Hokies land big-time defensive tackle

Indianapolis (Ind.) Warren Central defensive tackle Kris Harley committed to Virginia Tech on Monday. The Rivals250 to Watch prospect chose the Hokies over offers from Indiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, USC, and many more.

"I think he is a very smart player," Warren Central assistant coach Greg Brookey said. "He is explosive, and plays with real high energy and a big motor."

Harley made a recent visit to Oklahoma, but in the end, the Hokies' recruiting efforts were too much to overcome.

"I think he feels very comfortable there," Brookey said. "He has been there three times now, he visited last month. He says it feels like family to him, he really likes coach [Charley] Wiles. He just feels wanted at Virginia Tech.

Coach Wiles led Harley's recruitment for the Hokies. Brookey said Harley is expected to play nose guard for the Hokies.

"They conveyed to him that he was their kind of player. When he visited Virginia Tech in the fall and again in the winter, Coach Wiles sat down with Kris and explained how they see him fitting into what they want to do. They have a couple of defensive tackles there now, and one guy coming in this year, but I think he fits highly into their plans."

Moving forward, Harley will try to help Warren Central successfully defend their Class 5A state championship, then prepare himself for the college game.

"I think he knows he needs to gain some weight," Brookey said. "He lost some through the season. He works hard in the weight room. But he is a such a high energy guy, he needs to keep taking in calories. Coach Wiles says he needs to use his hands a little better as well."

Virginia Tech was the first major program to offer Harley. The Hokies have had success recruiting Warren Central prospects, most notably, running back Darren Evans.

"I think a lot of schools like our kids because they will go anywhere in the country to play," Brookey said. "People come to our practices and see they are like college practices, we spent last week going to various colleges and checking out spring practices. Our kids see what those practices are like. I think coaches know our kids are college ready. We got our foot into the door there with Darren. Our kids can talk to Darren, he can relate that it is a family atmosphere at Virginia Tech, and Kris felt that on his visits."

Virginia Tech has also offer Warren Central offensive tackle Kiaro Holts, another Rivals250 to Watch prospect.

"Kiaro is not ready to make an early decision," Brookey said. "He talks to coach [James] Cregg at Southern Cal on a regular basis, he talks to the Oregon staff a lot. They are coming to visit next period, and they may offer him after seeing him. He and I were going to go to Ole Miss and Tennessee last week and do a southern run. We had to change some plans. I know Ole Miss really likes him, and that is a school he considers highly. It is going to be awhile before he makes a decision. He is going to take official visits. I would say Kris' commitment certainly does not hurt Virginia Tech's chances with Kiaro at all. Those two guys are pretty close. They have talked about going to the same school, but most of the time it doesn't work out that way."

Harley is Virginia Tech's second commitment in the class of 2011.