National Signing Day: Georgia Tech Brings in 27
By Keith Holt
One month after the National Championship, college football teams around the country begin the process building teams in hopes hoisting a trophy of their own. National Signing day is where coaches look for the payoff for them grinding on the recruiting trail to bring the best possible talent to get them to the promise land. Paul Johnson and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are no exception as they look to improve on a very successful 11-3 campaign.
This year the Yellow Jackets bring the biggest class of the Paul Johnson era with 27 new player of which 17 are home-grown Georgia products.
Yellow Jacket fans can be excited about today’s class and the players that Tech picked up. With a solid class ranked as 37th nationally by Rivals.com or No. 40 by ESPN the Jackets are ready to make another run at the ACC title. There is definitely a lot of speed in this class and Coach Johnson will have a few new running backs to plug into that triple option system.
Here are some of the players that you may want to look out for in the next few years at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
AJ Gray, DB, 6-1, 190lbs, Washington County : Gray was the 2014 Gatorade state player of the year from Georgia. He played both ways for a Washington County team that had back to back State Title Runner-up finishes. The 40th ranked prospect in Georgia and is ranked 20th nationally as a ATH prospect. The Jackets beat out ACC rival UNC and in state foe Georgia for this young man.
Harland Howell, WR, 6-3, 200lbs, Wheeler: The Yellow Jackets may have their next great big wide out with Wheeler’s Harland Howell. Listed between 6-2 and 6-3 he should fit nicely in how Johnson likes to use those tall receivers on the outside. Excellent student in high school is an early enrollee and will be catching passes from Justin Thomas in spring practice.
KirVonte Benson, RB, 5-8. 185, Marietta High School: Benson is a local Marietta product who has lighting speed. As a 10th grader he won the 100 meters state championship in Georgia. Will very dangerous as a homerun threat in that triple option. KirVonte turned down ACC foes Wake Forest and Duke to stay in Atlanta.
Tyler Cooksey, ILB, 6-3, 230, Greater Atlanta Christian: Cooksey is a 3-star recruit that will be playing at his father’s alma mater as Tom Cooksey played for the Yellow Jackets in the late 1970s. A middle linebacker whose 40 time is around a 4.6 should be one to watch.
Christian Campbell, QB, 6-1, 195, Ponchatoula, La.: Campbell is a good athlete who has been recruited by a few big time programs to play as a DB or WR but he wants to play quarterback. He is a good option quarterback with a similar story to current starter Justin Thomas. Campbell may be good enough to challenge for the No. 2 position this year.
The Jackets are poised for another good season. Next up will be spring practices and their annual spring football game. Stay tuned