As one of the nation’s highly sought-after college football prospects, Baylor School senior Cameron Sparks has had quite the experience on the recruiting trail the past four years.
Sparks, a four-star receiver and 247 Sports.com’s No. 12 prospect in the state of Tennessee, made one of his biggest dreams a reality when he announced his commitment to Virginia Tech on Saturday during NBC’s broadcast of the Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder picked the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Hokies over a pair of Southeastern Conference programs — Arkansas and Mississippi State — after a final prep season in which he compiled nearly 1,000 receiving yards and scored 10 touchdowns for the nationally ranked Red Raiders, who were TSSAA Division II-AAA state runners-up for the second consecutive year.
“From a young age, one of my dreams was to one day play collegiate sports,” Sparks said in a phone interview with the Times Free Press on Friday night. “This day means so much to me and my family. Virginia Tech was my second offer very early into my high school career, and the loyalty they have shown me over the years has shown me a lot. I can’t wait to get to campus in Blacksburg and get started.”
Virginia Tech’s top four leading receivers from this past season’s 6-7 team were all seniors, which helped make the program’s fit a perfect one for Sparks, whose smooth route running, strong hands, strength (he can dead-lift 530 pounds) and high football IQ could help him make an instant impact in the passing game. He will also get a jump-start on his college football career by joining the Hokies this month as an early enrollee.