The Army All-Star Game weekend came and went, and not surprisingly, the Hokies whiffed on landing commitments from superstar DE Melvin Alaeze and RB Toney Baker. In unexpected developments, RB James Davis committed to Clemson (or maybe it was to be expected, given Davis' flightiness) and DT Luqman Abdallah committed to Miami. As signing day approaches, the Hokies' recruiting board is shrinking. Here's a mini-war room update to bring you up to speed on who's left and what might happen.

The Ones That Got Away

Chris Horne put together a war room update last Thursday, and since then, here are the players who have disappeared from the board or are bound elsewhere:

• RB: Toney Baker (committed to NC State), James Davis (committed to Clemson)
• WR: Geron James (committed to NC State), JC Neal (committed to NC State), Lavar Lobdell (dropped VT)
• OL: Curtis Crouch (committed to NC State)
• DE: Melvin Alaeze (committed to Maryland)
• DT: Luqman Abdallah (committed to Miami)
• Ath’s/JAth’s: Montario Hardesty (committed to UNC)

The commitment of five-star RB Toney Baker to NCSU is no surprise, as State was the school to beat, and the Hokies were considered a very long shot. But 4-star RB James Davis committing to Clemson is odd ... or maybe not. After his Nov. 26th visit to VT, Davis talked about the Hokies in glowing terms and said that he came close to committing. That sounded encouraging, until Davis developed the pattern of falling in love with every school he visited. By the end, Davis seemed to recognize that trait in himself, saying after his Jan. 7th Alabama visit, "I like Alabama, but I'm not going to base my decision off of my official visit."

Davis did say the Crimson Tide was "probably" number one on his list after that visit, but that didn't last long. He visited Clemson this past weekend and committed to the Tigers. With that, the Hokies' running back recruiting board is clear.

3-star WR Geron James had been close to committing to NSCU for a while, but he had spoken recently about wanting to take a visit to the Hokies just to compare the Wolfpack to someone else. James wanted to move his January 28th VT visit up to the 21st, but for whatever reason, that couldn't happen, and he committed to NCSU. No surprise there.

4-star WR J.C. Neal visited NC State this past weekend, where the Wolfpack had to make up some ground for his services after losing both coordinators and an assistant coach since the end of the season. Neal had the Hokies and Pack even heading into his NCSU visit, but he committed to NC State.

3-star WR Lobdell, Lavar, a long shot at best, has eliminated VT. Lobdell was considering making a visit to the Hokies but has decided not to.

4-star OL Curtis Crouch had at one time set a 4-visit January regimen of Florida (Jan. 7th), NC State (Jan. 14th), Clemson (Jan. 21st) and VT (Jan. 28th), but he made it only halfway through that list, committing to the Wolfpack after his visit there. Again, this wasn't a surprise.

It came down to the wire for 5-star DE Melvin Alaeze of Randallstown, Maryland, but in the end, Alaeze chose the Terps, as anticipated. Some sources felt that Alaeze's choice was nearly 50/50, but the Terps led throughout. The loss of Alaeze hurts, and to add insult to injury, the Hokies will have to face him in 2008 and 2009, provided he stays at Maryland that long.

The loss of 3-star DT Luqman Abdallah stings, because it comes at an area of need for the Hokies, who never got to host him on an official visit. Abdallah's name got connected with VT relatively late in the process, and he was planning on visiting the Hokies on January 21st, but Abdallah pulled the trigger on the 'Canes early, committing to Miami after visiting there this past weekend. (On a personal side note, that disappoints yours truly, because Abdallah plays postgraduate football for "The Hun School", and I was looking forward to saying that Abdallah the Hun had committed to the Hokies ... try not to groan.)

3-star ATH Montario Hardesty was considered a long shot for the Hokies, and after visiting Tennessee -- his last visit -- this past weekend decided to go with the UNC Tar Heels. The Heels and Vols had been Hardesty leaders, with VT right behind.

Still on the Board

From Horne's last war room, that leaves: 

• QB: Greg Boone
• RB’s: none
• WR’s: Derrick McPhearson, Todd Nolen
• TE’s: Jonathan Hannah
• OL: Eric Davis
• DE’s: Hivera Green, Barry Turner, Dakota Walker
• DT’s: Cordarrow Thompson
• LB’s: Darryl Gresham, Derek Nicholson
• CB’s: Jamie Robinson
• Ath’s/JAth’s: none

Of the players left on the board, the Hokies are strong contenders for Greg Boone, Eric Davis, and Hivera Green.

3-star QB/ATH Greg Boone is one of just two players left in TSL's Top 20 that hasn't committed anywhere (the postseason Top 30 will be out this week, by the way). Boone is #7 in the state, and at 6-4, 240, can play elsewhere if things don't work out at QB. VT is fighting it out with UNC (Jan. 21st visit) and Maryland for Boone.

Eric Davis is the only offensive lineman currently on VT's board, and it is expected that he will commit to the Hokies after visiting on January 21st.

3-star DE Hivera Green had a great unofficial visit to VT last fall and has had the Hokies as one of his leaders since then, with Clemson entering the picture. He visited Clemson this past weekend and rumors flew that he had committed there, but apparently not. Green will take next weekend off and visit VT on the 28th.

Covering the other players:

WR is not a big recruiting need for the Hokies this year. One-time 2004 Florida commitment and 4-star WR Derrick McPhearson is scheduled to visit the Hokies on January 21st. 3-star WR Todd Nolen, the #10 player in the state and the only top-20 recruit other than Boone who hasn't committed, is also still out there, visiting UNC (1/14/05), PSU (1/21/05) and VT (1/28/05) before deciding. UVa is also involved, but no official visit just yet; Nolen is very familiar with the Cavaliers and might not need one.

The Hokies remain a possibility for 4-star TE Jonathan Hannah, who just visited South Carolina this weekend. South Carolina impressed him a lot, but expect the final three to be NCSU, UNC and VT. He will probably stay in-state (meaning UNC or NCSU, in that order).

It's not known exactly how the Hokies stand with 4-star DE Barry Turner and 3-star DE/LB Dakota Walker, who will visit VT this weekend (Walker) and next (Turner).

Like WR, LB is not a big need for the Hokies, who have two good commitments in Deveon Simmons and Demetrius Taylor. Virginia Tech is a long shot for both one-time UVa commit 3-star LB Darryl Gresham, who is expected to choose between Virginia and Florida, and 4-star LB Derek Nicholson, who has a visit to Miami this weekend and FSU the following weekend.  Tech is still in the picture, however many feel UNC and FSU are the favorites. Tech could be the dark horse candidate here.  He's been to Blacksburg a few times (including the official visit). 

4-star CB Jamie Robinson is scheduled to visit VT on the 28th. It's down to FSU, Clemson and VT.  Childhood favorite FSU and in-state school Clemson will be tough.

2-star defensive tackle Cordarrow Thompson is an intriguing entry into VT's recruiting board. Thompson, ranked the #26 player in the state by TSL, committed to Syracuse early in the process -- thus cutting off other offers and publicity -- but reopened his recruiting when Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni was fired. The Hokies are going to make an offer to Thompson, who will visit with new SU coach Greg Robinson in home this week.

If Thompson doesn't reaffirm his commitment to Syracuse -- which usually happens in these cases, once the new head coach gets a chance to make his pitch -- look for the Hokies to push hard for Thompson. DT is an area of need for the Hokies, who have just one commitment from a potential DT, Sergio Render and have no other DTs on the board. Hivera Green is listed as a DE, but at 268 could grow into a DT, but Barry Turner and Dakota Walker, at 230 and 225 respectively, are DE/LB types all the way. Unless Thompson falls in love with Greg Robinson and tells the Hokies to kiss off, VT could quickly become a player in the recruitment of the DT from Stafford, VA.

Remaining Visits

January 21st: DE/LB Dakota Walker, CB Jamie Robinson,  WR/ATH Derrick McPhearson, OL Eric Davis, and VT commits Kenny Jefferson, Cam Martin, Robert Norris, Tony North, and Demetrius Taylor. The Hokies will look for a commitment from Davis and will try to impress Walker. Tony North is a fun guy -- hopefully, he'll be very fun this weekend, helping to impress the uncommitted players.

January 28th: DE Barry Turner, WR Todd Nolen, DE Hivera Green, and P Brent Bowden, and VT commits Brandon Holland, William Wall, Deveon Simmons, and Sam Wheeler. Turner and Green are the key targets here, particularly Green, with his size. If the Hokies don't land many more players, one wonders if Bowden could wind up with a scholarship offer.

It's also a given that the Hokies would love to get Cordarrow Thompson on either one of those visit lists. Thompson may be targeted for the 28th.