SOTM: Hoffman to the Hokies

While other teenagers who hope to commit to NCAA Division 1 athletic programs must wait until fall of their junior year, senior Alex Hoffman is an exception. The highly-skilled pitcher committed to Virginia Tech for baseball in April 2023, the spring of his freshman year.

Alex has been playing baseball since he can remember and always wanted to take the next step—playing at the collegiate level. He began attending ID camps in January of his ninth grade year. These exclusive events allow high school players to showcase their skills and get exposure from college recruiters. They additionally gave him the opportunity to talk to coaches individually and see how each school’s program has different pros and cons. 

Alex said “Virginia Tech was the first school I began talking to, with Duke, Clemson, and East Carolina following.” Each of these school’s programs has great reputations, but the choice came easy to Alex. The main factor for deciding which school would be the best fit for him was the program’s coaches. He said, “Virginia Tech’s coaches treated me like family.”  

Alex Hoffman up to bat (Credit: Charlotte Catholic High School)

At the time of Alex’s commitment, the NCAA baseball recruiting rules allowed players to commit at any point during high school. Only a few months after his verbal commitment, the rules changed, requiring players to wait until fall of their junior year. Alex said, “I committed right before the deadline because I knew Virginia Tech was where I wanted to play.”

Beginning his senior year, Alex still has to apply to schools like any other student. While he is committed to play baseball at VT, he still has yet to write a personal statement essay and the school’s supplemental prompts. “Balancing academics and college-level athletics is a challenge,” Alex says, but it is one that he embraces as part of the process. 

Alex is very excited to play college baseball next season after years of waiting. He knows Virginia Tech’s esteemed program and well-connected coaches will prepare him for the furthest step, signing to a MLB team, which is his lifelong dream.