Virginia Tech Football Recruiting: Looking Ahead to 2016 Class

National signing day is in the rear-view mirror, but it's never too early to start talking about next year's high school stars. For the Virginia Tech Hokies, who finished with the nation's 29th-ranked class in 2015 per 247Sports, next year is an important one in Tech's continuing quest to get back to the top of the ACC.

Currently, VT has four verbal commitments in the class of 2016, including quarterback Logan Byrd of Kathleen, Georgia. Just this weekend, Tech picked up a pledge from cornerback Kareem Felder, per Andy Bitter of the Roanoke Times. 

There's obviously a long way to go to signing day next year. Players will commit, then decommit, making life difficult for coaches across the country. In this recently completed class, the Hokies had four players who verbally pledged to Virginia Tech only to back out long before signing day.

While it's far too soon to know who'll be signing with the Hokies in 2016, here's a look at what next season's class could look like, Tech's needs and any news that could affect VT on the recruiting trail.

Impact of Frank Beamer's Age

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Frank Beamer

Longtime Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer will turn 69 next season. His age, in addition to his health, are things opposing coaches have and will continue to use against him and the Hokies. 

JC Shurburtt of 247Sports noted the amount of negative recruiting facing Beamer and the Hokies was immense. Andrea Adelson of ESPN said the level of scrutiny facing Beamer and negative recruiting was a big factor in the class of 2015. 

That type of scrutiny will only increase the longer Beamer stays at Tech.

Can the Hokies continue to sign solid prospects amidst talk of Beamer's future? If you look at former legendary coaches like Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno who coached well into their 70s—or 80s in Paterno's case—their recruiting classes suffered later in their tenures.

While Beamer isn't as old as Bowden or Paterno were late in their tenures, his age will continue to be an angle opposing coaches use to sway recruits away from Blacksburg. 

That strategy worked in 2015, but Tech still signed a solid class. Can the Hokies repeat that success in 2016?

Zohn Burden's Arrival as Wide Receivers Coach

Credit: 247Sports

New VT WRs coach Zohn Burden

Losing Aaron Moorehead as wide receivers coach after just two years was a major blow for Virginia Tech. An NFL veteran, the young, affable Moorehead was an ace on the recruiting trail for the Hokies. He was instrumental in signing players from Maryland, Washington D.C., northern Virginia and the Midwest. 

How does Beamer replace him?

Enter Zohn Burden. Sure, Burden is a name fans will not recognize, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Burden, who played college football at VMI, spent the past several years as wide receivers coach for Old Dominion and was Conference USA's second-ranked recruiter, according to 247Sports. 

Not only did he coach in talent-rich "757" over the last few years, but he's actually from there, too. That's great news for the Hokies. In addition to longtime assistant Bryan Stinespring, Burden will likely recruit the Tidewater area, where he has deep and established ties. 

Offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler is high on Burden. 

"

#Hokies OC Scot Loeffler on new asst Zohn Burden: "He’s a great recruiter, an excellent teacher & he really connects well with young people"

— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) February 4, 2015"

State of Virginia's Talent Not as Deep in 2016

Credit: 247Sports

Virginia's top-ranked player in 2016, Levonta Taylor

The state of Virginia has produced several top-flight players over the past two years. Da'Shawn Hand, Andrew Brown, Quin Blanding and Josh Sweat are just some of Virginia's highly ranked players in the last two recruiting cycles. 

The state has one such player in 2016: cornerback Levonta Taylor of Virginia Beach. 

Taylor is Virginia's only 5-star talent in 2016, and the state's No. 2 player, wide receiver Scott Bracey of Richmond, is verbally committed to Duke. 

The Hokies have failed to sign some of the state's top players in each of the last two years. It's led to an increased focus on states like North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Georgia. The Hokies always recruit the state of Florida diligently. 

While the state of Virginia doesn't exactly possess the same amount of elite talent as in recent seasons, it's imperative the Hokies sign the best players in the state for this class and future classes. Establishing relationships with some of the state's best high school coaches is important for the Hokies in their quest to keep schools like Alabama, Ohio State and Tennessee from continuing to poach the state's best players. 

Skill Positions Will Be a Major Focus in 2016

Credit: 247Sports

Virginia Tech target Tino Ellis

The Hokies signed one running back and no wide receivers in the class of 2015. Expect Tech to focus heavily on those two positions in 2016.

The coaching staff worked hard this class to shore up both the offensive and defensive lines. The Hokies signed several receivers in the class of 2014, and two of them—Isaiah Ford and Cam Phillips—were stars for VT in their first year on campus. 

Two tight ends signed in the class of 2015—Chris Cunningham and Xavier Burke. Burke, though, could end up on the defensive side of the ball. Tech will likely look to add a tight end or two in 2016.

Players like receiver Tino Ellis of Hyattsville, Maryland, and Eric Kumah of Woodbridge, Virginia, are going to be high priorities for Tech next year. 

Top Targets

Credit: 247Sports

Top 2016 defensive tackle prospect Rashan Gary

While the Hokies expect to focus on the defensive end and offensive skill positions in 2016, they will target some elite talent, specifically Paramus, New Jersey, defensive tackle Rashan Gary. A factor going in Tech's favor, Gary is good friends with current Hokie Billy Ray Mitchell and attended the Hokies' junior day festivities last weekend. 

In addition to Gary, Taylor, Ellis and Kumah, here's a list of some of Tech's top targets in 2016:

• Ellison Jordan, defensive tackle, Baltimore, Maryland
• Keyvone Bruton, safety, Norfolk, Virginia
• Landon Dickerson, offensive tackle, Hudson, North Carolina
• Grant Holloway, wide receiver, Chesapeake, Virginia
• Victor Greene, linebacker/running back, Spotsylvania, Virginia
• C.J. Freeman, running back, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Robbie Robinson, athlete, Hampton, Virginia
• Wayne Davis, cornerback, Norfolk, Virginia
• Reggie Floyd, athlete, Manassas, Virginia
• Jalen Elliott, athlete, Chesterfield, Virginia
• Trevion Armstrong, wide receiver, Chesterfield, Virginia

All recruiting rankings and information courtesy of 247Sports.