Offensive tackle Jonathan McLaughlin switches commitment from East Carolina to Virginia Tech
The Hokies added to their 2013 recruiting class Thursday when Fork Union offensive lineman Jonathan McLaughlin switched his commitment from East Carolina to Virginia Tech.
The 6-foot-4, 288-pound McLaughlin, who is from Mauldin, S.C., is a three-star prospect, the 27th-ranked prep player nationally and the third-ranked offensive tackle, according to 247 Sports.
“Coach Frank Beamer came to see me at Fork Union, then he went from Fork Union to go see my parents in South Carolina,” McLaughlin said. “And that meant a lot for a legendary coach to do that.”
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
McLaughlin originally signed with East Carolina last February but didn’t qualify, so he spent the year at Fork Union getting his grades in order. He hopes to be approved by the NCAA Clearinghouse in time to join Virginia Tech in January. If not, he’ll spend a few extra months at Fork Union and enroll in June.
He has Virginia ties. He is originally from Danville, moving to South Carolina when he was around 8 years old. His parents are from Danville and he still has family living there, just a short drive from Blacksburg.
Shane Beamer was his primary recruiter. The younger Beamer spent plenty of time at Fork Union, where a pair of 2012 signees — running back Drew Harris and linebacker Jerome Wright – spent the season. McLaughlin is friends with both of them and said they both still plan to come to Tech.
McLaughlin said Virginia Tech’s offensive line situation was a big factor in his decision. The Hokies lose both starting tackles, Vinston Painter and Nick Becton, to graduation. The backups have little to no game experience, leaving the situation wide open.
McLaughlin played right tackle at Fork Union. Tech’s coaches have told him they’ll try him at tackle first in college, although they didn’t specify a side.
“I took that as my redshirt year there at Fork Union,” he said. “So I should be able to go in there and play. If not, I can be a backup.”
McLaughlin is the fourth possible offensive linemen in the class, joining Parker Osterloh of Williamsburg, Braxton Pfaff of Lynchburg and Kyle Chung of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Chung is a tight end who could project on the offensive line.
Here’s an updated list of Hokies commitments for 2013. Commitments are non-binding until recruits send in their letter of intent on Signing Day in February:
- Kyle Chung, OL/TE, 6-4, 255 Ponte Vedra, Fla. (Ponte Vedra)
- Charles Clark, DB, 5-11, 180, Suffolk (King’s Fork)
- Brandon Facyson, DB/WR, 6-2, 182 Newnan, Ga. (Northgate)
- Holland Fisher, DB, 6-2, 205, Midlothian (Manchester)
- Kendall Fuller, CB, 6-0, 175, Olney, Md. (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
- Drew Harris, RB, 6-1, 215, Downingtown, Pa. (Fork Union)
- Bucky Hodges, QB, 6-5, 225, Virginia Beach (Salem)
- Cequan Jefferson, ATH, 5-11, 167, Richmond (Henrico)
- Jonathan McLaughlin, OT, 6-4, 288, Mauldin, S.C. (Fork Union)
- Jamieon Moss, LB, 6-1, 210, Elizabeth City, N.C. (Northeastern)
- Andrew Motu’apuaka, LB, 6-0, 210, Virginia Beach (Salem)
- Deon Newsome, ATH, 5-11, 170, Hampton (Hampton)
- Parker Osterloh, OL, 6-7, 268, Williamsburg (Warhill)
- Carlis Parker, QB/ATH, 6-4, 187, Statesville, N.C. (Statesville)
- Braxton Pfaff, OL, 6-5, 290, Lynchburg (Liberty Christian)
- David Prince, ATH, 6-0, 175, Roanoke (Patrick Henry)
- D.J. Reid, RB/WR, 6-0, 202, Chester (Thomas Dale)
- Anthony Shegog, DB, 6-2, 195, Stafford (North Stafford)
- Wyatt Teller, DE, 6-5, 275, Bealeton (Liberty)
- Jerome Wright, LB/RB, 6-2, 220, Highland Springs (Fork Union)
December 20, 2012 - 2:24 PM
Good job by Coach Beamer to get him signed. There is plenty of playing time up for grabs on the OL.
Although there is nothing wrong with the overall program, Beamer will bounce back from a sub-par season. Count on it !
Only if he makes the right coaching changes
Hopefully, McLaughlin will have a good OL coach different from the ” high school ” coach we now have. I bet both Beamers had to weave a good story to convince him and his parents that he will get good coaching.
McLaughlin will definitely be the missing puzzle piece for the Hokies. This addition should ensure a top 5 finish next season. Count on it!!
Another player VT steals from another program. Yeah Frank, you do things the right way like recruiting players that has commited to another program (Frank used to raise hell when teams continued to recruit his recruits) and letting kids fresh out of prison back on the team. Yeah Frank, that’s the right way!
Thanks for the kind words from Barry @ #5. Looks like a good pick up indeed. Robert @6 you beat me to it. Keep this in mind Hokie fans the next time one gets “stole” out from under us. It happens, it’s business unfortunately these days. Andy, from your experience does this happen a lot in the SEC?
Happens all the time everywhere. It’s recruiting. These “commitments” are non-binding. That’s why I’ve never thought it was a big deal when a kid backs out of a commitment. He’s just playing the system.
You’re right, Andy. The operative word is “non-binding”. A kid should be allowed to choose wherever he wants to play. I’m sure none of your readers have ever made a decision and then changed their mind after further consideration.
These guys are usually 17 or 18 year old kids. Maybe 19. Many of them have NO clue what they want. I didn’t when I was 18.
Recruiting is not pretty, or fair. It’s do-eat-dog. The ‘good guys’ finish last, and settle for the ‘big boys’ leftovers. Beamer may be just playing by the same rules – like it or not.
Tony is right about the high school coach.
And yes this is the way that it is in recruiting these days, and Tech can join in it or get left behind.
We all hope that this year was just a fluke year and that things will be better in 2013, but only time will tell about that.
It will not be much into the future to learn if there are any coaching changes at Tech.
Just going to or seeing one VT game would indicate you can start soon at Offensive line-As for stealing a recruit, that ones kinda funny ,,survival is the name of the game if they can qualify, hope he has a new primary position coach in 2013.
Anything should be allowed when it comes to recruiting; it is almost as important as wins and losses. Beamer will have to come up with something or the VT gravy train will roll to an end.
I don’t have a problem with what Beamer did but I do have a problem with Beamer publicly complaining about other coaches for something he does himself.
When CFB does his complaining is when a kid waits until the last day, or the last week and changes his mind, leaving no time to pick up someone else. Also I think it’s common knowledge that once a kid DNQ, and goes to prep, the recruiting process pretty much starts over.
Beamer didn’t “do anything”. The kid committed to ECU last year when he was a senior in high school, and didn’t qualify. As a post-graduate student at FUMA, he is free to re-open his recruiting.
I’m sure Mike London never contacted Simms while he was ENROLLED at Bama, and the “Hardship Need” for the transfer was legit.
I have no problem when a kid waits until the last second and switches too.
Look at Jawand Blue last year. Initially had a grayshirt offer at VT. Got a full offer from Miami right where he lives. He took the latter. Can’t fault him for that.
What makes you people think that the recruit did not approach Coach Beamer and tell him I changed my mind I would like to come to VT. You don’t know the facts and facts really don’t mean anything to do. You just enjoy casting dispersions on anything VT or Beamer.
Lighten up and have a Merry Christmas or did the Grinch steal yours?
All of this is a moot point as to when a recruit switches; next year ODU will be tops in the state of Virginia so all of your Virginia teams will be playing second fiddle. The action will be in the Georgia Dome.
Frank is doing his job. If he didn’t get good recruits, he would get blasted for that. Tough crowd ! Barry it’s great to have you with us. We are still waiting for the score of the gt game.
Robert – You are an idiot that knows nothing about CFB. He has said time and again that, if a recruit says, “I am done with recruiting”, they no longer recruit them. Every previously “committed” recruit that has switched to VT either reopened their recruitment and/or contacted VT first. If you have a problem with that, follow another sport!