James Mitchell names official top five

One of Virginia Tech's top tight end targets came off the board today, but the Hokies are still alive for four-star James Mitchell. The Big Stone Gap (Va.) Union standout named his top five schools, with VT included.

Virginia Tech is a natural fit for a player from southwest Virginia, as is Tennessee, not far from his home in the corner of the state. The top five is rounded out by Duke, Georgia, and South Carolina. The absence of Clemson - which had been one of his top schools, but faded after adding tight end commitments - is a good sign for the Hokies, while Ole Miss, Virginia, and West Virginia were among the other programs eliminated from contention.

Georgia also picked up a tight end commitment this week (Hokie offeree John FitzPatrick), so a changing situation in Athens may make it tough for the Dawgs to land Mitchell, as well. VT has long been considered the favorite, but the No. 13 tight end nationally and No. 6 rising senior in Virginia isn't in a hurry to wrap up his recruiting process.

He has visited Blacksburg myriad occasions in the past, and is expected to keep up that pace going forward. The Hokies remain a solid bet for the 6-4, 210-pounder, who would fit as an H-back or flex tight end in the Justin Fuente offense.

Tight end

4 STARS

Big Stone Gap

RR: 5.8

Ht: 6'4.0"

Wt: 210.0

Class: 2018

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NATIONAL

Commitment status:

undecided