Virginia Tech Football Recruiting: Offensive Linemen Thomas Hopple Commits to Hokies

When Virginia Tech football director of high school relations Thomas Guerry throws up the commit signal, you pay attention.

The #Hokies just got better! #VTFamily #Sandman16 757 pic.twitter.com/o5VcEm22xP— Thomas Guerry (@thomasguerry) March 28, 2015

Offensive lineman Thomas Jarrett Hopple verballed to the Hokies this evening, according to 247Sports. The 6-6, 280 pound Nansemond River standout is Tech's first o-line commit of the 2016 cycle. He's rated as a 3-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite and held scholarship offers from Virginia, Pitt and West Virginia among other schools.

Andy Hilton of Recruit757 wrote a nice account of how Hopple went from tweener to regional commodity.

My first exposure to Nansemond River offensive tackle Thomas Hopple was noteworthy. Hopple was a lanky, big man who was a little out of place at on a 7 on 7 team. He was not quite a tight end, and not yet an offensive tackle. That was 13 months ago. Flash forward to today and it's a different story.

Then, Hopple looked more like an slow-footed tight end. His 6-6 frame with 240 pounds dropped on it was not yet ready for prime time. He was finishing his freshman year. Ninth graders are supposed to be a little awkward.

Now, Hopple is an impressive 6-6 and 260, with more muscle packed on. He's looking like a college-ready prospect who's just now finishing his sophomore year. There will be a lot of progress coming, but in the meantime, college coaches have already started paying attention. Nansemond River assistant coach Justin Conyers gave us the scoop.

"NC State, UVA, Virginia Tech, and VMI all love him," stated the coach. "They're waiting on him to come to a one-day camp so they can pull the trigger (on a scholarship offer)."

Koma is going to do his best to catch up with Hopple for an interview later this week.