All-American Punter Marshall Long announced his decommitment from the Hokies' 2016 recruiting class on Twitter Wednesday evening.
I have decided to de-commit from Virginia Tech. Wish the Hokies the best. pic.twitter.com/XDIucHFyei— Marshall Long (@marshall_long) January 27, 2016
"After thoroughly talking with family and important figures in my life, I have decided to de-commit from Virginia Tech. I feel this decision is best for me and my family. I wish nothing but the best for Virginia Tech," Long tweeted.
Long silently committed to special teams coach James Shibest at the beginning of January, and made his verbal public less than two weeks ago. His pledge to the Hokies wasn't longstanding (take that pun in slow and smooth, like a delicate cigar).
Jason Stamm of Rivals.com reported Georgia offered Long a preferred walk-on spot.
Long had originally planned to visit Virginia Tech officially last weekend. That was cancelled due to blizzard-like conditions in Blacksburg. Long had rescheduled his visit with the Hokies for this weekend but will now visit Georgia, which has offered him a preferred walk-on spot.
Long's decision to play his college ball elsewhere frees up a scholarship for the Hokies, but Tech will still have to find a replacement for four-year punter A.J. Hughes.
Comments
Hmmm... trade a schollie for a preferred walk-on.
Welp...
DRINK!
...just kidding.
I gave up trying to understand 17 year olds a loooooong time ago. Best of luck to him.
Didn't even get to check out the indoor practice facility
Georgia weather might be nicer in January, but come August he'll be wishing for that nice mountain air.
Good luck to him.
Must have heard that Fuente don't punt
so many good gifs to use here
You coulda been this:
Now you're gonna be this:
I always felt like you waste a scholarship if it goes to a kicker. Not saying they don't help win, but how may good walk-owns have we had? Would be nice to have great ST this year to help the transition from beamerball, but probably the player I would have picked to lose if I knew we would lose one. Hope he is career back-up with a Lower level SEC degree.
I hope the best for him.
By the way, Georgia ranked higher than Virginia Tech according to this website: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges
I keep a running tab of FBS school rankings by USNews each year, and Vanderbilt (duh), Florida, Georgia, and aTm constantly outrank Tech.
according to the link above VT and aTm are tied at 70. Does that mean we're improving? I kind of wonder where VT would have ranked 20 years ago. Where do we think they'll rank in 10 years? IMO everything points towards a positive projection for VT academics and I hope the university continues to climb that ladder. For as much as we (okay, maybe it's just me) make fun of the SEC for academics they still have a good handful of top rated academic institutions. I think you'll find that just about every conference has some schools near the top, some schools near the bottom and a bunch in the middle. Nothing really surprising about that.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to point out that the Cousins are sitting pretty at #175. That is all.
EDIT!!! : also discovered that everyone's favorite ACC rival from Greenville, NC is in the top 200 (#194)
WVU is dead last of all P5 schools. Quite the feat.
Last year we were at 71 and aTm was 68.
2014: Us and them at 69
2013: Us 72, them 65
2012: Us 71, aTm (still in the B12) 58
Also of note: our second-lowest ranked school (FSU) would have been tied for 5th in the SEC with Alabama. FSU would have been our absolute lowest-ranked school if we didn't bring in Louisville, who with a rank of 168 would have been dead last in the SEC.
That said, I do get a wee bit defensive about Georgia whenever their academics get attacked.
School rankings are mostly nonsense like recruiting rankings. Does anybody really believe that there is an appreciably difference between the #68 and #71 schools (or the #19 & #28 ranked recruiting classes for that matter)? And what exactly changed from 2014 to 2015 that made VT drop a whole 2 spots and and aTM go up a whole 1 spot?
Sure there's a difference between #4 and #70. But #57 and #71?
i know the difference between #26 and #70
12 STRAIGHT!!!
Well at T A&M Johnny Nightclub left, that had to have raised the overall student IQ.
Agreed. The majority of national school rankings are just nonsense. Most of it has to do with money (average professor salaries, number of alumni who donate to the school, endowment, etc). Another really funny thing about schools is the concept of "peer universities." For instance, Ohio State claims that Harvard and Yale are among their peers. I'm not sure the feeling is mutual.
Yeah, VT has made a pretty dramatic rise in the past 20 years, jumping 15+ spots.
(double post)
Did you read how this is calculated? Seems about as accurate as a preseason poll. Faculty average salary adjusted for the cost of living, Alumni donations, retention rate, budget per student, a survey of faculty peers, graduation rate, how hard it is to get into, all assigned values at someones discretion, and averaged. I know it is a difficult thing to quantify, and I am not saying this does not as good a job as anything at bundling the whole college experience together, but they are not really measuring $ value of education, or personal value of education. They are subjectively weighing a whole bunch of semi-related measurables until they get a result they like.
annnnnd this is what it's like being on the wrong end of the big fish scale.
Looking forward to Fuente's offenses coupled with Bud's defenses turning that scale on its head when it comes to us and the SEC.
SHANE FINALLY WON A RECRUITING WAR!!!! /s
On a serious note, compare UGA SEC schedule vs VT bad draws at the ACC table. or maybe its the shot that UGa has for top tier games/Championship games vs VT's outlook
He found out that kickers participate in tackling drills too and backed out
So Long
What does'commitment ' mean? This is a bad practice that teaches these kids to be self-centered and of poor character, that their word means nothimg. It's ok to decide to go elsewhere, but don't 'commit' until you can make an informed decision. If something at the school changes (in a new coach, sanctions, etc), that's different.
The kids need to learn character, not 'I'm the center of the universe;'.
It's part of the game. On the flip side, coaches extend then rescind scholarship offers to recruits all the time. Everyone is looking out for their best interest, as it should be.
I guess I'm not seeing this through the same lenses. If you make a verbal commitment, then you should have to rescind it in order to continue taking official visits. THAT'S the way it should be. Coaches shouldn't jerk people around (which they do). At the same time, I don't condone a system where hot-shot players can jerk around schools and take up scholarships of players who are ready to commit (and stay committed). The system teaches these young men that the word "commitment" = loosely interested.
If this is his version of "commitment", then...may all his kicks be blocked.
Hot shot coaches hand out far more scholarship promises than they can accept. If you want to make it so a kid can't do it to you, make it so the coach can't do it to him. An early signing period is part of the solution, but there's always going to be shady business in the game of recruiting. We get upset when a kid commits to us, visits another school, and then likes that school but we praise our coaches when we do the same thing by poaching a player. Yesterday, we offered ODU commit Tyree Rodgers. By your standards, we shouldn't want him because he's committed and if he backs out then he's a hot-shot player jerking around ODU, but we'll ignore all of that because he's now our hot-shot player. Double edged swords cut both ways.
That would explain many pro athlete divorces.
Yeah, at least have the common courtesy of waiting a full 2 weeks before decommiting. /s
I gotta say I have to agree with this. Unless there is some extenuating circumstances, family illness, coach leaves, sanctions on a team, or something that changes the situation. I mean it's just bad practice and doesn't help in teaching these kids how to become men. You really have nothing in this world but your word. I know it's one thing and a big decision and they are 17 but still. If any of my four boys were granted scholarships (unfortunately they probably won't because we are of the JCC size and all, but who knows!!!) I wouldn't let them commit until they were 100% and then wouldn't let them decommit. If that takes till signing day and visiting every school then fine. I know it's going to happen and all but that's just how I feel about it.
However, this one seemed rather quick. I can understand a little bit more when it's a "I committed my junior year" type of thing in stead of 2 weeks earlier with signing day coming up shortly.
I agree and disagree. I want the word "commitment" to mean something, e.g. the lesson my father taught me that my word was my bond, but that's just not the reality in this situation. Coaches hold all the power. A scholarship offer can be revoked without notice or reason, it can be changed (or never explained) as "non-commitable." The whole process derives from a potential loss of integrity or accountability on either side, with the coaches/schools holding the greatest power.
A 16/17-year-old kid, whose future may depend on being able to get an athletic scholarship, is in a difficult spot. Yes, the "slighted" school feels like they've been wronged in some sense, but really what is the recruit going to do? They're trying to make a choice that affects their entire future based on a promise from the school that isn't really a promise. This is where greater regulation of the process, and an early signing period, make the most sense. If a school sends a written offer, there should be no revocation or BS about "non-commitable" offers; the school must uphold its promise unless there are coaching changes or the kid gets into academic or legal trouble. From the moment the offer is sent, the recruit should be able to send in an NLI. This will make everyone, on both sides, slow down. Coaches will only send offers they really intend on honoring and recruits will not rush their decisions to hold their place in line, or wait until the prettier date shows up.
Amen. I would add kids should have one free pull back prior to starting or transfer after starting if the Head coach or their position coach leaves/gets fired.
I agree. I would also add that an NLI should be able to be rescinded in the case of NCAA sanctions or any academic misconduct found in the recruit's intended major that come up after the NLI is signed.
In reality, we should just be changing the language here. We have "commit" before "intent," which is why most people are putting the normal definitions on things. We should have "accept offer" and sign a "letter of commitment" to formally seal the deal.
This, this, a thousand times this! I have no problem with anyone "de-committing" because there are no real promises.
Its really not a commitment by either side until Signing day so its a poor choice of wording.
I agree with this. Does there even really need to be a "National Signing Day"?? I mean can't you say, here's our offer. Then the kid sends in his LOI right there if he wants. If he wants to wait and see that's fine. But I agree that would slow everyone down so teams don't offer people they don't really want and kids understand that once they sign an LOI then they are out of touch. Again, with stipulations for coaches leaving, academic reasons by the school or player, etc etc. It's all in the fine print.
Agreed... have a leg to square you up :-)
People keep getting hung up on the word and the literal definition. It is used incorrectly. We have guys verbally commit, though non-binding, and then have them sign a letter of intent, which is binding. I agree the NCAA should change the terminology to be more accurate to what is actually happening, but does that change anything? Even if so, that has nothing to do with the high school kids who are just a part of the process.
A high school kid changing their mind on a decision which will have a massive impact on their future (athletically, academically, socially, etc.) does not make them self centered, nor of poor character. We are fans rooting for a team that represents our school. Players come and go. We need to recognize how much more important this whole process is for the individual going through it than it is for us.
Yep. The way the system currently exists, it's like a couple of 17 yr olds being "engaged to be engaged".
so.. a promise ring?
I'm kind of ambivalent to the argument but I don't think you deserve to be down voted for stating your opinion so here is a leg to offset.
The kid got an offer from a school he'd rather attend. How is that saying "I'm the center of the universe?" They're making a decision on where they want to spend three to five years building character. Sorry, but I just get tired of 'croots decommitting and we accuse them of being selfish and holy.
No doubt all part of Fuente's plan to score on every drive making a punter superfluous...
He heard we are never going to punt, like that high school coach in Arkansas. Fuente hasn't revealed that publicly so keep that info here.
Whatever kid- glad he didn't have a change of heart in the middle of his career and keep someone out that really wanted to be a Hokie.
All joking aside, this might be the only compelling scene in the prequels.
I think this outfit was a compelling as well...
My first and all-time celebrity crush. Always a leg for Natty P.
"Now this is podracing"
I wish I could give this 100 legs.
I just don't understand how one minute you are ready to spend 4 years somewhere then the next you are wishing us the best. Why tell the world if you are having second thoughts? No one forced him to get on twitter. By all means do what is best for you, but if there is one life lesson that I can give to any high school kid it is to do what you say you are going to do.
zblaetz...I agree with you 100%...Well said.
You made a good point...no one forced him to put a dab pic on twitter and announce it to the world.
So we just lost out on a scholarship kicker - the heir to Beamerball - to the special team's coach for UGA, who happens to be an actual Beamer?
I don't mind spending a scholarship on a punter, in fact, I would expect our punter to be on scholarship. But what I didn't like about the Marshall Long offer was that it seems difficult to determine who the best punter in the country is (his All American status) based on high school football. Just too many variables, how often a team punts, how good the snapper is, how much pressure he gets.
Long looked like a good punter on his video, but I can't say he looked appreciably better than another 20 or so guys we could get. If Shibest is worth his exorbitant salary, he should be able to get any number of kickers to become quality punters with proper coaching. I would rather we recruit like 5 kickers, make 2 or 3 of them punters and give a scholarship to the best of the bunch.
The other thing we have to remember is that we have other kickers on the team. Long wasn't guaranteed a starting spot. Junior and former kicker Mitchell Ludwig wants a starting spot, as well as any of the other kickers not named Joey Slye. Personally I really wanted Long to be a Hokie because I work with a guy who is a family friend, but we just gotta let Shibest shibest the best he can.
I would rather he make this decision now so that the coaches have time to go out and evaluate their other options than if he had taken us up to signing day and left us at the altar. The whole system is a sham - See Michigan, which just forced out several recruits that had been committed long term. That kind of thing goes on to one level or another throughout every level of schools. What if we get that kid from ODU? ODU will go down to offer someone that was probably slated to go to another school one level down, eventually effecting the lowest level school the most.
The other key is we are talking about kids. Kids that aren't just making a decision on where are they getting the best degree. Almost every kid at the D1 level has aspirations of the NFL at least coming out of high school, so if they think there is a place that is going to give them a step up in pursuit of that goal than I have no problem with them changing their mind until they are signed on the bottom line, and even then in some instances sited above I would prefer to see the NCAA grant flexibility.
Imagine if Frank had waited until 10 March to announce he wasn't coming back next year? How would you feel if you were one of those recruits? We all love Tech and Tech football, but Beamer played a huge part in that, all those happy experiences because we were winning lots of games. Recruits feel the same way and then the rug would have been out from under them if the coaching staff completely changed. They are effected in a way most of us cant appreciate. What if you were a player in the secondary and lost Torrian Gray as your coach? I would be furious that I couldn't follow Gray to wherever he landed without sacrificing a year of sitting out from football to get there if I was even allowed to go there depending on the transfer rules.
Just my thoughts. Yes there probably needs to be a better word than Commitment involved but until major changes are conducted, we are stuck with the verbiage more than likely.
Commitment just doesn't mean what it used to.
And "Scholarship Offer" does?
usually at VT it does
usually at VT it DID, we have had a new regime for all of 8 weeks, while we all have seen good things it is wishful thinking to imagine it will be unchanged, and things like non Committable Offers to just raise interest or hedge bets are part of competitive recruiting today in football.
He's dead to me. Good to free up that scholarship.
Sorry...I have heard it all before.
"Give the guy a break, he is only 18 years old."....Sorry, I believe that you are never too young to honor a commitment.
The youth of today are socialized to believe that they don't have to honor a commitment.
I am so sick of the crap...."I am 100% committed to and it is my dream school. I still plan to take a bunch of official visits and keep my options open."
Commit 100% or don't commit at all.
Ok....off my soapbox now.
Whatever....I am sure we will find another punter.
So the kid stays committed and finds out on signing day that the school took too many NLI's and now they want him to go to a Fork Union or come in as a preferred walk-on and he is stuck, how is that for a commitment? School might even offer to return his NLI, but now all the other schools that he might have gone to have filled all their slots for the year. Kid also knows that if he doesn't "commit" the school intends to move on to their next target.
Maybe the word needs to be Reservation.
Commit:
I actually really like the terminology behind reserve. Mostly because places that take reservations will slightly over book and have wiggle room. They then often want you to confirm your presence at a later date. My God! You've done it man!
Coach:
Commit:
News people:
Etc Etc
So we can't be too mad now. He is saying that UGA offered him a full scholarship so it makes much more sense, at least to me.
"it's always been a dream of mine to play SEC football"
well, yeah, you're a punter and the SEC is allergic to prolific offenses....that would be my dream too...if I were a punter. Best of luck kiddo. Wish nothing but the best for you. I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities to punt at UGA.
The TKPer in me says good luck. The fan in me who knows what a great ST tradition we have and what kinds of contributions he could have made says that this article might as well be titled "Marshall Long can go F himself with a rusty screwdriver"
Per bitter's twitter per longs instagram he's going to uga on a full scholly :/
Tweet
I wouldn't even consider this a decommit the kid said two weeks ago he was committed to us and now he's on to UGA. We were his placeholder. I hope we play UGA in the next 4 years and block one of his punts for TD.
I personally hope he gets bit by the mascot while hes punting from his own end zone. Thats if the dog can stay awake...
Whatever.