Blue-chip offensive/defensive lineman Vinston Painter plans to be in
Blacksburg this Friday for an unofficial visit. Maury High School's 6-6,
315-pound prospect, who returned home to Norfolk last night following visits to
UNC and N.C. State, respectively, is looking forward to Friday's trip.
"I'm looking forward to getting a better look at the football facilities and
to get a chance to see some of the practice," Painter said of the upcoming trip
to Blacksburg.
The Hokies hope to impress Painter as much as the University of Florida did
last month. Painter, who has offers from all across the country including one
from Florida, came away extremely impressed with his visit to Gainesville.
"I loved it down there," Painter said. "I can't lie. It was good.
"The whole facility was unbelievable. The coaching staff are some really cool
guys. I got to seem them practice - it was the most intense practice I've ever
seen. The players made it very competitive. Guys were going at each other. It
made practice more fun. Overall, the program just seemed very, very
professional."
Painter further discussed his impression of Florida's coaching staff.
"They told me they had the number one recruiting class last year," Painter
said. "They said they are looking for big, athletic guys for the offensive and
defensive line and they wanted me. They said it depends on me where I would
play. They seem very competitive."
Florida cemented its place as one of Painter's top schools. Virginia Tech is
right there at the top as well.
"I went to camp at Tech and got to meet the coaches and have them coach me
up," Painter said. "I have two former teammates up there. There are different
things I like about each school."
Painter enjoyed his visits to UNC and N.C. State this past weekend, though
perhaps not as much as his experiences at Florida and Virginia Tech.
"It was cool," Painter said of his time at UNC and N.C. State. "They both had
nice facilities. I met Butch Davis and then I met the entire N.C. State coaching
staff."
Painter does not have any other plans to visit other schools in the near
future, but he will make quite a few visits this summer in hopes of narrowing
his list before his senior season.
"I know I'm going to have those two on my list," Painter said, referring to
Virginia Tech and Florida. "I still need to finish narrowing it down to find out
the others. I probably will narrow it to five before my season, that way I'll
know which schools I will officially visit."