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Hokies Recruiting: Virginia Tech is in the Top 5 for 2016 WR Tino Ellis

By Tim Thomas

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Nov 28, 2014; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Cam Phillips (18) scores a touchdown as Virginia Cavaliers cornerback DreQuan Hoskey (22) defends in the third quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Virginia Tech Hokies are looking to close in a strong way with the Class of 2015 in the final few days before National Signing Day as they look to try to get UCLA ILB commit Victor Alexander, Tennessee DE commit Darrell Taylor, DE Shelton Johnson, CB Chris Williamson, and C Zachariah Hoyt.

The Hokies are also turning their focus more and more to the Class of 2016, and Virginia Tech is currently in a good position to get one highly-rated 2016 wide receiver.

4-Star wide receiver Tino Ellis of DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland released his top 5 schools which were Virginia Tech, Maryland, Rutgers, West Virginia, and Wake Forest. Ellis also announced a preliminary date for making his college decision on July 31st, 2015.

Ellis is ranked as the 236th best junior by the 247 Sports Composite, 268th best by ESPN, and 133rd best by Rivals. Ellis is ranked as the 28th best wide receiver by Rivals, 45th best by ESPN, and 44th best by the 247 Sports Composite.

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Rutgers and Wake Forest are probably the two biggest surprises on this list, but the Demon Deacons are doing better in recruiting than expected given their recent struggles.

West Virginia is not a major surprise give their high-octane offense under head coach Dana Holgersen. The Mountaineers definitely seem like a team that could be a big sleeper, but this recruiting battle seems like a two-team battle.

Maryland has the home turf advantage but the Terrapins definitely seem to be the second-choice team right now. The Terps have had some good receivers over the years including Stefon Diggs most recently, and will likely use the Big 10 has the defending national champion pitch.

However, the Virginia Tech Hokies are definitely the early favorites to get Tino Ellis. One thing that helps the Hokies is the fact that Ellis is the cousin of current Virginia Tech cornerback Donovan Riley. The Hokies have done a good job of taking advantage of these connections in recruiting in the past, and that will help the Hokies a lot.

One concern for the Hokies is the fact that Aaron Moorehead was the primary recruiter for Ellis. Ellis will probably be very interested to see not only who becomes his primary recruiter, but also who replaces Moorehead whether that guy ends up being Ellis’s primary recruiter or not.

Maryland has been trending some recently in the pursuit of Tino Ellis, but the Hokies are still the favorites for now. However, there is plenty of time for a lot of things to change before he announces at the end of July and hopefully, Ellis will join his former DeMatha teammate Cam Phillips in Blacksburg.

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