Being close to home important for Darius Fullwood

For those that following recruiting closely, defensive lineman Darius Fullwood's decommitment from Kentucky last Tuesday, and subsequent verbal to Virginia Tech the next day, may not have been all that surprising. The Hokies were a strong contender for Fullwood the first time around. Tech was in Dee's final 3 along with Maryland and Kentucky, and up until the day of his announcement, most pundits pegged him to pick Tech.

When he visited Blacksburg for the Techmo Bowl two Saturdays ago, it seemed possible he might reconsider his original decision. Even though he maintained his commitment to the Wildcats was firm, he noted he kept in touch with Virginia Tech wide receivers coach Aaron Moorhead.

In June, Dee talked to The Key Play about his relationship with Moorehead.

"It's a real great relationship. We talk probably every week. The past few times we've been talking, it's been about the exams I have coming up. I like that about coaches; it's more than just football. They want to be a type of father figure to me. Be able to look out for me whether it's academics, athletics, or just life obstacles in general. I like that a lot about Coach Moorehead. On top of that, he's a young coach. He kind of understands everything that I'm going through, the things I've experienced, the things like that."

Moorehead's persistence and Blacksburg's close proximity to Dee's family helped Tech sway the 6-4, 240 pound Good Counsel stud.

"I built some good relationships at Kentucky, but the more I thought about it, being closer to home started to become a big thing for me," Fullwood told the Washington Post's Brandon Parker following Good Counsel's upset of Gonzaga last Saturday. "It had pretty much been between Virginia Tech and Kentucky, with Maryland in there a little toward the end, and after thinking on it and making a visit to Virginia Tech, I realized I had the best of both worlds there with the great relationships and it being closer to home."

"I feel good and set in my decision. I don't want to be bouncing around and I hope this doesn't affect any coaches' perception of me," Fullwood also told WaPo's Parker. "I really like Kentucky. But with Virginia Tech, they were the first to offer me, it's not a far drive from my family and there's just that special connection there."