LowcoSports.com
More offers were sure to come for Whale Branch football standout Xavier Chaplin, but the Warriors’ two-way lineman already had the one he wanted.
Chaplin committed last week to continue his career at Virginia Tech next year on a full athletic scholarship.
The offers were relatively slow to come for Chaplin, but he had interest from numerous NCAA Division I “Power 5” schools, including the University of Georgia, Whale Branch coach Jerry Hatcher said.
The Hokies were the first big-time program to make an offer, though, and they made landing Chaplin their top priority to solidify their offensive line. The 370-pound rising senior ran a 5.2-second 40-yard dash when he worked out at Virginia Tech, and the Hokies wanted to make sure he didn’t get away.
Chaplin was a first-team All-Lowco pick on the defensive line in 2020, but he was one of the Warriors’ anchors in the trenches on both sides of the ball, helping pave the way for a powerful ground game and shutting down opposing teams’ rushing game.