Virginia Tech Hokies Have Some Work to Do With Recruiting

Wednesday's announcement of the Top Recruit signings is out, and the news is decent for Virginia Tech fans. While they didn't have a terrible recruiting class, the Hokies have shown that they lack in the recruitment area compared to other schools in the ACC.

The Hokies were ranked No. 18 overall in the ESPN rankings for recruiting classes, but other ACC teams outshined them and did a much better job of recruiting. Three schools from the conference (Miami, Florida State, North Carolina) were ranked better than the Hokies, and all of them recruited more ESPN Top 150 recruits. Clemson's recruiting class was right with the Hokies, but they remained one spot behind at No. 19.

What were the high spots for the defending ACC and Orange Bowl Champions? They managed to pick up the nation's fifth-ranked running back, David Wilson. It will definitely help to bolster the Virginia Tech running game that already had one of last year's freshman sensations in Darren Evans.

Tech also managed to snatch up athlete Logan Thomas. Thomas played quarterback for Brookville High School in Lynchburg, Virginia, but he is expected to play tight end for the Hokies.

Thomas might play a factor in the "Wild Turkey" formation created by offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring, which is a rehash of the "Wild Hog" formation. Tight end Greg Boone currently lines up in that formation as a quarterback. Thomas' ability to throw the ball makes him a dangerous option in that formation.

The one interesting piece of the Virginia Tech recruiting equation is a quarterback. The Hokies graduate former starter-turned-backup Sean Glennon, which means that position is up for grabs. Senior Jeff Beyer and freshmen Joseph Clayton and Austin Decker will compete to see who earns that honor. It is interesting to note that the Hokies didn't go after a player that will play the pure quarterback position.

One thing is certain in all of this recruiting mess: If Virginia Tech wants to continue to compete for ACC Championships and BCS Bowl berths, the Hokies must start matching their competition. It is hard being in a conference with a Hall of Fame coach like Bobby Bowden and great recruiters like Randy Shannon of Miami and Butch Davis in North Carolina.

However, the Hokies have a bright future. The Hokies do have a young corps of players at various positions that can mature, grow, and develop into some amazing talent for the future. That doesn't even count the talent they added this year. It should be interesting to see how Tech competes against these rival schools in the years to come and how much of an effect these recruits will play in the championships won or lost.