Top honors: Rated the No. 29 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times … Ranked the No. 25 prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep … Listed as the No. 55 safety prospect in the nation by Scout.com … Ranked the No. 89 linebacker prospect in the nation by ESPN/Scouts, Inc. … Rated the No. 29 linebacker prospect in the nation by Rivals … A first-team All-Tidewater selection as a senior … Earned first-team all-district honors and second-team All-Tidewater honors as a junior.

Why he chose Tech: “When I came up there for my visits, I always felt at home. It was just a family atmosphere there and all the guys made me feel welcome.

“And I was interested in their defense. I love the way they attack and blitz. Coach [Bud] Foster is legendary. He’s a great guy and a great coach, and anyone would be honored to play for him.”

On being a tremendous wrestler: “Coach [Jim] Lambert came to me and told me it would be good for me and that the team needed leadership. At first, I shot him down. My first two or three answers were ‘no.’ But I went to a tournament and saw them wrestling and that changed my mind.

“It was hard getting back into it [he wrestled in middle school]. It was a lot of hard work and I was rusty. But I caught on quickly and I think it’s going to help me in the long run.”

Notables: Born Sept. 25, 1990 in Greensboro, N.C. … Son of Tonya Wade … Has an older brother and a younger brother … Contemplated major is business.

Stats: Recorded 124 tackles, including 24 for a loss, and 16 sacks combined his junior and senior seasons … Had 54 tackles, including 14 for a loss, and nine sacks his senior season … Played some tight end his junior season and caught 12 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

Top honors: Rated the No. 20 defensive end prospect in the nation according to Rivals and ESPN/Scouts, Inc. … Listed as the No. 43 defensive end prospect in the country according to Scout.com … Earned first-team All-Commonwealth District and All-Northwest Region honors as a defensive end his senior season … Named to the Free Lance-Star’s all-area team.

Why he chose Tech: “I really like the environment and the coaching chemistry. I wanted a stable environment and I know the coaches are going to be there.”

On being the last Tech commitment: “I wanted to take my time and take a look at everybody. During football season, it was hard to focus on all the recruiting stuff. I wanted to wait until the season was over and then take my visits and check out all the schools.”

On his strengths and weaknesses: “I think I rush the passer well and I never give up on a play. I probably need to work on my technique. I’ve only been playing the position two years. Before, I was a running back and cornerback, and then over the summer, I grew and put on weight.”

Notables: Born Feb. 20, 1991 in Clarksville, Miss. … Son of Lanford and Connie Collins … Has one older sister and a younger brother and sister … Contemplated major is computer science or business information technology.

Top honors: Listed the No. 15 prospect in South Carolina by SuperPrep … Ranked the No. 23 strongside linebacker prospect nationally by Scout.com … Listed as the No. 50 outside linebacker prospect in the nation by Rivals.

Why he chose Tech: “Because of how they treated me and the things they’d showed me every time I went up there. I felt comfortable there when I went on my visits, and when I took my official visit, I was even more comfortable. They players there treat you with respect.”

On his father’s impact on him and his brother [his father, Bo Campbell, played at Tech from 1988-91]: “He was always active in the recruiting process, but we knew he was going to be a factor. He made us look at things like the depth chart and position coaches and academics to see how schools compare. He helped us out a lot.”

On his position: “I think they’re looking at me as an outside linebacker. They call it their whip position. I guess it depends on how big I get. I could drop down to defensive end. Outside linebacker is where I’d feel most comfortable, but it doesn’t matter as long as I can help the team.”

Notables: Born May 1, 1991 in Cheraw, S.C. … Son of Bo and Felicia Campbell … Twin brother of Tyrell Edwards, a Tech recruit … Has three sisters … Contemplated major is psychology or graphic design.

Top honor: Listed the No. 31 prospect in South Carolina by SuperPrep … Ranked the No. 82 athlete prospect nationally by Rivals.

Why he chose Tech: “It was mostly a family thing [his father, Bo Campbell, played at Tech from 1988-91]. We have a history here and I’ve been coming to games there since I was 7 or 8. I wouldn’t say it was a package deal with my brother. We were both looking for the best situation and Virginia Tech was it.”

On his father’s impact on him and his brother: “He had a great deal of an impact. He was always getting us to go to camps and helping us get noticed. He’d help us with our games, too. He was always helping us to get ready for college.”

On his position: “I’ll probably end up at tight end or maybe work as a slot receiver. I’m more of an offensive guy, so anywhere they put me on offense, I’ll be ready to play.”

On where he’d like to play: “I’d say either tight end or receiver. You get to get out and catch a few balls or get on the edge and make a good block. I feel like I can make blocks downfield and catch the ball and make things happen.”

Notables: Born May 1, 1991 in Cheraw, S.C. … Son of Bo and Felicia Campbell … Twin brother of Tariq Edwards, a Tech recruit … Has three sisters … Contemplated major is psychology or graphic design (same as his brother).

Top honors: Rated the No. 16 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times and the No. 17 prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep … A first-team All-Group AAA selection by The Associated Press as a kick returner … Listed as the No. 38 athlete in the nation by Rivals … Rated the No. 42 athlete prospect nationally by ESPN/Scouts, Inc. … Ranked the No. 76 quarterback prospect in the nation by Scout.com.

Why he chose Tech: “I got along with the staff. It was basically them and Penn State and Virginia Tech was recruiting me to play the positions where I felt comfortable. It was close to home and Coach Beamer wins with in-state kids. I’ll get a great education and it was just right for me.”

On his position at Tech: “I’m not sure. They’ve told me we’ll see what happens. I’ll probably split some time between quarterback and defensive back. But I’m not sure which one they want me to play. Either way, it’s fine. I just want to get on the field early.”
Notables: Born Feb. 27, 1991 in Richmond … Son of Antone and Barbara Exum … Has a younger sister … Contemplated major is business.

Top honors: Listed as the No. 26 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times … Ranked the No. 27 prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep … Rated the No. 25 strongside defensive end in the nation by Rivals … A second-team member of The Daily Press Football All-Stars team … A second-team All-Peninsula District member as a defensive end.

Why he chose Tech: “I was going to stay in the state all along and Virginia Tech has one of the best defenses in the nation. When I went to camp up there [the one-day camp last summer], I really liked the campus a lot. I actually had planned on taking some visits to other schools and committing later, but I changed my mind and decided on Virginia Tech.”

On the impact his family had on him as a football player – both his father and uncle played at Ohio State and his uncle played more than 12 years in the NFL: “They helped me some, but probably not as much as people might think. My dad was an offensive player, but he still gave me some pointers on being aggressive, things like that. He’s good about helping me and yet letting me be my own player.”

On his rapid development: “I didn’t start playing football until I moved in with my father here [he had been living with his mom in Minnesota] in the 10th grade. At first, I played safety and then the coaches moved me to defensive end because I got bigger.
“After my 10th grade year, the guys were telling me to just stay on the JV team. But I gained like 50 pounds and worked hard in the weight room. Then I took a senior’s starting position and things have been going well since then.”

Notables: Born Feb. 15, 1991 in Los Angeles … Son of Jimmy Gayle and Michelle Gayle … Has one older sister and three younger ones … Major is undecided.

Top honors: Earned first-team All-Met honors by The Washington Post … Listed the No. 40 prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep … Rated the No. 46 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times.

Why he chose Tech: “It’s close to home and I’ve always liked them. Actually, I grew up a fan of both Virginia Tech and UVa – I didn’t really know about the hate between the schools. But I always like Tech a little more.

“I had about 15 offers, but Tech was the main school. They told me they were going to sign just one offensive lineman, so as soon as they offered, I took it.”

On his work ethic, which makes him a fit at Tech: “That’s what Coach [Torrian] Gray tells me. I think my biggest strong point is my work ethic. I love getting in the weight room and working out. That’s what being a Hokie is all about.”

On being a big-time wrestler: “I’ve been wrestling for seven or eight years and it’s a lot of fun. My little brother actually started me on it as a way to help with my conditioning and I just kept on with it. It helps with your core. It keeps you flexible and in shape, and makes you quicker with your hands.”

Notables: Born March 20, 1990 in Fauquier, Va. … Son of Kimberly and Kevin Gough … Has two older brothers and one younger brother … Contemplated major is business or perhaps something to do with nutrition.

Top honors: Listed as the No. 21 prospect in North Carolina by SuperPrep … A first-team Class 4-A selection as a running back by NCpreps.com … Ranked the No. 33 cornerback prospect in the nation according to ESPN/Scouts, Inc. … Listed the No. 88 cornerback prospect nationally by Scout.com.

Why he chose Tech: “It’s a good school and a good program. I have dreams of getting to the NFL and I think they can get me on the right path to where I want to go.”

On winning the state championship: “That was a great feeling. I was the MVP of the game and couldn’t ask for more. I had the chance to play in a college stadium [Kenan Stadium] in front of a large crowd. I don’t think I’ll have the jitters after doing that.”

On his position: “I played a lot of safety and that’s where I probably feel most comfortable. I like to hit. I like the contact and I like being able to move freely. At safety, it’s instinct more than talent. It’s what you feel, and I think I have a good feel for the game.
“But I’m fine with anything they want me to do as long as I get on the field.”

Notables: Born Feb. 28, 1991 … Son of John and Tracy Huff … Has an older brother and a younger brother … Contemplated major is business or marketing.

Top honors: A PrepStar All-American … Rated the No. 11 cornerback in the country and the 25th overall prospect in Florida by Rivals … Ranked the No. 22 cornerback nationally by ESPN/Scouts, Inc. … Listed as the No. 57 player in the state of Florida by SuperPrep.

Why he chose Tech: “On my visit there, I just felt like I was at home. The players and the coaches there showed me a lot of love, and the staff was just unbelievable. The defensive coordinator [Bud Foster] and Coach Beamer, they’re just great people.”

On the impact Brandon Flowers, another former Atlantic High standout, had on him: “His dad and my dad are very close, and me and Brandon talked quite a bit. He’s a guy I trust. He’s been through it and I trusted him.”

On waiting to make his decision on signing day: “I just wanted to think everything through. I wanted to take some visits and weigh my options. I think it all worked out well in the end.”

Notables: Notables were not available.

Top honors: Listed as the No. 7 kicking prospect in the nation by Scout.com … Ranked the No. 13 kicking prospect in the nation by Rivals … Listed the No. 48 prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep … Rated the No. 50 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times … A first-team All-Timesland selection by The Roanoke Times … A first-team All-Group A selection by the Associated Press as a junior.

Why he chose Tech: “My family has lived in Giles since I was born and its only 20 minutes away. I grew up a Hokie. And with Coach Beamer coaching the special teams and the kickers, that’s a big deal. I looked at some other schools, but once I came to camp and they offered, I was set after that.”

On his position: “I did everything this season. I was a kicker, a running back a free safety, and I returned kicks and punts. But there, I’m going to be the kickoff and field goal guy. I’m not much of a punter. It’ll be weird being on the sidelines. I’m not used to that. But it’ll be nice to kick without being tired.”

On how he got started kicking: “My dad took me out in the fourth grade and we started kicking it around a bit. Nothing serious. Then in the sixth grade, we had tryouts and I won the kicking competition. I’ve worked on it on my own ever since.
“I didn’t really start going to camps until the 10th grade when I went to see Doug Blevins [a kicking instructor] in Abingdon. He’s helped me a lot, but other than that, I’ve worked on it on my own.”

Notables: Born June 13, 1991 in Blacksburg, Va. … Son of Jim and Debbie Journell … Has a younger brother … His main hobby is snowboarding … Contemplated major is business management.

Rankings: First-team All-Timesland by The Roanoke Times … The Roanoke Times defensive player of the year … Named the Piedmont District and the Region IV defensive player of the year … Earned first-team All-Group AA honors … Rated the No. 21 prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep … Listed as the No. 50 offensive guard prospect in the nation by ESPN/Scouts, Inc. … Ranked the No. 33 offensive tackle prospect nationally by Rivals … Rated the No. 88 offensive guard prospect in the nation by Scout.com.
Why he chose Tech: “It’s an all-around good school. It has good academics and good athletics. My brother goes there and I’m used to coming up there. I’ve gotten to know Tech. I know all about the place.”

On his plans to wrestle and play football: “I’m going to wrestle my first year, while I’m redshirting in football. I want to see what I can do in wrestling for one year at the college level. I think wrestling has made me a lot better in football. Plus I like the intensity of it. It’s all on you. If you make mistakes, you have no one else to blame.

“After my first year, I’ll be full-time into football. I’ll be too heavy to wrestle.”

On his position: “I think they’re looking at me as a guard or center. I’ll play anywhere they need me. I like defense, but I know that college is a different place.”

Notables: Born April 24, 1990 in Martinsville, Va. … Son of Johnny and the late Linda Miller … Major is undecided.

Top honors: Ranked the No. 23 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times … Rated the No. 31 prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep … Listed as the No. 16 athlete nationally by ESPN/Scouts, Inc. … Rated the No. 42 athlete in the nation by Rivals … Listed the No. 143 athlete prospect nationally by Scout.com … A first-team All-Colonial District selection.

Why he chose Tech: “When I went there on my unofficial visits, the players and the coaches made me feel like I was at home. The coaches are up front with you and I liked that. I was comfortable there.”

On being the latest Hermitage graduate to come to Tech: “I think we were all picking a place where we would feel comfortable. Ju-Ju [Clayton] and Alonzo [Tweedy] are there and they made me feel comfortable. They’d joke around and say that I needed to come there, but they wanted me to feel comfortable with where I was going.”

On his strong points as a player: “I think my strongest point is that I love to compete. I’m a competitor. I like to have fun, but I also like to work hard and play hard.”

On his most memorable moments as a player: “I’d say my most memorable moment was when we were playing John Marshall. I hit a receiver so hard that my helmet came off. Also, in the regional championship game last year, I caught a fade for a touchdown. But overall, I’d say just playing with my teammates and having fun with them.”

Notables: Born Oct. 4, 1991 in East St. Louis, Ill. … Son of Theron and Tracy Norman … Has two older sisters and an older brother … Contemplated major is communication, with hopes of one day getting into sports broadcasting.

Top honors: Rated the No. 33 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times and No. 32 by SuperPrep … Listed as the No. 67 running back prospect in the nation by Rivals … Ranked the No. 152 running back prospect in the nation by Scout.com … First-team All-Group AA as a running back … The Region IV co-offensive player of the year … First-team All-Timesland by The Roanoke Times.

Why he chose Tech: “I’ve always been a fan. I grew up around here [the New River Valley] and I’ve watched them play a lot. The times I’ve been down there, I’ve liked the staff. They were down to earth. It wasn’t a hard decision.”

On his position: “I’m not sure, to be honest. It doesn’t matter to me. Probably something on offense, though. That’s where I’ve played my whole life. I haven’t played a lot of defense, so offense would probably be the best thing.”

On playing defense: “I played a little bit this season when I was needed. I was a cornerback and it was OK. I hadn’t done it before, but I think I adjusted well. Wherever they [Tech’s coaches] put me is fine. It doesn’t matter.”

Notables: Born Jan. 11, 1991 in Radford, Va. … Son of Vernon and Donna Peak … Has a younger brother and two older sisters … Also a standout on the Pulaski County basketball team … Major is undecided.

Top honors: Ranked the No. 34 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times and by SuperPrep … Rated the No. 26 weakside defensive end in the nation by Rivals … Listed as the No. 34 tight end prospect in the nation by ESPN/Scouts, Inc. … Rated the No. 135 defensive end prospect nationally by Scout.com … A first-team All-Colonial District selection as a tight end and a second-team selection as a defensive end his senior season.

Why he chose Tech: “I’ve always liked Virginia Tech and they had my major [veterinary science]. They have a good team down there and it’s close to home. Those were the main reasons.”

On the frustration of missing half his senior season: “I had an ankle sprain really for the entire season and I missed more than half of it. It was real frustrating because I wanted to top what I had done last year. I had no control, though, so I just cheered and tried to motivate my teammates. It was frustrating.”

On his hobby: “Boxing is my hobby. Me and my dad spar a lot. My dad almost put me into a boxing league. I can’t pinpoint exactly why I like it so much. I guess because it showcases my skills. You have to be quick and strong. I picked up through my dad and I love it.”

Notables: Born Feb. 4, 1991 in Staten Island, N.Y. … Son of Duan and Eva Means … Has three older sisters … Contemplated major is veterinary science.

Top honors: A SuperPrep All-American and the No. 10 prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep … Rated the No. 8 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times … Listed as the No. 54 defensive tackle prospect in the nation by ESPN/Scouts. Inc. … Ranked the No. 35 defensive tackle prospect nationally by Rivals … A first-team All-Capital District selection as a defensive lineman his senior season … A second-team All-Group AAA selection according to the Virginia High School Coaches Association his junior season.
(Note: DeAntre Rhodes could not be reached for comment before our deadline.)

Top honors: A SuperPrep All-American and the top prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep … Named The Associated Press Group AA player of the year in Virginia … Ranked the top tight end prospect nationally by Rivals … Rated the No. 4 overall prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times … Listed as the No. 3 tight end prospect in the nation by Scout.com … Listed the No. 6 athlete prospect nationally by Tom Lemming.

Why he chose Tech: “It’s the place where I felt most comfortable. I thought it was the best fit for me, both as a football recruit and academically.”

On the recruiting process: “It was good. It was a little hectic. Coaches were calling and wanting you to go here and there. But all in all, it was good. It wasn’t that big of a deal.”

On his position at Tech: “I think they’re looking at me as a wide receiver. They’re going to try to get me mismatched with some smaller corners. I’ll play wherever they want. I don’t care.”

Notables: Born July 1, 1991 in Charlottesville, Va. … Son of Eddie and Kim Carazona … Major is undecided.

Why he chose Tech: “I’ve seen how everyone supports the school and I really liked the coaches and players when I went down there.

“Because of my brother [Ed Wang], I’ve had a great opportunity. He’s let me be around the program a lot more than a regular recruit and I’ve been around the coaches and the players a lot. I’ve been able to see how great everything is there.”

On what his brother has told him: “To be honest, whenever we talk, we don’t talk a lot about football. But he has helped me some. He’s my older brother and he’s played a lot, so I listen to him. I know he wants what is best for me.”

On his strengths: “My feet. I have quick feet and a lot of that comes from working out with my dad and at Velocity. My dad’s helped me with a lot of stuff. We have weights at home and we train a lot. I can lift with him and it’s a lot of fun.”

Notables: Born Oct. 28, 1990 in Fairfax, Va. … Son of Robert and Nancy Wang … His older brother, Ed, starts at left tackle for Tech … Major is undecided.

Top honors: Listed the No. 19 prospect in South Carolina by SuperPrep … A first-team selection to The Daily Journal/The Daily Messenger All-Mountain Lakes team … Named the defensive player of the year on that team … Rated the No. 30 cornerback prospect in the nation by ESPN/Scouts, Inc. … Rated the No. 36 cornerback prospect in the nation by Rivals … Listed the No. 74 cornerback prospect nationally by Scout.com.

Why he chose Tech: “Me and Coach [Torrian] Gray built a relationship last year and he kept in touch with me. They brought me up for that camp [the one-day camp] and then made me an offer. The coaches are down to earth. They keep it real and don’t sugarcoat things. I thought it was a good fit for me.”

On his position: “I’ll be a cornerback and a kick returner and probably a punt returner. I love being at cornerback. You’re on an island. It’s just you and the receiver one-on-one when you’re in man defense. You can shut down a receiver and make an impact on the game. I like it. That’s where I’ve always played.”

Notable: Born July 31, 1991 in Seneca, S.C. … Son of Jerome and Polly Williams … Has an older sister and brother, Jerome, who attends Clemson but plans on transferring to Tech and walking on to the team … Contemplated major is business.

Top honors: A SuperPrep All-American … Named the Gatorade player of the year in Virginia … One of 50 national winners of the Old Spice Red Zone player of the year honors … Top-rated prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times … Listed the No. 3 prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep … Ranked the No. 22 tailback prospect in the nation by Scout.com … Listed the No. 46 overall prospect in the nation by Rivals and the No. 4 running back … Earned first-team All-Group AAA honors by the Associated Press as a running back … A first-team all-district and all region player.

Why he chose Tech: “I chose Virginia Tech because I got that home feeling when I went up there. The people are like a close family and they have a great program there and great coaches. They’ve got great guys coaching that program.”

On playing running back at Tech: “I know they have a lot of great running backs at Virginia Tech. But I like the challenge. I like it when people push me. I think that makes me better and makes everyone better.”

On his record-setting season: “It was a little surprising that I was able to break all those records. I knew I was going to have a good season, just not how good.

“I was worried after that first game, though. We played Varina and I had, like, 50 yards, and I thought, ‘Man, this isn’t how I wanted to start my senior year.’ But after that, things started rolling.”

Notables: Born June 15, 1991 in Danville, Va. … Son of Dwight and Sheila Wilson … Has an older brother and a younger sister … Contemplated major is architecture.

Why he chose Tech: “It was between Virginia Tech and Tennessee and it came down to distance. It was closer to home and I felt comfortable there. Everything fit for me. Virginia Tech met all my needs athletics-wise and school-wise.”

On his position: “I’ll probably be a linebacker or a defensive end. It depends on my weight and where that falls. I’m 220 now, but my dad [who was a player at Tennessee] was the same weight before he got to Tennessee and he shot up. If I’m 240-250, I’ll probably play the defensive line.

“As long as I’m playing football, I’m happy. I’ll play wherever. Football is football to me.”

On having his dad help him as a player: “My dad is laid back, but if I had a question, he’d help me out. Sometimes, he’ll offer me some pointers. He lets me do what I want, but he keeps me on the right path. At times, he can be hard, but that’s rare.”

Notables: Born Jan. 29, 1990 in Chesapeake, Va. … Son of James and Shari Wilson … Has two younger brothers … Other interests include paint ball, hunting, fishing and riding horses … Is an ‘animal’ person … Part of a team that won the state his freshman year … Major is undecided.