Impact of DeShawn McClease Committing to Virginia Tech
By Tim Thomas
Oct 26, 2013; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back J.C. Coleman (4) runs with the ball against the Duke Blue Devils at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Entering this week, the Virginia Tech Hokies did not have a single offensive commit but eight commits on the defensive side of the ball. However, there was a lot of optomisim about that changing with 3-star running back DeShawn McClease announcing that he would make his decision on Wednesday. However, that process ended up happening a day earlier and the news would be quite positive for the Hokies.
Deshawn McClease made his commitment to Virginia Tech on Tuesday and became the Hokies’ first offensive commit and ninth overall commit for the Hokies’ Class of 2015. McClease is seen as a three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, and 247 Sports while ESPN ranks him as the 38th best running back, 247 Sports has him as the 48th best, and Rivals has him as the 52nd best. ESPN has McClease as the 17th best player in Virginia, Rivals has him as the 23rd best, and 247 Sports has him 22nd best.
McClease is 5-9 and about 175 pounds so he doesn’t have great size but he is a very fast player that can defintiely be a playmaker at the collegiate level. McClease is a speed back and college football has seen some speed backs be big time playmakerrs including Dri Archer and De’Anthony Thomas. J.C. Coleman hasn’t had great success in Blacksburg but he has had some and is definitely a player that McClease has a very similar style to.
However, one thing that kept Coleman from having much success was how Coleman wasn’t much more than a fast, agile running back. Coleman has looked like a better and stronger player this spring and the Hokies’ coaches will need to make sure that McClease bulks up a little upon arrival if he hasn’t before that point. McClease has tons of potential and is a very good addition to a Virginia Tech football Class of 2015 that is getting stronger.
However, the impact of McClease’s commitment could be more than just wha the brings for the Hokies in the future.
Deshawn McClease is teammates at Oscar Smith High School with 5-star defensive end Josh Sweat who is ranked as the top player in Virginia by 247 Sports, ESPN, and Rivals while being ranked as the top prospect in the Class of 2015 by 247 Sports. The Hokies are currently one of the frontrunners in the pursuit of Sweat and the fact that a teammate of Sweat is now committed to the Hokies could be a major boost.
The impact of getting McClease might be more than just what McClease can do on the field.