Virginia Tech’s Pursuit of Class of 2015 OLB Tremaine Edmunds

Nov 30, 2013; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster (left) talks to his players against the Virginia Cavaliers in the third quarter at Scott Stadium. The Hokies won 16-6. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Virginia Tech Hokies are looking to build a very strong Class of 2015 in recruiting and one of the main positional targets that hasn’t been filled is the linebacker position. The Hokies have had a connection in bringing some players from the same family like the Fullers and now the Edmunds. Trey Edmunds has become the future at running back after a strong 2013 season while Terrell Edmunds is a part of Virginia Tech recruiting Class of 2014.

Now, the Hokies are after another Edmunds, Tremaine Edmunds.

Tremaine Edmunds is an outside linebacker out of Dan River High School in Ringgold, Virginia that has the potential to be a very highly rated prospect. ESPN has not given Edmunds a grade yet but 247 Sports has Edmunds as a 3-star recruit while Rivals.com has him as a 4-star player. Edmunds has a lot of potential to be a guy that is nationally a 4-star recruit but has a floor of being an upper-tier 3-star recruit.

Edmunds is ranked nationally as the 390th best player by the 247 Sports composite rankings and is the 217th best player by Rivals. Meanwhile, Rivals has Edmunds as the nation’s 15th best OLB while 247 Sports has him as the 25th best. Within the state of Virginia, Edmunds is ranked 11th by Rivals and 14th by 247 Sports which is proof of how Edmunds is a player the Hokies need to keep in the state of Virginia.

Sep 7, 2013; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Trey Edmunds (14) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Western Carolina Catamounts at Lane Stadium. Virginia Tech defeated Western Carolina 45-3. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Tremaine Edmunds bring above-average height at 6-3 but Edmunds still will need to bulk up some more to around 225 to 240 pounds. However, Edmunds’s current weight varies as most sites have him at 200 pounds while Rivals’ has him at 215 so Edmunds may not need to bulk up as much as expected but he can definitely get stronger.

One of the biggest assets for Edmunds is his speed as he has the explosiveness and speed to close up a hole and prevent the running back from gaining more than a yard or two. Edmunds’s time as a running back has also shown that he has the speed to chase down opposing running backs while also being fast enough to cover a tight end in man coverage. Edmunds’s speed is something that definitely makes him a very good recruit especially at outside linebacker.

Tremaine Edmunds isn’t a great tackler but he is quite strong and at the high school level, that is really helping him get some tackles that he wouldn’t get otherwise. However, Edmunds does do a good job at closing up holes for running backs and managing space in zone coverage. Edmunds has the potential to be a very good pass coverage linebacker as his time as a wide receiver in high school has allowed him to develop very good hands.

Tremaine Edmunds still is somewhat raw as a tackler but his skills as a coverage linebacker are very good. Edmunds also has great speed and solid explosiveness which makes him a guy who can be developed into a very dangerous, run stuffing linebacker. Tremaine Edmunds still has some work to do but he has the skill set to be a very good linebacker once he focuses on playing linebacker.

The Virginia Tech Hokies’ top challenger for Edmunds is currently the North Carolina Tar Heels as Edmunds’s only two junior day visits were at Virginia Tech and North Carolina. However, the consensus seems to be that Tremaine Edmunds is leaning towards Virginia Tech and if I had to make a prediction I would say that he would be a Hokie. Tremaine Edmunds has the talent to be a very successful player and the Hokies should do everything he can to make sure he joins his brothers in Blacksburg.

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