LB likes VTech visit, but favors Wake

Matthew Woodlief out of Catawba (N.C.) Bandys recently took a trip to Virginia Tech for a Rivals.com photo shoot. Did the Hokies gain any ground for Woodlief's signature?

"I enjoyed it, everyone was nice and the campus was beautiful and I got to talk to former teammate Justin Harper," he said. "They showed us the weight room and told us about how they get the help with the player's academics. They also told us what they do during the day. The staff is full of great people, coach Beamer is a really good coach and a great man and I enjoyed listening to him and talking to him, he's a really nice man."

Did anything really stick out from the visit?

"What really stuck out was that the coaches really help the players with something when they do it wrong," he said. "Also the players communicate with each other and really help each other out."

Where does the visit put Virginia Tech on his list?

"This is my third option, my third college choice," he said. "I enjoyed it and they have a great campus and great school there."

Woodlief took a visit to North Carolina last year.

"I enjoyed the visit there, it was my second visit to North Carolina," he said. "It was great; I talked to the running backs coach and my recruiting coach Brad Lawing and coach John Bunting. They make you feel right at home and they are so nice. Bunting is a great guy and he takes care of his players and looks out for them. He keeps them on the right track and I enjoyed my time with him. North Carolina is another school I'm looking at."

Despite his interest in Virginia Tech and North Carolina, Wake Forest is the leader for the 6-foot-0, 230-pound prospect.

"They're at the top of my list because they've got a good academic school and a great coaching staff," he said. "They have great football players and the student life there is awesome. It's just a great school and they've offered now."

During the offseason, Woodlief is coaching baseball.

"Baseball is going good, we're 12-0, I don't get to play, but I enjoy being on an undefeated season."

As for this summer, he's looking at going to camps at North Carolina and Wake Forest.

Woodlief posted 151 tackles, 10 sacks and three fumble recoveries as he was named defensive player of the year in the conference.