Collegiate Times

When the Hokies picked up a commitment from Liberty High School star Wyatt Teller last August, Hokie fans and coaches alike rejoiced.

Teller stands at 6-foot-5 and uses every bit of that height in his aggressive playing style. In high school, Teller played almost every position imaginable, but many see him fitting in at defensive end for the Hokies.

“He played offensive tackle, tight end, fullback, defensive end and linebacker for us last season,” said Liberty High School head football coach Sean Finnerty. “He did whatever it took for the team to be successful and he was always a team-first guy.”

Due to his strong motor and willingness to learn, expect Teller to become a household name fairly early on in his career at Virginia Tech. Ranked as a consensus 4-star recruit and the 59th best player in the nation according to Rivals.com, Teller is one of the Hokies most heralded recruits for the class of 2013.

In his senior year at Liberty, Teller racked up 120 tackles, 11 sacks and four forced fumbles while playing on the defensive side of the ball. His heroics were certainly noticed, earning an invitation to the U.S. Army All-America game. While he did not stand out during the game, he had a great week of practice leading up to it.

Throughout the recruiting process, top-notch programs throughout the country pursued Teller, but eventually his decision came between University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. One of the major reasons Teller chose Virginia Tech was his close relationship with his primary recruiter.

“Coach Torrian Gray was Wyatt’s primary recruiter and they have gotten along great,” Finnerty said. “Coach Gray shows how much he cares for his athletes every time he visits.”

While Teller is one of the top-ranked recruits in the Hokies 2013 class, he will most likely redshirt or have a limited role next season due to the Hokies returning veteran defensive line. With a year to grow and learn the Hokies defensive scheme, anticipate Teller to be blowing up opposing offenses sooner rather than later.

A version of this article appeared in the Feb 7 issue of the Collegiate Times.