Hendon Hooker to Virginia Tech: Hokies Land 3-Star QB Prospect

The Virginia Tech Hokies have gotten a head start on the 2017 recruiting race, scoring a commitment from 3-star quarterback Hendon Hooker on Thursday.   

Hooker made the announcement during a radio appearance on a local Greensboro, North Carolina, station (h/t Jason Stamm of Rivals' HokieHaven.com). 

Hooker's commitment to Virginia Tech hardly comes as a surprise. The "crystal ball" predictions on 247Sports listed the Hokies as a 100 percent favorite to land the quarterback, per recruiting insider Ryan Bartow.

A dual-threat quarterback from Dudley High School, Hooker is listed as the ninth-ranked player from the state of North Carolina, the 11th-ranked player at his position and the 360th-ranked player in the 2017 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. 

Spencer D. Turkin of ESPN Triad tweeted a picture of Hooker wearing his Virginia Tech hat after making his decision:

Despite the fact that Hooker is not regarded as an elite prospect right now, his scouting reports speak favorably about his potential to become a star. 

Here's what Scout.com said about Virginia Tech's newest quarterback:

"

Hooker is a prospect with a lot of natural ability. He is extremely athletic and can beat you with his arm or legs. Hooker is comfortable making throws from the pocket or on the run. He makes good decisions and is very accurate. He needs to continue to improve his technique, but his upside is huge and he has the potential to become a special player at the collegiate level.

"

Per Hokie Nation, Virginia Tech has moved from 49th to 37th in the latest national recruiting rankings after landing Hooker. 

Speaking to Evan G. Watkins of 247Sports after his announcement, Hooker explained what attracted him to Virginia Tech: "I like Coach [Justin] Fuente because he played quarterback in college and he knows what he is doing. I loved the family feel on the visit, it was the most comfortable I have been on a visit." 

The Hokies could have an opening at quarterback by the time Hooker arrives, with Brenden Motley heading into his senior year and Dwayne Lawson having thrown just nine passes as a freshman last year. 

Given the development Hooker will need, he could redshirt in 2017 before moving into a prominent role the next season. 

Upside with quarterbacks is what teams are always looking for. It helps Hooker's cause moving to Virginia Tech that he isn't limited as just a pocket passer but is capable of using his legs to make plays while working on his ability as a traditional quarterback.

Star rankings courtesy of 247Sports.