DeJuan Ellis De-commits from the Hokies

Virginia Tech's 2018 recruiting class shrunk by one Tuesday evening when quarterback DeJuan Ellis opened up his recruitment.

I'm am opening up my recruitment pic.twitter.com/PLMFf2HZNh— DeJuan Ellis (@DeJuanEllisll) May 2, 2017

Ellis committed to the Hokies last August as a quarterback, but is now prepared to pursue offers as an athlete.

Ellis turned heads at the D.C. Nike Opening regional at the end of April as the fastest camper (4.48-second 40-yard dash). He also finished as the third highest rated athlete at the entire camp.

In an interview with The Key Play, Ellis admitted to monitoring Tech's QB battle this spring. However, he did not balk at eventually competing for the job with those in Blacksburg — Josh Jackson, Hendon Hooker, and A.J, Bush — or 2018 verbal commit Quincy Patterson.

"Just work hard, that's it," Ellis told The Key Play regarding the competition before him next season. "It's the main thing you have to do to win anything, to work hard and to want it. So I'm definitely going to work hard, and it's gonna be a great competition for the both of us."

The loss of the 5-11, 160 pound, 3-star McDonogh School product is a blow to Tech's 2018 class whether the speedy Ellis would've emerged as Tech's top signal caller, or would've made use of his jets as a receiver or corner. However, the aforementioned Patterson — who recently earned an invite to the prestigious Elite 11 — remains firm to the Hokies. Furthermore, Tech bucked the trend last cycle and eventually signed 4-star DE / athlete Tyjuan Garbutt after he decommitted.