Joshua Stanford “gets it right” with God and picks Virginia Tech

WR Joshua Stanford got on Virginia Tech's radar very late

WR Joshua Stanford committed to Virginia Tech on Sunday after a whirlwind recruiting journey.

The 6-foot-1, 184-pounder from ML King High School picked Virginia Tech over TCU, Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee State.

Stanford was offered by Virginia Tech only a couple of weeks ago.  It was a short courtship.

“Coach Beamer talked to me about that,” Stanford told the AJC. “What he said was the Virginia Tech doesn’t usually offer a kid this late, or as late as they offered me. But when they saw me on film and they met me in person, they saw I could fit in with what they are trying to do. After visiting this weekend, I decided it’s good fit for me and I’m a Hokie.”

Stanford transferred from Duluth High School to ML King before his senior season. He is the 6th ML King senior to commit to a D1 school, along with WR Blake Tibbs (UGA), DE Kenderius Whitehead (NC State), FS Jarnor Jones (NC State), WR Carnell Boyd (Akron) and LB Toronto Thomas (Air Force).

Stanford finished the year with 56 catches for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns after doing some soul searching during his senior season.

“I feel like a lot of my success in athletics is due to my spiritual growth I went through,” Stanford said. “Early in the season, I was focusing only on football. How I did in football determined whether I was happy or not happy. It wasn’t until I truly put God first that things started going as planned. The Bible says ‘The Joy of the Lord is your strength.’ When I started focusing on God, staying in the word and becoming one with Jesus Christ, the football just came along. I started doing so much better … I had a few games in a row where I caught two touchdown passes in each.”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT OVER THE WEEKEND

• Josh Dawson says it’s “50/50″ between UGA and Vanderbilt
• Ex-Georgia Tech recruit talks with UGA, Florida, UNC, others
• Surprise! Moody commits to rival SEC school and may play some QB
• After “getting it right” with God, WR picks Virginia Tech
• Special teams help on the way to Georgia Tech with commit No. 17
• DT from “Down Under” pledges the Georgia Tech
• Georgia Tech withdraws scholarship offer of its first 2012 commit
• Will UGA be able to flip the commitment of one of Auburn’s top recruits?
• More on Georgia Tech’s “top secret” recruit from AUSTRALIA

AND EVEN MORE RECRUITING NEWS …

• Georgia Tech is almost finished: Florida DB is commit No. 16
  
• G’Day Mate: Georgia Tech welcomes football recruit from … Australia
• UGA loses DE to NC State only hours after meeting with Rodney Garner
• Will RB Mike Davis still visit UGA and Clemson? He’s committed to South Carolina but …
• Updates on 3 ex-Tennessee commits from Georgia
  
• Why Dalvin Tomlinson did not make UGA visit … other UGA and Georgia Tech notes
• Nick Saban hits town to recruit top juniors at Atlanta high schools … and a gym?
• Good news for Georgia Tech with state’s top uncommitted prospect?
  
• Atlanta RB “still committed” to Alabama but considering options
• Ex-Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora lands another Atlanta recruit for UCLA
• Georgia QB flips to ACC school after pep talk from new coach
• Nick Saban to Atlanta RB: You can’t sign with Alabama until …. 2013
• Josh Harvey-Clemons’ grandpa predicts “photo finish” between UGA and SEC rival
• Will Vanderbilt DE recruit flip to UGA after visiting Bulldogs?
• OL commits to Georgia Tech; cancels official visit to Florida Gators
• Nephew of ex-NFL star Dexter Manley commits to new ACC member
• RB Mike Davis goes public with his “secret” commitment; Guess who??
• Todd Gurley: Analysis of UGA’s newest recruit and … remember Tim Worley?

– By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog

Got an item? mcarvell@ajc.com

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