Virginia Tech took a big step toward establishing its line of succession at quarterback when it received an oral commitment Thursday from 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior Ricardo Young from Washington, D.C.

Young accounted for 42 touchdowns as a junior at H.D. Woodson High, passing for 3,009 yards and rushing for 780.

According to Rivals.com, Tech beat more than a dozen schools to get Young, including West Virginia and Maryland.

Young was one of two players to inform the Hokies of their plans on Thursday. The other was Derrick Hopkins, a 5-foot-11, 272-pound defensive lineman from Highland Spring High School.

Hopkins' older brother, Antoine, will be a redshirt freshman for the Hokies this coming season.

The latest commitments are Tech's fifth and sixth for 2010, three of them with ties to the program.

In addition to Hopkins, linebacker Tahrick Peak from Pulaski County is the younger brother of 2009 Hokies' signee Nubian Peak and Fork Union offensive lineman Mark Shuman has an older brother, Ryan, who was a three-year starter for Tech from 2007-2009.

Tech was the first school to offer Derrick Hopkins, but Young had offers from 15 Division I-A program.

TerrapinTimes.com, a Web site devoted to University of Maryland athletics, quoted Young as saying he had a final five of Tech, Maryland, WVU, UConn and Michigan State.

Receivers coach Kevin Sherman was the Hokies' lead recruiter with Young.