Slew of Commitments Electrify a "Blacksburg Bash" Full of Fun and Games for Recruits

As the Hokies piled up verbal after verbal as part of their "Blacksburg Bash" Saturday, the chatter among fans on social media was positively jubilant. But it would seem that even that level of Twitter bliss pales in comparison to the mood on campus as the day developed.

With Tech earning four commitments in a day — courtesy of 2018 ATH Bryce Thompson and 2017ers LB Jaylen Griffin, OG Aiden Brown and WR Sean Savoy — and the coaches hinting at more good news to come, there was certainly no shortage of big moments to celebrate.

And since this all comes on the heels of a frustrating few weeks on the recruiting trail for the Hokies, the coaching staff certainly wasn't afraid to relish those commitments.

"It was really intense, especially once that 2018 kid Bryce committed, he pretty much committed as soon as he got there," 2018 DB D.J. Crossen of Greensboro, N.C.'s Dudley HS told The Key Play. "So from then on, it was a really good mood throughout the campus. It was just really intense, and everybody was excited. It was actually really, really fun."

2018 LB Dax Hollifield of Shelby (N.C.) HS got the same sort of vibe from the day. He's nearing double digit visits to Blacksburg, even though he's just a rising junior, but he said this particular cookout really stood out.

"Everybody was just so happy, I know the coaches were happy," Hollifield said. "They really wanted me to commit too and join them."

Hollifield declined that particular request, saying he hopes to wait a bit before making a decision since he's "enjoying the ride." But that's not to say that he didn't enjoy the trip, which he feels gave him an even better appreciation for just how comfortable he is with the coaching staff.

"Before things got started, they had us all gathered together and Coach (Chuck) Cantor was talking about how for some of us it's their first time here and for others it's their sixth or seventh time being there," Hollifield said. "And at that part Coach Fuente chimes in and goes, 'That's you, right Dax? That was pretty funny...I just know them all so well."

But once the coaches got done chatting with the recruits formally, they decided to have a little fun. First on the agenda was a game of wiffle ball and a home run derby, which was music to Hollifield's ears.

"I love wiffle ball, I hit a dinger," Hollifield said. "But I came in second in the home run derby and I was pretty mad because I came in second last year."

With no small degree of pride, Griffin notes that it was one of his younger brothers who claimed that top prize in that particular competition.

But Hollifield got a chance to redeem himself later that day when the coaches convened a free-throw shooting competition and a three-point shootout for the recruits. Yet he could only manage a similar result.

"I came in second at three-point shooting too," Hollifield said, exasperated. "I always come in second at these things, it bugs me."

Crossen was a bit less invested in the outcome of those particular competitions, but he enjoyed them all the same.

"It really showed me that they're not just strictly about football, they genuinely care about you," Crossen said. "And they're also about having fun."

The North Carolina DB had just visited Blacksburg, camping at Tech the weekend before the bash and earning an offer, but he especially valued the trip for the opportunity it afforded him to see that different side of the staff.

"I already liked the coaching staff a lot, but just getting to hang out with them and get to know them better, with them getting to know me better, it was just a great experience," Crossen said. 'They really sold me a lot. I like what they have going on with their program and that new staff."

2017 CB (and recent Iowa State commit) Quran Hafiz of Jacksonville, Fla.'s Sandalwood HS had a similar experience during his Saturday visit.

"All the coaches, they welcomed everyone with open arms and made everybody feel like family, that was big," Hafiz said. "I'd definitely say it was a family environment."

For first-time visitors to Blacksburg like 2018 RB Marcus Caldwell of Clemmons, N.C.'s West Forsyth HS, that sort of welcoming environment was especially appealing.

"The coaches, they showed love, it was real nice," Caldwell said. "They told me I'd fit into the offense very well, and told me about academics and how they're a big football town, how their fans come out and show love. I just really liked it."

Crossen liked the atmosphere in Blacksburg so much that he decided to stay the night, sleeping over with a pair of fellow North Carolina DBs in Mook Reynolds and Adonis Alexander.

"Mook Reynolds and Adonis Alexander really showed me around, showed me how to have a good time there and just how they work out, their schedule and things like that," Crossen said. "Just a real more in-depth look at their program."

Crossen also decided to stick around a bit the next day for the team's Sunday camp, though he was just a spectator rather than a participant. He was joined on the sidelines by 2017 CB Tariq Castro-Fields of Upper Marlboro, Md.'s Riverdale Baptist School, who was making his first ever trip to Blacksburg to watch camp.

"I loved the trip," Castro-Fields said. "I got to see a lot of the camp players and then some of them knew who I was, and a lot of the alumni knew who I was, and some commits too."

Some of those alumni in question might sound familiar to Hokies fans: former DBs Rashad Carmichael and Davon Morgan.

"They were just telling me about Tech and how far it came, and how deep the DBU tradition is," Castro-Fields said.

The coaching staff got their chance to sell him on the Hokies' defensive legacy as well, with Bud Foster, CBs coach Brian Mitchell and safeties coach Galen Scott all taking some time to tell Castro-Fields about Tech's vaunted secondary.

"Coach Foster, he was telling me about how I could come in and play the nickel in the beginning and then they'd start moving me outside," Castro-Fields said. "He's a real cool guy, just knowing that he's one of the best defensive coordinators, probably is the best to be honest, and he had the chance to go anywhere he wanted, but he wanted to stay at Tech. He's a loyal guy, and he wants to a win a national championship at Tech, so he's a special guy."

Once camp wrapped up, Justin Fuente also made a point to chat with Castro-Fields to sell him on how he might be able to spice up the Tech tradition.

"He's also a real cool guy too, just telling me things he'd heard about me from other recruits that they're recruiting and how he likes me a lot and," Castro-Fields said. "He brings an offensive mind to Tech that they've been missing."

Now, Castro-Fields is looking forward to bringing "my mom up there for her to see things," but he's not exactly positive when that might be. He's spent the last month visiting the other schools that made his top schools in addition to Tech (Alabama, Maryland, Penn State, Michigan State and North Carolina) but his visit to Blacksburg will be his last until he takes "unofficials or officials during the season."

However, he's weighing using one of his officials to visit Tech again and give his family a chance to see campus. Hafiz is in a similar boat, noting that he talked with Scott about the possibility, though he's "not sure just yet."

Caldwell expects that he'll get back for "a couple games, probably," as will Hollifield. He's even thinking about coming back for a fall practice, though his focus is on visits during the season.

"I know I'm going to the Miami game at night for sure, and then maybe Bristol game, maybe another one if I have time," Hollifield said.

Crossen figures he'll go to "one of their first games" as well, though he's hoping to get back sooner. He noted that two of his teammates — 2017 QB commit Hendon Hooker and 2017 OG/Virginia commit Bryson Speas — are planning Blacksburg trips soon and he might tag along with them.

Between the pull of his own teammates picking Tech, and his growing familiarity with fellow North Carolina Hokies like Alexander and Reynolds, Crossen says it won't take much convincing for him to make the trek once again.

"It makes me real comfortable, especially with Hendon committing," Crossen said. "Just looking at a couple of my teammates, it'd be pretty good to team up with them, but we'll see what the future holds."