Drew Harris Doesn’t Qualify Academically to Play at Virginia Tech – Will Attend Prep School

In some very disappointing (though not necessarily surprising) news today, running back recruit Drew Harris failed to qualify academically to play at Virginia Tech this upcoming season.  Earlier on we wrote about whether or not Drew Harris could compete for playing time at Virginia Tech this season, but all of that is irrelevant now because he won’t be at Virginia Tech for this season.

Confirmed by running backs coach Shane Beamer today, Harris will attend Fork Union Military Academy next year.  Throughout the recruiting process, Beamer repeatedly exclaimed that Harris’ test scores were fine, but that his grades

would need to improve in order for the running back to qualify.  Clearly, the grades did not improve enough.

Because Harris won’t be attending Virginia Tech this year, technically he can be recruited by other schools again.  In order for Harris to qualify at Virginia Tech, he will have to improve his grades and then sign a new letter-of-intent in February.  Luckily, Fork Union coach John Shuman has Virginia Tech ties, as his son Mark Shuman plays for the Hokies.  Hopefully we won’t see Harris switching schools during his stint at Fork Union.

With Harris out, the running back battle looks to heat up as multiple players compete for playing time.  While this event not only throws a wrench into the running back situation, it also removes what could have been an important player to Virginia Tech this year.  Younger players like Chris Mangus and Trey Edmunds will now be thrown into the mix to replace David Wilson.  However, all signs point to redshirt-freshman Michael Holmes getting the nod at running back so far.

Where this running back battle ends up remains to be seen.  This will make for another entertaining summer story line once camps open later this summer.