2017 DE Zion DeBose Commits to the Hokies

Signing day may be in the rearview mirror, but the Hokies have added one more athlete to their 2017 class.

2017 DE Zion DeBose of Spencer, N.C.'s North Rowan HS committed to Tech in a ceremony at his high school Friday, becoming the 27th prospect to pledge to the Hokies this cycle, according to Mike London of the Salisbury Post.

DeBose, who's rated a 3-star prospect by the 247Sports composite rankings, chose Tech over Missouri, Illinois and Pittsburgh.

The DE originally committed to Appalachian State back in July, but he maintained his interest in VT, visiting for the ECU game in September. He de-committed shortly afterward, and he stayed in constant contact with DL coach Charley Wiles, though Tech only offered him right before Christmas.

"He told me that him and the defensive staff have been watching me my whole senior year, and they've just been watching how great I've been doing and how dominant I've been," DeBose previously told The Key Play. "And they say that's what they've been looking for, for somebody who they want to come up and play for them at Virginia Tech and they pulled the trigger. They told me they've been watching me and they're really excited about how I play the game and how I fit their program and stuff like that."

DeBose took an official visit to Tech on Jan. 27, his final such trip after visits to his other top schools.

But he decided not to make his final decision until now so he could provide a special surprise for his mom's birthday.

"I honestly feel like this is probably my last time spending time with her for her birthday before I go off to college for the next four years, because I won't be home too much," DeBose said. "So I wanted to make it special for her before I end up going off to school."