We finish our breakdown series by evaluating VT's defensive back recruits: the cornerbacks and safeties, including Victor Harris and Cam Martin. Virginia Tech has a number of excellent young secondary prospects in Roland Minor, D.J. Parker, Brandon Flowers, Theodore Miller, and Kent Hicks, but still needed a strong recruiting class this year. Tech needed to sign at least three or four quality players for the secondary in this class. Here are the defensive backs that Tech offered last year:

Victor Harris, from Highland Springs, VA, was clearly the top recruit in the state last year and one of the top recruits in the country. He has all of the physical tools to succeed at a number of positions – cornerback, running back, safety, or wide receiver – in addition to an excellent, competitive attitude. He was a phenomenal running back in high school but he likely has more pro potential at cornerback due to his size. Harris is exceptionally quick and elusive and he will be an immediate threat as a return specialist. Virginia Tech gained his services over some strong competition with offers from Michigan, Miami, Virginia, Southern Cal, Maryland, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Georgia, Oklahoma, UCLA, Tennessee, Penn State, and numerous others.

Prediction: Harris will likely start out at the Field Cornerback (wide side of the field) and potentially see action as a nickel back. He may also get a look at free safety if he picks up the defensive schemes fast enough.

Jahre Cheeseman, from Voorhees, NJ – Eastern Regional HS near Philadelphia, is a dynamic athlete with outstanding skills on either offense or defense. Cheeseman was a standout running back in high school as well as an elite cornerback. In college he will likely get his first shot at corner, but he could play wide receiver or running back in the future. He is fast and elusive, excelling as a punt or kickoff returner. Even though he is small, he plays with toughness and aggression. Cheeseman chose the Hokies over Penn State with other offers from Minnesota, Maryland, Tennessee, Michigan State, Virginia, and many others.

Prediction: Cheeseman could easily see the field as a true freshman for Tech providing depth at cornerback and possibly playing special teams.

Cameron Martin, from Danville, VA – George Washington HS, is a heady, instinctive free safety known for his big hits. He played quarterback as well as safety, showing great leadership and intelligence (4.0 GPA in high school). Martin played hurt in a couple of games down the stretch and showed a winning attitude that you can’t coach. His uncle, Bobby Martin, played for Frank Beamer in his first years at Tech, and Cameron was always a big fan, choosing the Hokies early in the summer. Martin was also offered by Virginia, N.C. State, Maryland, North Carolina, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Boston College, and Tennessee. Cameron’s brother Orion is a walk-on at defensive end that gained a scholarship from his play last spring.

Prediction: Potentially, Martin could see action as a free safety as a true freshman, but he will likely redshirt to gain more size and strength.

Dorian Porch, from Calhoun, GA – Gordon Central HS, is a versatile athlete with excellent size and speed. He was recruited as a cornerback but played quarterback and a number of other positions in high school. Porch has a great attitude and competitive desire with the talent to contribute early in college. He is also a skilled center fielder in baseball and he should get a chance to play baseball in college as well. He signed with Virginia Tech over offers from Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin, though a number of schools, such as Georgia, were very interested.

Prediction; Porch could be a real sleeper in this class with the potential to play very early at Tech. He could play the Boundary Corner or eventually be moved to either free or strong safety if he gains size.

Stephan Virgil, from Rocky Mount, NC, is a tough, competitive player with excellent athletic ability. He played running back in high school, but his future is in the secondary, where he could potentially play any of the positions. He is undersized and needs some time in the strength program, but he plays with aggression and is known as a big hitter. In the NC-SC All-Star Game, he played strong safety and showed his toughness by playing hurt in the second half. Virgil is an exceptional special teams player, and he will likely make his mark at Tech first on the punt and kickoff coverage teams. Virgil chose the Hokies in a close battle with North Carolina, with Wake Forest and East Carolina also offering. He has not qualified yet, but he is very close, although a year at prep school might be beneficial.

Prediction: Virgil is another of my sleeper prospects to watch out of this class and I eventually see him playing Boundary Corner for Tech.

Michael Ray Garvin (Florida State), from Ramsey, NJ – Don Bosco Prep, was one of the fastest recruits in the nation last year. He is extremely strong for his size and shows good toughness on the field. He played running back as well as cornerback in high school, but his future in college is either as a cornerback or wide receiver. Garvin is a big playmaker whose only negative is his size. He signed with Florida State over offers from Georgia, Oklahoma, Colorado, Notre Dame, Purdue, Boston College, Maryland, Virginia, Nebraska, Penn State, and many more. Tech offered but was never seriously in the running.

Jamie Robinson (Florida State), from Rock Hill, SC – Northwestern HS, was an overlooked recruit for much of the year, but his stellar play in an all-star game showed that he was an elite player. In the North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl Game, Robinson more than held his own against one of the premier receivers in the country, Mohamed Massaquoi (Georgia). He is a physical, aggressive corner who plays with an attitude. Robinson has good speed and excellent size, but his competitiveness is what makes him stand out. He was tailor-made for Tech’s Boundary Corner position. Robinson signed with Florida State in a close recruiting battle with the Hokies and Clemson. He was also offered by Tennessee, South Carolina, and N.C. State. Look for Robinson to see the field early for the Seminoles.

Jamari McCollough (Maryland) was a teammate of Melvin Alaeze at Randallstown High School in Maryland. He is a solid cornerback prospect with good size and speed. As a junior, McCollough went relatively unnoticed but he grew three inches before his senior year and colleges took notice. After some excellent camps, he became widely recruited and selected Maryland early in the football season. McCollough signed with the Terps over the Hokies with additional offers from Pittsburgh, Penn State, Purdue, Michigan State, UCLA, Virginia, Michigan, and several more. Tech was in serious contention for McCollough but location and having a former teammate, Christian Varner, on Maryland’s team weighed more heavily for the Terps.

Anthony Wiseman (Maryland), from DeMatha High School, is another fast, athletic cornerback with excellent potential. He was a very good running back in high school, but his future is in the secondary. Wiseman is a very competitive player with a winning attitude. He decided early for local Maryland over offers from Nebraska, Michigan, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Syracuse. Wiseman considered Tech, but he was a heavy Maryland lean from the beginning.

Antonio Wardlow (Tennessee), from Winston-Salem, NC – Parkland HS, is an excellent athlete with good size that could play a number of positions in college. He was a good running back, but his future will likely be on defense either as a safety or possibly cornerback. After seeing him play in the North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl Game, I could see him as a strong safety based on his aggressive play against the run. His pass coverage skills still need development and he may not be able to change direction quickly enough to play cornerback. Wardlow has the physical tools to see the field, but he will probably need a year or two to develop better technique. He signed with Tennessee over Virginia Tech, South Carolina, N.C. State, North Carolina, Clemson, Wake Forest, Virginia, and a few more. Tech was definitely in the running for Wardlow, but he was a Tennessee lean throughout the recruiting year.

Danny Oquendo (Maryland), from Hackensack, NJ, is a talented athlete that was recruited as a safety, cornerback, and wide receiver. He has good size and speed, making numerous big plays for a very good high school team. His ability to play a number of positions made him widely recruited, finally signing with Maryland over offers from Rutgers, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and a few more. Tech was in the running for Oquendo, but his decision basically came down to Maryland or local Rutgers. The Hokies recruited him primarily as a cornerback with the potential to move to another position.

Brandon Ghee (Wake Forest), from Fayetteville, NC – Jack Britt HS, has excellent size and speed for a cover corner. He shows very good coverage skills, but he needs to play more physically in college. Ghee needs to be stronger in run support, but he could play early based on his abilities in pass coverage. Ghee has a former teammate at Tech in George Bell, but chose to play for his brother’s (Patrick Ghee) team at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons won a close recruiting battle over the Hokies with additional offers from Clemson, Tennessee, North Carolina, Duke, West Virginia, East Carolina, and Army. Ghee could see the field early for Wake in nickel and dime coverage situations, but he will likely need a couple of years before he becomes a starter.

Levin Neal (N.C. State), from Wilmington, NC – Eugene Ashley HS, is a speedster with the ability to play wide receiver or cornerback in college. He is a big-play talent, but he needs to gain some size and become more physical in college. Neal will probably get his first shot at wide receiver for N.C. State, who he selected over offers from Clemson, Maryland, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, and East Carolina. Tech received an official visit from Neal, but the Hokies were not in serious contention since VT looked at him as a cornerback and he wanted a shot at wide receiver.

Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State), from Piscataway, NJ, is another cover corner with good size and excellent speed. He will need to gain more strength and size in college, but he shows good coverage skills and should be a solid college cornerback. Jenkins chose Ohio State over Virginia Tech with other offers from Rutgers, Syracuse, and Indiana. His decision came down to the Buckeyes and the Hokies and, in the end, he felt more comfortable in Columbus.

Jeff Allen (Maryland) is another talented athlete from DeMatha High School who played running back and safety in high school. Although he primarily played running back his senior year, he will likely play safety in college. He has excellent size with good speed and natural football instincts. Allen, who is actually from Virginia and commuted to DeMatha, selected local Maryland early over offers from Virginia Tech and Syracuse. Allen will need a year or two to improve his coverage techniques, but he should be a contributor for the Terps.

Jordan Hemby (UNC), from Morganton, NC – Freedom HS, was a relatively unknown cornerback until the summer camp circuit. Hemby attended four camps – North Carolina, N.C. State, Clemson, and Virginia Tech – and received four offers based on his performance in drills. He is exceptionally quick with natural coverage skills, but he needs to gain size and strength to become more physical in his play. Hemby has the talent to become an excellent cornerback, but he will need a couple of years in North Carolina’s system to contribute. Tech was in the running for him, but he favored the North Carolina schools throughout the recruiting process.

Andre Pope, from Cumberland, MD – Fort Hill HS, is an outstanding athlete playing both running back and defensive back in high school. He has excellent size and speed with the ability to make big plays. However, he injured his ACL during his senior season and the schools recruiting him back off. Pope had offers from North Carolina, Clemson, Virginia Tech, and Penn State and he favored the more southern schools, but these schools wanted him to attend prep school and mend his knee (I believe he had academic concerns as well). The last I heard was that he was considering some D1-AA offers and prep school, but he hadn’t committed yet.

Virginia Tech signed five quality defensive backs in this class, which more than met the initial needs. Not only did Tech sign quantity, but these players have a great deal of versatility and could fit in at a number of positions. Victor Harris is the star of this recruiting class, and he will definitely see the field as a freshman. Jahre Cheeseman, Dorian Porch, and Stephan Virgil are excellent prospects at corner and have the versatility to play other positions as well. Cameron Martin is a potential multi-year starter at free safety. The Tech coaches have to be very pleased with this area of recruiting. Statistically, the defensive back "won-loss percentage" was 81.0% which accurately reflects the quality of this class.