Virginia Tech’s Pursuit of Class of 2015 RB Deshawn McClease

Nov 30, 2013; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back J.C. Coleman (4) carries the ball as Virginia Cavaliers safety Anthony Harris (8) attempts to tackle in the fourth quarter at Scott Stadium. The Hokies won 16-6. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Virginia Tech Hokies currently have five commits in their Class of 2015 led by 4-star cornerback Mook Reynolds who is definitely the leader of the Hokies’ current class. The Hokies also have four other commits for a total of five but all of those commits are on the defensive side of the ball. The Hokies will be looking to gain more commits over the next few weeks especially from offensive players and one of their top targets that they are in good position to get is Deshawn McClease.

Deshawn McClease is a 3-star running back out of Virginia football powerhouse Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Virginia and a guy that the Hokies have been in pursuit of for a while. McClease entered his junior year as a 4-star recruit but he has fallen to a 3-star recruit this past year though he definitely has shown the talent to rise back up to being a 4-star. McClease is one of the top running back targets for the Hokies and is a guy they have been in pursuit of for a while.

Deshawn McClease has ran a 4.40 40 yard dash in the past as listed by 247 Sports and is definitely a guy that can at least be a big time speed threat in the future. McClease currently is undersized at 5-9 175 pounds and will need to bulk up to around 200 to 210 pounds to become a load-carrying back. McClease’s size will still make it difficult for him to develop in to a load-carrying back but it can’t be ruled out.

However, the success of players like Dri Archer and De’Anthony Thomas proves that there is room for a speed back like McClease to be a difference maker. Thomas was not very strong at all but he was able to use his speed to make plays whether it was out of the backfield, on screen passes, or in the return game. Dri Archer was actually able to handle around 15 to 20 carries a game and McClease is that type of running back. McClease seems to be more like a J.C. Coleman than a Dri Archer or De’Anthony Thomas but hopefully, McClease can be like Dri Archer and not just a J.C. Coleman.

Right now, the top comeptition for the Hokies seems to be Maryland who will hope that the Big 10 will bring some weight in traditionall ACC recruiting territory. However, the ACC has been better than the Big 10 in football and that is something the Hokies can use to their advantage. McClease’s most recent unofficial visit was at Maryland but McClease has taken a visit at Virginia Tech not too long ago. The Hokies are definitely the frontrunners for McClease though there definitely is the potential for a couple of twists and turns.