4-star QB on Va. Tech decommit

Kathleen (Ga.) Veteran's quarterback Logan Byrd was the first prospect to commit to Virginia Tech in the Class of 2016 but after being pledged to the Hokies for months, he reversed course earlier this week.

"I decided to open up my recruiting and pull my commitment from Virginia Tech," The 6-foot-3, 232-pound Byrd said. "I called Coach Loeffler, we spoke briefly, and I told him what I was doing. I thanked him for recruiting me and for the opportunity Virginia Tech gave me. I wished him and the team the best moving forward."

One of the factors that went into Byrd's decision was heavy interest from new programs.

"New opportunities from other programs were opening up to me after Signing Day," Byrd said. "I evaluated what my situation would be like at Virginia Tech. I needed to do what's best for me. I'm making a four or five year decision, and I want it to be right. Virginia Tech is a great school with great fans that welcomed me, and I appreciate that. But college football and recruiting is a business, and unfortunately recruits don't get a manual with all the answers."

Since making the call, interest has picked up even more, with several big names reaching out.

"Almost immediately, several programs contacted me, many of whom I did not have a relationship with prior," Byrd said. "Some have offered and others have shown heavy interest. Right off the top, Michigan jumps out. Coach Harbaugh and Coach Fisch reached out on Twitter, and we have spoken on the phone. We are visiting Michigan this weekend."

Several SEC programs are also taking a new look at the Georgia native.

"Coach Malzahn and Coach Lashlee from Auburn have been speaking with me, along with Coach Nussmeier from Florida," Byrd said. "Other schools from the SEC that have reached out include Coach Dawson at Kentucky and also Coach Enos from Arkansas."

Byrd said Oklahoma State and Kansas State are also showing interest, not to mention a trio of schools that recently offered.

"Schools that have offered recently that have caught my attention are West Virginia and Coach Holgorsen, Colorado State and Mike Bobo, and Pittsburgh with Coach Chaney," Byrd said.

Several programs that offered Byrd before his commitment to the Hokies are also coming back into the picture.

"There are two that stand out," Byrd said. "First, Coach Fedora and Coach Heckendorf from North Carolina. Both of them have stayed in touch with me from the very beginning. I'm also planning to reach back out to Coach Cutcliffe at Duke."

Because he's a quarterback, Byrd said he's hoping the process doesn't drag on longer than needed. At the same time, he's planning on his next commitment being his late.

"As it relates to school, I'm graduating early in mid-December," Byrd said. "Nine more months and I'm on a college campus. So I'll be following up with teams, listening to what they offer, see where I fit, looking at the undergraduate programs, and planning visits over the next few months."