2016 QB Joshua Jackson, DE Quayshon Alexander Dazzled by Facilities on First Tech Trips

The absence of most students means Virginia Tech is pretty quiet this time of year, but the athletic side of campus was buzzing this weekend.

Not only did many current players start to trickle back to Blacksburg, but the Hokies' staff also welcomed a number of prospects making their first trips to Tech.

None were more hotly anticipated than a pair of rising seniors in QB Joshua Jackson of Michigan's Saline HS and DE Quayshon Alexander of Wayne, New Jersey's DePaul Catholic HS, and both came away from the visit enamored with the program.

"I thought it was a great place to be," Alexander said after his visit Friday. "Their presentations gave me a real feel for what gameday would be like there."

In particular, the team has been showing off its new indoor practice facility. The building isn't slated to open until the start of July, but the coaches were keen to give each group of visitors a tour of what they're calling the biggest such facility in the country.

"It was massive, just amazing being in there," Alexander said. "And they showed us where they'd be adding outdoor fields as well all around there."

It would seem the staff put a focus on other planned future changes as well, with a particular emphasis on the pending renovation of the team's office space in the Merryman and Jamerson buildings.

"I saw everything that was going to get re-done by the time I would get there," Jackson said after his Saturday trip. "It was great, I felt like I got to see everything."

After spending plenty of time on Michigan's campus with his father, the longtime running backs coach for the Wolverines, Jackson says the rest of Blacksburg truly made him feel at home.

"It was so beautiful, just really similar to Ann Arbor," Jackson said. "It was really nice how each building had some of that Hokie Stone on it too."

But Jackson was more impressed by the people he got to spend time with in Blacksburg than he was the facilities. After spending years getting to know offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler when the two were both at UM, Jackson says the visit helped seal their bond.

"I got to spend lots of time with Coach Loeffler," Jackson said. "We just fit well together, I feel like he knows me well after all these years. We have a good connection. He knows what he's getting with me and I know what I'm getting with him."

Jackson also spent some time with the head Hokie, taking a meeting with Frank Beamer in his office, before spending time with some players.

"I spent time with the starting receivers, that number one (Isaiah Ford) and Cam (Phillips)," Jackson said. "I also saw that 2015 quarterback they're bringing in (Dwayne Lawson). We all got to hang out."

Now, right on the heels of the visit, Jackson says he's officially made up his mind on his college choice. He plans to announce his decision at 11:30 on Thursday during a youth camp at his high school, but he's keeping it close to the vest for the moment.

"I've made my decision, but I haven't told many people, any media or anything like that," Jackson said. "Just my coaches, my parents. Basically I let everyone close to me know, but that's it."

Alexander is less certain about his future, even though his visit mirrored Jackson's in many ways. He started things off with a meeting with Beamer, then was escorted by OLBs coach Cornell Brown and DEs coach Charley Wiles around campus.

"We all got to tour campus and then they broke down the defense for me," Alexander said. "They told me I'd stay at defensive end, but I'd mainly be a pass rusher. I'd still be a three down player, but I'd be a little bit of a hybrid."

Unlike Jackson, Alexander was joined by several of his teammates at Wayne for the trip. Rising seniors Hasise Dubois, Kwadir Brown and Terrell Vassel — all three play both CB/WR and have yet to be offered by Tech — accompanied Alexander, and he says they came away from the trip similarly impressed.

"They all really liked it, Kwadir even said it was his dream school," Alexander said.

Arrived in Blacksburg with the bros @Kwadir_Brown @TerrellVassel @KinG_QuaY_23 #VT #Hokies— HassyBee (@DuBois_5k) June 5, 2015

Alexander is less certain. The group visited North Carolina the very next day, and he called Chapel Hill "gorgeous" with a football staff that's "great to interact with."

He also has a demanding slate of visits set for the coming weeks, with trips to Nebraska, Michigan and Notre Dame all on his calendar for June, and he says he'll start to narrow things down once those are over.

"As of right now, I'm just trying to finish my unofficials and then decide if I want to take officials," Alexander said.

But whether or not he extends his recruitment into football season, Alexander says this visit solidified his position that Tech is one of his favorites.

"Tech is one of my top schools, they're a priority for me," Alexander said. "I hope to get back there soon."