didn�t disappoint. He had an excellent visit and says he thought about committing. I still think this will come down to Tech and UVA, with the Cavaliers getting the final official visit. Not sure who he chooses right now.

Brandon Daniel 6-4, 275, 4.75 Ely (Pompano Beach, FL)
Schools: NCSU (OFFER, OV 12/06/03), VT (OFFER, OV on 09/26/03) lead FLA (OFFER, OV 12/20/03), K-State (OFFER, OV), PITT (OFFER, OV 11/29/03)

The Skinny: Virginia Tech and NC State are the top two schools right now for Daniel. I think it will come down to Tech, NC State, and Florida in the end. If he chooses to go out of state, it appears he will have a tough decision. Daniel seemed to like both VT and NCSU equally on the two respective official visits.

Clint Sintim 6-3, 247, 4.8 Gar-Field (Woodbridge, VA)
Schools: UVA (OFFER, OV 12/13/03), VT (OFFER, OV), OSU (no offer), TN (OFFER), MD (OFFER, OV)

The Skinny: Clint will make an official visit to Virginia Tech and likely one to Maryland before making his decision. I think this will come down to the two in-state schools as well.

None

Marque Hall 6-5, 305 Forest Hills (Marshville, NC)
Schools: NCSU (OFFER, OV), UVA (OFFER), VT (OFFER, OV 01/31/04), TN (OFFER, OV 01/24/04), UNC (OFFER, OV 01/17/04), SC (OFFER, OV 01/10/04)

The Skinny: Tech has to hope Marque makes all five official visits to have a shot. In the end, however, I think he�ll stay in-state.

Emmanuel Dunbar 6-4, 270 Deerfield Beach (FL)
Schools: VT (OFFER, OV 01/24/04), OK (OFFER, OV 01/17/04), MIA (OFFER), FSU (OFFER, OV 01/31/04), NCSU (OFFER, OV 12/06/03)

The Skinny: I haven�t been able to reach Emmanuel since his NC State visit, but reportedly he had a great time. I still believe Emmanuel will choose Florida State. Virginia Tech is in better shape with some other D-Line prospects.

Brandon Fanney 6-5, 261 Morristown (Morristown-Hamblen West)
Schools: BAMA (OFFER, OV 01/10/04), MTSU (OFFER, OV 01/17/04), VT (OFFER, OV 01/31/04), UVA (OFFER, OV 01/24/03)

The Skinny: MTSU is the latest to offer Fanney, who claims to be wide open right now. If he is leaning anywhere, he isn�t telling. He wants to make his official visits, which will be a big part of his decision. Fanney had an unbelievable senior year, finishing with 124 tackles and 17 sacks.

Carl Howard 6-6, 290 Matawan (Matawan, NJ)
Schools: VT (OFFER, OV 01/24/04), NCSU (OFFER), MD (OFFER, OV 12/20/03), RUT (OFFER, OV 12/06/03), IOWA (OFFER), BC (OFFER), SYR (OFFER), PITT (OFFER, OV 12/19/03)

The Skinny: Howard is one of Virginia Tech�s top targets, as they were one of the first to offer him. He would be an excellent addition to the Hokies defensive tackle position. Tech is in good shape here, and will receive an official visit on January 23-25.

Brandon Setzer 6-4, 280 Hargrave Military Academy
Schools: NCSU (OFFER), UNC (OFFER), TN (OFFER, OV 12/13/03), VT (OFFER, OV 12/06/03)

The Skinny: Not sure where Brandon is leaning right now. He will not enroll anywhere in January of 2004 because he has some work to do to qualify, so he may schedule more visits to take in January.

None

Brian Toal 6-2, 227, 4.5 Don Bosco Prep (Wykoff, NJ)
Schools: BC (OFFER, OV 12/13/03), MIA (OFFER. OV 12/20/03), NEB (OFFER), ND (OFFER), ORE (OFFER), PSU (OFFER), TN (OFFER), VT (OFFER)

The Skinny: Spoke with Coach Toal last night, and he said his son had not scheduled any other official visits than Boston College and Miami. Those two programs will be tough to beat here, but Brian does like Virginia Tech a lot and I think Virginia Tech will land an official visit.

Jerod Mayo 6-2, 210, 4.68 Kecoughtan (Hampton, VA)
UVA (OFFER, OV 12/12/03), VT (OFFER, OV 01/30/04) lead NCSU (OFFER, OV 12/05/03), PUR (OFFER), TN (OFFER, OV 01/16/04)

The Skinny: Jerod will make all five official visits before announcing his decision. Right now, however, I think Virginia is the team to beat.

Antonio Reynolds 6-4, 230, 4.6 Hargrave Military Academy
Schools: CLEM (OFFER, OV 12/20/03), Miami, FL, NEB, OSU, TN (OFFER, OV 12/13/03), VT (OFFER, OV 12/06/03)

The Skinny: Virginia Tech remains in contention for Reynolds, who made an official visit to Tennessee as well. It will be very close for Reynolds, and I would not be surprised to see him head elsewhere.

Andrew Bowman 6-1, 230, 4.6 Hermitage (Richmond, VA)
Schools: PUR (OFFER, OV 12/06/03), TN (OFFER, OV 11/22/03), UNC (OFFER, OV 01/10/04), UVA (OFFER, OV 11/29/03), VT (OFFER, OV 12/13/03)

The Skinny: It�s really tough to get a sense of where Bowman is leaning at this point. He has one remaining visit, to UNC in January, before he makes his decision. I still believe he will stay in-state.

Hugh D�Imperio 6-5, 230, 4.6 Washington Township (Sewell, NJ)
Schools: MSU (OFFER, OV 12/13/03), VT (OFFER, OV, 01/31/03) lead MIN (OFFER, OV 01/24/04), TN (OFFER, OV 01/17/04), UNC (OFFER, OV 01/10/04)

The Skinny: Hugh had to reschedule his visit to Virginia Tech this weekend because his team made the state championship game. Official visits will be big here, as Hugh has never been to Blacksburg before. He has liked Michigan State and Virginia Tech up to this point, and these are the two teams I feel he will make his decision between.

Maurice Reevey 6-4, 225, 4.6 Fork Union Military Academy
Schools: CLEM (01/10/04), PITT (OFFER, OV 12/13/03), TN (OFFER), UNC (OFFER), VT (OFFER, OV 01/31/04), WVU (OFFER, OV 12/06/03)

The Skinny: Reevey has set four official visits, with Virginia Tech receiving one on January 31^st. The Hokies are at or near the top of his list, however it may be close as to whether he will qualify. Maurice is repeating his senior year this year.

Brandon Flowers 6-1, 195, 4.5 Hargrave Military Academy

The Skinny: Brandon chose Virginia Tech over Tennessee, Minnesota, and Maryland. He will bring versatility to the defensive backfield, as he can play either cornerback or safety if needed. He would like to enroll in January, however is awaiting his most recent SAT score.

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

At a Glance: Miller is the bigger cornerback prospect the Hokies may be moving towards. He is a tremendous athlete, as Woodson defensive coordinator Wayne Johnson calls him "probably the most athletic corner I've ever coached." Miller has a 38" vertical leap. Off the field, he scored over 1,000 on his SAT�s and should easily qualify academically.

Rod Council 5-11, 175, 4.5 West Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)
Schools: VT (OFFER, OV 12/11/03) leads UVA (OFFER, OV 10/18/03)

The Skinny: Rod will likely choose Virginia Tech today over Virginia. He is an awesome pick-up for Tech, as he is one of the most polished cornerbacks in the East.

None

Jamar Adams 6-3, 200, 4.4 Butler (Charlotte, NC)
Schools: MICH (OFFER, OV 09/05/03, Verbal) leads FSU (OFFER, OV 01/24/04), UCLA (OFFER, OV 12/12/03), UNC (OFFER, OV 01/09/04), VT (OFFER, OV 01/31/04 per Insiders.com)

The Skinny: Adams has not set up an official visit with Tech just yet. He is going to take more official visits but remains committed to Michigan. In my opinion, Florida State or even UNC would be the choice if he de-commits from Michigan. VT is a long shot right now.

Purnell Sturdivant 5-11, 225, 4.4 Lake Taylor (Norfolk, VA)
Schools: VT (OFFER, OV 01/10/04) leads NCSU (OFFER, OV)

The Skinny: Purnell set his official visit to VT for January 9-11^th. The Hokies are the clear favorite, and Sturdivant would be an excellent addition to the class. NC State will be the only other school he makes an official visit to, but Purnell seems set on signing with Virginia Tech right now.

John Dunlap 6-3, 215, 4.55 Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Hollywood, FL)
Schools: MIA (OFFER, OV 01/24/04) leads FL (OFFER, OV 01/17/04), FSU (OFFER, OV 01/10/04), NCSU (OFFER, OV 12/06/03), VT (OFFER, OV)

The Skinny: I would be surprised if Dunlap does not choose a Florida school, with Miami the likeliest of possibilities. He missed the flight for his visit to Virginia Tech, but wants to reschedule.

Damian Sims 5-10, 180, 4.5 John I Leonard (Greenacres, FL)
Schools: ECU (OFFER, OV 12/06/03), FSU (no offer), KSU (OFFER, OV 12/20/03), MISS (OFFER, OV 01/10/04), PITT (OFFER), VT (OFFER, OV 01/24/04)

The Skinny: Sources say Damian really likes Virginia Tech. If Florida State offers, they would be tough to beat, but if they don�t, I think Virginia Tech is the team to beat. Damian excelled at running back and cornerback for John I Leonard this season.

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

The Skinny: Wheeler plays fullback and inside linebacker for Coach David Crist. He may attend Hargrave or Fork Union next year to further develop his football skills before getting to Virginia Tech. He could contribute at a number of different positions on the next level because of his size, strength, and athleticism. A good basketball player as well.

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