Virginia prep stars still deciding on schools

For lovers of the National Football League, there is no off-season event more exciting than the draft in April and seeing who teams acquire with the hope of a brighter future or maintaining competitiveness.

For those who adore college football, it's a similar feeling with National Signing Day, which arrives on Wednesday.

Prospects can sign their letters of intent and send them to the school they have chosen to attend, cementing their place in the next recruiting class.

For Virginia Tech, an already high-quality class has the chance to be great.
The Hokies currently have the 22nd-ranked haul on Rivals.com, with five four-star recruits and a score of three-star prospects.

As the 2012 recruiting class nears its completion, the Hokies are still in the running for three more big-time players, all from the Commonwealth, and all of whom will be announcing their respective decisions on Wednesday morning.

Rivals.com's National Recruiting Analyst Mike Farrell and HokieHaven.com publisher Brian Mohr took time out of their busy schedules to talk to The Daily Progress about the remaining Tech targets and where they think they will ultimately end up.

Athlete Joel Caleb

Four Stars

6'2, 201 lbs

Clover Hill/Midlothian

No. 84 prospect nationally

No. 3 in Virginia

No. 7 ATH

The main target for Frank Beamer and company, the US Army All-American is one with the ability to change a game at any moment.

"Caleb, he is a very good athlete,” Farrell said. “Physical kid, very strong. He's got big hands, catches the ball well. He looks like the type of receiver that would be tough to tackle."

Mohr likes the versatility of the star recruit and his chances to play early in Blacksburg, especially with the departures of Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale to graduation. He is expected to play wideout in college.

"Caleb is a very versatile athlete who could play either side of the ball in college,” Mohr said. “There's no doubt he'll need to make an adjustment to the receiver spot in college as he hasn't played it in three years, but Caleb has the potential.

"He's got good hands and is a bit of a long strider with a large frame. With time, he could be an impact player and with the need at the receiver spot, it's not impossible to believe he could find a role early if he picks up the offense fast enough."

The prospect, who was mainly a quarterback in high school and passed for 747 yards to go with 737 on the ground this past season, played in seven games because of a knee injury. Caleb has offers from several schools including Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Louisiana State, Oklahoma and Virginia, but he will be deciding on Wednesday between the Hokies, Ohio State and West Virginia at 8:30 a.m.

Mohr feels it is likely that he will play in the ACC.

The decision can be viewed live on VTEffect.com.

Farrell's pick: Virginia Tech – 85 percent odds

Defensive Tackle Korren Kirven

Four Stars

6'4, 272 lbs

Brookville/Lynchburg

No. 206 nationally

No. 7 in Virginia

No. 16 DT

This is a player many thought would be playing for Tech all along.

A star defensive end from Lynchburg, Kirven played at the same high school as current Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas and defensive end Zach McCray. A studious kid, academics have always been a priority throughout the recruiting process, with architecture a likely candidate as a major, which is just one of the reasons why Virginia Tech makes sense, in addition to the connections to players and location.

On the field, Kirven is an impact defender coming off a leg injury in the Group AA Division 3 state semifinals that caused him to miss the Under Armour All-America game.

"He is a big kid, he is athletic,” Farrell said. “He can run things down. I like the way he makes himself skinny in the gap and shoots double teams. He comes off the ball pretty well. Overall, his side and athleticism is what impresses me.”

Kirven is rated the No. 16 defensive tackle in the class and has over 20 offers.

“He'll need to improve his strength more, but he can set the line of scrimmage,” Mohr said. “In regards to his impact, he's young, so he'll likely need at least a year or more to develop before he likely sees the field."

Midweek, Alabama coach Nick Saban paid Kirven a visit, attempting to win him over days before National Signing Day. This past weekend, Kirven took his last official visit, making the trip to Blacksburg. He will be choosing between the Hokies, Crimson Tide, Maryland and Tennessee.

He also received offers from Auburn, Florida, North Carolina, Penn State Stanford and Virginia, among others. For many, it's been hard to get a good feel for what he may do as he has done a solid job keeping things quiet. If there was one recruit most would bet on not choosing the Hokies out of the remaining targets, it would be him, but many still believe Virginia Tech is currently at the top of his list.

Kirven, who Mohr feels will likely stay in-state, will announce on Wednesday at 8 a.m.

Farrell's pick : Virginia Tech – 60 percent odds

OLB/DE Ken Ekanem

Four Stars

6'3, 226 lbs

Centreville/Clifton

No. 209 nationally

No. 8 in Virginia

No. 15 OLB

The powerful defender was Northern Region player of the year, registering 18 sacks before tearing his ACL in the Group AAA Division 6 state championship game, and will likely redshirt next season.

"He can play standing up or with his hand on the ground,” Farrell said of Ekanem, who looks set to play defensive end in college. “He is a very good pass rusher.”

Mohr sees him as a relentless player, one with the ability to make several splash plays in his career.

"Ekanem is a fast, aggressive defensive end,” Mohr said. “A dominating edge rusher, Ekanem has an array of moves and a good combination of speed and strength. It's not out of the realm to think he could make an impact early for the Hokies if he can recover from an ACL quick enough."

A few months back, the Centreville star had a final four list of Tech, Notre Dame, Oregon and North Carolina. He also has offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt and Virginia, among others The defender narrowed his list to the Hokies and Fighting Irish in early January.

He visited Tech on Jan. 20, with the goal being to visit Notre Dame this past weekend. That trip, however, did not happen. Irish Sports Daily, the ESPN affiliate that covers the team, reported that the school was no longer recruiting him.
At this stage, Ekanem looks like a lock to suit up for Bud Foster.

He will announce his decision on Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Farrell's pick: Virginia Tech – 95 percent odds.

Potential to move up

With 27 commitments, the Hokies look to finish strong. The program already has commitments from seven of the top 15 prospects in the state, according to Rivals, and 13 of the top 25.

"The way Virginia Tech stands at 22 [in team recruiting rankings], I would expect them to move into the top 20,” Farrell said if they land all three.

If so, it could be the Hokies' highest-rated class since finishing 14th after the 2005 season.