Recruiting Matchup: Virginia Tech Has the Edge Over Oklahoma State

If stars and recruiting rankings are the deciding factor when it comes to on-field results, Virginia Tech will have the upper hand on Thursday when it faces Oklahoma State in the Camping World Bowl.

Out of curiosity, I compared Virginia Tech’s starting lineup to Oklahoma State’s starting lineup with each players high school recruiting ranking according to 247Sports, and it yielded some rather interesting results that favors the Hokies … on both sides of the ball.

First, a look at Virginia Tech’s starting offense, where each player other than starting guard Wyatt Teller and starting left tackle Yosuah Nijman came into Blacksburg ranked as three-star recruits. On average, starters for Virginia Tech were ranked 87.17 on 247Sports’ 100-point scale — which is a three-star average.

(As a side note, Virginia Tech’s Steven Peoples was not ranked out of high school, nor was OSU’s Britton Abbott. Those players were tabbed with a N/A and taken out of the overall average.)

So how does that match up with OSU, the third-highest scoring offense in the country? To my surprise, the Pokes came in quite a bit lower almost across the board with an average ranking of 85.47 on the same scale among OSU starters.

Including former five-star Tyron Johnson would have no doubt boosted OSU’s offensive average, but it still wouldn’t have been quite as high as Va. Tech’s average overall.

Now to the defense, where there are fewer blue-chippers on both sides. The Hokies boast former four-star defensive tackle Tim Settle, who spurned OSU out of high school and is the team’s highest-rated recruit out of high school.

Va. Tech’s stout defensive unit is actually rated lower than its offense, despite the team’s strength obviously being on the defensive side of the ball. (Coaching!)

Virginia Tech’s defense, too, ranks above OSU with an average of 87.03. OSU’s average among its starters is 85.01, a tick below its offense.

So what does this all mean? Maybe nothing. But I found it pretty interesting to compare the teams starters just to get a sense where recruiting rankings pegged the players expected to roll onto the field on Thursday.

For comparison’s sake, here’s a side-by-side of each side of the ball.

If you’re a crootin’ truther, you might be taking Virginia Tech here as it has the edge on both sides of the ball. But if you’re Vegas (or myself), I’d take Oklahoma State to win rather comfortably on Thursday.