Virginia Tech Football: The Hokies' Biggest Remaining Recruiting Needs

Frank Beamer is renowned in the college football world for recruiting specific to team needs and getting the most out of his players. The Hokies are well known for turning two and three-star recruits into top-round draft picks while occasionally landing top overall recruits who lead to 10-win seasons year after year.

Let’s take a look at the biggest remaining needs for Beamer and co.'s  2012 class and a look ahead to one very important 2013 recruit.

Stefon Diggs (ATH)

Mr. Do-It-All.

Diggs is everything the Hokies look for and more. He’s the extreme athlete Beamer loves, while at the same time he is one hell of a football player.

Stefon excels at WR, RB, S and return specialist. When you watch this guy on film, all you say is, "Get him the damn ball." The kid can flat-out play football; his balance, change of direction and fluidity are off the charts. Diggs could line up in the backfield, slot receiver and could be one of the most dangerous return men in the country for the Gobblers.

Bottom line, the kid will find a way to the end zone.

Bennie Coney (Dual QB)

The Hokies are back on the recruiting trail for the next franchise quarterback after Logan Thomas—Bennie Coney is just the guy. 

Coney hales from Plant City, Fla. and plays against elite Florida talent. At 6’2” and 210 pounds, Coney is the raw, extremely athletic QB the Hokies chase down.

He is one of those guys determined to be a QB.

Hmmm…sounds like Tyrod Taylor, Logan Thomas, Bryan Randall, etc., to me.

Coney is a pass-first guy who is also extremely dangerous in the open field. As a sophomore, he threw for 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2009. He was suspended most of the 2010 season for an altercation with a teammate, but being in Blacksburg would allow Coney to focus on his academics and maturity as both a football player and young man.

Joel Caleb (ATH)

Okay Shane Beamer, here is your time to shine.

Caleb is an exceptional overall athlete on both sides of the ball with most of his production coming on offense as a dynamic running threat at QB. He has a strong enough arm to entertain the idea of playing quarterback on the college level, but he's more of a thrower than a passer at this point in his career.

I see him more as a big-play receiver. Caleb's combination of size, strength and athleticism are amongst the best as an ATH in this year’s class. He is a big, strong runner who has good vision and breaks arm tackles rather than making players miss or outrunning them. 

This is almost a must-get for the Hokies, as they need to maintain a recruiting prowess in the state.

Ken Ekanem (LB)

Hello to future MLB, Ken Ekanem.

At 6'3", 230 pounds and clocked somewhere in the 4.7 40 range, the kid is a beast. Ekanem displays the explosive initial quickness necessary to create havoc in the opponent's backfield. Although he lines up primarily in a three-point stance, his size and athleticism appear better suited for the inside linebacker position at the college level.

Virginia Tech isn’t exactly known for recruiting "SEC-sized" 'backers. This would give the Hokies an excellent jump on landing larger backers.

Ekanem finished his junior season with 75 tackles and 17 sacks. He also played tight end and had four touchdowns receiving. If 'backer doesn’t appear to be his strong suit though, he could be the next outstanding VT defensive end.

Drew Harris (RB)

Anyone remember a guy by the name of Kevin Jones? How about Darren Evans?

Well let me introduce you to Drew Harris.

Harris hales from the same state as Jones, and is a similar type of back as both Evans and Jones. Harris is a quality running back prospect without a lot of flash, but great production. He has a tall, well-built frame that should continue to fill out and become more compact.

For his size he runs with adequate lean, particularly through traffic. Harris considers himself a "violent" runner and doesn't mind cleaning someone's clock on the way to the end zone. As a junior, he carried the ball 227 times for 1,960 yards and 28 touchdowns, and was first-team All-League, All-Conference and All-State Class AAAA. Harris was also the Ches-Mont League Player of the Year.

With David Wilson's departure coming in the next two seasons, the Hokies are in need of priming their next great tailback.

Temuchin "Bucky" Hodges (QB, 2013)

Logan Thomas clone.

As a sophomore, the kid already stands 6'5" and weighs around 220 lbs. By the time he's a senior, I’m guessing 6'7" and 240 lbs.

Bucky will be a top 50 player in the country before he leaves high school; more to come on him in the coming months.